CSUSM to Sign Agreement to Open More Doors to Black Students
Cal State San Marcos is signing an agreement this month with a group of community-based organizations representing the interests of Black students that strives to increase educational access and social mobility.
On Feb. 26, CSUSM President Ellen Neufeldt will sign a memorandum of understanding with a group called the Coalition on Black and African American Education, a collection of community-based organizations that works to close educational equity gaps related to historically underrepresented students.
As part of the five-year agreement, beginning this fall, CSUSM will guarantee admission to incoming first-time freshmen and community college transfers from members of the coalition who have met the minimum entrance requirements of California State University and other criteria.
For its part, the Coalition on Black and African American Education will commit to helping qualified students apply to CSUSM and promote the university as one that supports first-generation, underrepresented and low-income students, among other efforts.
“As an anchor institution of our region, we’re proud to develop and sustain this collaboration that will support and assist local students in their pursuit of a college education,” Neufeldt said. “I am grateful for the partnership of all those who have made this effort possible, and I look forward to seeing more of our region’s youth further unlock their potential through the education and experiences they receive at our university.”
The signing will come on the day before Neufeldt visits The View Church in Menifee on CSU Super Sunday, which began more than a decade ago as a collaboration between the CSU, its campuses and predominantly African American churches throughout California. The purpose is to increase the rate of African American students enrolling in and graduating from the CSU.
The View Church, headed by lead pastor Greg Perkins, is among the key stakeholders in the coalition.
Besides the guaranteed admission agreement, CSUSM will support coalition students once they’re on campus through resources such as Personalized Academic Success Services (PASS), Career Center counselors and the Black Student Center. The Black Student Center is celebrating its five-year anniversary this month, which is recognized as Black Excellence Month at CSUSM.
The agreement was made possible by the work of many leaders of color, both on campus and off.
In addition to The View Church, other members of the Coalition on Black and African-American Education include Friendship Baptist Church in Yorba Linda; New Birth Church in Murrieta; Hera Hub Temecula; Inland Empire Men’s Club; Concerned Parents Alliance/College Bound Programs; the North San Diego County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; The BSU Network; North San Diego County NAACP; and Education Services and Parent Engagement for the Val Verde Unified School District.