Public higher education, our quality of life, and free thought are under attack nationally and right here in our home state.
The CSU is the largest four-year public university system in the country, educating our nurses, teachers, social workers, business owners, and community leaders. It transforms communities through providing opportunities to first generation and non-traditional students.
We request you reverse the January Budget Proposal to cut funding for the California State University (CSU) system. This cut, totaling nearly $400 million, would undermine the quality of education, economic vitality, and social well-being of California for generations to come.
We also call for increased statewide and community oversight of the CSU system. Funding needs to go towards educating our students, not administrative bloat and unnecessary debt burdens.
Invest in our future, invest in the CSU.
We acknowledge the fiscal challenges facing our state, but now is the time to double down on a well-educated citizenry and workforce. We urge alternative measures that preserve the integrity of public higher education.
We respectfully request the following:
- Reconsider the proposed budget cuts to the CSU system and explore alternative solutions to address the state’s fiscal challenges without compromising higher education.
- Engage in dialogue with faculty, staff, students and community stakeholders to identify strategies that maintain the quality and accessibility of education.
- Prioritize investment in classroom instruction to promote long-term economic growth, social mobility, and the overall prosperity of California.