Chancellor's Recent Speeches

Latino Community Breakfast
Los Angeles, CA
July 14, 2000

Welcome

Thank you for inviting me here today. I am pleased to tell you about some of the exciting developments at the CSU. I also look forward to hearing your thoughts and ideas.

Latino students make up nearly one-quarter of the CSU's student population. Given the rate at which the Latino population is growing in California, we expect that number to increase. Reaching out to our state's Latino communities is a very high priority for our institutions.

I would like to say just a few words about the CSU. Then I will be happy to answer any of your questions.

Access to the CSU
The CSU's mission is to provide high-quality, affordable, accessible higher education that will prepare students for the workforce of 21st century. We admit all qualified students - regardless of ethnic, racial, or financial background.

We draw our freshmen from the upper one-third of California's high school graduates. For every first-time freshman, we admit almost two community college students.

Affordability at the CSU
The CSU has a strong commitment to maintaining low student fees and offering financial aid to needy students. CSU fees - among the lowest in the country -- have held steady since 1994, and were reduced in 1998/1999 and 1999/2000.

For 1999/2000, the state university fee is $1,428 annually for undergraduate students. It will stay at the same level for 2000/01.

Diversity at the CSU
The CSU is one of the most diverse educational institutions in the country. More than 52 percent of CSU students are minorities -- more than twice the national average for four-year public universities. More than one-third of CSU students consider themselves to be multi-racial.

In May, Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education reported that four CSU campuses are among the top ten universities in the country in terms of bachelor's degrees awarded to Hispanics.

San Diego State = 6th;
CSU Los Angeles = 7th;
CSU Fullerton = 9th;
CSU Northridge = 10th.

Latino Students at the CSU
In fall 1999, the CSU had 70,232 Latino students, for a total of 23.3%.

Of the first-time freshmen from California high schools, 26 percent are Latino. Of the transfer students from California community colleges, 24 percent are Latino.

For the LA Basin campuses:

Dominguez Hills:	32 percent	Latino
Long Beach:	24 percent
Los Angeles:	51 percent
Northridge:	28 percent
Pomona:	26 percent
San Bernardino:	30 percent

Teacher Preparation at the CSU
One of our highest priorities at the CSU is to prepare high-quality teachers who reflect the diversity of California's classrooms.

The CSU is making its teacher preparation programs more accessible for high-quality candidates from a variety of backgrounds. We are developing more evening, weekend and summer courses; short-term courses; distance education; and streamlined education programs. We are also building more partnerships with K-12 schools and community colleges.

CSU Outreach Efforts
Last year, the CSU received $9 million to help eliminate the need for remedial education. Our campuses have partnered with about 150 of the state's high schools that send us the most students needing remedial education.

Our faculty and staff are helping these schools:

• Clarify CSU entrance standards;
• Develop more effective English and mathematics teaching methods;
• Administer and interpret diagnostic testing.

We are also sending trained CSU student tutors to these schools to help in the classroom.

CSU Posters
The CSU has printed 80,000 copies of this poster, in English and in Spanish, and 100,000 copies of a smaller version, and distributed them to high schools and middle schools across the state. It gives a step-by-step guide to preparing for the CSU. We also developed a similar poster for community college transfer students.

When I showed this poster at Channel Islands earlier this month, one local businessman was so excited about it that he has proposed to print up 71,000 copies -- one for every 6th through 12th grade student in Ventura County.

New CSU Budget
Last, I am pleased to report that the governor has signed the largest CSU budget ever for 2000/01. The budget will allow us to focus on our top priority areas, including access for students.

We received a general fund increase of $73.1 million to serve nearly 13,000 new full-time equivalent students in 2000/01. We also received $19.9 million for year-round operations, which will help us expand access.

Also, our Trustees have approved a new policy to guarantee access to a local campus for all eligible local students. This policy will help us better serve students whose local campuses are near capacity.

Closing
I look forward to working with all of you and finding ways for the CSU to better serve the Latino community.

I believe we need to partner together to encourage and help more students:

To take the classes that make them eligible for college;

To find more dollars for scholarships so college is possible;

To enter science and math programs;

To become teachers, and to teach where the need is greatest.

I also want to ask you: What can the Latino community do to provide better opportunities for its sons and daughters? If we join forces, our efforts can make a difference.

Once again, thank you for sharing your time today. I will be happy to answer any questions.