San Diego Unified students can now get guaranteed spots at CSU San Marcos
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Graduates of San Diego Unified high schools will now have guaranteed admission to California State University San Marcos after the district’s board approved a new agreement with the college on Tuesday.
District officials said that the partnership will also include expanding college preparatory and support resources for the district’s students and families, beginning in middle school.
“San Diego Unified is committed to giving every student a path to college, as well as the resources they need to prepare for a successful transition to higher education,” Deputy Superintendent Dr. Fabiola Bagula said in a statement. “We are so grateful to Cal State San Marcos for this partnership, which provides our students with access to a world class university.”
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According to the district, students will need to graduate with a GPA of 3.0 or higher to be eligible for the guaranteed placement and meet minimum CSU admission standards with their coursework, including completion of the university system’s “A-G” course requirements.
Students will also need to have been continually enrolled in the district throughout their high school career, although there are exceptions for military dependents, students experiencing homelessness and foster youth in the district.
To help students achieve these prerequisites, SDUSD said they will expand electives, curriculum and summer school opportunities to help prepare students for college-level courses, including providing increases opportunities for upperclassman to experience university-level academic work.
SDUSD schools will also begin offering more intervention and credit-recovery opportunities to students through the Cal Grant GPA Verification program, according to the district.
The district added that students and families will receive information about the CSU San Marcos partnership and how to meet the eligibility criteria beginning in seventh grade. Staff will also provide guidance to incoming seventh grade students who may be at risk of not meeting them.
CSU San Marcos will also be assigning a “Recruitment and Outreach Officer” to SDUSD schools, the district said, who will help promote college awareness, preparation and access to the guaranteed admission program.
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According to SDUSD officials, the support programs will begin this summer and the class of 2025 will be the first group of seniors who will be able to seek admission at CSU San Marcos through the compact.
“This partnership with San Diego Unified School District will provide opportunities to transform the lives of more students, their families, and their respective communities,” CSU San Marcos vice president for student affairs, Dr. Viridiana Diaz, said in a release.
“We want students to envision themselves in college early on and to know that CSUSM is a great option given that many of our graduates stay in the area after college to give back to their community.”
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