PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WOULD NET CASH FOR CSUN.

Byline: Peter Hartlaub Daily News Staff Writer

Needing a $300 million technology upgrade that it can't afford, the 23-campus California State University system is considering an unprecedented marriage with the corporate sector, CSUN officials said Wednesday.

During a sparsely attended community forum, CSUN President Blenda Wilson said GTE and three other corporations may help finance a new computer network and other high-tech products for the university in exchange for marketing rights.

Vice Provost Susan Curzon said the agreement, still in the negotiation stage, would provide California State University, Northridge, and other campuses in the system with technology otherwise beyond their price range. The proposed public-private partnership is tentatively called California Education Technology Initiative, or CETI.

``It's a very innovative approach,'' Curzon said. ``To the best of our knowledge it's not being done by any university anywhere.''

GTE Corp. is leading the consortium. Microsoft Corp., Hughes Electronics and Fujitsu Ltd. are the corporate partners in the plan.

Under the agreement, the corporations would be allowed to market a wide range of products to students and university employees, including computers, home satellite television and phone calling cards. CSUN officials said the universities would share in CETI profits.

Cal State officials announced the plan last month and made another presentation Wednesday during one of two hourlong forums hosted by Wilson. Curzon said a preliminary agreement with the consortium may be reached by Dec. 15.

At Northridge, the project would help raise revenue for the cash-strapped university, which is already fighting to maintain its athletics program, Wilson said. Last week CSUN officials said they are taking steps toward developing a 65-acre parcel of university land into a revenue-generating site for an entertainment center, sports facility and biotechnology firms.