The state’s budget difficulties resulted in the first decrease in fall enrollment at California State University, Stanislaus since 2004, prompting a call for students who plan to enroll in 2009 to get their applications in soon.
After four years of steadily increasing enrollment, CSU Stanislaus had to roll back its enrollment due to state budget cuts. Student numbers are down by 2.7 percent at 8,600 for fall 2009, 236 fewer than the fall 2007 all-time high of 8,836. Full-time student numbers are only down one percent to 6,620. The University received 8,353 applications for fall 2008 admission, including nearly 7,100 at the undergraduate level.
“Faced with an increasing number of students who have applied for admission to California State University, Stanislaus, it has been an unfortunate task to have to reduce enrollment this fall,” President Hamid Shirvani said. “We had no choice this year in light of the restrictions placed on enrollment funding due to the state budget shortfall.”
Since the budget restrictions are expected to continue in the coming year, the University is encouraging students who plan to attend CSU Stanislaus as first-time freshmen in fall 2009 to apply by the priority application deadline of November 30. The final application deadline is February 1, but qualified students who apply by the end of November and transfer students who apply by February 1 will have priority for admission. New freshman numbers for the current fall semester, boosted by strong enrollment in College of Natural Sciences programs, continue to be strong at 966, only 22 less than fall 2007. The transfer student count is down by 19 percent to 789 as part of a statewide trend at most universities, but master’s degree student numbers are up by 7 percent as preparations continue to start the new Master of Science in Nursing Degree program in February 2009.
CSU Stanislaus also welcomed 29 students to its first doctoral program this fall, the Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Degree. In an effort to meet demand for specific programs, the University’s Office of Extended Education has expanded graduate program offerings with its Executive Masters of Business Administration Degree cohorts and the new Genetic Counseling Master’s Degree.
Qualified students can still apply for admission to CSU Stanislaus for the upcoming winter term and spring semester. Application deadline for both of those terms is October 31.