Hundreds of educators from throughout the Inland Empire filled the Conference Center at Cal State San Bernardino’s Santos Manuel Student Union North for the California College Guidance Initiative regional meeting, a daylong event during which attendees gained knowledge and tools to better utilize CCGI in guiding students toward higher education opportunities.

“Having this group together today provides us with an opening to strengthen the work we are doing in our communities to help high school students explore and plan for their future, to successfully transition to higher ed and to degree attainment,” said university President Tomás D. Morales in his welcome remarks.

Noting that the county school chiefs of San Bernardino (Ted Alejandre) and Riverside (Edwin Gomez) are both CSUSB alumni, Morales asked the audience how many were also graduates of the university. A majority in the room raised their hands.

CSUSB President Tomás D. Morales welcomes participants to the California College Guidance Initiative regional meeting.
CSUSB President Tomás D. Morales welcomes participants to the California College Guidance Initiative regional meeting.

“We’re so proud that you can’t walk into a public K-12 building in Riverside or San Bernardino county and not find dozens of school teachers and building administrators (who are graduates of CSUSB),” Morales said. “We’re just extremely proud of that legacy.”

Morales also pointed to the impacts of the university’s alumni beyond the region’s classrooms. He listed the launch of the Master of Science in Physician Assistant program that will bolster the region’s healthcare workforce, its nationally recognized cybersecurity program, the School of Entrepreneurship, and its pathway programs, such as its bachelor of social work to master of social work. All of them, and more, offering opportunities for IE students.

CSUSB also has established dual admissions programs, with more being developed, with area high schools and community colleges that create seamless paths for those students to enroll at the university. Also in the works is a pilot initiative that will offer to qualified San Bernardino County high school students direct admissions to CSUSB, Morales said.

That The Wall Street Journal in the fall of 2024 named the university No. 3 in the country in social mobility was “a testament to the life-changing impact of CSUSB,” he said. “This recognition highlights the important role we play – we, all of us, we play – in gaining upward economic and social opportunities for our students and families. We are all transforming the lives of our students throughout Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

Participants at the California College Guidance Initiative regional meeting filled the Santos Manuel Student Union North Conference Center.
Participants at the California College Guidance Initiative regional meeting filled the Santos Manuel Student Union North Conference Center.

“At Cal State San Bernardino, we see this as a partnership with our K-12 colleagues,” Morales said. “This is indeed a partnership. We have to continue to encourage and inspire students to see themselves as college graduates and to see themselves pursuing graduate degrees or their teaching credential.”

CCGI, in partnership with CSUSB’s Division of Strategic Enrollment Management and Marketing Communications, led interactive sessions tailored for every level of user — whether a participant is an advanced user, emerging user or just beginning to explore the platform. Through insightful presentations, participants learned how to maximize CCGI’s capabilities to support college and career readiness efforts in schools across the region.