TURLOCK -- Students returning to California State University, Stanislaus, for the fall semester Monday found more classes, thanks to the federal government.
The campus, along with the rest of the CSU system, curtailed course offerings and laid off faculty and staff last year as a result of severe cuts in the state budget.
Students complained about difficulty getting into classes and that the classes they did get were overcrowded, with more students than seats.
Earlier this month, university officials said they added more than 60 courses and class sections to the fall schedule after the campus received $1.1 million in federal stimulus money.
Adding classes helps the immediate need on campus and the long-term situation: Some students who can't get the classes they need take others to continue qualifying for financial aid, thus exacerbating the crowding.
The CSU system received the money last year, but Chancellor Charles Reed distributed only about half of it originally, hanging on to the rest for this school year.
Added classes range from introductory courses in English and philosophy to advanced business law and human development.
The funding has made it possible to add a course in one of the university's most popular fields. Officials said "Introduction to the Social Work Profession" emphasizes human diversity, populations at risk, generalist interventions and fields of practices.
CSUS will continue to celebrate its 50th anniversary in the fall with Founders Week activities, including a student-faculty/staff softball game, mixers and campus tours set for Sept. 14-18.
On the Net: For more information on Founders Week activities, go to www.csustan.edu/50th/foundersweek.
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