Agreement Guarantees Murrieta Valley Unified District Students Admission at CSUSM

Ninth  graders within the Murrieta Valley Unified School District (MVUSD) now have the opportunity to take advantage of a fast-track plan that guarantees admission to California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) for qualified students, thanks to an agreement established between the University and district administrators on May 8. In a special ceremony on Thursday, CSUSM President Karen Haynes and MVUSD Superintendent Pat Kelley signed the Memorandum of Understanding that outlines the compact.

“Today, we are affirming our commitment to educating the students of our region and to being stewards of change for our schools and our communities,” said Haynes. “We are partnering for a common good.”

A Roadmap to College Success

The MOU sets a structured roadmap to college success, improving university accessibility for Murrieta students.  It promises that all graduating seniors, from the class of 2017 and beyond, will receive guaranteed admission to CSUSM if they meet California State University (CSU) eligibility requirements and a minimum GPA of 3.0. Not only does this MOU guarantee admission to CSUSM but it helps students become college-ready, qualified to apply to any of the CSU system’s 22 other campuses.

As part of the agreement, CSUSM will assist in the creation of professional training opportunities for MVUSD teachers, develop a parent and student orientation and visitation program for pre-collegiate advising, assist in the recruitment of CSUSM college students as tutors in MVUSD middle and high schools, and will encourage CSUSM alumni to volunteer as speakers or mentors in District schools.

CSUSM’s MOU program began in 2006 when the University signed an agreement to establish a guaranteed admission program with the San Marcos Unified School District, known as the PACE Promise. Since then the University has signed 12 other Memorandums of Understanding — eight with school districts, three with organizations for former foster youth and one with a Native American tribe.

Approximately 435 students have come to CSUSM through the established agreements so far. These students have higher GPAs and retention rates and require less remediation, proving that the agreements are working.

“CSUSM firmly believes in the transformative effect education can have on families,” noted Haynes. “We know that our signing these MOUs is about more than institutions coming together; it’s about forging stronger relationships with parents, businesses and civic leaders. It’s about engaging with our region to ensure our students’ success — to ensure that students know what’s expected of them and how we, as a region, will support them. When our students earn their college degree and take that knowledge back to their neighborhoods, start businesses and become involved citizens, we all win.”

About California State University San Marcos

California State University San Marcos combines the ambiance of a mid-sized, personal, modern campus with the unequaled value of the California State University. Since its founding in 1989, the campus has distinguished itself. Students benefit from the latest facilities and equipment, a superb faculty that enjoys teaching, and a rigorous academic program that prepares students for a successful life in and out of the workplace. A recent survey reported that our annual spending in the region was $161 million, generating a total impact of $307 million on the regional economy. 85 percent of CSUSM’s alumni stay in the region. CSU San Marcos is located on a 304-acre hillside overlooking the city of San Marcos. It is 15 miles east of the ocean; just 30 miles north of downtown San Diego.