California State University employee update, Oct. 14

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Applications to CSU surge in first 13 days

The California State University received almost double the number of applications from prospective students in the first 13 days of the application period this year over last. More than 100,000 students submitted their applications through the system's Web site, csumentor.edu, between Oct. 1 and 13 as compared to 48,858 for the same time last year.

The CSU's application period for first-time freshmen and community college transfers began Oct. 1 and runs through Nov. 30. The CSU will announce in early December which campuses and programs will remain open after Nov. 30.

The largest increase in applications came from community college students with more than 41,000 applying for upper-division transfer to a CSU, a three-fold increase from last year. Applications for prospective first-time freshmen increased by nearly 50 percent.

All 23 campuses will remain open for applications through Nov. 30 but at least 12 campuses will stop accepting applications from first-time freshmen and, in some cases, from community college transfers after that date. The CSU has undertaken a communications effort that includes a video on YouTube (priority application video) and outreach to schools and to the student media and general media to encourage students to submit their applications early to avoid missing the closing date of campuses or programs.

CSU neutral on oil severance tax bill

State Assembly Majority Leader Alberto Torrico will be at several CSU campuses this week to garner support for Assembly Bill 656, the "California Higher Education Endowment Corporation: Oil and Gas Severance Tax". The measure would institute a new 9.9 percent oil and gas severance tax on any oil or gas producer in California with the revenues dedicated to California's three public higher education segments (CSU, the University of California and the California Community Colleges). The revenues generated by the tax would be allocated by a newly created board and without appropriation or oversight by the state.

The CSU has no official position on the bill. The CSU believes the legislation is well intended but feels it does not solve higher education's funding needs as it would not generate enough money to bring state funding support for the CSU back to where it was two years ago, nor would it fund future enrollment growth or meet other increased needs. In addition, with oil production in steady decline in California, it does not provide a stable funding source for the future.

The bill is in the early phases. It will be considered again in January and hear d next in the Assembly Revenue and Taxation committee.

Legislative update

The governor has taken action on the more than 700 bills sent to him by the legislature including several key measures that were important to the CSU. Here is an update:

The governor vetoed:

SB 218 (Yee) - Public records: state agency, auxiliary organizations.
The bill would have subjected the CSU's independent auxiliaries to the California Public Records Act (CPRA) significantly increasing costs to its auxiliary organizations while reducing non-state revenues to students. The governor stated in a letter to the legislature, "Subjecting the altruistic activities of private donors and volunteers to the CPRA will have a chilling effect on their support and service if they believe their personal privacy could be compromised." The governor added that enacting the bill would result in a loss of private donations at a time when the CSU is facing significant reductions in state funding.

SB 86 (Yee) - Public postsecondary education: executive office

The California State University received almost double the number of applications from prospective students in the first 13 days of the application period this year over last.