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CSU system to admit 30,000 new students in spring term
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Though the State of California has yet to finalize a budget, the California State University system announced Monday it will admit up to 30,000 students for the Winter/Spring 2011 terms.

"The mission of the CSU is to educate California's students and despite the uncertainty surrounding the budget, we need to provide services as best as we can," said CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed. "We remain optimistic that the legislature is committed to higher education and that the final budget will restore the necessary funding to the CSU. The restoration of funding is vital to allow us to serve these students."

The CSU system began accepting applications for the Spring 2011 term on Aug. 1, though at that time the system was unsure if any students would be accepted. Due to continuing uncertainties regarding the level of state funding, the application deadline was extended past the traditional Aug. 31 deadline to give the system more time to decide how to handle spring term.

In 2010, the CSU system accepted no students for spring term because of diminished state contributions. The cancellation of spring enrollments led to a record number of applications for fall 2010.

Campuses began mailing out acceptance letters for spring 2011 on Monday, the same day the application period closed. The CSU system received about 50,000 applications, from which as many as 30,000 new students will be accepted. About 29,000 students are admitted system wide in an average spring term.

The CSU system will use a final round of one-time federal stimulus funding to admit students, as well as restore some previously cut services. But a long-term solution for the CSU system hinges on a state budget agreement which restores funding to the CSU.

The constitutional deadline to adopt this year’s budget passed on June 15. Gov. Arnold 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.

Schwarzenegger’s proposed budget includes a restoration of $305 million in state funding to the CSU – reverting a one-time cut – and an additional $60.6 million to fund enrollment expansion.

To contact Alex Cantatore, e-mail acantatore@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2005.