<p>The President of SSU sent out an e-mail this week saying that the CSU system is having to cut another $31.3 million from its budget. SSU's part in that is just over $710,000. </p>
<p>Also this week, the University decided to impose a 16-unit cap on courses for future semesters. We're not sure if this is just SSU or CSU-wide, but there are LOTS of VERY unhappy people about this.</p>
<p>How are your students being affected (if at all) by budget cuts?</p>
<p>I think colleges should make financial adjustments in a way that impacts the students' education the least. This can be a combination of non-educational-impact belt-tightening and tuition increases. Yes, I think they should increase tuition before reducing the educational program.</p>
<p>According to my calculations and HGFM's number of $710K divided among approx. 8900 students that would only be an $80 per year per student tuition increase. </p>
<p>I think an $80 per year tuition increase would be preferred over the 16 unit cap idea.</p>
<p>^Definitely.</p>
<p>It's making it virtually impossible for most students to double-major, or even to minor. In talking to my friends, it seems that it will hurt the music majors the most, as most music classes are very few units, so they have to take more in order to earn their degree.</p>
<p>HGFM:</p>
<p>Perhaps those music majors should take a math class: if 120 units are required to graduate, the music folks need to take more classes if their per unit class is lower, but the 16 unit cap is not a factor that only singles them out. :)</p>
<p>However, the real effect is that 120 units divided by 8 semesters means that 17+ units required to graduate in four years for everyone.</p>
<p>Wow, and that is probably just the beginning with the State budget in such a mess. It makes the CSU schools less attractive, since it almost guarantees 5 years minimum to graduate.</p>
<p>By doing the unit cap they've effectively just increased the cost per unit for those who go over the cap threshold and when everyone's lumped together have effectively raised the cost per unit as well. I think everyone would be better off if they just raised the cost per unit (i.e. my $80/year overall figure above) and had no cap. </p>
<p>The other downside to the unit cap is that for those who would normally exceed it sometimes, it could delay their entry into the workforce which could have a much larger impact on their cost to attend due to the lost wages.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Perhaps those music majors should take a math class: if 120 units are required to graduate, the music folks need to take more classes if their per unit class is lower, but the 16 unit cap is not a factor that only singles them out.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Of course not. But a lot of the music classes here are 1 or 2 units. How are they supposed to graduate in 4 years if they have to take the mandated number of units in their major, AND GE's, AND electives?</p>
<p>Bluebayou</p>
<p>120/8 = 15 units not 17+</p>
<p>Doh! hahahahaha</p>
<p>I suppose another option could be to charge those students who take more than 16 units a sucharge for the extra classes. This won't exactly encourage people to sometimes stretch.</p>
<p>cant you take additional classes at a CC and just transfer the credits over?</p>
<p>Somehow, with everything else going on in the financial markets, I don't think this will make the CSU system less attractive. On the contrary, CSU has been saying for weeks, and I heard it again on the radio today, that they are closing the application period by Nov. 30. This means they are expecting a tsunami of applications since, relatively speaking, for a CA resident, the CSU system is a pretty good deal.</p>
<p>If I were a student, I'd rather pay more in tuition (especially if only $80) rather than have a cap set on units. I took more than the full load of units each semester when I went to school, which is how I graduated with my BA from the U of Washington in three years.</p>
<p>piterbizon-it's definitely an option, but not everyone can afford to do it. The closest CC is in Santa Rosa, and not only do I not have time to drive there and back, it would cost more in gas than it would ultimately be worth.</p>
<p>I don't want to seem hell bent on complaining, but honestly, it's just an all-around bad idea.</p>
<p>So the 16-unit cap half-passed.</p>
<p>Turns out they're going to inflict a GPA portion as well, as in if you have a 2.5 you can take 17 units, 3.0 up to 19, and 3.5 up to 21 (though WHY anyone would want 21 units is beyond me). We'll be able to add the extra units during Open Registration.</p>