2004/05 Support Budget Proposal 
“When policy makers are asked to identify the biggest
issues in higher education, they often cite college costs
and high tuitions or access for underserved students. But
although those issues are important, resolving them will make
little difference if college and universities don’t
deliver high-quality education.”
William F. Massey, Professor Emeritus
Education and Business Administration
Stanford University
CSU’s pursuit of funding needed to preserve the quality
and caliber of its educational programs appreciates the current
status of fiscal forces shaping the State’s economy
while acknowledging the tremendous importance Californians
place on dedicating a majority of State resources towards
academic instruction and graduates who fuel a welleducated,
highly-skilled workforce. Financially, the State has endeavored
to achieve these goals through a Statewide proposition that
earmarks 40 percent of annual resources toward K-14 education,
and for the past nine years on the basis of a Partnership
Agreement with public higher education that focused on outcome-based
accountability linked to funding commitments of specified
percentage increases over prior year appropriations that support
institutional operations and accommodate enrollment growth.
The CSU budget request for 2004/05 is based on the State’s
commitment to the Partnership Agreement. It emphasizes funding
required for mandatory cost obligations that must be satisfied
regardless of the provision of new resources, and delineates
the financial commitment the Partnership Agreement defines
as the minimum level of support needed to maintain the quality
of CSU’s educational programs. The 2004/05 request also
identifies the resources that are needed to sustain and improve
the caliber of CSU academic programs and the delivery of instruction,
as well as increase the outreach activities that assist students
in their academic preparation and progress to degree. Enrollment
growth is based on projections of demand forecast by the Department
of Finance. Compensation increases are requested to keep employee
salaries at competitive levels for recruitment and retention. |
