“We are not Sonoma [State], and we are not in a financial crisis,” said Cal State Monterey Bay’s (CSUMB) President Vanya Quiñones in regards to the ongoing statewide and California State University (CSU) budget cuts.
On Tuesday, the Budget Town Hall meeting was held with many key university figures including, Quiñones, Ben Corpus, the vice president for enrollment management and student affairs, and Alan Fisher, the chief financial officer.
The meeting aimed to address many of the major concerns and issues due to ongoing budget cuts across the CSU system, as well as an update on CSUMB’s financial stability.
Governor Gavin Newsom released a new Cal State Budget Act in February for 2025-26. This included an 8% cut to all CSUs’ total budget, which is approximately $375.2 million. The effects of these impending cuts have been seen largely at Sonoma State University where they eliminated all of their sports programs to start recovering their budget.
With ongoing budget flexibility that is reviewed closely every quarter, university leaders say they are making and executing plans to secure the future of CSUMB. Strategies include implementing a hiring freeze and a postponement of non-essential travels with state funds this spring, to preserve funds as the CSUMB waits out the results of budget cuts.
“We are hopefully optimistic for us, but worried for the system,” said Quiñones. Quiñones also urged staff, faculty and students to mobilize their efforts and advocate against the budget cuts by contacting elected officials to continue the fight for our campus community.
Corpus also addressed student enrollment and retention rates. The university is not currently bringing in as many new students as the primary focus is now on retaining students currently enrolled.
Faculty and staff are being asked to play a larger role in student retention efforts and in creating a sense of belonging. Enrollment management is supporting this by going to each department and having conversations with members about student mental health.
“A student’s sense of belonging is critical for this process,” said Corpus. He emphasized the importance of creating not just a positive learning environment, but an enjoyable environment and living experience as a whole to encourage students to stay.
Attendees brought up the concern of whether or not student services can continue to keep up with student growth. “Right now the university is coming from seven years of down enrollment. We are [working on] correcting that. The university was built for 7,500 [students] seven years ago and we are correcting that,” said Quiñones.
“This is who we are. We are not gonna be San Diego with 45,000 students and San Jose with 30,000. That’s not the goal we have,” she said.
CSUMB administration is continuing to keep a close eye on state funding decisions, and the university’s internal financial shifts that may take place.
Quiñones said, “Cal State Monterey Bay is really working hard swimming against the current. That’s what otters do.”