Cal State University to Freeze Enrollment

All but a handful of Cal State University campuses will freeze enrollment starting in the spring of 2013 due to massive state budget cuts.

The Cal State University Board of Trustees discussed the new plan at its Tuesday meeting at Cal State Long Beach.

Related: CSU Students Face Cutbacks But Not Campus Presidents

The two-day meeting was devoted to finding ways to deal with a $750 million shortfall in the 2011-12 fiscal year and an additional possible $200 million in cuts next year, depending on the outcome of a tax initiative proposed by California Governor Jerry Brown.

The effects of the budget cuts could mean that the CSU system could trim enrollment by up to 25,000 students by the fall of 2013.

Typically, CSU gets 70,000 applications in the spring.

CSU leaders are also considering a waiting list for applicants, depending on the outcome of the tax measure.

Eight campuses will take a few hundred transferring from community colleges for the spring 2013 semester.

They are:

1. Chico
2. East Bay
3. Los Angeles
4. Fullerton
5. Sonoma
6. San Francisco
7. San Bernardino
8. Channel Islands

While the board mulls budget funding plans, it is also expected to consider higher compensation packages for the new presidents of Cal State Fullerton and Cal State East Bay, an issue that has critics crying foul.

Related: Are Fee Increases Worse Than Reducing Enrollment?