The California Faculty Association accused CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed on Wednesday of misleading the university system about the nature of the announced $31.3 million budget cut.

The CFA characterized the cut as “a voluntary give back to the governor,” and not a mandatory reduction imposed on the CSU system, according to a posting on the CFA’s Web site.

“The Chancellor misled the campus community by incorrectly reporting the CSU is among the agencies that ‘need to cut a total of $390 million from the current budget,’” the posting read.

CFA coordinators e-mailed a copy of the posting to instructors at SF State Wednesday morning, asking faculty to contact the chancellor and CSU Trustees to protest a budget cut not mandated by the state. Attached to the e-mail were links to documents, including Executive Order S-09-08 in which the governor acknowledges the CSU is not under his direct authority to control budgets.

The CFA alleged Reed understood the state’s educational system was not required to return the money but chose to do so, and he understands the loss of funds will be detrimental to the CSU system, “especially in an economic crisis,” the e-mail said. In a letter to Cabinet Secretary Victoria Bradshaw, Reed said he would choose to make the requested cuts, but warned against further reductions next year as the universities would be unable to function effectively in their basic tasks and obligations to students.

Teresa Ruiz, Public Affairs Communication Specialist at CSU, said the $31.3 million has not been returned to the state’s budget, but there is little chance the plan will be changed.

“CSU is trying to show collaboration and be part of the solution,” Ruiz said. “We are in the middle of a crisis in the state.”

Ruiz said CSU is trying to keep all the campuses aware of information so they can prepare to handle all changes as they happen.

“Everybody is entitled to their opinions of course,” Ruiz said in response to CFA’s actions, “but we help to keep everyone involved and keep them aware of how things are working out.”

The CFA Web site offered information to teachers and asked faculty to send a direct message to Chancellor Reed:

“He, first and foremost, must stand strong for policy that will help to end the financial crisis, and not give in to cuts that make things worse.”