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Contacts: Clara Potes-Fellow, (562) 951-4800 cpotes-fellow@calstate.edu or Paul Browning, (562) 951-4064 pbrowning@calstate.edu California State University Chancellor, Trustees, Presidents to Speak at Northern California Churches During “CSU Super Sunday” Second Annual Event to Highlight Path to College (February 7, 2007) – The California State University and 17 African American churches in the San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose and Vallejo regions will hold the second-annual “CSU Super Sunday” on February 18. Throughout the day, CSU presidents, trustees professors and the chancellor will address congregations at the church services to engage the community in helping African American males to go to college. “The CSU and the churches have made tremendous progress in providing practical information and guidance to our congregations regarding what parents can do to help encourage their children to attend college,” said Bishop Bob Jackson, pastor of Acts Full Gospel of God in Christ church in Oakland. “It’s important for students from all backgrounds to understand what they need to do to be eligible to attend a university, and that college is affordable and accessible to them.” Since last year’s Super Sunday, the CSU outreach has grown significantly. CSU staff and church education liaisons have met monthly to develop ways to further reach out to the African American community. Some of the new programs launched include financial aid workshops, expanded distribution of college materials to sixth-12th grade students and their parents, and the development of a how-to guide for church educational advisers who work directly with families within these communities. During Super Sunday, CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed and campus presidents will discuss the role of parent involvement and early student preparation in getting to college. Reed will speak at Acts Full Gospel of God and Christ in Oakland during the 11:30 a.m. services “Our message regarding what it takes to attend a CSU is getting out to African American families and community organizations,” Reed said. “Our fall 2007 admission application numbers for African American students are up 12 percent. However, there is still a lot of work to do. We need to find ways to help more African-American students become eligible for the CSU, and in particular we need to do more to reach African-American males. This is why we will continue to work with the churches to reach out to this community.” Following the church services CSU outreach directors and other outreach staff will provide information on the application and admission process, as well as scholarships and financial aid. “Cal State East Bay and the other CSU campuses are deeply committed to reaching out to underserved students to ensure that they and their families know about financial assistance and how to become eligible for college,” said Cal State East Bay President Dr. Mohammad H. Qayoumi. “Our recent rise in admission applications is a good sign that outreach makes a difference. That encourages us to keep getting out this message and develop new ways to reach out to the African American and other underserved communities.” One of the informational pieces that will be distributed during Super Sunday is the “How to Get to College” poster. The poster provides middle and high school students and their parents step-by-step information regarding staying on the path to college, such as the classes they need to take, the importance of good grades, and how to apply for financial aid. Members of the congregations will also learn about the CSU’s Early Assessment Program (EAP), an academic preparation testing program that enables 11th graders to gauge their college readiness in English language arts and mathematics long before applying to the CSU. The EAP incorporates the university’s math and English placement standards into existing high school standards tests. About California State University The California State University is the largest system of senior higher education in the country, with 23 campuses, 417,000 students and 46,000 faculty and staff. Since the system was created in 1961, it has awarded about 2 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. Participating Churches 1034 66th Street 8501 International Boulevard 684 Erlandson Street 8411 MacArthur Boulevard 3911 Cutting Boulevard 1444 Havenscourt Avenue 5410 Fleming Avenue 28605 Ruus Road 22582 South Garden Avenue 910 Tennessee Street 2090 Oakland Road 1025 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA 94103 1121 Oakdale Ave, San Francisco, CA 94124 1027 West Tennyson Road 1827 Martin Luther King Jr. Way 1345 Ocean Avenue 1601 McKinnon Street
Last Updated: February 12, 2007
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