To Pass or Not to Pass?

If passed assembly Bill 656 could possibly help aid the higher education deficit.

How can this help students? If passed, there will be a 9.9 percent tax on oil and gas that is extracted in California. The tax money collected will then be used to fund the system. The bill could raise approximately $1 billion.

Members of the California Faculty Association collected pledges from Cal State Long Beach students as reported on the Daily 49er.

"I was glad to sign for my approval to this bill, it's about time that oil companies are forced to stop being so greedy," said Sociology major student,Vanessa Anderson.

The bill is currently sitting in the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee after being introduced in Febuary and having passed many other committes.

Photo Credit:www.csueu.org

Upper-division Forced to Graduate

Cal State Long Beach students with 140 units already completed were notified that they must file for graduation in order to make room for newer students.

Students must file to graduate either in the Spring or summer 2010 graduation. This gives no more room for students to be flexible with their schedules. The worst part about it is that if students do not file for graduation, a hold will be placed which will prevent them from registering for upcoming semesters.

Lynn Mahoney, associate vice president for undergraduate studies, stated that there would be some exceptions for those in a "very compelling circumstance." Students would have to follow a certain process and wait for a committee to review the forms students have to fill out.

The Daily 49er reported that there are 1,420 seniors who have completed more than 140 units and half of them have already filed for graduation. The point of this is to make room for those entering CSULB in hopes of getting their first degree. It is not known how long this policy will last although Mahoney stated that its expected to last as long as the "CSU continues to experience unprecedented budget and enrollment changes."

In the meanwhile those who are on their way to 140 units are told to make up their minds and not waste any time. Space is limited now more than ever and CSULB students now have to conform to these changes.

Picture Credit: Robbie Eich

Daily49er.com

CSULB Furlough Protests

Students from the Fine Arts department gathered up last Friday to protests furlough days along Seventh street.
Banners were set up along the road making drivers notice and honk as they drove. These students felt like they had to do something about it because they believe thier major is most affected by the amont of time they spend on campus.

"It's like our second home here, and for them to tell us we can't be here really affects us," said protester Desiree Nava.
Like many other students, they too depend on the interection with their professors and these furloughs just take time away from that.

For the complete video report on this protest click on the link below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czxF6F1ZGsM

Picture Credit: www.daily49er.com/beachnews

More and More Students Run to Financial Aid

Cal State Long Beach students are receiving $27 million more financial aid than past years according to Interim Provost Donald Para who spoke on behalf of President F. King Alexander at last Thursday's Academic Senate meeting.

Students are not letting the budget cuts get in the way of their education and are now taking the initiative to seek financial aid. Para also stated that although there are 2,200 fewer students on campus this year, the number of students receiving financial aid has gone up.

This comes as good news for those students who are feeling the pressure the most. It is a relief to know that there are initiatives being taken by our school leaders to get more federal funding for scholarships and other financial services on campus.

Picture: Brotman Hall

Picture Credit: http://www.csulb.edu/

Looking Ahead to the Summer

The College of Continuing and Professional Education (CCPE) is scheduled to work closely with the academic departments and campus admisnistrative offices to help plan the 2010 summer session.
CCPE is going to be a part of this to help plan which classes are the most needed by students and also establish priorities for courses being offered. This is something that will effect students directly because it would mean there will be less classes being offered during the summer session than past years.
As more changes are being made to future academic years, students need to plan out their schedules more carefully and not depend so much on the summer session to take classes.

Students Fight Back!

As fees are being increased and fewer classes are being offered at Cal State Long Beach, students are gathering up to spread awareness.

Students for Coalition is a new club on campus that focuses on getting students involved in making a change in the budget crises by getting their voices heard. As stated on the club's brochure, "We are a coalition of students who are concerned and yes, a bit angry over the current status of public higher education. We are ready to converse, step up and make demands."

The group meets every Wednesday at 2p.m. in the Raza Resource Center Room F04-262. The club is hosting an informational mixer next Tuesday in the Multicultural Center and it is opened to anyone.

"Some people feel like they can't do anything about it, but in reality they can," said Christina Alvarez, member of the Students for Coalition club.

Picture Credit: www.csulbsociology.wordpress.com

Possible scenerios for the 2010-11 budget at CSULB

The budget crises continues to be the main topic for Cal State Long Beach faculty and staff members at the Academic Senate meeting.
The Daily 49er reported the story in its newspaper talking about the 3 scenarios that could possibly take place next academic year. Scenerio 1 would consist of $1.5 million in mandatory costs along with no additional state reductions or fee increases, and a $9.5 million fee-revenue loss due to enrollment reduction. Scenario 2 demostrated a 10 percent fee increase along with the same mandatory costs and $5 million in state reductions. Last, scenrio 3 would include a projected 10 percent increase in state reductions; none of which help solve the problem according to Mary Stephens, vice president of administration. To get the full PowerPoint slides and get infornation on the budget click on Budget Central.
Changes are invitable and it's just a matter of knowing what changes and what it will mean for students. As of now, a $20 million problem is being anticipated along with having to reduce enrollment by an additional 10.8 percent, or 3,044 full-time students at CSULB for the upcoming academic year.

Picture Credit:

www.csulb.edu