Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposed budget and $500 million reduction to the CSU will have a far reaching impact, affecting current and new students, says President Oritz in his first video message of 2011. Every state-supported organization is affected by Brown’s proposal, which tries to close a $28 billion deficit in California.
The reduction to the CSU is about 18 percent of its 2011-12 budget and returns to the funding levels from 1999-2000. However, the CSU is serving nearly 70,000 more students today.
More information about the proposed state budget and its affect on Cal Poly Pomona will be available over the coming weeks. President Ortiz pledges to keep the campus informed of the issues.
“But remember that the governor’s announcement is merely the first point of discussion in what will be a strongly debated topic among our state leaders,” Ortiz says. “We won’t know our final working budget until well after the May Revise, but I cannot imagine a scenario where this campus or any other CSU won’t feel the pain – again.”
The video update features some good news, including the Rose Float’s two major awards, a $1 million donation to the comprehensive campaign, and a $20,000 donation that has brought new trees and color to campus.
President Ortiz also recognizes Bruce Hillam, one of the founding faculty members of the computer science department, who died Dec. 26. Hillam chaired the computer science department for about a decade, mentored faculty and students, and served as chair of the Academic Senate. A formal memorial service will be held Jan. 15 in La Verne.
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To read the entire message, a PDF of the transcript is available online.