Proposition 1D Fact Sheet
This document produced by the CSU Channel Islands Foundation
Official Title and Summary
Kindergarten-University Public Education Facilities Bond Act of 2006
- This ten billion four hundred sixteen million dollar ($10.4 billion) bond issue will provide needed funding to relieve public school overcrowding and to repair older schools.
- It will improve earthquake safety and fund vocational educational facilities and public schools. Bond funds must be spent according to strict accountability measures.
- Funds will also be used to repair and upgrade existing public college and university buildings and to build new classrooms to accommodate the growing student enrollment in the California Community Colleges, the University of California, and the California State University.
- Appropriates money from the General Fund to pay off bonds.
Proposition 1D would bring nearly 62 million dollars to California State University Channel Islands
This represents almost 10% of the entire CSU allocation of $690 million
California State University Channel Islands is at a critical juncture in its young history. In just four short years, the University has evolved from graduating just 4 students to conferring 720 bachelor and master degrees this past May. CSUCI graduates have already been accepted into leading graduate programs including law and medical schools.
When the University opened in 2002, the student population was projected to reach more than 15,000 FTEs. To date, enrollment projections have been surpassed each semester. For the current fall semester, the expected number of students was 2,879. The number has already exceeded 3,100.
There is already a list of 500 interested students for a nursing program that will begin in the fall of '07. This program will help to address the critical nursing shortage in this state.
Clearly there is a high demand for a CSU to serve the students of this region, and to date the University has met this demand with passion, commitment and stellar results. As testament to this, following a recent campus visit, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges stated, “The passion, commitment, and tireless energy of the members of this special academic community are apparent-- even tangible--in every respect of our observations. If the team were grading for effort this group of people would get an A+... Given what is happening at CSUCI -- and needs to happen -- we were and remain in awe.
The immediate challenge for this young campus is to respond to the need for resources. While the University is located in a beautiful setting featuring striking Spanish Mission style architecture, many of the structures are 50- 70 years old. Funding from Prop 1D will begin to bring the campus up to today's standards, assuring that this region's students will have a public University that will have 21st century systems and technologies.
The campus is in significant need of additional classrooms, labs, lecture halls, dining commons, as well as improvements to the aging infrastructure to meet the needs of the rapidly growing campus population of students, faculty, and staff.
While there is no organized opposition at this time, some have voiced concern about the cost of the bond for the state, the variety of new programs funded, and the fact that it is designed to fund only two years of need. Proponents argue that it is a fiscally responsible way to finance school repair and construction, makes schools earthquake safe, and it does not bite off more than the state can afford now.
For more information about the bond as well as arguments for and against the measure, visit www.ss.ca.gov/elections, click on the “Voter Information Guide” button and scroll down to “Prop 1-D.”
How funds from Proposition 1D would benefit California State University Channel Islands
FAST FACTS
- Currently, for every dollar the state invests in CSUCI, the local economy is enhanced by $3.05. This economic multiplier will grow as long as the campus is able to continue to grow as well.
- College graduates earn on average 1 million dollars more over their lifetime than someone who does not earn a college degree. Growing numbers of graduates from CSUCI means more dollars being pumped into the economic engine of this region.
- As an endorsement and recognition of the University's success and rapid growth, the CSU Offi ce of the Chancellor has placed every one of CSUCI proposed projects for consideration into this bond measure as a “high priority,” higher than many of the larger, more established campuses in the CSU system.
Minor Capital Outlay and Capital Renewal
Funding would enable upgrades and renovation of campus facilities to accommodate the
growing academic program, as well as to implement accessibility projects to address
the American with Disabilities Act.
Infrastructure Improvements
Work would include needed electrical infrastructure and distribution capacity to meet critical defi ciencies on the campus. It includes a new distribution system for hot and chilled water to provide building heating and cooling. This would replace the existing steam system in order to improve energy effi ciency. Additional water, wastewater, storm drain, reclaimed water, natural gas, electrical, and telecom capacity would also be provided to meet enrollment growth needs and to repair and replace systems that are currently 50-70 years old.
Nursing Renovation
Funding would address the needs of the nursing program currently scheduled to launch
in the fall of 2007. It will allow the campus to renovate an existing building to
include simulator lab stations, computer stations, and lab support areas. This program
already has an interest list of 500 students.
Classroom/Faculty Office Renovation/Addition
Proposition 1D would provide funding for the architectural drawings to renovate existing
space and provide for new construction to provide additional classroom and faculty
space.
Entrance Road
The monies would also be used to develop planning and engineering designs for the
entrance road that will be required when the Lewis road expansion from two to four
lanes is completed.