The California State University Board of Trustees is backing Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's $15 billion bond measure as a way to avoid more funding cuts.

Trustees formally endorsed Proposition 57 at their meeting on Wednesday in Long Beach. The board sees the measure as a means of avoiding further cuts to higher education. Board member Robert Foster said it is "absolutely paramount for this thing to pass."

The board also endorsed Proposition 58, which is Schwarzenegger's measure to ensure a balanced budget.

The university system is already struggling to find ways to cope with $240 million in cutbacks proposed for this year. Last year the budget for the system was slashed by $531 million.

California State University Chancellor Charles Reed announced Tuesday that the financially strapped system will have to trim enrollment by 20,000 students in the fall.

The cut in enrollment will be spread among incoming freshman, graduate students, and those transferring into the system from community coillege or other institutions.