Dear Faculty, Staff, Students, and Allies, 

Many of you have undoubtedly heard about the increase in course caps and the cancellation of courses. President Harper, Provost Rodriguez, along with other campus and CSU-wide leadership, are making harmful budget choices that threaten the integrity of public higher education. However, organized opposition from faculty, staff, students, and community members can stop these attacks! 

Our students, faculty, staff, and community members should not have to suffer due to leadership's mismanagement and the lack of accountability from the CSU system. The CSU system has billions in reserves, yet they have increased tuition while sinking more money into financial investments. These budget decisions are choices that are deliberately creating more problems, not solving them. Those who have made these poor choices and engage in mismanagement need to be held accountable, we must demand better. It starts with holding our own campus accountable.

Mismanagement of resources at CSUB:

Financial surpluses: California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB) generated over $91 million in surplus revenue in fiscal year 2022-2023, and over $28 million in fiscal year 2021-22. During the 2022-2023 fiscal year, they sunk a net of $79.6 million cash into financial investments. Where did they invest? We ask, they never answer! As a campus, we actually have great cash flow. It is just not being invested back into the campus, students, faculty, staff, or the range of resources our campus needs. This mirrors a CSU-wide management issue where more cash investments are prioritized over instructional spending. From 2018-2019 to 2022-2023 academic years, there has been a 69.2% increase of cash flow put into financial investments and a – 11.5% decrease in instructional spending.

Course cancellations and the rise of course caps: During the 2023-2024 academic year, CSUB canceled 225 course sections, citing "low enrollment" and the need to save $2.6 million. Ironically, this amount could have easily been covered by the university's previous surplus. Many of these course cancellations were announced at the last minute, disrupting students' academic progress and their ability to maintain financial aid eligibility. The consequences are far-reaching: fewer classes for students striving to graduate on time, and more faculty potentially left without work. CSUB’s Provost confirmed these course sections cuts at a General Faculty Meeting on January 31, 2025, and shared that that we will be seeing a further reduction of course sections offered, with an additional 150 sections being cut in the upcoming semesters. This atrocious trend will continue to negatively impact graduation and retention rates on our campus and across all CSUs. 

Course capacity limits (course caps) are set to increase. Department chairs are being informed that certain courses currently capped at 45 students will see their enrollment capacity rise to 85 students. This surge in class size will have a direct impact on the quality of education, while also significantly increasing faculty workload.

Take Action:

SIGN AND SHARE THIS PETITION TO SAVE JOBS AT CAL STATE BAKERSFIELD.

Layoffs are being threatened at Sonoma State, Dominguez Hills, Los Angeles, Channel Islands, and Bakersfield. As campus administration at CSUB and across the CSUs continues to spew budget austerity, we need greater transparency and clearer communication. It's crucial that we receive proper notice and updates, rather than being left in the dark or subjected to behind-the-scenes conversations.

Do not let President Harper, Provost Rodriguez, Chancellor Garcia, and CSU leadership take the easy way out. CSU students, faculty, and staff deserve better. We deserve answers and an end to mismanagement. 

Sign today and stand with us.