Issue date: 11/12/09 Section: News

Students who were unable to enroll in their required courses may be relieved of the frustration next semester.

After receiving approximately $1.5 million from the California State University system, Sacramento State is adding more course sections for the spring semester.

The money is from the CSU system's one-time $25 million allocation last month.

The fund is divided among all 23 campuses and each campus will receive approximately $1 million from this fund.

The main goal of this allocation is "to provide some relief for students who have had difficulty enrolling in an adequate number of classes, and help students make progress toward their degree," said Erik Fallis, spokesman for CSU chancellor's office.

The money to campuses became available after the CSU received $77.5 million one-time funding from the federal government.

The CSU system was able to create this fund from the money that was originally reserved to meet its payroll.

Sac State is still deciding which course sections add. The decision will be made in the following months and in time for registration for the spring semester, said John Kepley, special assistant to the university president.

The school will focus on increasing course sections for classes that students are required to take, Kepley said.

With additional course sections, students will be able to choose from a greater variety of class times, which will increase their chances of enrolling in required classes for graduation.

For example, with added course sections, some classes that were only available for two days a week may be available for multiple times a week.

System wide, CSU campuses will add up to approximately 4,000 additional course sections and potentially retain up to 800 lecturers for the spring semester, Fallis said.

"If you divide that by 23 campuses, you will find a rough per campus average of about 175 (sections)" he said.

"These federal allocation will be used for CSU payroll and frees other CSU funds that were previously allocated for salaries to add class sections," Fallis said. "The CSU is able to allocate this funding because federal stimulus dollars are helping with salary costs."

"The funding is being allocated in proportion to the one-time state support reduction each campus sustained this year," Fallis said.

CSU will reserve the remainder of the fund because of the "uncertainty about the state's fiscal condition," CSU public affairs said in a statement.

While more course sections are being added, furlough days and fee increases are still being implemented throughout the CSU system.

"The federal stimulus funds and associated CSU funds are one-time only, and must be used on a limited-term basis and not create ongoing spending," Fallis said.

"Having more choices in selecting a class helps students a lot," said Josh Stanley, sophomore journalism major.

More course sections will be helpful, but the problems with the CSU will still be there, said Christopher Valle, junior criminal justice major.

"We are still going to have furloughs and cuts, so maybe they could have used the money on other existing problems," Valle said.

CSU is still dealing with $564 million budget cut for the 2009-10 fiscal year.

In addition to fee increases and budget cuts, the CSU system is limiting enrollment to more campuses and programs are being impacted, making it harder for students to get accepted into schools.

Due to reduced enrollment, CSU campuses, including Sac State, are urging applicants to apply early. CSU public affairs reported that within the first two weeks of the application starting date, there have been more than 100,000 applicants.

Although the CSU system is still struggling with budget cuts and reduced enrollment, at least it is doing something to help students and addressing its problems, said Ernest Jasso, graduate student in physical therapy.

"Sure, there are still furloughs and we pay more," Jasso said. "But it's a good thing that the school is adding more sections. That shows that they know that students are hurting."

Miyu Kataoka can be reached at mkataoka@statehornet.com.

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