February 2011

Chancellor Reed to Kick Off Super Sunday at Baptist Church in Bakersfield

CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed will kick off the 2011 Super Sunday on Feb. 13 at St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Bakersfield.

The event will mark the initiation of nearly 100 Super Sunday events organized by the CSU at predominantly African American churches from one end of the state to the other. For three Sundays, CSU leaders will bring to African American congregations a message of welcome from CSU college campuses for all students in the community.

Super Sunday is part of an educational outreach led by the CSU African American Initiative –- a partnership with African American churches — to increase college preparation, student enrollment and graduation rates among African American students.

Read the press release, see the list, addresses and time of service at participating churches or visit the CSU Super Sunday Website.

Students Must Apply for College Financial Aid by March 2

HACU Wednesday, March 2 is the priority deadline to apply for financial aid in California.

Because some program funds are limited, students should apply by this date to be considered for all potential sources of financial aid.

The first step is completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as the FAFSA. Both current and prospective students need to file the FAFSA form every year that they intend to receive college financial aid.

To apply for a Cal Grant, students need to submit a verified GPA as well as the FAFSA by March 2. Students currently receiving a Cal Grant do not need to submit another GPA.

To learn more about Cal Grants and other student aid programs visit the California Student Aid Commission website.

On average, CSU financially needy undergraduate students receive grants covering 100 percent of the undergraduate tuition fee if they are dependent, undergraduate students from families with incomes less than $70,000, or independent, undergraduate students with family incomes less than $20,000

Students with higher income, and dependent students with higher family incomes, may still qualify for many forms of aid including grants, scholarships, work-study and subsidized or unsubsidized loans.

Second Annual Latino Education Conference at CSUSB Set for March

The second annual Latino Education and Advocacy Days summit will be held at Cal State San Bernardino on Monday, March 28.

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will deliver the morning keynote address and CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed will give the welcome remarks.

See press release by Cal State San Bernardino

Institute for Workforce & Community Studies Named for ‘Hank’ Lacayo

HACU The California State University Board of Trustees has named the CSU Channel Islands' Institute for Workforce & Community Studies after community leader “Hank” Lacayo.

The action was approved at the Board of Trustees meeting in January.

The Henry L. “Hank” Lacayo Institute for Workforce & Community Studies is an independent nonprofit, nonpartisan business development and public policy organization.

Lacayo served for many decades as the political and legislative leader of the United Auto Workers, president of the Congress of California Seniors and advisor to several U.S. presidents and state governors.

Throughout his life he has been an advocate for underserved communities and is held in high esteem by business, labor, education and community leaders across the nation and abroad.

Read a news release by CSU Channel Islands about the Lacayo Institute for Workforce & Community Studies.

Preparing Students for College-Level Work to Get an Early Start

The CSU system is implementing a new initiative called Early Start, which education officials hope will help decrease the need for remedial course work during the college years.

Early Start, beginning in summer 2012, will be applied in combination with the CSU's Early Assessment Program test and will set students on a path to begin the needed remediation in English and mathematics prior to the start of the students' first term at a CSU campus.

Under Early Start, students who are not proficient in math or "at risk" in English will be required to demonstrate they have started the remediation process prior to enrolling at a CSU campus. However, students will still be allowed to enroll even if they need some remediation following this initial effort.

See press release by CSU.

Questions, ideas or comments about editorial content, e-mail Clara Potes-Fellow cpotes-fellow@calstate.edu

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