Extension of Graduate Differential Funding to All
Graduate FTES

AS-2787-07/FGA/AA - March 8-9, 2007

RESOLVED: That the Academic Senate of the California State University (ASCSU) commend the Chancellor, the Governor, and the Legislature for their recognition of the higher cost of graduate education through their 2006 support of the graduate fee differential; and be it further

RESOLVED: That ASCSU urge the Chancellor and CSU Board of Trustees to make every effort to encourage the Governor and State Legislature to fund all CSU graduate FTES at the graduate differential rate; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the Chancellor utilize all CSU friends and constituencies to aid in the effort to inform the Governor and Legislature of the importance of adequate funding for graduate programs; and be it further

RESOLVED: That this resolution be forwarded to campus presidents and campus academic senates to urge their support for graduate differential funding for all graduate FTES.

RATIONALE: Graduate education has long been one of the high quality educational opportunities offered by the CSU to the citizens of California. Traditionally, the additional cost of providing graduate programs has not been recognized by the California Legislature in their funding of the CSU. Beginning in the 2006-2007 academic year, this oversight was partially rectified by funding graduate education in the CSU at an increased level. The graduate differential rate attempts to fund graduate FTES at a rate which more accurately reflects the higher cost of offering graduate education in CSU. The graduate differential rate, however, only applies to graduate enrollments above a baseline established by the campus graduate enrollments for the 2005-2006 academic year. Therefore, only FTES enrollment above the baseline will be funded at the differential rate. This baseline formula fails to fully fund the cost of graduate education in the CSU. On established campuses with large graduate enrollments prior to 2006-2007, only the small percentage of graduate FTES falling above the baseline will be funded according to the new formula for the graduate differential rate. Newer, smaller campuses which elect to rapidly grow graduate FTES, however, will benefit to a much greater extent from the graduate differential rate due to their low baseline.

Graduate education requires more faculty and staff resources regardless of a student’s position above or below the baseline. The only way the CSU can continue to provide a high quality graduate education to every student is to acknowledge the increased cost of post baccalaureate education through application of the graduate differential rate to all enrolled graduate FTES. The CSU has taken an initial step towards encouraging the Legislature to fund the high cost of graduate education by securing funding at the graduate differential rate for FTES above the baseline. The necessary next step is to urge the Legislature to fund all enrolled graduate FTES at the graduate differential rate.