Cal Poly President Warren Baker’s announcement last week to delay his approval for an increase of college-based fees (CBFs) came after a request by the California State University Chancellor’s Office, said Provost Robert Koob.
Students approved the increase in an advisory ballot on March 10 and 11 by an overwhelming 78 percent. More than 48 percent of the student body voted after months of debate and several campus-wide forums that discussed the need for additional funding in light of a $3.5 million university budget deficit.
“It was the Chancellor’s advice to the president that he delay his decision until after we gain some clarity about the fiscal future of the state of California and until the Board of Trustees have made some decision about the state university fees,” Koob said Monday. He said the decision was likely to occur in July.
“We have neither been confirmed nor denied a fee by anyone,” he added. “The decision has just been delayed.”
A spokesperson for Chancellor Charles B. Reed’s office said Monday that he decided to wait and see how federal stimulus funds and the upcoming state special election will affect the CSU budget before passing the increase on to students.
“The chancellor is making every effort to be sensitive to the financial pressures students and their families face during this (hard) economic time,” said Teresa Ruiz, public affairs communications specialist for the Chancellor’s Office.
“In light of this, Chancellor Reed has asked all campuses to place any possible campus-based fees on hold until we have more information about how the state budget will affect the 2009-10 CSU budget. There are still uncertainties as to how the federal stimulus package will impact the CSU’s 23 campuses, and it is also unclear as to how the propositions on the May 19 special election ballot will affect the general fund,” she said.
Ruiz added that further information on how the state budget will affect CSU campuses, including Cal Poly, should be available in the next few months.
In light of students and faculty questions as to why the Chancellor’s Office did not speak up sooner if it was not prepared to allow the increase, especially given that the state budget was in question months ago, Koob said that it’s “a big mystery.”
“I have no clue as to why we went through all of this and were able to make the case and have such a marvelous result – I mean the students couldn’t have spoken louder – and then to be told after the fact that the timing was poor,” Koob said.
“That’s unfortunate, but I have no reason why it turned out that way. A lot of time and energy was put into making the case a clear one,” he said.
Koob said that although the fee increase has been postponed, the university will continue to schedule fall classes with the assumption there will be a funding increase, but will also begin planning for the worst-case scenario.
“It is my understanding that (lecturers) contracts read ‘subject to available funding.’ And if we do not get the fee increase the funding will not be available, then we’ll have to find some alternative way to schedule the classes,” Koob said. “I am optimistic that the rest of the world will eventually see that this is a good deal for the students and a good deal for them and that everybody actually winds up better off as a result of it, and just have faith that it happens. But you have to plan for the best and prepare for the worst.”
“I’ve tried to be very clear to the ASI board that I’ve made a commitment to students to make certain that the university was not a barrier to their graduation, regardless of whether the fee was implemented or not,” he said.
Without an increase in funding by this fall, the different colleges within the university will have to cut back on part-time faculty and the number of sections offered.
After months spent lobbying the College Fee Advisory Committee (CFAC) and student body for the fee increase, College of Liberal Arts Dean Linda Halisky, whose college stands to be one of the hardest-hit by budget cuts in the fall, expressed her frustration at the chancellor’s decision.
“I am disappointed and kind of worried because what we presented is our best guess of what the shortfall will be,” Halisky said. “I’m hoping the decision will be made and we can go forward.”
“The chancellor is in a position where he feels it’s appropriate to delay the fee increase because of the economic climate and issues with the state budget,” said ASI President and CFAC Chair Angela Kramer.
“But it’s unfortunate because now we’re sitting in limbo and can’t move forward. However, we are part of the CSU system and respect the chancellor’s request,” Kramer added.
In an e-mail sent to all Cal Poly students last Wednesday, Baker said, “As events unfold at the state level, I will continue to consult with student leaders before making a final decision on implementing fee increases.”
The increase passed by the student body would see CBFs raised to $362 per quarter starting this fall, with possible additional increases of another $100 each year, capping at $562 per quarter in 2011.