CSU Expands Super Sunday Outreach to 100 California Churches

Throughout February and beyond, California State University officials will reach out to more than 100,000 families in approximately 100 African American congregations throughout California to encourage early preparation for college. The chancellor, trustees, campus presidents and other higher education representatives will call on parents and students to begin planning for college admission as early as middle school and to enroll in challenging classes that prepare for college.

"The path to a college degree starts long before a student sets foot in high school," said CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed. "Our message to students is to start meeting CSU's eligibility requirements early, and to be prepared to compete for admission at a CSU campus." 

CSU officials will bring this message to 100 congregations in almost 40 California cities to engage the community in helping students get on track and succeed in college. The complete list of churches with the schedule of events is available online and includes locations in Northern California, Southern California and Fresno.

Super Sunday is part of the CSU African American Initiative, which strives to find new ways to educate youth and parents about the value of a college degree and the steps to get to college. More about CSU Super Sunday.

CSU Seeks Out University Voices and Views through Social Media

The California State University is inviting students, faculty, alumni, employees and friends of the system to become bloggers and share their university story. The CSU Voices and Views blog, launched on February 1, highlights personal stories on a range of topics including educational quality, access for students, the impact on California, and environmental sustainability. Readers will be able to discuss the entries through moderated comments.

The CSU Voices and Views blog is joining the list of social media resources available to tell the university story. These include the CSU Chancellor's Office Facebook, Twitter and YouTube channels. The CSU has also recently unveiled a Social Media Portal.

One of the opportunities in social media is to provide content that engages the reader in dialogue. One success was inspired by a YouTube video posted by the Fresno State Associated Students. A question "What is Your Degree Worth?" was posted on the   The Proud Alum of a California State University Facebook page. Responses included "…worth EVERY PENNY" and the testimonial, "I hail from a university system whose strength comes from the talent of its people, and their initiative and perseverance to make their university experience their own."

Search for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo President Begins
The CSU Board of Trustees will start the search for a new president of Cal Poly to succeed retiring President Warren J. Baker, who has been president since 1979. The first meeting of the search committee will be held Feb. 9. It is expected that the finalists will make visits to the campus in the spring with a new president anticipated to be selected by the CSU Board of Trustees in late May or early June. Press Release.

SFSU Director Receives Statewide Honor for Service Learning
Dr. Gerald Eisman, Director of the Institute for Civic and Community Engagement at San Francisco State University, will be recognized at the systemwide 4th Conference on Community Based-Research on March 5 for his work in community service learning. Among other contributions, Eisman pioneered the establishment of CSU’s systemwide Center for Community Engagement in 1997 and served as a Service Learning Scholar in the CSU Chancellor’s Office. Press Release.

CSU Makes Its Mark in Entertainment
Alumni and faculty from Cal State Fullerton and San Francisco State recently received high honors for their outstanding achievements in the film and music industries. The third time was the charm for CSUF associate professor of music Bill Cunliffe, when he won for his arrangement of "West Side Story Medley." SF State alums Christopher Boyes and Jonas Rivera learned they will be strolling the red carpet on film's biggest night. Boyes earned two nominations for his work on the blockbuster, "Avatar"  and Rivera produced "Up," which is nominated in the Best Picture category.