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Thursday, Jul. 16, 2009

CSU Fresno cuts 20 percent of classes

Students will receive an e-mail if their class goes.

FRESNO -- Students at California State University, Fresno, will have a harder time getting classes this fall after the university announced Tuesday it would cut more than 20 percent of classes.

The state's budget crisis has reduced funding for the state university system, forcing Fresno State officials to provide fewer than 3,800 class sections this fall for 21,170 students, compared with 4,810 sections last fall when 22,500 students were enrolled. The cuts include 627 supervision sections, where one or two students work with one instructor.

The class cuts come days after the university announced it would take no more enrollment applications for the 2010 spring semester because of the state budget crunch.

Officials don't expect additional cuts in the fall semester, said William Covino, provost and vice president of academic affairs, but more cuts could come in the spring.

"We are trying to be as accommodating as we can be with pretty severe constraints," he said.

The CSU system has a $584 million shortfall for its 23 campuses, which have more than 400,000 students enrolled.

Students are being notified if their classes are being cut, Covino said. Not all class cuts have been made official.

"As the classes are being dropped an e-mail goes out to the student," said Bernie Vinovrski, associate vice president of enrollment services.

He said open seats are available in some class sections that may not be perfect fits for some students but could fill graduation requirements.

Jessica Sweeten, the Associated Students Inc. president, said Tuesday's information was discouraging. She urged students to check their e-mails and work with counselors.

"They should be meeting with counselors on a regular basis and know which classes they can take," she said.

If students are registered they can use the Fresno State Web site to learn if their classes are being canceled.

Sweeten said none of her classes have been eliminated thus far.

"I think students understand that California is in a dire situation," said Sweeten, an agricultural communications major entering her senior year. "I am hoping that students understand this budget crisis is going to affect them." The deadline to pay fees for the fall semester is July 24. But if trustees increase fees at their meeting Tuesday, students will get an additional billing with a deadline in August to pay the increased portion.