Camarillo, CA Sept. 1, 2010 – CSU Channel Islands (CI) has been selected to receive a 1.1 million dollar, five-year Federal TRIO Student Support Service grant. This year’s federal process was especially competitive given the overall economic climate in higher education, increased pursuit of federal grant dollars and minimal federal funding increases for TRIO programs.

Federal TRIO Programs began with Upward Bound, which emerged from the Economic Opportunity Act in 1964. Talent Search, a second outreach program created under the Higher Education Act, was begun in 1965. Student Support Services, originally known as Special Services for Disadvantaged Students, was authorized by the Higher Education Amendments in 1968 and became the third program in TRIO. Today, there are a total of eight TRIO programs.

The goal of CI’s Student Support Services (SSS) program is to increase retention and graduation rates of low-income, first-generation college students by providing academic, financial and guidance assistance. It serves to ease the transition from high school to a successful post-secondary school experience. The students selected for SSS have demonstrated the desire, commitment and potential to pursue a baccalaureate degree. SSS instills a sense of identification and involvement with the university, helping each participant invest in a safe and engaging academic experience. CI meets the stringent program requirements which mandate that 56% of its students meet the eligibility criteria for TRIO programs.

Damien Peña, CONTINUED »

THOUSAND OAKS, CA. – A record number of California Lutheran University students participated in full-time research this summer.

With funding from university grants for undergraduate research and guidance from faculty mentors, 25 students studied topics ranging from the eye mutations in flies to Facebook’s effect on student involvement. The students will present their findings at the 7th Annual Student Research Symposium from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23, in Ahmanson Science Center. Most will also make presentations at professional conferences throughout the country.

The following scholars received Swenson Science Summer Research Fellowships:

Samantha Aguinaldo, a senior biology major from Saugus, and John Mussatto, a senior biology major from Osage City, Kan., conducted a project titled “Does the Extra Eye Mutation of Drosophila Upregulate the JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway?” They crossbred different genetic lines of fruit flies to study the effects of genetic mutations on the developing eyes of larvae.

Megan Ameche, a junior mathematics CONTINUED »

California educates one in every eight public school children in the United States. But, our educational system continues to be jeopardized by billions of dollars in state budget cuts: 30% fewer teachers than the U.S. average, 90% fewer counselors and, in elementary schools, nurses have been replaced by the “boo boo lady”. California is 47th in the nation in funding for grades K through 12.

In the KCLU documentary... http://www.kclu.org/k12ontheedge/index.php

THOUSAND OAKS, CA. - California Lutheran University will break ground on the $8.9 million William Rolland Stadium at 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 13.

The two-story stadium will have about 2,000 fixed seats, a permanent artificial turf field and outdoor sports lighting. The first-class facility will include home team locker rooms, coaches offices and meeting rooms, a press box, VIP lounge and campus clock tower. It will accommodate football, soccer and intramural athletic matches and practices as well as commencement ceremonies.

The new stadium will be built to current National Collegiate Athletic Association standards. Last year, the Kingsmen clinched a spot in the NCAA Division III football championship tournament but couldn’t host playoff games because Mt. Clef Stadium doesn’t meet the criteria.

CLU has used Mt. Clef Stadium since 1963. It was built not only for CLU’s team but also as a summer training ground for the Dallas Cowboys.

The new stadium is named for William Rolland, a former firefighter and real estate developer who was a founding resident of Westlake Village. His gift of $5.45 million for the project is the largest single gift in the history of the university.

The new 16,000-square-foot facility will also house the William Rolland Gallery of Fine Art, where pieces of Rolland’s extensive collection of bronze statuary and paintings will be exhibited.

The project is slated for completion by fall 2011.

The stadium will be located west of Gilbert Sports and Fitness Center on the north side of Olsen Road near Campus Drive in Thousand Oaks. Other state-of-the-art sports facilities that have opened in this part of campus in recent years include Samuelson Aquatics Center, George “Sparky” Anderson Field and Ullman Stadium, Hutton Field and the Poulson Tennis Center.

Our first week back to school was a big success. We had our first rally on Friday and the sophomores won the rally, Way to go 2013! However, in our dress up day the new comers our freshman won, followed by the seniors. Coming up we have our first football game which is September 4th away at Malibu against Malibu. JV starts at 10 A.M. and Varsity follows at 1 P.M. Cross Country’s first meet will be September 10th at Ventura Beach at 2 P.M. Girls golf will have their first match September 14th at Oaks Christian, against Oaks Christian. Also, Girls volleyball will have their first match September 7th against Hueneme away; JV is at 5 P.M. and Varsity is at 6 P.M. Fillmore High School ASB will be hosting their first Mr. FHS “Pageant” which will be held at the Fillmore Middle School gym on September 23rd. Parents, please encourage your sons to participate, it will be a blast. Do they have what it takes to become the first Mr. FHS? Sign-ups are held in the student store from 8/23/10 to 9/2/10. LETS GO FLASHES!

THOUSAND OAKS, CA. – A groundbreaking ceremony for the new California Lutheran University Early Childhood Center will be held at 11 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 12.

The $2 million facility will replace a renovated house that was supposed to be a temporary location when the program started in 1974. Often referred to as the House on the Hill in the early years, the existing building is 2,152 square feet. The new center, slated for completion by fall 2011, will be more than double the size at 4,738 square feet.

The new facility will better meet the center’s needs, with a faculty workroom and classrooms that have bathrooms and empty directly onto the playground. The fenced yard will include an outdoor classroom for activities such as gardening and exploring nature. The new center will also have an infant room and laundry, which will enable teachers to care for six babies in addition to the 50 toddlers and preschoolers they can currently serve. It will also have a separate patio for teachers.

The new center will be located off Campus Drive north of Olsen Road, a more easily accessible area than its current location just below Mt. Clef Ridge. It will be closer to campus and to the University Village retirement community, making it easier for the seniors and children to interact.

The center was originally launched as a CLU student’s master’s degree project and operated by the School of Education as a training program for leaders in early childhood education. It offered innovative programs and became a model for other childhood learning centers. While the School of Education no longer oversees the center, CLU students from various disciplines conduct observations at the center to study topics ranging from motor development to language acquisition.

Rooted in the Lutheran tradition of education, the center emphasizes Christian faith while providing a hands-on experiential learning environment. The popular program serves CLU employees as well as community members.

The Overton family, which includes CLU alumni, provided the primary donation for the center. Family members have given generously to the university through the years and their name graces a hall and a street on campus. Donations and grants from individuals and organizations, including the Ahmanson Foundation of Beverly Hills, will cover the rest of the cost.

To RSVP or for more information, call (805) 493-3247.