PALM DESERT -- Passage of Proposition 55 earlier this month will result in a $54 million allocation for California State University, San Bernardino with some of that money earmarked for its Palm Desert campus.

California voters approved the $12.3 billion bond measure, which will provide money for construction and renovation of K-12 public schools, community colleges and the CSU and university of California systems.

Of the $54 million CSUSB will receive, $1.3 million will go to the Palm Desert campus for equipment and furniture for its second building, the Indian Wells Center for Educational Excellence, said Fred Jandt, dean of the local campus.

The building is under construction and scheduled to open for fall classes in September.

The Palm Desert campus is being built with money donated by cities, foundations and individuals and operated by CSU, which agreed to provide operating funds when the buildings are constructed.

"However, there are always needs for additional enhancements as the construction process continues and Proposition 55 will definitely help," Jandt said.

Jandt said the campus still needs to raise about $10 million in non-state money to construct a third building, which will house the nursing and health science programs.

The building opening in September will house teacher education programs.

The first building, which was completed in June 2002, consists of classrooms, computer labs, offices, a bookstore and a theater.

The Palm Desert Campus doesn’t expect to be affected by CSUSB’s decision to reduce incoming enrollment by 5 percent because of California’s ongoing fiscal crisis.

The local campus offers upper division courses and master’s and teaching certificate programs.

"The Palm Desert campus will accept all transfer students who meet our requirements and apply in a timely fashion," Jandt said.

But the campus can’t guarantee late admissions, he said.

CSUSB President Albert Karnig said the university will continue trying to meet as much of the Palm Desert Campus’ enrollment demand as it can.

The campus’ current enrollment is about 1,250.

University officials at the main campus said CSUSB’s overall enrollment in fall 2004 is expected to drop from 17,000 to about 16,000 students because CSU asked its 23 campuses to reduce enrollment targets by 5 percent for 2004-05.

CSUSB reduced its target for full-time equivalent students from 13,839 to 13,147 for fall.

Each full-time equivalent student represents 15 units of course work taken during a quarter.

"The enrollment reductions are intended to help assure that students continue to have access to the classes they need and protect their ability to make normal progress toward graduation," Karnig said.