Budget Blues : CSUN Prepares for Crunch

Cal State Northridge, already hit by state funding shortfalls in recent years, would be forced to make additional cuts in staff and classes under budget proposals being considered in Sacramento.

Gov. Pete Wilson has proposed a 7% decrease in funds allotted to the California State University system, but school officials worry that when the budget debate concludes, CSU could lose as much as 13% in state funding.

There are many unknowns regarding CSUN’s situation, and to prepare for the worst, the university has developed several plans that would trim the budget, which is about $138 million this year, by 5% to 10% when classes resume in the fall. CSUN officials have said repeatedly that the budget situation remains fluid and that no final decisions have been made.

But CSUN President Blenda J. Wilson has warned that some staff layoffs are inevitable, and in February she bluntly told the faculty: “This is not an employment agency, this is a university.”

Cost-Saving Measures

In addition to the full-time staff and class cuts, CSUN may also:

Charge students extra $30 per semester for medical services. Would generate $1.5 million.

Lay off up to 300 part-time instructors

Eliminate duplication and overlap

CSUN Profile (for 1992-1993)

* Enrollment: 29,092

* Annual tuition per student: $1,308

* Other fees: $212

* Teaching staff: 846 full time, 342 part time

* Overall budget: $138 million

Rising Tuition

Students at CSUN pay the same yearly tuition as students at all Cal State campuses. Tuition is expected to jump $480, a 37% increase, for the 1993-94 year. Yearly tuition for CSU full-time:

1994*: $1,788 Projected

* Projected

Shrinking Faculty

The university experienced a significant reduction in full-time, tenure-track faculty when 88 faculty members retired last fall as part of a budget-cutting measure. CSUN full-time faculty:

1992: 846

CSUN Salaries: A Big Part of the Budget

Salaries and benefits constitute 85% of the budget at CSUN. Some examples of annual salaries:

* Assistant professor (mid-level): $38,208

* Associate professor (mid-level): $45,996

* Full professor (top level): $60,960

* Associate dean: $70,000-$82,000

* Dean: $88,000-$93,000

* Provost: $111,000

* President: $134,800

Cutting Classes

The number of classes offered at CSUN has dropped in recent years. Some students have had to wait a semester or more for the classes they want. Up to 800 more classes could be cut under some proposed budget scenarios.

1990: 11,536

1991: 11,796

1992: 11,089

1993: 10,470

Trimming the Budget: One Department’s Struggle

CSUN has developed three levels of cuts that would reduce the present university budget by roughly 5%, 8% and 10%. They are merely estimates and will be adjusted depending on the state’s actual budget. Shown below is an example of how one university department, Academic Affairs, might trim its budget according to the three preliminary plans. The initial 1993-94 budget for Academic Affairs, before cutting, is $56.6 million. The department oversees schools of arts, business, communications, education, engineering, humanities, science and mathematics, and social and behavioral sciences.

Level 1 (5% cut)

* Full-time faculty cut: 79 (of 846)

* Classes cut: 392 (of 10,470)

* Budget cut: $3.3 million

*

Level 2 (8% cut)

* Full-time faculty: 133

* Classes cut: 664

* Budget cut: $5.8 million

*

Level 3 (10% cut)

* Full-time faculty cut: 169

* Classes cut: 841

* Budget cut: $7.6 million

The Process: How the Budget Gets Approved

Universities in the CSU system can’t act on budget plans until the state announces its budget, which has a deadline of June 30, the end of the fiscal year. But the wait could be much longer. Last year the budget was approved 60 days late. The budget approval process:

1. In October, CSU Board of Trustees develops the CSU system budget. Last year it asked the state for $1.7 billion for 1993-1994.

2. Proposed budget goes to state Department of Finance, the governor and Legislature. The governor reviews the entire state budget and makes his recommendation for CSU. This year Gov. Pete Wilson is recommending $1.43 billion for CSU.

3. Between January and June, governor and Legislature attempt a compromise. After compromise is reached, ideally by the June 30 deadline, governor gives his final approval and signs budget.

4. Based on final state budget, CSU chancellor allocates funds among the 20 CSU schools. Only then can CSUN officials make final spending decisions.

Source: The California State University, California State Northridge

Research and Written by JULIE SHEER / Los Angeles Times