Thinking about applying to Sacramento State for the first time? Better do it soon.

California State University, Sacramento, will close applications to incoming freshmen Feb. 1 as the college system braces for possible state budget cuts this summer. The unexpected decision moves up the fall application deadline by a full six months.

CSU Chancellor Charles Reed this week instructed all 23 campus presidents, including Sacramento's Alexander Gonzalez, to close admissions early regardless of whether the campus has met attendance targets.

CSUS officials said the university will be sending out letters to high schools informing students about the early application deadline. No decisions have been made about transfer and graduate students. Last year's deadline for incoming freshmen for fall semester was Aug. 10.

The chancellor's move was in response to the governor's proposal to reduce state support for an already overcrowded university system, CSU representatives said. Currently, officials say CSU is underfunded by 14,000 students. Under Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's plan to close a $14.5 billion deficit, CSU would not be able to absorb next year's enrollment growth, which had been estimated to be around 10,000.

"The gravest concern we have is the ability to take students who are eligible to attend the university," said Patrick Lenz, CSU assistant vice chancellor for budget development. "We anticipated admitting about 10,000 additional students in the 2008-09 academic year, and at this point we will not be able to do that."

Lenz said the university system, which serves 445,000 students, may have to resort to prioritizing enrollment for first-time degree seekers and accept only transfer students who have completed all their prerequisite classes.

Schwarzenegger spokeswoman Sabrina Lockhart said the governor has proposed a budget that spreads the pain evenly. "This addresses the need for budget reform," she said.

A spokesman for the University of California said the university's board of regents is also concerned about the governor's budget, which includes a 10 percent student fee increase at CSU and UC.

"There's a range of potential impact, including enrollment, staff compensation, student fees and spending on programs," said UC spokesman Brad Hayward. "Clearly this is a significant cut."

California Community Colleges Chancellor Diane Woodruff has warned the junior college system may not be able to serve 52,000 new students next year as a result of the governor's proposal to fund only a fraction of enrollment growth.

"We recognize the fiscal dilemma that our governor is forced to deal with," Woodruff said in a statement, "but we hope that we can continue to work closely with him to minimize the negative impact to our community colleges."

by Judy Lin, Sacramento Bee, January 16, 2008