CSUN Studying Ways to Cope With Projected Rise in Enrollment

Officials of California State University, Northridge have begun to prepare a long-term expansion plan to head off further crowding at the already packed school, a university spokeswoman said Wednesday.

CSU Chancellor W. Ann Reynolds asked the school last month to figure out how to accommodate 4,000 to 5,000 more full-time students by the 1995-96 academic year, spokeswoman Judith Elias said.

CSUN President James W. Cleary has appointed a task force to study expansion possibilities and to report to Reynolds by the end of September with cost estimates, Elias said.

Among ideas to be studied by Cleary’s task force are the addition of faculty and staff, upgrading university facilities and the construction of buildings, Elias said.

For any expansion to occur, approval by the CSU Board of Trustees would be required and funds would probably have to be appropriated by the Legislature.

With enrollment at 29,432 this past academic year, CSUN accommodated about 800 more full-time students than the state had budgeted for, university administrators said.

CSUN received a record number of applications for the 1987-88 school year, Elias said.

Reynolds requested the study because CSU officials expect tremendous growth at CSUN for the next 10 years, Elias said. The school has attracted increasing numbers of students as the San Fernando Valley’s population has continued to grow.

The university recently received approval of a $150-million expansion of its North Campus, which will include a stadium, performance halls, hotel, restaurants and student housing. It will not include more classroom space or faculty.