In response to “certain behaviors,” CSU Chancellor’s office mandates a system-wide 15 unit cap for the 2012-2013 academic year.
Late spring, the California State University Chancellor’s Office mandated a system-wide 15 unit enrollment cap, effective Fall 2012 and Spring 2013.
In July, an email was sent to California State University, Stanislaus students regarding the new policy. The email explained that students enrolled in more than 15 units for the Fall 2012 semester would be permitted to keep their courses. However, once dropping below 15 units, students could not re-add courses to exceed 15 units.
Two exceptions were presented and allowed upon petition on a case-by-case basis: Students graduating in Fall 2012 were able to exceed 15 units in order to take only the courses required to complete their degree. 
The second exception pertained to students in programs requiring courses valued at more than three units, including: science, foreign language and mathematics. These students were permitted to enroll up to 17 units. After the Fall 2012 semester began, this rule was also extended to music and theatre students enrolling in performance classes.  
Erik Fallis, Media Relations Specialist at the CSU Chancellor’s Office, explained that less educational resources and “certain behaviors” were two main issues which prompted the 15 unit cap. 
“We have less educational resources, in any area frankly, for students than we had in the past,” Fallis said. “One of the ways we can deal with that is by making sure that every student gets access to at least a full load of classes.”
Fallis also said that prior to the cap, the tuition policy invited certain student behaviors. These behaviors speak to students who over-enroll in courses they plan to drop, thereby taking a seat away from another student. 
Fallis said there are flexibilities given to each CSU campus, to make judgment calls for each individual student. 
“The intention of the CSU policy is not to put an unreasonable burden on any student whose on the verge of graduating,” Fallis said. “I mean it makes absolutely no sense for the CSU to keep a student in school longer than necessary.”
Students at CSU Stanislaus are upset about the new limit and worried they will not be able to graduate on time.
“It affects me because I’m hoping I’m close to graduating,” Betsy Plascenca (junior, Communication Studies) said. Plascenca is hoping to take 18 units next semester, to be on-track to graduate in Fall 2013.
“It’s gonna be an issue if I don’t get 18 units and it makes me mad,” Plascenca said. “It’s more money and more time and I want to graduate. It sucks.”