March 27, 2008

Contact: Amy Hewes
College of Engineering
805-756-6402
ahewes@calpoly.edu

Budget Crisis a Major Factor for CENG Fall 2008 Enrollment

The downward spiral of California's state budget crisis is a major factor shaping this fall's Cal Poly and College of Engineering undergraduate class. Although applications are increasing, unless the Legislature restores forecasted cuts to the CSU budget, the number of new students enrolled at Cal Poly will drop by 1,831-1,881. That means admission into the College of Engineering, one of the most competitive majors at Cal Poly, will be even more difficult.

Engineering increased by 14.1 percent this year, for a total of 7,791. "We had 400 engineering applicants - each with a perfect 4.0 GPA - turned away for admission this fall," says James Maraviglia, assistant vice president of admissions, recruitment and financial aid.   

Along with College of Engineering, applications increased for all other science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) related colleges at Cal Poly, which includes the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, College of Architecture and Environmental Design, and College of Science and Mathematics.

Between the four colleges, Cal Poly will turn away more than 13,500 STEM eligible students this year.  

Budget cuts proposed by Governor Schwarzenegger for the 2008-09 fiscal year would fund $386.1 million less than requested by the CSU, according to Larry Kelley, vice president for administration and finance. Of that number, $312 million would be an outright budget cut. An additional $73.2 million shortfall would occur without funds to offset the need for a student fee increase.

Under the proposed budget cuts, the 2008-09 revenue shortfall for Cal Poly would be $9.9 million without a fee increase, or, $7.3 million if a fee increase was implemented,
he explained.

These proposed cuts would come on top of a $522 million dollar cut to the entire CSU system earlier this decade; bringing the total system-wide cuts to nearly $1 billion in the last eight years, Kelley added. 

For more information, or to sign up as a CSU advocate, go to the Cal Poly Legislative Action Center.

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