The California State University system’s faculty union accused the University of becoming a profit-seeking institution in a statement on Tuesday. The statement, titled “Restructuring the CSU or Wrecking It?” responded to CSU’s plan to reduce enrollment by 40,000 students next year due to budgetary cuts.
The union focused on potential damage to the liberal arts and other academic programs.
The Whittier Daily News reports that at Cal Poly Pomona, between 20 and 30 programs are being considered for elimination.
According to Lillian Taiz, president of the California Faculty Association, the University is only using budget cuts as an excuse to privatize the institution.
Chico State President Paul Zingg predicted that in addition to decreasing enrollment, they will raise student fees.
Taiz called that restricting access to the public state school by selling education to those who can afford it.
CSU responded to the accusations with a brief statement, saying that the union made "an inaccurate blanket statement about the system."
The administration’s statement continued to explain the dire situation of the University system.
“The reality is that the CSU this year received an unprecedented budget cut of $564 million that has forced the system and campuses to implement enormous sacrifices to adapt to a new budget reality.”
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Issue: Higher Education Affordability