Message to the Campus from President Alexander Gonzalez (7/9/09)

Following Monday’s special meeting of the California State University Board of Trustees, I want to provide you with an update on the budget situation.

At the meeting, the trustees examined potential approaches for dealing with the expected cuts in state funding, including furloughs. They also discussed action items that could be voted on at their meeting on July 21.

Unfortunately, until the state budget is finalized, we won’t know the full extent of the cut for either the system or our campus. I know this uncertainty about furloughs and other possible budget reductions is very frustrating and unnerving, so when these plans are decided, I will let you know as soon as I can.

Here is what we know now:

• No decision has been made on how we would implement any furloughs or other reductions. Too many uncertainties remain.
• The Chancellor’s Office is continuing to negotiate with labor unions on its proposal to furlough all employees (except public safety) for two days a month, which would reduce expenditures by $275 million and save 22,000 course sections, or about 15 percent of our classes, for fall across the system.
• The campus has also been directed to not accept any new students for Spring 2010.  We are in the process of defining what the implications will be for the campus, but students who are already admitted will be able to remain at Sacramento State.
• The state’s economic conditions have made it clear that we will be dealing with these severe financial hardships for at least the next two years, and we must plan our budgets accordingly.
• Our top priorities continue to be preserving academic quality and protecting as many positions as possible.

Today, I am meeting with the University Budget Advisory Committee, and we are continuing our work to address these cuts. I will also be back at the Chancellor’s Office on Monday, and I will send another update after that.

Thank you for your continued patience and hard work.

Sincerely,

Alexander Gonzalez
President