An innovative partnership on the east side of Los Angeles, which brings together California State, Los Angeles; East Los Angeles Community College; and the Los Angeles Unified School District, has been creating a “college-going culture” among students beginning with first-graders.
Since its launch in 2014, GO (Great Outcomes) East LA has been one of the California State University system’s initiatives aimed at increasing graduation rates and eliminating achievement gaps among its students by 2025. CSU Chancellor Timothy P. White has challenged the institutions in the system to reach an achievement gap of zero between underserved students and those with greater advantages.
In September, the Board of Trustees approved Graduation Initiative 2025, which is designed to benefit CSU’s 475,000 students across the system’s 23 campuses by reducing barriers to completing their degrees while maintaining academic rigor and quality, according to a news release.
“If you are an underrepresented minority or if you are a Pell-eligible student, your chances of graduating from the California State University system should be no different from your peers, so we’re aiming to completely eliminate those gaps,” says Dr. James T. Minor, who was recently appointed CSU’s senior strategist for academic success and inclusive excellence.
Minor previously served as a deputy assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Education.
He points out that part of his responsibility is assisting the chancellor in meeting “the very ambitious goals” of the Graduation Initiative 2025 and “establishing CSU as a leader for providing high-quality, affordable higher education — as first and best in class.”
Minor adds his role will include supporting the efforts on all 23 campuses and engaging the 3 million-plus alumni as partners in those efforts.
