Not enough state funding has caused Fresno State to move up another application deadline — this time for transfer students.

University officials announced Jan. 29 that the deadline for upper-division transfer applicants and lower-division nursing and engineering applicants who wish to attend Fresno State next fall have until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 15, to get their applications in.

That deadline has been moved up by six weeks from the original April 1 deadline.

“Due to the state’s fiscal crisis, Fresno State has limited space for new students for the fall semester,â€Â said Bernie Vinovrski, associate vice president for enrollment.

“Managing enrollment is critically important these days because Fresno State will not receive enough state funding to accommodate all students who are qualified to attend,â€Â he said.

More applications, less room

Vinovrski explained that Fresno State̢۪s enrollment for next fall cannot be greater than the goal for this past fall. He said that Fresno State was above its target in the fall and has continued to be above target this spring.

This means there are more continuing students for next fall and less room for new ones.

Fresno State has already received a considerable amount of more applications this year than at this time last year, Vinovrski said.

“If we fail to close applications now, we run the risk of being way over on enrollment and with the budget cuts we can’t afford to be in that position,â€Â he said.

University attempts to inform transfers of new deadline

Applicants are considered upper-division transfers if they have completed at least 60 units with a minimum 2.0 grade point average and have also met all lower-division general education requirements.

Kevin Perkins, a junior business major, said he is glad that this is not affecting him.

“It is unfair to those students who expected to have time and now have to rush,â€Â Perkins said.

The deadline changes have been sent out to all the main institutions that Fresno State draws applications from, including local community colleges and satellite centers.

Vinovrski said they are encouraging those campuses to post signs and inform faculty so the message can be passed to students.

He said that with the new deadline, he expects about 300 to 400 additional applications to come in within the next couple of weeks.

Freshman applications closed, graduate applications still open

Earlier this month, the university moved up the freshman application deadline from Feb. 1 to Jan. 9.

Fresno State took similar measures to inform local high school counselors to put the word out to their students.

Graduate applicants and returning students who have previously attended Fresno State still have until the original April 1 deadline to submit their applications.

“It is highly unlikely that the graduate and returning student application deadline will be moved up,â€Â Vinovrski said.

Vinovrski: Quality over quantity

The reason Fresno State is taking these actions is that it will be penalized if it goes over its enrollment, Vinovrski said.

He also said, “We do not want to over-enroll, because our current students will suffer.â€Â

He explained that the number of students who are funded through the state is ideal for education.
“If we go over that number, it erodes quality and we don’t want to do that.â€Â

What are the new deadlines?

̢ۢ The deadline for transfer students is Feb. 15, six weeks prior to the original April 1 deadline. Upper division transfers are those who have completed at least 60 units with a minimum 2.0 grade point average and have also met all lower-division general education requirements.

̢ۢ Qualifying freshman applicants whose applications were submitted prior to Nov. 30 priority deadline will be accommodated first. Freshman applicants submitted between Dec. 1 and Jan. 9 will be placed on a wait list.

̢ۢ Graduate applicants and returning students who have previously attended Fresno State still have until April 1 to submit their applications.