Spring 2008 #CB S08-02
WHEREAS, San Diego State University Associated Students is the representative body, and the official voice of the more than 35,000 students at San Diego State University; and
WHEREAS, it is the mission of Associated Students to represent, serve, and protect the collective interests of the students, specifically regarding affordability and accessibility of higher education, at San Diego State University; and
WHEREAS, the California State University (CSU) system’s purpose is to provide high-quality, accessible, student-focused higher education; and
WHEREAS, the CSU system has received a record number of 515,448 applicants for the Fall 2008 school year; and
WHEREAS, mandatory CSU system cost increases for healthcare, compensation, and energy total $114.5 million for 2008-09; and
WHEREAS, the change of state appropriation for the CSU system includes a $312.9 million reduction in funding for 2008-9; and
WHEREAS, the Governor’s proposed 2008-09 budget does not include a $73.2 million student fee buyout from the General Fund to cover necessary growth dictated by the Higher Education Compact of 2004 between Governor Schwarzenegger and the California State Universities; and
WHEREAS, student fees have increased by nearly 70% since 2002; and
WHEREAS, the absence of a student fee buyout will result in a substantial student fee increases for 2008-09; and
WHEREAS, substantial student fee increases for 2008-09 increase economic barriers which severely limit the accessibility of the CSU system, and
WHEREAS, the absence of the student fee buyout combined with the funding gap creates a $386.1 million budget burden for the CSU system for 2008-09; and
WHEREAS, a $386.1 million reduction in funding creates a serious threat to the quality and per-capita availability of CSU student resources; and
WHEREAS, higher education is a profit-producing investment for the State of California for which every one dollar spent on higher education yields an average profit of four dollars and forty-three cents for the State of California, and
WHEREAS, in order to protect the future of California’s workforce, the state must maintain the quality and accessibility of higher education which entails providing the CSU system with adequate funding; and
WHEREAS, the California Post Secondary Education Commission has conducted numerous studies and produced various reports affirming that “Higher education is a key economic driver and source of innovation, as well as contributing to the quality of life enjoyed by the citizens of California system;” therefore so be it
RESOLVED, that the proposed $312.9 million reduction for 2008-09 be rejected in an effort to sustain the quality of the CSU system; and further be it
RESOLVED, that any further proposed budget cuts to the CSU system for 2008-09 be rejected; and further be it
RESOVLED, that a $73.2 million student fee buyout be allocated to address the growing inaccessibility of the CSU system; and further be it
RESOLVED, that the Governor’s proposed 2008-09 budget be restructured to provide $386.1 million in state funding to the CSU system in order to reflect higher education as a priority for California; and finally be it
RESOLVED, that this resolution is to be distributed widely including, but not limited to, the CSU Board of Trustees, the California State Student Association, the University of California Student Association, the California Department of Education, the California Post Secondary Education Commission, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, the California State Assembly and Senate specifically California State Assembly Member Shirley Horton, California State Senator Christine Kehoe, and San Diego State University President Stephen L. Weber.