Fresno State Closed Spring Enrollment | ABC30 Fresno

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By ABC30

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Fresno, CA School administrators say they have to reduce student enrollment by 10 percent next year, they say cutting freshman enrollment alone will not meet that percentage and this is only the beginning.

Incoming freshmen like Elaena Salcedo can't wait for the fall semester to begin, especially since she almost didn't make it into the university. She said, "I'm actually pretty excited because they didn't cut me off."

Not because of grades, but money. CSU schools are now restricting new freshmen for the spring semester because of a 584 million dollar budget shortfall.

Bernie Vinoverski said, "To have a quality education. And so students that are here can get classes we have to restrict enrollment."

Associate Vice President of Enrollment Services-Bernie Vinoverski says Fresno State will cut 2000 students-which includes:

100 Transfers
400 Graduate Students
500 Previously Enrolled Fresno State Students

"Where will they go? That's the question where will they go," said Vinoverski.

Many will delay enrollment, community college or technical schools like the Institute of Technology.

Joe Haydock said, "We are not cutting classes in fact we're just opening two new wings."

Joe Haydock, President of the Institute of Technology, says the campus will soon open a new culinary arts wing and new classrooms-saying tech schools are becoming more of an option.

"Rather than being tied to state money and taxpayer dollars we help students make use of student loand and pell grants to get an education through here," said Haydock.

Students who attend Fresno State this fall could have to pay more money. The university's board of trustees has already approved a 10 percent fee increase. Administrators expect another hike is just around the corner.