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National Urban University Conference Convenes on Campus The Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities (CUMU), hosted by CSU Dominguez Hills, gathered at the Torrance Marriott Hotel in early October. More than 250 professionals – administrators and educators – arrived from across the United States to exchange ideas and information on a number of educational issues related to their urban/metropolitan university environments. Fulfilling student needs as well as those of the community and the economy were recurring themes addressed by the participants. In making his introductions at the kick-off luncheon, President James E. Lyons, Sr. commented on the major economic impact of the California State University on the state. Throughout the conference, ingenious approaches to confronting problems were shown to have spawned many successful off-campus interdisciplinary partnerships and alliances with public and private organizations. Also, internally, these universities were learning about coming to grips with demographic and economic change, relinquishing worn-out means and methods, and discovering how to best serve the special needs of their students. Many metropolitan areas and states, including California, are taking hard looks at creating better access to higher education for non-traditional student populations.The keynote luncheon with the chancellors of the California State University, Charles B. Reed, and the California Community College, Mark Drummond, revealed how the leaders of these two systems have tackled procedures laid down in the 1970s and ‘80s that placed a burden on students transferring from the two-year system to the four-year. Reed pointed out that two out of three students entering the CSU are transferring from community colleges so it makes perfect sense to work together. Drummond noted that he and Reed have been discussing dual enrollment systems, common degree requirements, early commitment to a specific campus, and other means to make access easier and more efficient. Reed also talked about reaching down to the elementary schools to raise awareness for college-preparation, touting the popular CSU “what it takes to go to college” poster designed to deliver key information to parents and educators. Both Chancellors made it clear that the age of non-collaborative decision-making on issues surrounding enrollment and degree requirements was no longer workable. -Pamela Hammond |
