At the President’s Convocation at the beginning of the fall semester, I noted that at my request the vice presidents were developing a three-year budget plan for 2009 through 2012. This plan will ensure that the University can maintain academic quality and excellence for what we project will remain a tight budget environment in the coming years.
An important component of this effort due to declining resources is to methodically continue reducing the University’s enrollment over the next two years while also maintaining a strong infrastructure if conditions and expectations change.
Under the leadership of Vice President for Student Affairs Terry Piper, an enrollment management plan for 2010–11 and 2011-12 has been submitted that meets these goals, which I have approved. I am pleased to share this plan with the campus community, which you will find linked at the Campus Budget News website and which can be downloaded directly from here as a PDF document.
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More than a year ago, in spring 2008, following campus consultation and the recommendation of the Student Fee Advisory Committee, I approved the implementation of the Campus Quality Fee for California State University, Northridge. The purpose of the fee and the means by which the funds would be managed are fully described at the Campus Quality Fee website, but the main focus of the fee has been to benefit and enhance the learning experience of our students.
A year later, I am pleased to report that the fee has given the University an opportunity to provide programs and services for students that would not have been otherwise possible. The current budget environment has made the availability of these funds especially crucial and timely. Students have expressed appreciation for the enhanced services and opportunities that the Campus Quality Fee has made possible.
A complete list of the Campus Quality Fee allocations for 2008-09 and the current academic year, 2009-10, can be found at the program’s website, but below are a few that particularly have made a difference in the lives of students:
24/7 Library access: This allocation allowed the Oviatt Library to remain open 24 hours during finals week to give students an opportunity to focus on their exams and final projects.
Computer access: Fee money has been made available to upgrade computers in places like the Library and Music Technology Lab.
Wi-Fi access: Last year, funding was provided to enhance wi-fi access in outdoor areas and campus facilities not covered by state funding; this year, funding was allocated to upgrade wireless support in housing.
Academic support services: Allocations have been provided to support peer learning assistants, professional writing support and tutoring services, and a graduate assistant for a technology lab.
Spirit and environment: Funding has been made available for the Matador Spirit Plaza, the USU North Quad Student Gathering Space, and the College Student Facilities Enhancement Project.
The University is committed to offering a high quality of support for students as they progress toward graduation. However, especially in a constrained budget environment like the one we are currently experiencing, it’s difficult to fund every worthwhile project and initiative that would serve to advance this goal. The Campus Quality Fee provides a much needed and flexible supplement for the University’s efforts that directly benefit students.
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During the last recent Board of Trustees meeting of the California State University (CSU) on September 22, I had the great pleasure to attend the Trustee dinner honoring the 2009-10 student recipients of the William Randolph Hearst/CSU Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement. A student recipient is selected from each CSU campus and receives a scholarship award. Recipients are selected for outstanding academic performance, exemplary community service, and significant personal achievements in the face of adversity.
Cal State Northridge’s award recipient this year is Megan Saracini. This extraordinary young woman overcame serious challenges as a young child—including cancer and a home family life that provided little support and nurturing—to become a focused individual who is committed to personal success and serving the community.
As an example of her work, she is a peer counselor in the Counseling Center for Joint Advocates on Disordered Eating on campus, as well as a peer educator in the Counseling Center. She volunteers with Upward Bound, which helps give underprivileged high school students the skills and discipline to succeed in college. Through her leadership as survivorship chair of the Colleges Against Cancer Committee on campus, her club has raised more than $22,000 for the American Cancer Society. She spent spring break helping to rebuild New Orleans. This amazing young woman also identifies 9/11 as another turning point in her life, which occurred just three weeks after she moved to New York City. She spent the next several months after the tragedy volunteering to provide assistance to police, firefighters, and emergency responders.
Amazingly, even with her numerous activities and commitments, and the serious personal obstacles she has had to overcome, she has become a top student at the University! At the reception, Megan told me she loves being at Cal State Northridge—her goal is to become a psychologist specializing in art therapy and to teach on campus.
While Megan is an amazing role model for all of us, her story is also representative of many of our students, who place a value on hard work, the value of education, and the need to give back to the community.
Please join me in congratulating Megan on receiving this distinguished award and for being so exemplary of Cal State Northridge.
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