California’s State Universities will not be admitting new students for the spring 2013 semester in efforts to recover from a $750 million cut in funding made during fiscal year 2011-12.

Cal State campuses usually receive 70,000 applications during the spring and 16,000 enrollments. 8 of the 23 CSUs will be accepting a limited number of students.

“It will dramatically affect our students at EC because a lot of students in their educational plan already have it planned out to transfer in the spring 2013 semester,” Sue Oda-Omori, transfer center coordinator said. “They done all the preparation and they were counting on it, and now they are going to be shut out.”

The fall 2013 semester could suffer the same fate pending the outcome of the proposed new tax measures on the upcoming November ballet. The measure guarantees solid reliable funding for schools and community colleges by taxing the wealthy.

While CSU students face cutbacks, the Fullerton and East Bay campus presidents were granted 10 percent pay increases. The CSU board of trustees says the increases are necessary to attract and obtain top executives of talent.

“Well it was a certain amount or percentage over what their last salary was. And so I think there was legislation that went into it and those two new presidents did get a pretty substantial raise,” Oda-Omori said.

In the meantime students may have to extend their time at EC pending voter turnout of the tax measure.

“As an option, students can take more courses that they can still take in preparation for their major then possibly they can stay longer.” Oda-Omori said. “Staying longer means another couple of terms where they can raise their GPA if needed, or open their options to look into other schools,” she added.

Irene Graft, Director of Institutional Research, says we don’t know yet if students are maybe considering in private or other destinations, or remaining another semester.

“All of us are trying to become a better person by going to school and getting an education to better ourselves one day.” Nima Ahmadi, 20, biology major said.  “It sucks that you can’t go to your full capabilities because you are being held back by these budget cuts.”

“Students will possibly stay, and for those reasons, it could be beneficial because they can complete more classes to try and raise their GPA,” Oda-Omori said. “For students who don’t have more classes to take, they can try to take the time off to work and save money for the fall term.”

Graft says she is optimistic that the proposed tax measures will make all the difference. “Students should write their legislators, hang in there, and be persistent,” she added.

Oda-Omori advises students to look at the other options in the transfer center.

“This week, we have the Historically Black College fair, and we have the workshop on the transfer admission guarantee agreements that we have with the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Oda-Omori said. “And then in May, we are going to have a private and out of state college fair,” she added.