"A wholesale transformation
of the campus lies ahead ..."
A "wholesale transformation" of the campus lies ahead for Sonoma State University as it deals with an unprecedented $12.5 million budget cut for the 2009-10 academic year due to the state budget crisis. SSU's General Fund budget for the 2008-2009 academic year was $93 million.
Associate Provost Melinda Barnard says the campus will work together to ensure the core mission of the University as a liberal arts college will be maintained despite the challenges ahead.
Cutbacks will be made in the following areas to cope with the $12.5 million deficit:
Student fee hikes: Full-time undergraduate student fees have been raised by the CSU to $672 per academic year and non-resident tuition by $990 per academic year beginning fall 2009. For SSU-specific fees, visit http://www.sonoma.edu/ar/registration/Fees.shtml.
Spring semester admissions: Spring 2010 semester admissions have been halted. Qualified students are encouraged to be ready for the application period for fall 2010 beginning Oct. 1, 2009 at http://www.csumentor.edu.
Enrollment reduction: A reduction of 450 full time equivalent students will be made over the next one to two years to save $4.7 million. SSU’s enrollment will be reduced to 7050.
Furloughs: Furloughs for 714 staff, 303 lecturers and 270 tenured or tenure-track faculty are estimated to save $6.3 million. They are expected to last one year from Aug. 1 - June 30. Details of the furlough plan can be found at http://www.sonoma.edu/uaffairs/furloughs.shtml.
Extended Education: Plans for January 2010 Intersession are underway and some degree programs will be available through the School of Extended Education in spring. Spring 2010 applications for Extended Education academic programs are being accepted. This is possible since the School is a self-sustaining unit that does not rely on state funding. For information about offerings, contact Barbara Brooks at 707/664-2691 or visit online at http://www.sonoma.edu/exed/
General campus cutbacks: The remaining $1.5 million cuts needed will come from a reduction in campus expenses not associated with reductions in enrollment or furloughs.
