CSUDH Update from President Hagan:
January 11, 2013
Dear Campus Community,
This morning Governor Brown announced his proposed budget for the 2013-14 fiscal year. The budget indicates a renewed investment in higher education by the State of California with a proposed $125.1 million increase to the California State University system.
The budget for the CSU also reinstates $125 million that was cut from last year’s budget but that was anticipated to be restored in 2013-14 with the successful passage of the Proposition 30 tax initiative. These proposed increases totaling $250.1 million would bring state funding to $2.2 billion for the support of CSU programs and operations.
We applaud the Governor's commitment to reinvesting in higher education and recognition that California benefits from a highly educated workforce and citizenry. The proposed budget will help us to meet the current high demand for quality education, as well as areas of critical need and puts the CSU and our university in a better position than it has been in over the last few years. With these proposed increases to our budget, as well as looking at new sources of revenue streams at the campus level, we are encouraged and hopeful that we will begin to see an improved fiscal outlook.
Over the past several years, state support for higher education has diminished, with more than 30 percent of state funding cut from the CSU and CSUDH’s budgets. Systemwide and campus cost saving measures have included tuition increases, employee furloughs and layoffs, enrollment limits, deferred maintenance, travel restrictions, and other efficiencies. The proposed $250.1 million additional funding to the CSU does not equal the $371.9 million budget increase the CSU requested for the upcoming fiscal year in order to meet its programs and operating expenses, so we will need to continue to look at creative ways to reduce expenditures and operate efficiently while focusing on supporting our students and their educational needs.
We must keep in mind that changes can be made between now and the time the budget is adopted in June, so it is still too early to know the exact financial impact to CSU Dominguez Hills. I will provide regular communications as more information becomes available.
Thank you for your continuing commitment to our students and the university. I look forward to working with you in the upcoming semester. If you have any questions about the budget, please contact Vice President Mary Ann Rodriguez at marodriguez@csudh.edu.
Sincerely,
Dr. Willie J. Hagan
President