System avoids $250 million additional cut, but funding still down $1 billion

(November 7, 2012) – The California State University will avoid a $250 million mid-year budget cut after voters’ approval of Proposition 30, and will start the process of rescinding the $249 per semester tuition fee increase already in place. With the passage of Proposition 30, CSU's budget will essentially remain flat for the remainder of this fiscal year, but state funding is still approximately $1 billion less than several years ago.

"We are hopeful that the passage of Proposition 30 will be the beginning of the state's reinvestment in higher education," said CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed. “The long term benefits of additional revenue can only be realized if higher education is once again a priority. The state needs to start making up for the devastating budget cuts of the past several years, and focus on higher education as a driver of California’s economic future."

The CSU Board of Trustees had previously approved a contingency plan to rescind a $249 per semester tuition fee increase that took effect for the fall 2012 term. Annual tuition fees for full-time undergraduate students will now revert back to $5,472 – the same rate as in the 2011-2012 academic year. Students will either be credited, refunded or receive a reconfigured financial aid package to account for the revised tuition fee rates.

Campus enrollments will also remain constant for fall 2013. The system had held applications from new students pending the outcome of Proposition 30, which has a direct impact on funded enrollment targets. Campuses will immediately begin to review applications for new student admissions for the fall.

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November 8, 2012

Cal Maritime sent the following letter to students regarding how the campus will handle the tuition credit.

Dear Student,

The Proposition 30 ballot initiative was approved by voters in the November 6, 2012 election. As a result, the California State University will implement the tuition fee contingency plan as previously approved by the Board of Trustees. The California State University will roll back tuition fees to 2011-12 fee levels, retroactive to the fall 2012 term. For further information regarding tuition fees, please visit the following website: http://www.calstate.edu/budget/.

The applicable reduction in tuition fees and graduate business professional fees for fall 2012 will be calculated and a credit will be posted to your account no later than November 30, 2012. Any credit balance on your account as a result of this adjustment may be applied to any balances due, including spring 2013 fees.

Any applicable financial aid adjustment for 2012-13 will be reflected on your student award no later than November 30, 2012. Depending on the details of an individual’s financial aid package, the fee reduction may be matched by an equal reduction in a financial aid grant, in which case no refund will be due to the student. You may receive further communication regarding your specific financial aid status from the Financial Aid office.

Please be sure to regularly monitor your account on the Student Center page in Online Services for the fee adjustments.

If you object to having a credit balance on your account or you are not enrolling for the spring 2013 term, you may request a refund check, less any amounts due on your account. Refund requests must be submitted using the appropriate forms within 10 business days from the date of this notification. The forms and the process to request a refund can be found at /web/faculty-and-staff/af/business/student-services/billing.

Please visit your Student Center page in Online Services, under Finances to enroll in direct deposit.

If you have any questions regarding your student account, please contact the Cashier’s Office at (707) 654-1030, option #6 or email cashier@csum.edu.