The following statement can be attributed to CSU Chancellor Mildred García:
“The California State University (CSU) recognizes the state's current fiscal challenges due to a severe revenue decline, yet remains committed to improving student success and addressing our state's workforce demands.
Governor Newsom's January budget proposal for 2024-25 provides a restructured approach that includes a one-year funding delay for the CSU, to be later backfilled with one-time and ongoing funding by the state. Given the state's economic circumstances, the governor's plan endeavors to both acknowledge the financial commitment to the CSU and our students and takes steps to resolve the budget deficit.
This proposal would deliver the same level of funding per fiscal year as originally outlined in the compact, although with additional risk to the CSU if the state's budget condition further erodes and the state cannot fulfill this restructured commitment.
Recognizing this, the CSU will honor and work toward fulfilling the goals outlined in the original multi-year compact. We will explore our funding options to advance compact-related goals during the one-year delay and will proceed with financial prudence as we review the impacts and implications of this budget proposal."
On January 10, 2024, Governor Newsom proposed a state budget that would defer the 2024-25 CSU compact funding commitment of approximately $240 million by one year—until fiscal year 2025-26—to help address the state budget shortfall. Reiterating his commitment to the CSU and to advance compact-related goals, the governor proposes to reimburse the CSU with a one-time payment of approximately $240 million at the start of fiscal year 2025-26, in addition to resuming ongoing compact funding.
About the California State University
The California State University is the nation's largest four-year public university system, providing transformational opportunities for upward mobility to more than 450,000 students from all socioeconomic backgrounds. More than half of CSU students are people of color, and nearly one-third of them are first-generation college students. Because the CSU's 23 universities provide a high-quality education at an incredible value, they are rated among the best in the nation for promoting social mobility in national college rankings from U.S. News & World Report, the Wall Street Journal and Washington Monthly. The CSU powers California and the nation, sending nearly 127,000 career-ready graduates into the workforce each year. In fact, one in every 20 Americans holding a college degree earned it at the CSU. Connect with and learn more about the CSU in the CSU newsroom.