The deadline to apply for a spring 2011 start at California State University should have passed Tuesday, but has been extended to Sept. 27 due to uncertainties with the state budget. Along with that deadline extension, the CSU system announced that applicants will not be notified as to their admission status until “shortly after” the Sept. 27 deadline.

The lack of a state budget has complicated this year’s CSU application process from the start.

The CSU system hopes to enroll more than 29,000 new students this spring, as in a typical year, should Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposed budget be adopted. That budget includes the restoration of $305 million in funding and an additional $60.6 million to fund enrollment expansion. While the funds would increase enrollment, they would not fully replenish the CSU budget after a $625 million cut a year ago.

The constitutional deadline to adopt this year’s budget passed on June 15. Schwarzenegger and lawmakers disagree on how to best close a $19.1 billion deficit, with the governor refusing to sign a budget without state pension, tax, and spending reforms.

On Tuesday, the final regular day of this legislative session, debate resumed on two budget proposals, but neither garnered the required two-thirds vote to pass. Both budget proposals failed with party-line votes.

Without an adopted budget, CSU campuses remain unsure as to how many students they can enroll. If funding is not restored to the CSU, campuses may take on no new students for spring 2011, just as they closed spring 2010 admissions system-wide.

Applicants won’t be left empty-handed should the state elect not to fully fund the CSU. If no new students are admitted, applicants can request their admission application be changed to the fall 2011 term, or may request their application be withdrawn and their application fee be refunded.

For more information, visit www.csumentor.edu