Californian universities are reeling from unprecedented budget cuts triggered by the state's deficit of more than $24 billion.

The ten-campus University of California expects to see $800 million cut from the $3.2 billion in state funds it was due to receive over the 2009–10 operating year. And the 23-campus California State University system, which mainly provides undergraduate degrees, anticipates that at least $580 million will be sliced from its $2.7-billion state award.

University of California executives met on 3 June to discuss how they would cope with the cuts in preparation for what is expected to be a turbulent summer. The budgetary axe began taking its toll after voters in last month's state-wide election rejected a series of proposals designed to ease California's deficit.