While University of California and California State University officials praised a long-term funding compact with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Tues-day, union leaders, student groups and Democratic lawmakers had a much different view.

"How anybody can be click-ing their heels about this deal, I don't know," said Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg, D-Los Angeles. "They have no guarantees."

"The people who spend their time in the classroom, the faculty and the students, are furious about this deal," said John Travis, president of the California Faculty Association, which represents CSU faculty.

University officials, though, defended the deal, saying it will provide much-needed financial stability for the state's public universities and maintains affordability and access to UC and CSU campuses.

Under the deal, UC and CSU have agreed to accept budget cuts Schwarzenegger proposed in January for the 2004-05 fiscal year. The cuts total $372 million to UC and $240 million to CSU. In return, the governor won't propose any deeper cuts in his May budget revision, due on Thursday, and has agreed to, in subsequent budget proposals, provide money for enrollment growth and salary increases through 2010-11.

UC President Robert Dynes said promises of future money for enrollment growth will mean the cuts that forced UC and CSU to defer more than 11,400 students into community colleges in the fall are "a one-time phenomenon."

The agreement also changes the size of tuition hikes called for next year, and sets up a long-term policy for subsequent years that officials say will guarantee any increases are moderate and predictable.

"This compact will provide stability in fees, so students will know what they can count on," said CSU Chancellor Charles Reed, who joined Schwarzenegger, Dynes and Education Secretary Richard Riordan in announcing the plan.

While the deal was struck between the governor and higher education leaders, the Legislature still holds the power to enact final spending in the budget. Goldberg said the agreement relies on future funds that may not be available.

Students weren't charmed by the deal, either.

"This is not a solution, but rather a sellout," said Matt Kaczmarek, a UCLA student who chairs the University of California Students Association. He said the compact doesn't do enough to protect outreach funding and the proposed fee increases are too high.

Jose Solache, president of the California State Student Association -- who has been working with CSU officials for the past several months to craft a systemwide long-term fee policy -- said he was disappointed to hear Reed had brokered the compact without students' input.

UC and CSU officials, though, were optimistic about the deal, saying it's a workable solution to a funding crisis that has chipped millions from university budgets.