While attempting to comply with budget cuts, colleges and universities across the country are becoming more creative with their spending decisions. This year, budget cuts affected an unexpected demographic in the California State University system — applicants for next year’s freshman class.
Fresno State, which is part of the system, recently changed its application submission deadline from the Feb. 1 to Jan. 9, because of lack of funds, Admissions Director Vivian Franco said, which prompted complaints from a number of high school guidance counselors in California, many of whom were not made aware of the change until after Winter Break.
These are “rough times” because of the state budget deficit, and nine universities of the 23 in the California State system cut off the influx of applications by the end of November, Franco said, adding that Fresno State kept its doors open to students longer than some of the rest did.
Additionally, Franco said the application submission deadline on the Web site appeared with the warning that it was “subject to change.” Franco said high school students and counselors in the Central Valley area were made aware of this change in advance through conferences. Only two students called Fresno State sounding disgruntled, Franco said.
“The system will make sure all kids get a place,” Franco added, noting that if students had their hearts set on Fresno State, there are always openings in May.
As a public university, the University of Virginia, too, has been facing unprecedented budget cuts, prompting President John T. Casteen, III to send an e-mail in October to the community regarding the impact of commonwealth budget cuts. Associate Dean of Admissions Greg Roberts, however, said a drastic change to the admission deadline because of budget cuts was “not a concern for a selective institution like U.Va.”
Cuts in the budget would never directly affect the application process at the University, he added, which does not vary as the budget does.
Read More
Winsome Earle-Sears talks higher education in first U.Va. event of the campaign
By Ford McCracken | 5 hours agoA Jamaican immigrant and a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Earle-Sears is the first female lieutenant governor of Virginia,
U.Va.'s Earth Day Eco-Fair 2025 spotlights sustainability advocacy
By Leigh Bailey | 6 hours agoStudents from Contracted Independent Organizations and University Office of Sustainability leadership programs each shared their unique perspectives about sustainability advocacy on Grounds.
Student Council votes to relocate Hereford orchard and basketball hoop
By Lauren Seeliger | 16 hours agoStudent Council passed a resolution Tuesday to relocate the orchard and basketball hoop of Hereford Residential College due to construction in the surrounding area.
