Date: 12/12/2005

The California State University system has won an Edison International New Era Award for Excellence in Higher Education for the Early Assessment Program, which prepares high school students to meet the university's expectations in English and mathematics. The $150,000 award will pay for nine of the CSU's regional teaching training sessions, where approximately 900 teachers will be prepared within the next two years to help students meet college-level math/science requirements. "More than 50 percent of the nearly 40,000 first-time freshmen admitted to CSU campuses require remedial education," said CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed. "The cost in time and money to these students and to the state is substantial. This award will help to reduce the number of freshmen who require this remediation and help them get started in their college careers." See www.calstate.edu/CSULeader/2005/051206.htm.

The CSU also reports that 439,953 applications for admissions were received during the regular fall 2006 open enrollment period between October 1 and November 30. This is a five percent increase over the previous year's online applications during the same period, and the ninth straight year of record-setting growth. "Students have clearly embraced CSUMentor, the CSU's online enrollment tool," said Allison Jones, the assistant vice chancellor for student academic support. "During this period of heavy enrollment demand, both students and campus staff have come to rely on the convenience and flexibility of CSUMentor and the online application process." See www.calstate.edu/CSULeader/2005/051201.htm.