Message to the Campus from President Alexander Gonzalez (7/22/09)

To All Members of the Campus Community: 

Tuesday’s meeting of the California State University Board of Trustees has given us some clarity as we work to cope with the state budget crisis. 

The board approved a 20 percent increase in student fees that will be implemented for the upcoming fall semester. This was a heart-wrenching decision, but we are facing unprecedented reductions in state funding, and there are no easy solutions for closing our budget gap.

The board also approved changes to Title 5 that allow for furloughs of management and non-represented employees. That move, coupled with the California State University Employees Union’s ratification of a furlough agreement, means that we must proceed with a furlough plan for the affected employees. As a result of the furloughs, those employees should prepare for a reduction of a little more than 10 percent beginning with the August pay period.  We are finalizing details of that plan, and as soon as it is approved, we will provide all of that information to you. I thank you for your patience during this troubling time. 

 For the latest information, please continue visiting Public Affairs’ Budget Central website at www.csus.edu/pa/budget. We are also sending out information via our YouTube <www.youtube.com/sacramentostate> and Facebook <www.facebook.com/sacramentostate> pages. 

Sincerely, 

Alexander Gonzalez 
President