Dear campus community,

In November 2023, I sent an email message regarding our plans to implement three recommendations from the CSU’s Black Student Success Report (BSSR). I announced the launch of the Black Student Success Report Task Force, a tri-chair-led working group responsible for facilitating this implementation, and indicated that a funding request for this initiative had been submitted to the Chancellor’s Office, with a response expected in early 2024.

That response has now been received, and the CSU has agreed to provide $250,000 — the maximum allotment — to SJSU to support the Task Force’s work. Half of that amount will be paid immediately, with the remaining half payable upon our completion of a progress report to be submitted to the CSU in November 2024. Implementation and assessment of the three BSSR recommendations will be support by Chief Diversity Officer Kristin Dukes, Ph.D., and Vice Provost for Faculty Success Magdalena Barrera, Ph.D. along with consultation from the BSSR Task Force tri-chairs — Director of Black/African American Equity and Interim Deputy Diversity Officer, ODEI Patience Bryant, Ph.D.; Interim Director, Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) Tijan White, Ed.D.; and Assistant Professor, Public Relations Shaun Fletcher, Ph.D.

I am thankful to Chancellor Garcia for recognizing the critical need for SJSU's Black students and selecting us as one of 13 campuses to receive the maximum allotment. Also, many thanks to our BSSR Task Force tri-chairs for their continued leadership.

Sincerely,

Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson

President

(She/Her/Ella)