The Fight for the CSU Budget is a Fight for the State’s Future!
- There are many good reasons to fund public higher education. In a time of budget crisis, we focus on the CSU’s role in solving that crisis.
THE ECONOMY: Higher education is part of the solution to a troubled economy. Cuts to the CSU undermine California’s economy and undermine revenue to the state.
- California’s economy will stagnate if more people do not earn bachelor’s degrees. California’s economy thrives on knowledge-based innovation; higher education is key.
- Too few Californians are earning four-year degrees to meet California’s future needs, and the state won’t be able to “import” a trained work force.
- Every dollar the state invests in the CSU directly generates $4.41 in spending.
- The CSU, its students and graduates generated $3.11 billion in tax revenue in 2003.
ACCESS: Cuts to the CSU mean it will be harder for students to get a college education. This will fall hardest on the under-served.
- It will be harder to get into and stay in the CSU. Thousands of students are already being turned away.
- This will fall hardest on Latino, African-American, Native-American, low-income and first-generation students and veterans who rely on the state university to get a college education.
- California’s middle class will shrink if these communities can’t send kids to the CSU.
INFRASTRUCTURE: Cuts to the CSU will undermine future growth in meeting the state’s human infrastructure needs.
- The CSU prepares the people who do exactly the type of work the Governor wants done—engineers, teachers, nurses & more
- Of all degrees granted in CA, CSU awards 51% in engineering, 64% in nursing, 65% in business.
- The governor’s plan for 100,000 more teachers in 10 years is impossible if the CSU budget is cut.