The California State University system will add course sections and classes for students thanks to a one-time $25 million fund, according to a news release from CSU officials.

California State University, Fresno will receive approximately $1.4 million from the fund, said President John D. Welty in a video release. This allocation will allow Fresno State to add over 200 course sections and retain approximately 50 lecturers.

“Although the funding is provided on a one-time basis, it is good news for our campus and system and will allow us to help students get the courses they need to progress in their studies,” Welty said.

Welty said that the university’s attention turns toward planning for the 2010-11 budget as the spring semester approaches.

“[It] will be a very difficult budget year, but at least for now we’ve got some stability,” Welty said.

Students and faculty have felt the crunch from the CSU as it works to address the $564 million budget cut for 2009-10. The CSU has implemented employee furloughs, reduced faculty, enrollment cuts and increased student fees.

The one-time federal allocation totaled $77.5 million to help the CSU system meet its payroll. In turn, the CSU will use monies previously set aside for payroll to add the course sections.

Systemwide, CSU campuses will add up to 4,000 additional course sections and potentially retain up to 800 lecturers for the spring semester.

The CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed said that the additional classes will help students, and allow a number of lecturers to retain their jobs.

“We hope this will provide some relief for students who have had difficulty enrolling in an adequate number of classes, as well as help make progress toward their degree,” Reed said.