SAN BERNARDINO — The path may be rocky, but Cal State San Bernardino is going to keep on keeping on.

In his annual university convocation Thursday, Cal State San Bernardino President Albert K. Karnig warned of continued budget woes but assured faculty and staff members that the university has a lot to celebrate.

"Even given the budget problems, we're in good shape,' Karnig said. "We could see the financial train wreck coming and developed coping strategies to deal with it.'
Karnig's priorities for the year include renewing the five-year strategic plan, increasing federal grants and continuing to balance the budget.

The school has record enrollment this fall with 13,839 full-time equivalent students and received 24 percent more applications for freshmen this school year than last year.
Given the state budget crisis and the resulting freeze on enrollment growth for next year, these statistics are bittersweet for the college.

"Demand now far exceeds our ability to respond,' Karnig said.

The school also set a fund-raising record with $11.6 million in gifts, more than double the previous year. The school received more than $24 million in federal grants and contracts, a 65 percent increase over the previous year.

This money and careful planning help with the budget cuts. But the future is uncertain. The budget problems could get worse, Karnig said, but predicting what will happen is impossible.

"We need to keep trucking,' Karnig said. "That's what we need to do.'
And the school is. Several construction projects are slated for the next two years, including the science annex, student recreation center, student union remodeling, campus housing and a building for the College of Education.

The university will also start working to create an ombudsman system. An ombudsman is an independent, impartial and credible person who receives and investigates complaints. Karnig wants to clarify and simplify complaint procedures at the university and will begin issuing an annual report on the number and nature of complaints and grievances. Several faculty members protested the current complaint system earlier this year, saying it was confusing.

At the ceremony, Karnig also discussed his six-year review, which was favorable, and the Western Association of Colleges and Schools accreditation report. The report, issued in April, praised the administration, faculty, students and the school's organizational structure and academic support programs. The three areas suggested for further improvement were: diversity, student advising and funding the strategic plan.

Karnig also celebrated employee achievement and honored several outstanding staff members.