We, the undersigned, are committed to ensuring that
public education is protected, and that the mission of the CSU is
honored. It is up to us to reinforce the stated mission of the CSU System: to "encourage and provide access to an excellent
education to all who are
prepared for and wish to participate in collegiate study" and ensure "an environment in which scholarship, research, creative, artistic, and professional activity are valued and supported" and that emphasizes "quality in instruction" as central to the CSU's mission in serving the students of California.ย The leaders
of the CSU system have a responsibility to truly embody an emphasis on
quality instruction by finding budget solutions that to the greatest extent possible avoid detrimental impacts on the education of our students and lives of
faculty. At present, the Chancellor's Office investment in the core educational mission of the CSU has eroded as the student population became less white. This continues as the CSU prepares increases in tuition for a majority BIPOC and first generation student body, while simultaneously reducing and restricting the educational options available to them.ย
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CSU reserves, fungible investments and designated balances are in the many, many billions.ย CSU campus presidents earn up to $533,000
plus perks like housing allowances up to $60,000. Before raising tuition 34% over the next five years, the Board of Trustees awarded campus presidents yet another raise, some as high as 29%.ย
Meanwhile, faculty at many CSU campuses have lost benefits like health insurance, retirement entitlements, and jobs due to the slashing of instruction. Class cuts hit lecturer faculty the hardest, and tenure line positions are increasingly at risk, while the workload for all faculty who remain goes up.
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We call on our CSUMB President and her executive cabinet to limit cuts to instruction to the greatest degree possible. We call on the President to not undertake cuts in Academic Affairs until an assessment has been conducted to determine the impact such cuts will have on Graduation Initiative goals and time to degree for our students. We also demand an assessment of how budget cuts will impact our strategic goals around diversity, equity, and inclusion, and understand the full impact of cuts on our BIPOC students, staff, and faculty.
Additionally, we call on the CSU Chancellor to cover the cost of all bargained raises, and to not push the cost onto campuses who cannot afford them without adequate budget increases from the CO to cover the cost.ย We call upon the Board of Trustees to advocate for faculty jobs and student needs and avoid cuts to essential campus services including instruction.ย
The CSU has the money to cover all faculty raises and to support campuses as they work to address enrollment issues that are impacting higher education institutions across the nation. This doesn't mean that we don't need additional funds from the state -- we need the governor's compact with the CSU to be honored -- but higher ed faces a crisis of enrollment that requires MORE investment, not less, in the institutions that require funds to do all they can to stabilize and increase enrollment over time.ย
Significant cuts to instruction and related areas will not strengthen and enhance CSUMB as we look to serve future generations of students. As the 2024 - 2025 budget is finalized we ask that the President and Cabinet ensure that the university's primary service - providing excellence in education, access to needed courses and ensuring timeliness to degree for our students, are treated with careful deliberation such that our enrollment challenges are not worsened.ย
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