Dear Colleagues,
 
I am writing regarding central campus funding for core-funded Academic Student Employee (ASE) salary and benefit cost increases for the 2025-2026 academic year. ASEs include teaching assistants, associate instructors, readers, tutors, and other instructional assistants.
 
Consistent with the last two years, central campus will support undergraduate educational needs by covering the increased costs of ASE salary and benefits through spring quarter 2026. We will provide for the negotiated salary increases that will take effect in fiscal year 2025-2026. We estimate this extension will cost central campus approximately $5 million in additional funding, and its impact will be considered in establishing our budget planning framework for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.
 
This action should allow academic units sufficient time to ensure that adequate course offerings are available to our undergraduate students in 2025-2026, and you should not need to make significant changes to course offerings due to concerns about Teaching Assistant costs.
 
As we all look to the next academic and fiscal year, I hope that this decision provides a measure of certainty, comfort, and stability in your planning efforts. Thank you for your partnership and support.
 
All the best,
Mary

Mary Croughan
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor