httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDtfGgZDR6Q

California State University, Fresno President John D. Welty joined California State University officials in Sacramento today (May 24), to meet with legislators in support of Governor Schwarzenegger’s 2010-2011 proposed budget for higher education. The budget restores a $305 million one-time cut to the CSU’s current budget and includes an additional $60.6 million in funding for CSU’s enrollment growth.

“The reinvestment in higher education is essential for California’s recovery and we appreciate the Governor’s continued support,” said CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed. “Our hope is for the legislature’s approval of the budget, so we can begin to restore access and service to students across the system.”

With the timely adoption of the Governor’s budget, CSU estimates that it could serve as many as 29,000 more students in 2010-2011.

Welty brought a message to legislators about the economic impacts the Fresno State campus has on the central San Joaquin Valley region.

Fresno State’s annual spending of $452 million contributes about $484 million to the regional economy and $781 million throughout the state as those dollars work their way through the system. In the Valley, Fresno State sustains 5,700 jobs and generates $28.5 million in tax revenue.

In addition, Fresno State prepares more individuals for teaching, business leadership, agriculture, engineering, the arts, writing, physical therapy and other careers than any other Valley college.

Welty, other presidents and CSU officials are using information from the recent report “Working for California: The Impact of the California State University System” that shows a $5.43 return on every state dollar invested in the CSU

The CSU report documents that the 23-campus CSU system generates $17 billion in economic activity directly and that the impact is more than $70.4 billion annually if higher alumni earnings are counted.

For more on Fresno State’s impacts, visit http://www.calstate.edu/impact/fresno.shtml.

The full CSU report is available at http://www.calstate.edu/impact/.

Visit http://www.csus.edu/pa/video/20100524_AdvocacyDay.html to view the video.