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More scrambling around for increased tuition

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By Brittanie Gutierrez |Staff Writer|

The California State University (CSU) Board of Trustees approved a $270 tuition increase to take place fall 2017.

According to a statement released from the CSU Office of the Chancellor on March 22, the tuition increase will “generate $77.5 million for student success initiatives.”

“If our advocacy efforts do not result in adequately funding the trustees’ budget request, the revenue generated by this increase will allow us to add faculty, courses, advisors and other resources to improve students’ opportunities for success,” said CSU Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer Steve Relyea.

At CSUSB, students have felt the impact of lack of courses available due to faculty shortages.
During registration time, stress is at an all-time high because the process becomes a game of ‘who can click the fastest.’

“Every quarter there are students having to scramble around to try to add a class or sit in classes hoping for a spot to open up,” said student Alejandra Ronquillo.

A course may be available only during certain terms, which can cause complications with graduating on time.
“I would like to see an increase in the number of courses offered. It can be hard to get a class that only has one section open,” said student Shelly Gunther.

The revenue that will be generated from the increase will be geared towards student success efforts, one of which will be the Graduation Initiative 2025, which plans to double graduation rates.

“With California currently on pace to fall one million bachelor’s degrees short of the number required for the future workforce, CSU campuses can graduate an additional 500,000 students over the next decade with sustained funding for the initiative,” according to the CSU Office of the Chancellor.

In a community and campus like CSUSB, where most students attend due to affordability, the $270 increase is not taken lightly, despite benefits.

Currently, tuition is $5,472, excluding the purchase of books and a parking permit, which could potentially cost another $300 and even $1,000.

By fall, it will now be $5,742—minus those necessities mentioned.

“I think it’s going to put a lot of unnecessary financial stress on a lot of students. And not just students who don’t receive aid,” said student Reyna Holguin.

According to the CSU press release, the increase will not affect those who receive some form of financial aid services.

“I think it’s going to make it harder for people who already have to pay out of pocket and for the people who take out loans because it’s less money they have towards books and stuff,” said student Brittany Logan.
This is the first tuition increase since 2011. The increase was raised by 10 percent, from $4,440, to the current cost of $5,472.

That increase was $1,032, nowhere near the $270 increase.

Regardless of their academic standing in the undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and teacher credential programs, all students will have to pay the tuition increase.

“There are many of us that have chosen CSUSB because it is a place close to home and there are a lot of us who have chosen this campus because it’s the most affordable,” said Ronquillo.

“With the rise in tuition this may no longer be the case,” continued Ronquillo.

 

Campus stance against “ban”

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Thomas Corrigan, Interim Co-ordinator of Indivisible San Bernardino Mountains, leading group meet-up and event. (James Quigg | Daily Press)

By Emily Anne Espinosa |News & Politics Editor|

Since Trump’s Executive Order: Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States was announced on Jan.27, several campus community members have responded in disagreeance.

California State University (CSU) Chancellor Timothy P. White released a CSU Statement on President Trump’s Executive Order on Jan. 30, stating “When something threatens our ability to think beyond our borders and learn from the world as a whole, we will oppose it.”


“When something impacts anyone in our CSU community—especially the most vulnerable—it impacts us all.  Therefore, we oppose the divisiveness of the recent executive order, and we stand with state and national officials in requesting that the President reconsider this policy,” continued White.

In addition to the chancellor’s name, the statement was also signed with the names of the California State Student Association President, the Chair for the Academic Senate of the CSU, and all 23 Presidents of CSUs.

Shortly after, President Tomás D. Morales released his own statement against the executive orders affecting immigration and border control, stating that “CSUSB will continue to support and educate our undocumented and international students, regardless of faith or birthplace.”     

“I do support his stance wholeheartedly,” said Muhammad Khan, President of Muslim Student Association.

In his message, Morales asked the University community to be diverse, inclusive, and multicultural.

“As he pointed out that we will continue to celebrate diversity and the inclusive experience and these values will continue to define us regardless of decisions that emanate from the Trump administration,” said Khan.

In addition, Morales informed affected students and faculty/staff to seek help on campus, such as consoling the Center for International Studies & Programs and Campus Assessment, Response, and Education (CARE) team services for students, Office of Academic Personnel for faculty, and Human Resources for staff.

On behalf of CARE, Dr. Alysson M. Satterlund, associate vice president and dean of student affairs, and Dr. Beth Jaworski, assistant vice president of student services, from the Division of Student Affairs, state, “In light of recent events, we would like to reaffirm that we strive to create an environment that welcomes, celebrates and promotes respect for all students regardless of where they are from, who they worship or who they love.”

“Please know we have many student resources on campuses: CAPS, Student Health, the CARE team and several student success centers and programs that are here to help.”

For more information on services provided, contact CARE@csusb.edu.

Professors have also stated their concerns.  

“President’s Trump Executive Order was ill conceived, to say the least,” said Dany Douieri, associate professor from the department of World Languages and Literatures.

“It didn’t properly seek input from legal, security, and diplomatic experts to properly conceptualize it. We all wish for safety but the ban may have just accomplished the opposite. Ironically, many of us feel far less secure since the ban was signed,” continued Douieri.

Similarly, Dr. Brian Levin, Criminal Justice professor and Director of  the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism (CSHE), released a position statement on Trump’s executive order on behalf of the CSHE.

In his statement, Levin said, “Our Center will continue to devote every resource, not only to the promulgation of thoughtful responses to extremist violence, but to solid opposition to those that discriminate and risk the lives of the voiceless.”

“Through wholly peaceful and just efforts with our partners around the nation we will endeavor to be that voice,” continued Levin.   

The position statement, posted on huffingpost.com, explains statistics and research on the relationship between extremist acts of violence and the seven countries affected by the executive order.

“Our research and that of others establish that these restrictions do not proportionately correspond to the actual threat and history of fatal terrorist attacks against our homeland, including those against our community; nor do they uphold the values of equality and religious pluralism that are the cornerstone of our national ideals,” stated Levin.

 

CSU Water Initiative

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Photo by Jarrod Walley
Photo by Jarrod Walley

By Jarrod Walley |Staff Writer|

Disadvantaged communities in San Bernardino will receive aid in water processes and treatment from the California State University (CSU) system and its $2.3 million program.

The State Water Resources Control Board donated the grant to the entire CSU system; it focuses on the formation of programs and implementation of grants for students and faculty so that research can be done on the communities in need.

“We use a tool called CalEnviroScreen; it’s a map, that shows us which communities are in need of assistance. Downtown San Bernardino is located in the high category on the map, so it is not just an agricultural/rural phenomenon, but an urban one as well,” said Boykin Witherspoon, Executive Director of the Water Resources and Policy Initiatives (WRPI).

According to Witherspoon, the WRPI and the CSU system are working on programs right now to identify which communities are in need of the most critical help.

The State Water Resource Control Board assigns research teams communities that are in critical need; some of which are located in the Coachella Valley and Inland Desert regions.

“The WRPI has an oversight council, consisting of seven presidents from different universities, and [CSUSB] President Morales is the chair of that council,” stated Witherspoon.

In addition to being one of the 23 campus in the CSU system.

CSUSB is directly involved with the WRPI by including the members of the university, like students and faculty.

Students whose applications are accepted work as paid interns and can receive academic credit for internship-related courses.

Students then begin developing and carrying out projects with assigned mentors ranging from water treatment to irrigation and water distribution.

These projects cater to specific regions where there is considerable interest or need for improvement.

The Water Resources Institute (WRI) is an academic partnership located in the John M. Pfau library.

They are working closely with the WRPI to help local communities obtain better water related facilities.

“We collaborate with the WRI on programs because they are a historic water archive: keeping records and data,” said Witherspoon.

According to Witherspoon, there are many entities involved in the efforts of the Water Initiative.

The WRPI, a division of entire CSU system, is leading the project.

“The WRPI is an effort to bring faculty and staff together across the 23 campuses to work on regional and statewide water issues,” said Associate Director Dr. David Zoldoske of the Agricultural Science and Technology Department at Fresno State University.

“I was the first executive director—I stepped down in July of 2013—Boykin Witherspoon at CSUSB is currently the Executive Director,” said Zoldoske.

Dr. Zoldoske explained his time and service with the program since it started in July of 2008.

With the donation given, the initiative is continuing in motion and meeting goals for both communities and partners.

“I think the initiative is great and for a good cause,” said student Carly Nelson.

“I do wish they had more information available at school, maybe set up a stand or hand out pamphlets to get students more interested and active,” continued Nelson.

Students and faculty who wish to learn more about WRPI and what they can do to get involved can visit http://www.calstate.edu/water/ or the John M. Pfau library on campus for more information.

Quarters are going away. It’s about time.

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Photo Courtesy: Josh Adamson
Photo by: Josh Adamson

By Josh Adamson |Staff Writer|

I am celebrating CSUSB’s imminent switch over from quarters to semesters.  The change cannot happen soon enough.

The quarter system is an archaic, compressive and needlessly dense approach to the organization of higher education.

Quarters represent a dying way of scheduling the academic year.

Only 14.7 percent of universities use the quarter system, while 71.2 percent use semesters, according to an article by Inside Higher Ed.

The same article also notes that the number of colleges that utilize the semester system increased from 62 percent to 70 percent between 1990 and 2001.

Such findings are not surprising in light of the benefits of semesters over quarters.

Semesters facilitate more depth into coursework due to the extended 18-week calendar.

Quarters stifle any depth by forcing professors and students to compress their work into 10 rapid weeks of instruction.

Students also have more leeway to pick the classes they really want in the semester system, stated Student Marlen Covarrubias.

The coursework itself is superior in the semester system as well.

“Assignments [in semesters] help us to have knowledge instead of just depending on the syllabus,” added Covarrubias.

Quarters increase the likelihood that transfer students – many of whom matriculate from 2-year schools on the semester system – will struggle to maintain good grades and a high GPA.

I can attest to those difficulties as a transfer student and semester system alumnus.

I was warned by many professors at my junior college that it would be difficult for me to keep up my grades in the quarter system.

Although I have maintained my high grades and GPA, such maintenance involved immense difficulties and feelings that many of my academic struggles were unnecessarily induced by the quarter system.

After three weeks into a given quarter, I would already be stressing about an impending midterm or term paper due date.

I would either be on track to attain a good course grade or too far behind in class to possibly recover.

Every assignment and project would be due at the same time by the ninth week, which stymied my ability to really focus on one task at a time.

This is not the right way to schedule higher education.

The spring quarter does not conclude until several weeks after the semester has already ended.

That added time pointlessly intensifies the competition that recent graduates encounter on the job market.

It is an anachronism that our university still uses the quarter system at all.

Most CSU’s are on semesters, and only four, San Bernardino, Pomona, San Luis Obispo, and East Bay, still use the quarter system, according to an article by EdSource.  

Sister CSU’s Los Angeles and Bakersfield converted to semesters in Fall 2016.

Plans are underway for each remaining CSU to adopt the semester calendar over the next few years.

The benefits of semesters are not lost on students.

“Semesters make an even playing field with other CSU’s,” stated student Abraham Garcia.

“Since most [CSU’s] are semester based, it would make it easier in terms of transferring credits and classes,” concluded Garcia.

This is just another bonus of the impending semester switch over.

Our university will be a better place once the conversion finally happens.

 

Tennis Club.

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By Gregory Gammill |Staff Writer|

The disbandment of our Coyote Tennis team left the window open for a club to establish themselves around the sport of tennis.

Pack Tennis Club is hosted by students who seek for new and returning members for the sport.

The club offers new and experienced tennis players an opportunity to improve their game by training and competing with fellow Coyotes.

Information gathered from the club’s Facebook page has indicated there are 14 members currently.

Susan Proakatok is the president of the club at CSUSB.

“Tennis experience isn’t required; the club is for all students, regardless of experience. Some of our members can teach tennis, too,” said Proakatok.

Members will benefit from the practices and a player friendly environment that the club has implemented over the past three years.

“As the Pack Tennis Club, we’re here for the CSUSB students who play tennis to join together and enjoy the sport together,” said Proakatok.

The club meets up to three times a week to practice and build chemistry.

The days the club meets are Tuesdays from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., Wednesdays from 3:00 to 5:30 p.m., and Fridays from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Practice takes place at the tennis courts behind the Recreation and Wellness Center.

The easiest way for students to join is by completing the packet at csusbrecsports.com and by attending any of the practices.

“The club is able to gather students who love the sport, so those who don’t have anyone to play tennis with can join the club and find someone to hit with,” said Proakatok.

The Pack Tennis Club is a place where people can build up skills and college friendships.

CFA agreement not enough!

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By Kyle Richardson |Staff Writer|

It is finally a done deal.

But is it a good one? The California Faculty Association (CFA) and California State University (CSU) officials have reached a “tentative agreement.”

The agreement came as a result after CFA members threatened to strike across CSU campuses.

“This agreement represents a strong step forward for salary stability for the faculty and their families,” said CFA president Jennifer Eagan, according to CFA.

“We are happy about this fair agreement, and are delighted that we will be teaching and mentoring our students next week,” added Eagan.

In my opinion, the deal is a bad one for the CSU professors in the classrooms.

It is not enough. The CSU’s original offer was a 4 percent raise through 2017, according to calfac.org.

The tentative agreement is a total increase of 10.5 percent raise through 2017 dispersed throughout three different dates, starting with 5 percent on June 30, 2016, 2 percent on July 1, 2016 and the final 3.5 percent on July 1, 2017.

Those eligible for the increase are CSU faculty members, including tenured professors, lecturers, counselors, librarians, and coaches.

But is this tentative agreement enough of a raise for the people who are educating the students who are the future of this world?

“I feel like the CFA settled,” said student Evan Peckels.

“But they have to secure what is theirs, there was probably fear of their jobs security, while like other humans, they have families to feed,” added Peckels.

The faculty members who are educators should be held higher in rank as well as paid at a competitive market rate.

According to the Los Angeles Times, members of the CFA earn on average $45,000 annually before taxes and other deductions. Let us take a look into some of our own CSUSB administrators’ annual salaries.

According to The Sacramento Bee, Tomás Morales, CSUSB president, made $380,000 in 2015.

Now, let’s not get on Morales, he is the captain of the ship who has been steering CSUSB in the right direction since he has arrived.

But, let us look at his key lieutenants.

Douglas Freer, CSUSB’s Vice President-Chief Financial Officer, made $207,000 in 2015 according to The Sacramento Bee.

Cesar Portillo, Associate VP of Human Resources, made $170,000 in 2015 according to The Sacramento Bee.

I can only imagine how many rounds of golf $170,000 can buy a year.

But I do know that is a lot of student tuition. These are just two of the many administrators at CSUSB who make more than $45,000 annually.

Yet, these are not the people who are in the classroom educating the future.

There are many professors who must teach at multiple campuses, teaching multiple subjects, to try and barely reach the average annual income. How is that fair to these professors when the administrators are sitting pretty in their offices?

With all the tuition money that students pay to attend a university, we should not have to question why educators are being held out of secure jobs, and thousands of dollars.

These professors, who are educating the future of the nation who will contribute to society and private sectors, deserve to be paid more.

“I strongly believe that quality education is of vital importance to your generation. You guys are the future,” said Communication Studies Professor Donald Girard.

“Educators that provide a high quality of teaching necessary to a student’s future success should be paid at a high competitive market rate,” added Girard.

I myself, wish to be an educator and I question what my future may hold. I would owe everything I have learned to those who have educated me, as I can only hope that my future students would do the same.

But think about it; whether you look to pursue a future in athletics, photography, arts, marketing or cyber security, you must consider the economic reality of the professors who are educating you today.

They are prepping us for the future.They deserve more than they have been offered.

 

CFA ready to strike

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By Jennifer Martinez |Staff Writer|

The California Faculty Association (CFA) is preparing a five-day strike in April that can potentially affect the quality of education for students.

All 23 California State University (CSU) campuses will go on strike if the CFA does not reach an agreement with CSU management concerning fair wages.

“When faculty pay is low and the number of students we each try to teach is high, the CSU cannot attract and retain the best teachers,” said CFA President Jennifer Eagan.

Students are struggling to afford the costs of attending college. The CSU must shift system priorities to better align with its core mission of accessible, affordable and quality higher education, according to calfac.org.

Even though students are paying more in tuition than ever before, they are getting less for their education.
There are more students per faculty resulting in larger classes and less time to help, according to calfac.org.
“That is unfair to students and to the future of California,” added Eagan.

The CSU system, also known as, “The People’s University,” is known for its mission to make four-year degrees possible for any Californian willing to put in the effort and hard work.

Their purpose is to help students become middle-class college-educated people who can advance in California’s economy and democracy, according to calfac.org.

Faculty are falling out of the middle class due to stagnant pay and temporary hiring practices.
As the strike is approaching, students are realizing that in order to receive this quality of education, faculty should not be a last priority.

“I feel that the professors should be paid fairly. I think they are setting a good example for students as well. They are voicing their concerns in a healthy way,” said student Diego Gutierrez.

There has been an increase in pay raises and managerial positions for CSU executives and managers at a faster rate than the increase in full-time equivalent faculty positions, according to calfac.org.

“When faculty are worrying about bankruptcy, making rent, choosing which bill to pay or not pay, and losing the time it takes to get to our second or third job, we realize that our students are not getting the best from us,” said CFA Secretary Molly Talcott.

The average CSU faculty member earns $45,000 per year; more than 50 percent earn less than $38,000 per year, according to calfac.org.

“As students we notice when professors are fed up, and their lectures reflect that. Not to say all professors are because there are some who support the strike and continue to give the students their absolute best,” added Gutierrez.

The strike will not delay for students who are planning to graduate in the spring. The strike has been planned at a time that will impact students as little as possible.

Faculty members will not penalize students for missing classes that have to be cancelled as a result of the strike; however, all students are responsible for keeping up with their course work.

“Students cannot be compelled to walk out of class, walk picket lines, stay away from campus or support the strike as part of a class assignment or in exchange for a grade,” stated President Tomás D. Morales.
CSUSB plans to maintain full campus operations with minimal disruption to students, faculty, staff and guests.

Grad rates addressed

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By Elle Carlos | Staff Writer |

Chancellor Timothy White discussed upcoming goals for the 2016-17 academic year on Jan. 26, at his State of the CSU address.

 
White focused on the need for CSU’s to close the achievement gap, the rate between white and minority student graduates.

 
“I am acknowledging that empowering historically under served, low-income, first-generation and English-as-a-second-language communities demands more of our time, attention and resources. It requires our best thinkers and best doers,” said White.

 
With the ongoing budget negotiations for the coming year, students can be reassured that tuition will not increase within the upcoming academic year.

 
“In keeping with Governor Brown’s multi-year funding agreement with the CSU, trustees will keep tuition flat in 2016-17,” stated Pam Langford, director of Executive Affairs.

 
“The CSU $102 million additional budget request will be decided between now and mid-June when California legislators pass the budget,” stated Langford.

 
“We encourage all students to participate in ‘high-impact practices’ that lead to graduation,” stated President Tomàs Morales.

 
Morales suggested students get involved in student organizations, service learning, internships, and capstone courses.

 
“Yes, we are reaching for the moon… not for ourselves alone… but for all who watch from afar and follow,” said White.

 
“If not the CSU to lead America… then who? If not the people in this room and the 3.5 million people we represent… then who?” asked White.

 
“The answer is clear. It is the people of the CSU, aspiring and achieving together, that enable a better world by graduating the global leaders of tomorrow,” said White.

CSUSB Criminal Justice Program Ranked No. 2 in Nation

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By Manuel Sandoval |Assistant News Editor|

CSUSB’s online criminal justice graduate program ranked number two in the nation for having the best value.

According to Valuecolleges.com, this is the third time this academic year that CSUSB placed on the “Top 50 Best Value Online Graduate Criminal Justice Programs of 2016.”

“We have been ranked numerous times. I am pleased and proud of what our criminal justice department does here at CSUSB,” said Larry K. Gaines, criminal justice department chair.

This past August the criminal justice online master of arts degree was listed at No. 17 in SuperScholar’s “50 Best Online Criminal Justice Programs 2015,” and No. 20 by U.S. News & World Report in its “Best Online Graduate Criminal Justice Programs,” according to news.csusb.edu.

UC Irvine took the number one spot on the “Top 50 Best Value Online Graduate Criminal Justice Programs of 2016.”

“I am super proud to be attending a University that is being acknowledged for its classes and faculty. It reassures students studying criminal justice that we’re getting the best value for our education,” said student Elaine Lopez.

“Cal State San Bernardino has been recognized by the Princeton Review as one of the best regional universities in the West. Furthermore, as a Hispanic-serving institution, CSUSB has made a major positive impact on education for the Latino community,” according to news.csusb.edu.

“As a criminal justice major I’ve had so many wonderful professors and informative classes that I am not surprised CSUSB placed in the top two,” said student Max Ard.

For more information about CSUSBs Criminal Justice programs, visit criminaljustice.csusb.edu.

 

CFA file unfair labor practices suit

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By Cherie Brower |Staff Writer|

The California Faculty Association (CFA) has filed an unfair labor practice against CSU management for bargaining salary negotiations in bad faith.

 
According to the CFA, faculty members are “angry” and “frustrated” with CSU Chancellor Dr. Timothy White’s “unfair” salary offer.

 
The complaint was filed on Nov. 19 with the California Public Employment Relations Board, according to a CFA news release.

 
Once an unfair labor practice has been filed, the charge can result in an investigation, complaint, hearing, and a remedial order or dismissal.

 
The complaint, according to a press release posted by the CFA, was based off of language in Section 3572b of the Higher Education Employer-Employee Relations Act (HEERA). The language states that the CSU and CFA must reach a salary agreement before the CSU sends a budget request to government or legislature; the agreement was not reached before the budget request was sent.

 

 

According to the Los Angeles Times, in 2015-16 and 2016-17, CSU adopted budgets of $65.5 million, which allowed for a two percent faculty salary increase, before reaching an agreement with the union.

 
It is unclear how much of the salary increases the $65.5 million would cover.

 
Salary negotiations have been ongoing since May 2015, which is the second year of the Unit 3 contract.

 

According to the CFA, Gov. Jerry Brown signed the state budget and approved CSU’s funding request in June 2015.

 
Kevin Wehr, chair of the CFA Bargaining Team, said that CSU has “violated its percent compensation pool for all employees.”

 
In regards to White, Wehr said, “he has put the cart before the horse.”

 
Wehr also said, “the Chancellor decided what he thought was fair compensation for faculty before the bargaining process even began, and that is not bargaining in good faith.”

 
The CFA is currently seeking a general salary increase of five percent, which has been branded the “Fight for Five.”

 
According to CSU, the five percent increase would cost $102.3 million, and may cost other unions $37.9 million, based upon “me-too” clauses. The National Public Employer Labor Relations Association defines a “me too” clause as a clause “generally written into a contract as a bargaining unit benefit to ensure that one union does not negotiate better benefits than another in the same region or job class.”

 
The CFA and CSU have reached an impasse, and are currently in the fact-finding stage of mediation.

 
Toni Molle, CSU Director of Public Affairs, stated, “the CSU remains committed to the collective bargaining process and to reaching a negotiated agreement with the California Faculty Association.”

 
The final portion of the fact-finding stage is the fact-finding hearings. The hearings are set for Nov. 23 and Dec. 7. The final stage must be complete before further actions by the CFA can be taken.

 
If CSU and the CFA cannot find common ground after the hearings, the CFA union may begin job actions, which could include a strike. Over 94 percent of faculty have voted to authorize a strike if negotiations fail, according to the CFA.

 
The CFA currently represents more than 26,000 tenured and tenure-track faculty, as stated on the CFA website.

 
Per CFA union officials, a strike could occur as early as January 2016.