On Oct. 14 the California State University (CSU) held a live student media web conference titled “Emerging Topics for the CSU System.” The exclusive webcast for student journalists covered topics regarding budgetary breakdowns and tuition increases for the 2017-2018 academic year, the emphasis on raising the rate of students graduating in a timely manner and leadership options for CSU students.
The CSU Assistant Vice Chancellor for Budget, Ryan Storm, kicked off the conference with his breakdown of the CSU budget and what was proposed for the 2017-18 academic year. 
Since the recession, the CSU requested $300 million and has only received 60% of that amount over the four years post-recession.
Storm explained how this year the CSU system has estimated a budget of 346 million dollars, but the State of California has only approved 177.2 Million for the CSU System. That leaves the CSU System 168.8 Million dollars short, leaving them the hard task of raising the remaining amount.
Currently the CSU system has three options on how to raise the remaining balance. One option is by pushing state politicians to allocate more funds for the CSU, another more drastic option would be to make serious program cuts and the third option is through a proposed CSU wide tuition increase for the 2017-18 academic year.
After Storm was done explaining the budget plan, the CSU Senior Strategist for Academic Success and Inclusive Excellence, James T. Minor, began his presentation on the new CSU initiative to increase graduation rates and get students graduated in four years.
The Graduation Initiative 2025 seeks to dramatically improve completion rates. For freshmen, it is hoped to raise 4-year graduation rates by 40% and 6-year graduation rates by 70%.
Transfers are not forgotten in this formula, as the CSU advisory committee will also push for universities to graduate their transfers in two years, increasing the rate by 45%. 
Minor acknowledges the four-year graduation initiative is both “ambitious and exciting,” but the CSU system is focused on the student success, “we all have to be focused on student success.”
Most students enroll into a CSU campus with the mindset that they will be done in four years, Minor and the CSU system are trying to help them reach their goals. 
After Minor, California State Student Association Executive Director, Rob Shorotte, began his presentation on the ways CSU students can get involved with the decisions and policies being made that affect anyone in the CSU system by being part of the California State Student Association (CSSA).
Any passionate student in the CSU System can get involved with CSSA by applying for positions or internships in the organization. Interested students can check the CSSA Jobs and Internships website for more information and open positions.
After the main topics were discussed, the conference held a Q&A segment where student journalists from different student newspapers were able to send in their questions that were then answered by the appropriate speakers live during the conference.
The Signal newspaper will be covering these topics in depth in our upcoming special election print edition out on Nov. 2.