Monday, December 13, 2010

Students will have to dig deeper into their pockets


The California State University Board of Trustees announced a two-step 15 percent hike in undergraduate tuition, next year to sustain enrollment, classes and services for current students.
In January, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposed state budget for 2010-11 assumed a 10-percent increase in CSU tuition and in June, CSU trustees adopted a 5-percent increase that was delayed from last year.

In a statement released on Nov. 10, the CSU Trustees voted to charge an additional mid-year increase of five percent-or $105- for 2010-11 that will go into effect Jan. 1, 2011 for the winter/spring terms. Also, trustees adopted a 10 percent- or $444- annual increase for the 2011-12 academic year effective for fall 2011
Students will pay an estimated $549 more for classes by Fall 2011, and tuition will rise from $4,440 to $4,884 a year.
The fees will raise an additional $27 million this year and $121.5 million next year

According to The Board of Trustees, the new money is essential to maintain the quality of the Cal State education and will allow campuses to add 3,000 courses for winter and spring 2011, and increase enrollment despite reduced state support in previous years.

Mary Stephens, Vice President for Administration and Finance said, “Part of the funding we received was a one-time $106 federal stimulus money that helped us open spring enrollment and allowed admittance for 30,000 students.”
 Stephens added, “But since it is a one-time fund once we spend it, it is gone, and the students will still be on our campuses.”
Despite an approved new budget for the 2010-11 term, that restored $105 million in one-time federal stimulus funds, the CSU system will remain short of millions.
Maggie Wang, Director of Budget Management said, “Compounding this problem, the state directed the CSU to sharply boost enrollments.  The additional students being admitted this spring term will still need classes and services in 2011-12.”

Ted Kadowaki, Asssociate Vice President for Budget and University Services said, “The CSU's state funding was cut $625 million in the most recent years preceding 2010-11.  While the CSU received a partial restoration of about $260 million in state funding in 2010-11, this restoration still falls $365 million short of the total cut.”  

Stephens said, “It’s only when we don’t get money from the state, then we have to increase fees, if we have been appropriately funded by the state the trustees wouldn’t of made this increases.”
Kadowaki added,  “Tuition increases are never popular amongst students and their parents.  However, given the fiscal realities being faced by the California State University, the only other choices are to restrict student access or diminish the quality of programs, neither of which serves the needs of California."
“Without the additional revenues made possible by recent tuition increases, it would not be possible to provide adequate classes and services for students to move timely toward graduation,” he added.
Wang added, “Federal data confirm that CSU campuses are among the most efficient in the country based on expenditures per full time equivalent student and expenditures per annual number of awarded degrees.  The CSU always looks for ways to economize, but CSU operations are already lean.”

According to the CSU Trustees an estimated 180,000 students-approximately half of all CSU undergrads, will be fully covered for the tuition increases due to financial aid. 
Kadowaki added, “The CSU takes many steps to ensure that tuition levels remain moderate and students with financial need are protected from the effects of tuition increases.  Almost half of all undergraduate students do not pay tuition at all, due to CSU grants, fee waivers, and Cal Grants.”

However, a large population that does not qualify for financial aid due to their legal status are the thousands of AB 540 students the CSU system admits each year.

Stephens said, “In regard to AB 540 students it is very problematic, we only charge them in-state tuition, which is less than a fraction of what an out of state student will pay."

She continued, “Legally we cannot fund them (AB 540) with financial aid, which makes it difficult for us, not being able to provide them with any help.”


  

DREAM Act: Support Students To Obtain a Path to Legalization


     The purpose of the Development, Relief and Education of Alien Minors Act (DREAM Act). Will give an opportunity to undocumented immigrants students who have been living in the U.S. since they were young a path to legalization. For those who have chosen to attend a higher education institute or the military service. It will enable them to contribute back to the country with their learned sills. According to the Migration Policy Institute an estimated 825,000 immigrants would benefit from the Act.
Criteria for a young person to qualify for conditional relief and eventually permanent relief include:
*Entry into the U.S. before the age of 16;
*Presence in the U.S. for five consecutive years;
*Completion of high school (through graduation or G.E.D.) or acceptance into college;
*Being between 12 and 35 years of age at the time of application; and
*Establishment of "good moral character" as defined under immigration law.

Image Source: tucsoncitizen.com
Criteria info source: Maldef.org



Friday, December 10, 2010

Child Development Center annual action

The Isabel Patterson Child Development Center held its annual silent action Dec. 3, to ease financial reductions.
           
The childcare center annual auction is one of the many event organized that helps ease the funds deducted due to budget cuts.           
           
Disneyland tickets, gift baskets and a zipline part for 20 were a few of the items up for bid.

Venues like The Aquarium of the Pacific, In-N-Out, and It’s a Grind, were some of the supporters who donated items for the auction.

Many of the people who assisted the event were students, and parents of the children who use the facility.

According to the Daily 49er the auction has been running annually since the 1980s and continues to be supported by many.

In an article in the Daily 49er Liz Recendez, Officer Coordinator for the Child Development Center, said, “Generally speaking, we take in around $3,000.”

Transit Reductions affect CSULB students



The Long Beach Transit has been dealing with service reductions, due to budget reductions.
Every day hundreds of students rely on the Transit system as their main form of transportation to and from school or work.
Approximately three percent of Transit service hours will consist of longer wait times between buses on certain routes and fewer buses to accommodate Long Beach students, and residents.

CSULB students who have been using the U-Pass program, are now waiting longer for busses to pass by, some students are arriving late to class and getting home later.
Jose Chavez, sociology major, said, “I have been noticing that the buses have been getting here a little later, but since I don’t have a car, I just have to wait on the bus, to take me home (Gardena).”

Route 181-182 and Passport B/ 4th Street will now have a 30-minute wait, prior to 15 minutes before.

In a press release Larry Jackson, President and CEO of Long Beach Transit, said, “What we are seeing here first-hand is the impact of not only the economy but the state’s decision to implement major cuts in transit funding as it struggles to keep its own budget balanced.” 

Image Source: csulb.edu

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Increased class offerings for Spring 2011


     

            
            CSULB students will see an increase in class offerings for the up incoming Spring 2011 semester.

The increase in additional classes is due to the additional $199 million in restored funding, that the California State University’s (CSU) were provided with. The funding given also, consisted with an additional $60.6 million for future enrollment growth.

       The combination of these funds will allow the CSU campuses to admit up to 30,000 additional students for the winter, spring, and fall 2011 terms.

            Students will be able to register for up to 18 units,   instead of the usual 16 units.

The Journalism Department will be benefiting by the increase in courses. Journalism students may now register for a new course, Advertising Principles & Development.

            Raul Reis, Chair of the Department of Journalism & Mass Communication, said, “We feel as faculty we should offer more classes to prepare our students for the workforce, ” he added,  “I talked to the Dean about adding the new class, he gave the department full support, and was excited about adding the new class.”

Image source: csulb.edu

Sunday, December 5, 2010

You've got Mail: CSULB Launches BeachMail



      California State University, Long Beach will launch BeachMail, the new Microsoft Live@edu student e-mail system on December 1, 2010.

     Students can now activate BeachMail account, a system that  will offer greater storage capacity, and improved spam filter, and e-mail access on mobile phones.
              
             
         To ease the transition to BeachMail, students will continue to have access to their existing @csulb.edu account for the next few months. E-mail messages can be moved from the @csul.edu to the new BeachMail accounts. 

        Mary Stephens, Vice President for Administration and Finance, said, “The new e-mail system has long been anticipated for. It will provide a more efficient and organized way for students to contact their professors.”

      Many students are already activating their accounts like Engineering student, Carlos Ayon said, “I just found out about the new e-mail system, when I went to activate my account it was pretty easy, I haven’t used it but, I will as soon as I get the hang of it.”

Visit www.csulb.edu/beachmailhelp for instructions on activating BeachMail.
Image source: mailsender.com.br


CSU Trustees Approve 15% Tuition Increase


         The California State University Board of Trustees approved a two-step tuition increase needed to sustain enrollment, classes and services for students, on November 10, 2010.

        Trustees approved a mid-year increase of five percent or $105-for 2010-11 that will go into effean. 1, 2011 for the winter and spring terms.


In addition, the Trustees adopted a 10 percent or $444 annual increase for fall 2011-12 academic years that would become effective for fall 2011. 
In a press release Dr. Benjamin F. Quillian, CSU executive vice chancellor for business and finance said, “While we appreciate the funding that we did receive in this year’s budget, the reality is our state support is roughly the same as it was five years ago and we have 25,000 more students.”
According to The CSU Trustees vote, there was a 14 to 2 vote to adopt the mid-year tuition increase. Also the Trustees voted 13-3 to adopt the 2011-2012 tuition increases.
For those students pursuing higher education, they have seen an increased by 280 percent over the last 10 years in cost of tuition


For any questions or concerns students may contact:
Bursar’s Office, Student Account Services: BH-155 at (562) 985-8280

Image Source: ocregister.com
Image Source: ocregister.com




Sunday, October 17, 2010

New Budget (2010-2011) restores hope

The California State University announced the states new budget for the term of 2010-2011.

The 2010-2011 California state budget will restore $199 million to the California State University and provide an additional $60.6 million for enrollment growth.
The final budget will increase the system's General Fund support from $2.35 billion (2009-2010) to $2.62 billion. An increase hasn't been made since 2007, restoring hope in higher education.
In a press release CSULB President F. King Alexander said, “These additional funds which restore about 30 percent of the budget reductions that we have been forced to endure recently are very much welcomed, especially in light of the fact that California faced a $19 billion fiscal deficit.”
Students around campus are suggesting where the funds should be used.
Karen Rodriguez, nursing major said, “I think that the state should come up with a solution to lower the cost of tuition, for those who don't qualify for financial aid.”







Textbook prices are sky high



CSULB student body, resort to online websites to purchase books due to high prices on campus.

Every semester students meticulously scan their textbook list, and head out to the student bookstore. For the student body at CSULB, the student bookstore has become a painful experience, leaving them with a hole in their pocket and a bitter taste.

Over the past years students spending on course materials have increased, according to the National Association of College Store, “students report spending an average of $667 on required course materials.”

Fewer students are purchasing their books at the student bookstore and complaints of exploitative prices are making students look for other ways to save money.

Jewel Thompson, health science major, said, “Textbook prices continue to go up, it's ridiculous they are ripping students off.”

Students are resorting to websites like Amazon and Half.com to find textbooks at a lower cost, making these websites convenient, efficient, and popular among students.


Data Collected by Vivian Aguirre
50 CSULB students were asked, where they were purchasing their textbooks from. 
Results: 28-Online, 17-Student Book Store and 5-other locations.

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Economy Affects College Students



CSULB students continue to be affected by the declining economy and increased student fees.

A year ago the CSU Board of Trustees increased student fees for 2009-2010, as part of an overall plan to address the massive $584 million budget deficit. Earlier in the year a 5 percent increase in tuition was announced, making students jaws drop to the floor.

The struggling U.S. economy is affecting students nationally, but closer to home CSULB, undocumented students or also known as AB540 students are dealing with financial difficulties, lack of adequate financial aid and struggling to make ends meads.

Eliana Quintero, a sociology major, is dealing with the financial strain to continue her journey in pursuing higher education.

"Its frustrating to be in this situation, I don't qualify for financial aid so every semester, my family and I struggle to complete tuition payments," she said. 

"My parents are street vendors, so money is limited in my house. Sometimes, I cry out of frustration trying to figure out paying for school," Quintero added.





                                            Dream Act Supporters



Sunday, October 3, 2010

Budget looking up

CSULB will re-open spring enrollment for prospective students this upcoming February.

After the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provided an increase in educational fund on a national level by approximately $224 billion, educational funds were designated towards the recovery of the CSU system budget and improve the education of millions of students. 

The CSU system received an installment of $106 million awarded by the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund on Sept. 16, 2010, which has enabled CSULB to open spring enrollment.

Mary Stephens, Vice President for Administration and Finance, said, “We are very pleased that we are able to take more students for the upcoming semester.”

The funds will allow CSULB administration to stretch and improve the budget while evaluating and distributing the funds where most needed.


“Our first priority is always the classroom. The funds will be used towards equipment, adding additional classes to accommodate those who are enrolling next spring, and increase the amount of advising,” Stephens added. 














 Image: www.dipity.com/

Monday, September 27, 2010

Testing 1-2-3 Journalism 311

The most exciting thing that I did this weekend was going to Santa Monica, Third Street Promenade with my boyfriend to do a little shopping.(je t'aime)I had an amazing time looking around for a cute Juicy Couture sweater.  Everything was going well until we went inside the Apple store, that place smelled disgusting! They should seriously consider spraying some Febreze or something on their customers. My conscience is clear I smelled like Marc Jacobs Daisy perfume.