Chancellor, California State University
CSU Board of Trustees Meeting – Chancellor’s Report
March 14, 2007
Thank you, Chair Achtenberg and members of the board for your support and confidence.
Last month Cal Poly President Warren Baker received the University of New Mexico’s Bernard S. Rodey Award for his life-long contributions in the field of higher education.
Through this award the University of New Mexico Alumni Association recognized Warren’s leadership at Cal Poly and his involvement in the critical area of national science education policy. Congratulations, Dr. Baker.
The latest issue of The Princeton Review identifying the best undergraduate colleges and universities includes CSU Stanislaus. Congratulations are extended to President Ham Shirvani and to all of the faculty, students and staff at CSU Stanislaus.
If any of you watch the NCAA basketball tournament beginning on March 15, there is a 30-second television ad called “Good, Clean Fun.” It is a joint project of the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges and the Anheuser-Busch. To focus on celebrating responsibly, a group of college mascots help deliver the message. Among the thirteen mascots are six CSU mascots and all of the mascot outfits in the commercial were worn by CSU students.
The CSU and 17 African-American churches in Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose and Vallejo held the second-annual “CSU Super Sunday” on February 18. Throughout the day, CSU presidents, trustees, faculty and I addressed congregations at church services to engage parents, their children and church leaders about preparing for college.
The following weekend we held a “CSU Super Sunday” at eleven African-American churches in Los Angeles.
A combined total of 40,000 people attended the services in the San Francisco Bay area and the Los Angeles area.
At all locations we had CSU outreach directors available to provide information on admissions and financial aid, including scholarships and grants.
Through the combined outreach efforts to Latino families, African-Americans and Native Americans, we are already seeing an increase in admissions of underserved groups for fall 2007.
I want to underscore that this is a sustained effort, not a one-time flash. I am grateful to the presidents and trustees who participated in the events, and to all the staff and students for their hard work.
A group of CSU presidents and I visited Camp Pendleton at the invitation of General Michael Lehnert as part of the veteran’s initiative, otherwise known as “Troops to College.” Our goal is twofold: provide access to quality higher education to recently discharged military using their Montgomery G.I. benefits and to increase access to inperson or on-line coursework for active military.
A part of the tour of Camp Pendleton, we observed Marines in combat exercises and we had opportunities to use simulators to operate equipment.
We also had an opportunity to meet with a dozen Marines who have completed their tours in Iraq and discussed with each of them their educational goals. As a result two declared their intent to President Weber to enroll at San Diego State and another told President Ortiz he would enroll at Cal Poly Pomona.
Yesterday, the Committee on Educational Policy heard a report on the impact of CSU teacher preparation on learning gains by K-12 students being taught by CSU-prepared teachers. This is part on an on-going study of teacher education that began in 2000-2001. What was reported yesterday was one of six elements of a comprehensive evaluation.
The CSU is the only system of higher education to conduct a study of teacher preparation for six consecutive years. We are establishing ourselves as a national leader in the area of accountability, and our teacher evaluation program is part of this effort.
During the next several months the CSU budget will be reviewed by the legislature. We will continue to carry our message to Sacramento to provide additional funds for employee compensation, to fund student services, and provide a fee buy-out.
CSU's Alumni Legislative Day will be held on Monday, March 19, 2007 as CSU alumni leaders, campus representatives, donors and friends gather in Sacramento to meet with policymakers and their staff.
Legislative Day is a key opportunity for the CSU's 23 campuses to come together in the State Capitol to collectively deliver the message that CSU provides the quality education, research and innovative programs that are indispensable to the future of California.
Chair Achtenberg, that concludes my report.