California colleges have been struggling with budget cuts for the past couple years and 2010-2011 looks to be another rough year for the CSU and UC schools in the state. President Horace Mitchell of California State University, Bakersfield announced last week a budget plan which will include raising student fees, cutting staff, and canceling winter quarter graduation ceremonies. The plan would also cut four sports programs as well for the 2010-2011 school year at CSUB. Another rough part to these budget cuts is that it will force many classes to go from average class sizes of 35 to 70 students. Learning in large classes like this is more difficult for many students, and this is why many choose small schools so they can get more dedicated attention from the professors. This scenario is common among all of the UC and CSU campuses in the state as they try and make due with massive budget cuts. Unfortunately students and the economy of California are the ones who hurt most, because without students graduating the state will lack the educated job force it needs to reverse the economic troubles in the state.
Students who play sports are being presented with fewer choices every year of colleges where they can earn a scholarship to play sports. However, there is not much that CSUB can do, nor can any of the other UC or CSU schools in the state. CSUB is receiving a $1.7 million one-time stimulus fund as are other schools in the CSU system, but it is not enough to close the budget gap at any of the CSU colleges. The next year will be interesting as we see how these budget cuts affect students, and if they will opt for career colleges in California which are private and students know they can graduate on time and take the classes they need.
Tags: California Economy, California State University, California Universities, CSUB
I’m shocked that Nebraska is joining the Big Ten. The new season promises to be challenging for the competition. Yipee!