San Diego Unified School Board invites parents, high school students and SDSU students impacted by changes to a special district-wide meeting

October 29, 2009 (San Diego) – San Diego Unified School Board wants to hear from parents and students impacted by San Diego State University changing its admission policies to eliminate guaranteed admissions for students who meet California State University (CSU) requirements. The meeting will be held at 4 p.m. on November 4 at the Eugene Brucker Education Center, 4100 Normal Street, San Diego, CA 92103.

All are welcomed to give testimony. Students, parents, current SDSU students, should be prepared to give an oral statement and to provide a written statement.

SDSU’s president, Stephen Weber, has said eliminating the local admission guarantees and capping admissions is necessitated by state budget cuts.

The local student guarantee was put into place because CSU recognized that many local students are “place bound” and cannot go elsewhere to obtain education at another four year institution due to circumstances beyond their control. Over the years, the policy of guaranteeing admission to local students has benefited the students, SDSU, the region and its employers, say proponents. Supporters of the admission guarantee further argue that it is necessary to provide equal educational opportunities for students in our region and to develop a local college-educated workforce.

“Parents, teachers, students, employers need to become aware of this grave threat to educational access and thus to the prosperity of our region and take action,” says Pat Washington with the San Diego Equality Campaign. She urges individuals to write and call Chancellor Charles Reed and the CSU Board of Trustees and urge them to order SDSU to terminate its new policy and restore the local student admission guarantee policy.

If you wish to send your views to Chancellor Reed and the CSU Trustees, here is the contact information:

Charles B. Reed, Chancellor

California State University

401 Golden Shore, Suite 641

Long Beach, CA 90802

phone (562)951-4700; fax (562)951-4986

CSU Trustees

c/o Secretariat

401 Golden Shore, Suite 136

Long Beach, CA 90802

phone (562)951-4020; fax (562)951-4949

Local CSU representatives:

Assemblymember Marty Block

State Capitol

P.O. Box 942849

Sacramento, CA 94249-0078

phone (916)319-2078; fax (916)319-2178

District Office:

Lemon Grove Plaza

7144 Broadway, 2nd Floor

Lemon Grove, CA 91945

phone (619)462-7878; fax (619)462-0078

Assemblywoman Mary Salas

State Capitol

P.O. Box 942849

Sacramento, CA 94249-0079

phone (916)319-2079; fax (916)319-2079

District Office:

678 Third Ave., Suite 105

Chula Vistas, CA 91910

phone (619)409-7979; fax (619)409-9270