Interim President Joe Sheley made his first address on campus Wednesday, highlighting the economic challenges California State University, Stanislaus faces and how he plans to combat these problems by bringing CSU Stanislaus to the forefront of the CSU system.
“We are not an island,” Sheley said Wednesday.  “We are part of an important region, and we truly want to partner in moving this region forward.” 
The concept of community and pride in CSU Stanislaus and its alumni was prominent throughout his address. Sheley hopes to show off the university in the years forthcoming, in an attempt to bring more students and more support to the university as a whole.
Sheley did not, however, hesitate to clearly outline the economic challenges CSU Stanislaus faces.
“The CSU has seen its budget cut by one-third, $1 billion, over the past six years,” President Sheley said.  “There’s really no fat left to be trimmed. We are into muscle. We are into bone. It is serious.”
Sheley went on to explain Governor Jerry Brown’s tax initiative, Proposition 30.  According to the California State website, ca.gov, the initiative will temporarily increase sales and income tax for those with annual earnings over $250,000. A portion of these temporarily increased revenues would then be allocated to higher school funding.  
If Proposition 30 does not pass, however, the attorney general projects the CSU system losing $250 million in spending.  President Sheley explained that he, along with the University Budget Advisory Committee and vice presidents, has planned as if Proposition 30 will not pass. He feels doing otherwise would be “irresponsible.”
Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at CSU Stanislaus, Jim Strong, feels confident in the CSU’s selection of Sheley as interim president.  Strong said that Sheley has faced similar economic challenges at California State University, Sacramento.
“This was a very savvy selection,” Strong said.  “Dr. Sheley is the right person at the right time for this institution.”