San Francisco Bay Region Network
The San Francisco Bay Region Network (SFBRN) represents the consolidation of back-office administrative and transactional functions at Sonoma State University, San Francisco State University, and California State University East Bay into one single cost-efficient structure.
The SFBRN was launched in response to ongoing enrollment declines, demographic shifts, and significant financial pressures in the region. By integrating back-office administrative and transactional operations into a single, shared core, the SFBRN seeks to enhance efficiency, reduce duplication, and optimize resource allocation, while maintaining each university’s unique identity, accreditation, and academic mission. This approach moves beyond traditional cost-reduction strategies, offering a forward-looking solution to the urgent fiscal and demographic challenges facing these institutions. By standardizing processes and leveraging shared technology platforms, the SFBRN anticipates substantial cost savings and improved operational effectiveness, ensuring that all three universities can continue to serve their communities sustainably. This model also has the potential to inform similar collaborations across the CSU and the higher education sector at large.