Why SJSU is Accepting Non-Resident Graduate Students in Spring 2013

On Aug. 16, as a guest on KQED’s news talk show “Forum,” President Qayoumi explained that millions of dollars in state budget cuts for public higher education means SJSU lacks the funding to admit all California residents who would like to attend.

By Pat Lopes Harris, Media Relations Director

In the past, this time of year was when SJSU accepted applications for spring admissions, mostly from community college transfer students, but also from graduate students entering programs accepting newcomers in the middle of the academic year. Beginning in 2009, when SJSU was hit by severe budget cuts, spring admissions varied depending on the budget situation and the number of enrolled students. This fall, SJSU has already filled every spot available to California residents for the entire academic year, meaning California residents are filling all seats supported by a combination of state and tuition dollars. So SJSU opened spring admissions to only non-resident graduate students from elsewhere in the United States or abroad who cover the full cost of their education in higher tuition without state support. This touched off a series of stories in the major media, including the San Jose Mercury News and KQED news radio. Is this fair? Who is to blame? On Aug. 16, as a guest on KQED’s news talk show “Forum,” President Qayoumi explained that millions of dollars in state budget cuts for public higher education means SJSU lacks the funding to admit all California residents who would like to attend. Listen to the show.