Letters: CSUDH's freshmen are tops

Daily Breeze 3/18/07

We agree that there is a huge challenge with the need for remediation for the incoming freshmen at California State University, Dominguez Hills. In an ideal world, the students should come to our university well-prepared and demonstrating a college-level proficiency. However, the lack of preparation for higher education is a problem that starts with math and reading proficiency in the lower-grade levels and is a challenge that is being addressed at all levels throughout California.

Wednesday's Daily Breeze article pointed out that the CSU spends more than $5 million on testing and teacher training at local high schools. CSUDH is committed to bringing its freshmen up to speed and improving math and literacy skills so they are better prepared to receive a good college education and become contributing members to the California workforce.

This past fall, CSUDH welcomed the largest freshman class in its 46-year history: 1,077 first-time freshmen. The students who receive remedial help gain proficiency within one year. One of the programs geared toward helping first-time freshmen is the SPARK! program (Students Preparing for Academic Rigor and Knowledge), which is now entering its fourth year.

SPARK! utilizes intrusive academic advising and student mentors. Close to 78 percent of the students in the SPARK! program are still at Dominguez Hills after three years, exceeding not just the expectations of CSUDH faculty but also the CSU system's average.

CSUDH students are enriched beyond what they think is possible as freshmen. Known for its excellence in teacher education, nursing, psychology, business administration,\ and digital media arts, CSUDH is also a national leader in distance learning. New degree programs include computer science, criminal justice, social work and child development.

Although many of our students come to CSUDH not as well prepared as we all would like, by the time they leave us they are, by any measure, highly educated. In fact, a good number of our students go on to graduate and professional schools, many obtaining master's and Ph.D. degrees in multiple fields such as biology, chemistry, psychology and sociology.

CSUDH is the most diverse of the CSU campuses and, according to U.S. News & World Report, one of most diverse in the West among universities offering bachelor's and master's degrees. What makes CSUDH a great place to get an education is the opportunity for students to learn in a setting whose diversity reflects what they will find in the workforce, and to cultivate the students' ability to succeed against odds and expectations.

-- JANET LEVINE
Vice President, University Advancement California State University, Dominguez Hills Carson

Instead of a "stinging" headline of "CSUDH freshmen at bottom," it should be "CSUDH gives a second chance." I applaud CSUDH's efforts to provide remedial services. There are several issues that are not addressed in the article:

How many of these students are special education students who still need remedial support? Why aren't these students attending Harbor or El Camino colleges?

Considering that Palos Verdes High and Mira Costa High are award-winning schools, what happened to these students that they are so ill-prepared?

Clearly, CSUDH is doing something "right" if it is able to graduate 68 percent of the remedial population. Although it was not addressed in the article, CSUDH may further refine its approach by thoroughly evaluating the incoming students. CSUDH has an excellent school psychology program whose students may benefit from evaluating the remedial students. It's a win-win.

To offset the cost of educating the remedial students, maybe it is time for CSUDH to send a "bill" to the high schools.

-- CLAUDIA MCCULLOCK
Rancho Palos Verdes