If plans for decreased enrollment are enacted next fall, it may mean significantly reduced funding for programs like financial aid.

As part of the ongoing budget crisis, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed reducing enrollment in the CSU system by approximately 20,000 students starting next fall.

Each campus would be required to reduce their enrollment by five percent, according to CSU spokesperson Clara Potes-Fellow.

The financial aid department stands to lose funding.

“Currently, 33 percent of the fees are used for financial aid,” Potes-Fellow said. “If the proposal goes through, then the money used for financial aid would decrease to 22 percent.”

Last year, financial aid was granted to 7,418 students at Sacramento State, Director of Financial Aid Linda Clemens said.

“The people who will be affected the most are students who apply late for aid, because traditionally they have the whole academic year to apply,” Clemens said. “We will run out of money earlier than before.”

The overall reduced enrollment at Sac State next year will be approximately 2,000 students. The university will not be able to accept all qualified students. The proposal recommends redirecting first-time freshmen to community college campuses.