Funding cuts to the CSU system mean schools are cutting
enrollment and becoming more selective. Students with
families and jobs who can't easily relocate are being pushed aside
as more schools accept out-of-towners with better test
scores.
That's why the Legislative Analyst's Office has sent a report
to lawmakers urging them to ensure universities in the Cal State
system give priority to local students. Steve Boilard is the
Director of Higher Education at the Legislative Analyst's
Office.
"In our mind, guaranteeing access to the local students
would ensure that every student in the state has access to a local
campus," Boilard said.
Boilard says most schools in the Cal State system do give
priority to local students. But when a program becomes
overwhelmed with applicants- typically referred to as impacted- the
school no longer gives preference to local
students.
Currently four of the 22 C-S-U's have declared that all their programs are impacted. And with 500 million dollars more in proposed cuts to the CSU system, Boilard expects that number to grow.