Media Contact: Paul Browning 562-951-4064

California State University Honored for Outstanding Use of Technology in Higher Education

October 13, 2006—California State University will receive Western Cooperative for Educational Telecommunications’ 2006 Outstanding Work Award for its innovative and effective uses of technologies in educating students and their parents. CSU will receive the award Nov. 1 at the WCET Annual Conference in Portland, Oregon.

The CSU received the honor for its Math Success and English Success websites, which were designed to help students prepare for the Entry Level Mathematics (ELM) and English Placement Tests (EPT) they must take after being admitted to one of the 23 CSU campuses.

The websites are also designed to support the university’s Early Assessment Program (EAP). Supplied on the websites are sample tests and questions for students to use as study tools.

“It’s an honor to be recognized by the WCET and to receive its coveted WOW [WCET Outstanding Work] award. Our Math and English Success websites, in conjunction with our EAP program, have successfully helped thousands of California’s students prepare for the rigors of college,” said CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed. “We believe it’s important for students who want to enter the California State University as first-time freshmen to have early indicators to show if they are ready to succeed when they enter a CSU.”

Though the CSU draws its students from the top third of California’s high school graduates, the WOW award also showcases how the university accommodates large numbers of incoming students who need remedial education in English and mathematics.
“As always, the people behind these awards outshine their technology. Each of these awards is a story of dedicated faculty and staff working together to use innovation and technologies to overcome educational obstacles,” said Russell Poulin, WCET’s Interim Director.

WCET is a membership-supported organization open to providers and users of educational telecommunications. Since 1989, WCET’s members have included the most innovative thinkers in the use of educational technologies. WCET members come from the higher education community, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and corporations. They represent 46 U.S. states and eight other countries.

About California State University
The California State University is the largest system of senior higher education in the country, with 23 campuses, approximately 405,000 students and 44,000 faculty and staff. Since the system was created in 1961, it has awarded nearly 2.5 million degrees, about 84,000 annually. The CSU is renowned for the quality of its teaching and for the job-ready graduates it produces. Its mission is to provide high-quality, affordable education to meet the ever-changing needs of the people of California. With its commitment to excellence, diversity and innovation, the CSU is the university system that is working for California. See www.calstate.edu.