CSUN University News Clippings

CSUF to reinstate 264 courses this spring

(October 28, 2009)

By FERMIN LEAL
Published: 10/27/09

Cal State Fullerton will receive $1.6 million in federal stimulus money that will allow the campus to reinstate 264 courses and rehire some lecturers this spring, officials said today.

The courses will be spread throughout the university’s eight colleges, said spokeswoman Paula Selleck. The actual courses have not yet been determined, but priority will be placed on those aimed for juniors and seniors to help them graduate on time, Selleck said.

Officials are also working on determining how many lecturers may be rehired.

The one-time federal funding will only allow the university to reinstate the courses and lecturers for this spring semester. The courses and jobs could be lost again next fall without additional funding sources, Selleck said.

The courses had been eliminated earlier this year as part of $54.5 million in budget cuts approved for the 36,292-student university. Other cuts included hiring and pay freezes, furloughs and enrollment cuts.

Despite the reinstatement of 264 courses, university officials will keep to plans to not enroll any new students this spring, Selleck said. Fall enrollment will likely also be cut further even as more than 50,000 applications are anticipated.

The federal stimulus funds are part of $25 million allocated by the California State University to campuses to provide additional course sections and classes for students, as well as student support services.

Statewide, CSU campuses will add up to approximately 4,000 additional course sections and potentially retain up to 800 lecturers for the winter/spring term.

The federal government allocated a total of $77.5 million last week in one-time funding for the CSU system to meet its payroll. CSU will be able to use monies from state support and student fee revenues previously set aside for payroll to add the course sections.

The CSU will reserve the remainder of the funds against what continues to be uncertainty about the state’s fiscal condition.

Publication: Orange County Register