State's Higher Ed Leaders to Speak About $900 Million-plus in Budget Cuts

With the failure of Prop 1A in last month's statewide election comes the reality of painful cuts to higher education in California. On the books for the upcoming academic year are announced enrollment cuts at both the California State University and University of California systems, and the likely denial of admission to 250,000 prospective Community College students thanks to a combined $825 million in budget cuts and $115 million in deferrals.

This afternoon, "California Community Colleges Chancellor Jack Scott, California State University Chancellor Charles B. Reed and University of California President Mark Yudof will detail the immediate and long-term impacts of the drastic cuts outlined in Gov. Schwarzenegger’s latest budget proposal," in testimony before the State Conference Committee on the Budget according to a CSU press release.

Scott, Reed, and Yudof represent the 3.5 million students attending their colleges and universities, and are expected to share information about "enrollment, student fee levels, academic programs, student services, and the possible elimination of the Cal Grant program." For the 2009-10 school year and "under the most recent budget proposal by the Governor [...] the CSU and the UC face reductions in State support between 16 and 20 percent."

You can view a webcast of the testimony here, which was slated to begin at about 2:45 this afternoon.