The state budget, funding cuts to the CSU and tuition fee increases are the topics of President Ortiz's midsummer video message on Tuesday.

The recently approved state budget reduced funding to the CSU by $650 million, which translates to about a $31.5 million cut to Cal Poly Pomona. In addition the CSU faces a midyear cut of $100 million if state revenues are not met. In response, the Board of Trustees raised tuition an additional 12 percent, or $196 per quarter for full-time undergraduates, effective fall quarter.

"Raising tuition is the last thing anybody wanted. But without that increase, the road to graduation would have been extended by miles," Ortiz says. "Cal Poly Pomona would have immediately been forced to make dramatic and unprecedented cuts to instruction, student services, operations and personnel."

The president encourages students to reach out to the Office of Financial Aid, which has options for almost every student. He adds that a third of the revenue from the tuition fee increase will be allocated for financial aid, and federal tax credits are available for many families.

To weather the state budget crisis, Cal Poly Pomona has become extremely prudent in spending practices, slashing operational expenses, reducing course sections, keeping vacated positions unfilled and restricting travel.

To read the entire video message, download a PDF of the transcript.