ROHNERT PARK -- The president of Sonoma State University said Monday that a $5.2 million cut in SSU's budget will mean "major pain" in all campus divisions, including "increased workload for all employees."

Faculty members said they are worried about the workload and salary freezes, as well as the potential drain on college resources once a $39 million concert hall is built and operating.

Students said increased fees this year are taking their toll and lament that they are paying more for smaller class selection.

Tough times ahead -- that was the theme from administrators, faculty and students during convocation ceremonies at the university Monday, kicking off the school's 43rd academic year.

School President Ruben Armiñana said he foresees three to four more years of "difficult times" before California regains prosperity and stability.

The California State University system, with SSU and 22 other campuses, took a $345 million cut this year, equal to 13 percent of its $2.6 billion budget.

Class sizes rose and class numbers shrank, while 2,300 staff and faculty jobs were cut on the 23 campuses. There were no salary increases for state university employees, and student fees were boosted 30 percent.

"Students are going to be paying more and getting less," said Jason Spencer, president of SSU's Associated Students.

Injecting a note of levity, Spencer called for collaboration between students and faculty, "making sure that we pretend to enjoy each other's company."

Faculty members sounded off about the planned Green Music Center, expected to break ground in spring.

The 64,000-square-foot music center -- built in partnership with the Santa Rosa Symphony -- will be funded entirely by private donations.

But faculty members fear that the costs of operating the center and of expanding the music and arts departments to staff expected increases in students might be subtracted from SSU's other instructional programs.

"Concern is widespread among the faculty," said faculty Chairwoman Catherine Nelson. Speaking as the elected head of the 600-member SSU faculty, Nelson said the music center, patterned after Tanglewood in Massachusetts, may require a subsidy from college funds if ticket sales do not match operating expenses.

The state pays for utilities and maintenance of campus buildings, but whether ticket sales and other revenue will support the music center's programming is unknown, said Susan Kashack, SSU communications director.

The university does not expect to subsidize music center programming, but Kashack acknowledged that it could be necessary. Fund raising will help cover concert costs, she said.

Donations have now netted all but $4 million of the music center's $39 million cost, prompting hopes for a groundbreaking in the spring, Kashack said.

Despite their reservations about funding, Nelson said faculty members are not trying to block the music center, initially underwritten by a $10 million donation from Telecom Valley entrepreneurs Maureen and Don Green in 1997.

"I think the vision is worthwhile," Nelson told the convocation audience in the Person Theatre.

Eduardo Ochoa, SSU's new provost and vice president of academic affairs, said the center will help Sonoma State attract the foundation and donor support it will need to cope with the budget crunch.

A convocation to welcome new students will be held today, and classes for 8,000 students start Wednesday.