Sonoma State University is one of only 10 California State University (CSU) campuses with new rules on admitting new students in the spring 2013 semester.

Applications will be limited primarily to students who have earned an Associate Degree for Transfer from a California community college. Students who have earned such a degree can begin submitting applications now, with the priority application period extending through Aug. 31. For the most current information on which campuses are accepting students, and at what level, go to the CSUMentor status page at www.CSUmentor.com. Current and future applicants are also encouraged to visit CSUMentor to apply or find out more about CSU program offerings, financial aid and academic planning. Severe budget cuts over the past several years and the prospect of an additional $250 million trigger cut has caused this limitation.

"Providing access to a quality education for students of California continues to be a bigger challenge as ongoing reductions in state funding are forcing campuses to reduce enrollment to match the level of available funds," said Ephraim Smith, CSU executive vice chancellor and chief academic officer. "An additional mid-year cut could result in even further reductions to enrollment. However, despite these challenges, students who earned an Associate Degree for Transfer will be admitted to a CSU campus."

Campuses other than SSU accepting these prospective new students include Channel Islands, Chico, Fullerton, East Bay, Humboldt, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Bernardino and San Francisco.

The 2012-13 state budget includes a mid-year trigger cut for the CSU depending on the outcome of Proposition 30 on the November ballot.  If voters reject the measure, the CSU will be cut by an additional $250 million. In that event, the system will have lost almost $1.2 billion or 39 percent of its state support since 2007-08. The passage of the measure would result in a flat budget for the CSU. At their September meeting, CSU Trustees are expected to adopt a contingency plan to manage the potential trigger cut. 

Options include strategies to reduce payroll costs, a "triggered" mid-year tuition fee increase, enrollment reductions, and other measures to generate additional revenue or reduce spending.