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FAQ for Students

Dear Student:

This important message will help you deal effectively with the challenges of enrolling in classes and completing your schedule at the start of the semester.

As you know, this is not a typical year for the university. The state's budget difficulties have led to significant cuts to the CSU budget this year ($580 million), resulting in a reduction in the number of class sections available.

You may find that many of the classes you want to add are already full. It is important for you to understand why this is the case and what you can do.

An empty seat is not an available space

You don't need to understand all of the technical details about how education is funded, but you do need to understand that the state funds up to a preset number of students targeted to enroll, not the number actually enrolled or the number of desks in a classroom. Remember that the state pays much of the cost of your education each semester and your fees make up the rest of the cost. When we make schedules, we can only provide enough spaces in a class for the number of students for which the state pays. This number becomes the "cap" for the class. Since we cannot afford to educate students we are not paid to educate, we must hold to the enrollment limit for each class. Remember that when you go to a class and try to add it, it is the enrollment cap that limits the professor, not the number of desks in a classroom. Thus, an empty seat is most likely NOT an available space.

Because of these changed funding conditions, we understand that it may now begin to affect your progress to graduation. We want to help you continue to make progress, so follow the links below for important information.


5151 State University Drive . Los Angeles . CA 90032 . (323) 343-3000
© 2008 Trustees of the California State University

Last Update: 09/22/2009