Feb. 21, 2024 – CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) President Richard Yao will speak at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center as part of the 19th annual CSU Super Sunday on Feb. 25.
The CSU’s annual Super Sunday event is an opportunity for California State University (CSU) system leaders, campus presidents, administrators, and students to visit predominantly African American churches throughout the state to share personal stories and important college-related information to advance access, opportunity and success for Black and African American students. Since its launch in 2005, more than a million people have participated in this signature awareness event for CSU's African American communities.
This year, CSUCI adopted a new format to be more inclusive of families who do not attend Black churches, do not attend church on Sunday, or do not attend church at all. The “after church service” will be held at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center at 800 Hobson Way in Oxnard from 2 to 4 p.m. and will feature food, activities, and entertainment in addition to remarks from CSUCI’s President.
Staff members from CSUCI will be available to provide information on the application and admission process for prospective CSUCI students.
“CSU Super Sunday remains a key element in our year-round efforts to engage with local faith-based communities to share a message of access and opportunity, and to provide prospective students and their families with important information about college preparation and admission,” said Dilcie Perez, deputy vice chancellor of CSU Academic and Student Affairs and Chief Student Affairs Officer. “As we collectively work to advance Black student success across our university system, we want to build lifelong relationships and make sure every one of our Black students attains the life-changing benefits of a CSU degree."
CSUCI’s commitment to Black and African American community engagement extends beyond Super Sunday. In addition to community partnerships with the Pinkard Institute, NAACP, and Community Action Coalition of Ventura County, an Africana Studies minor was developed for students interested in studying and understanding the experiences of African and African-descended people. In late 2023, CSUCI opened its Black Cultural Center, providing a dedicated space with staff committed to supporting the advancement, academic excellence, and degree completion of Black students at the University.
As part of its efforts to prioritize elevating Black excellence at its universities, the CSU is creating a systemwide steering committee with faith-based leaders to provide support and share best practices to promote Black student success, complementing the 13-point action plan that was developed as part of its June 2023 report on Black student success. In addition, the university has committed $10 million over three years to advance these priorities.
The CSU remains committed to closing equity gaps and ensuring all Californians have access and support in achieving a high-quality college degree as part of Graduation Initiative 2025. In 2022-23, more than 3,800 African American students earned CSU bachelor's degrees and more than 750 earned CSU graduate degrees.
With 23 universities across California, the CSU offers more access to diverse higher education pathways than any public university system in the United States. Nearly one-third of CSU students are the first in their family to earn a degree, more than half are from traditionally underrepresented communities and nearly half of undergraduates receive the Pell Grant. And, more than half of CSU bachelor's recipients in 2022-23 graduated with zero student debt.