Published
4 years agoon
I’ve finally figured out the reason for the annual dance between whoever occupies the governor’s office and California State University system leaders.
For those unfamiliar with the Sacramento Three-Step, it works like this.
According to the CSU, every buck invested by the state returns $5.43 to California’s economy.
That’s a great bargain. Now and down the road. When first-generation college-goers graduate, it can raise the trajectory of brothers, sisters, and cousins for years to come.
So, while Newsom is on the right track with some of his “Big Hairy Audacious Goals,” he’s also missing an easy fix.
And that is enrolling thousands more qualified CSU applicants, many of whom are poor and undoubtedly would face fewer barriers to graduation if they attended their nearest campus.
Let’s use Fresno State as an example. After the customary budget dance this spring, the CSU received a 2.7% bump in new enrollment funding, or $85 million — not the 5% requested by CSU leaders — for the 2019-20 school year.
Now, I promised you an answer as to the why of the Sacramento Three-Step, and I’m not retreating.
Boosting enrollment is not a Big Hairy Audacious Goal. And it doesn’t provide what many politicians crave — a photo/video op.
It’s simply good policy. One that works.
Maybe if I find a way to turn the development of human capital into a ribbon cutting, Newsom will see the light next year.
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Learn more about the value of CSU schools at this link.
Bill McEwen is news director and columnist for GV Wire. He joined GV Wire in August 2017 after 37 years at The Fresno Bee. With The Bee, he served as Opinion Editor, City Hall reporter, Metro columnist, sports columnist and sports editor through the years. His work has been frequently honored by the California Newspapers Publishers Association, including authoring first-place editorials in 2015 and 2016. Bill and his wife, Karen, are proud parents of two adult sons, and they have two grandsons. You can contact Bill at 559-492-4031 or at Send an Email
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