Lottery generates $10 million for CSU

By Chris Ledermuller
Daily Forty-Niner

Lottery players trying to hit the jackpot generated $10 million for the California State University system.

In addition to the lottery money, the Chancellor's Office has allocated $10 million from its general fund for CSU's strategic workforce programs.

From the general fund, Cal State Long Beach will receive $760,000 for the strategic workforce programs, the fourth largest allocation out of all CSU campuses.

"Those are certain workforce areas that are very much in need, and we are the institution that prepares the most graduates in those areas," said Ken Swisher, a spokesman for the Chancellor's Office. "These areas require expensive equipment and a lower student-to-faculty ratio."

Armando Contreras, executive assistant to CSULB President Robert Maxson, said the $760,000 will fund programs on campus, such as nursing, engineering and computer science.

"These are areas where there is a high demand for people to fill these positions and there are not enough people to fill them," added Swisher.

The $10 million allocation from the lottery will be split between technology and faculty development, Swisher said. He added that beside this one-time windfall, CSU's regular share of lottery funding was $41.7 million this year.

CSULB's faculty development and technology programs will each receive $396,200, according to a memo from the Chancellor's Office. The allocation is the second largest in the state. San Diego State University, at $431,500, has the most allocated funding.

Both lottery and general funds were apportioned by the number of full-time students attending a campus, Swisher said.

"In most cases, funding is determined by enrollment," he said.