5 Cal State universities will share $12M in federal funds

A handful of California State Universities will share a $12.2 million federal funding pot to support various projects on those campuses, the system announced Monday.

The money was included in a congressionally directed “minibus” funding package for the 2024 fiscal year, the announcement said, which was signed into law by President Joe Biden on Friday.

The bulk of the funding, $5 million, will go to Cal State Fullerton's Titan Gateway Bridge project, a planned pedestrian bridge that will span a busy campus crossing at Nutwood and Chapman Avenues.

Another $3.4 million will be used to fund capital improvements to Cal State Long Beach's Child Development Center, the announcement said, which provides affordable child care for students who are also parents.

Cal State Northridge will get two grants totaling just over $1.9 million, the announcement said, split into two equal halves for different programs.

The first $963,000 will support CSUN'S research in aquaculture — or the controlled cultivation of various ocean organisms and plants — including work to develop sustainable seaweed.

The other chunk of money will support the university's Strength United Domestic Violence Community Policing and Advocacy project, which provides a variety of social services to survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence.

Cal State San Bernardino will also get a $963,000 funding pot for its Tech and Workforce Hub Project, and San Diego State University will get the same amount for a transmission electron telescope.

The additional federal funding grants are a welcome sight for the CSU system, which is grappling with a $1.5 billion funding gap.

A previous CSU report said the system only has enough money to pay for about 85% of the actual costs of education, institutional and academic support, and student services at all of its campuses.

“This visionary funding package is a wonderful