California State University Channel Islands

Camarillo, Calif., July 21, 2009 – California State University Channel Islands President Richard R. Rush announced that state budget impacts will be significant for the newest campus in the CSU, as a result of the highly anticipated decisions made by the CSU Board of Trustees today.

Faced with a projected $584 million shortfall to its 2009-10 budget, the CSU Board of Trustees voted to increase student fees effective fall 2009 by an additional $672 annually for full-time undergraduate students, $780 annually for teacher credential students, and $828 annually for graduate students. This increase will be in addition to the $306 annual fee increase for full-time undergraduate students adopted in May. The undergraduate State University Fee will increase from $3,354 to $4,026 per year. Including the CSUCI annual fee of $840, undergraduate students will pay approximately $4,866 per year, which continues to be the lowest rate among comparable institutions. One-third of the revenue from the fee increases will be set aside for financial aid.

As part of a comprehensive, balanced approach to solve the budget deficit – the largest in CSU’s history – the CSU has reached an agreement with the CSU Employee Union to implement employee furloughs at each of the 23 campuses in order to save the maximum number of jobs possible. In addition, the CSU has enacted furloughs for the president and all management personnel. The other labor organizations have not as yet announced decisions as to whether they will agree to furloughs. The budget deficit is the result of the state’s reduced support to the CSU as lawmakers contend with closing California’s $26.3 billion budget gap.

“Students and instruction will remain our top priority as we determine where additional reductions can be made to our campus budget,” stated President Richard R. Rush.

Measures to meet the deficit at CI will include a combination of employee compensation reductions focused on furloughs, an increase in student fees, and limited student enrollment. Depending on union actions and resolution of the state budget, CI may also be looking at layoffs and operational cuts.

Two-day a month furloughs will begin August 1 for groups who have agreed to a furlough and for non-union personnel, including the president and administrative staff. The campus will be required to reduce personnel costs by 10 percent. Furloughs are expected to last through June 2010 and will not affect employment status, health benefit eligibility or retirement benefits.

The campus will also continue to implement a salary freeze for the president and vice presidents, a hiring freeze for non-essential positions, impose employee travel restrictions, and restrict non-critical equipment and supply purchases. The state previously halted all construction projects last fall but resumed projects in March with the start-up package including funding for the ongoing CI infrastructure project as well as completing design work for North Hall and the University’s new entry road. The entry road design work will be completed in the next few months but there is no financing to support the construction of the entry road, which was approved by voters in

2006 by Prop 1D. North Hall renovation was approved by the legislature last year to be funded with lease revenue bonds that have yet to be issued because of the state’s cash flow problems.

In addition to campus budget reductions, the campus will not be able to accept new student enrollment for spring 2010 and fall 2010 enrollment will be flat. Despite the campus’ continued growth trajectory since opening in 2002, students seeking admission to Ventura County’s only public, four-year university will have their access to higher education severely impacted as a result of the state’s budget crisis.

The University is making a concerted effort to notify current and prospective students of these budgetary implications. Additional campus updates and information will be made available at www.csuci.edu/budget2009.