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University budget boosted to fund enrollment increase

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By Tom Uribes

California State University, Fresno's $167 million budget for 2001-2002 - up about 3.5 percent, or $5 million, over last year - funds enrollment growth at Fresno State as well as a new university and business partnership to boost the development of high technology in Central California.

While specific allocations at the local level will be filed in late September, university officials are pleased with this year's level of funding and what it means for Fresno State's future.

Included in the budget is $650,000 to support a Central Valley Economic Incubator that would spur the development of new high technology; and a 2 percent increase in employee compensation. That pay increase is half of what the CSU requested from the state for its employees, but still much higher than most universities in the nation are receiving.

"Considering the softness of the state economy, this is a very good budget for our system," said John D. Welty, who marked his tenth anniversary as Fresno State's president on July 31. "It is unfortunate that it does not include the compensation increase at the 4 percent level which our CSU Board of Trustees requested."

But Welty also praised the governor and state legislature for supporting the incubator partnership.

"It's important that the state sees the need to expand and develop new business here in the San Joaquin Valley," Welty said. "We're delighted that the university can play an important part in this move to promote the valley and its economic growth."

The Central Valley Economic Incubator was established in 1996 as an economic development program for Fresno County in response to the area's lagging economy and double-digit unemployment, said Dr. Karl Longley, dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science at Fresno State.

The nonprofit organization is a collaborative effort among several community partners including Fresno State, the Fresno Business Council, the Entrepreneurial Resource Center, the Center for Advanced Research and Technology and the Fresno Area Workforce Investment Board.

Located within the Center for Advanced Research and Technology (CART) building, CVBI is home to several entrepreneurial firms, including environmental technology, multimedia, telecommunications, biomedical, biochemical and e-commerce ventures.

The new funding will help the university provide academic resources, faculty expertise, and distance learning programs to support business development.

Provost J. Michael Ortiz said the incubator typifies the kind of innovative thinking that has spurred the growth that the university is experiencing. Fresno State is one of eight CSU campuses receiving increases in allocated funding as a result of this rise in student enrollment.

"These monies will fund additional courses to meet student demand as enrollment continues to increase," Ortiz said.

Back to University Journal, 8/27/01 Issue