CSU Proposes Shared Services Network to Address Financial Crisis

Three Bay Area CSU campuses plan to consolidate administrative functions while maintaining institutional independence to mitigate severe budget deficits.

• The 'San Francisco Bay Region Network' initiative will merge administrative services like finance, IT, and human resources across San Francisco State, Cal State East Bay, and Sonoma State.
• Chancellor Mildred García announced the proposal in response to a projected $375 million budget cut for the CSU system in the 2025-26 fiscal year.
• The three campuses face significant financial deficits, with Sonoma State projecting $23.9 million, Cal State East Bay $20 million, and San Francisco State at least $33 million for the next academic year.
• Declining birth rates and fewer high school graduates are expected to reduce enrollment at these universities through 2040, exacerbating financial challenges.
• University leaders have assured stakeholders that the campuses will remain independently accredited, with further implementation details to be presented in May 2025.

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