Event and Visitation Schedule- April, May June 2010

* March 24-25- CSU Agriculture Advisory Board- Sacramento and Chico
* April 23- Distinguished Alumni Event-Chico State
* April 24-26- California Higher Education Student Summit (CHESS)
* April 27- UC, CSU and Community College at the Capitol
* May 5-7- San Diego State University- Alumni Event
* May 15- Commencement- CSUCI
* May 21-23- Commencement- Chico State
* May 29- Commencement- San Jose or Sonoma
* June 4- Commencement- Stanislaus
* June 12-13- Commencement- CSU East Bay

Action Rally at Chico State

Chico State University students on Wednesday added their voices to a chorus to keep higher education a priority.
Chico police estimated 2,000 people participated in a rally that started on campus and continued to City Plaza.

Protesters heeded organizers' calls to speak out but refrain from violence. Last week, a handful of similar demonstrations across California and the country ended in violence or jeopardized safety.

Alumni Visit- New York City

I was able to accompany Vice Chancellor Garrett Ashley on a visit to New York City to meet with CSU Alumni in that region. Our host was Paul Dorr from Bernstein Wealth Management. Mr. Dorr is an alum from San Francisco State. Twenty-seven guests attended including CSU Alumni Council past President Dana (Bezzera) Pancrazi who works in New York City.

Daryl Clements,Senior Portfolio Manager for Municipal Investments provided an interesting program on the California economy including a view at the housing market, Export data, a view on the State Budget and a discussion on the safety of the municipal bond market.

President King Alexander from Long Beach State attended and provided specific information to the Alums present regarding the CSU system and answered their questions regarding what the system is doing to advocate for greater investment in Higher Education.

I am hoping that we continue this program and strongly encourage campuses to participate.

Capitol Hill Day- Washington DC

I accompanied several other Trustees and Chancellor's Office staff to Washington DC to visit our California Delegation in Congress. In the morning, our gathering of CSU leadership were provided a briefing from our DC staff headed by Jim Gelb. Our priority projects included the Agricultural Research Initiative, CSUPERB Biotech Partnerships, COAST, Strategic Language Initiative, Water Resources and Policy Initiative and Metro Academic Initiative.

I accompanied Sonoma State in visting with Congressman Lynn Woolsey and Congressman Mike Thompson's office as well as CSU East Bay to Congressman Jerry McNerney and Chico with Congressman Wally Herger.

Chancellor Reed was present in the Education Committee, Chaired by California Congressman George Miller. At that time Secretary of Education Arne Duncan testified before the Committee on the importance of continuing to invest in education.

California State University has benefited greatly with the support of Congress for the Pell Grant program Students receiving Pell Grants receive approximately $5,700 per year. The CSU has 126,000 Pell Grant receipients and has received an increase of $84 million over the last several years.