ÐÔÊӽ紫ý

The Santa Cruz-based GetVirtual project launched in the summer of 2020 to fortify small businesses from the economic toll of the pandemic shutdown. It has worked by partnering with colleges and universities like ÐÔÊӽ紫ý.

California State University, Monterey Bay students received over $4 million of federal emergency relief funding last Monday, March 15. Specifically, 5,433 students received between $200 and $800, totaling $3,328,400; and 313 DACA and international students received Institutional Emergency Relief aid, totaling $121,800.

Even in a pandemic, Bright Futures continues to work diligently toward its goal of fostering progress in education outcomes in Monterey County. Bright Futures — ÐÔÊӽ紫ý’s community partnership between local education, government, business, and non-profit groups — is working to boost the number of students applying for college financial aid applications before the March 2 deadline.

Debbie Juran, Foundation of California State University, Monterey Bay board member and adoptive mother of two ÐÔÊӽ紫ý Alumnae, established a planned gift for ÐÔÊӽ紫ý's College of ÐÔÊӽ紫ý, which predominantly benefits low income and first-generation students.

Before sheltering-in-place restrictions due to COVID-19, ÐÔÊӽ紫ý’s Service Learning Institute (SLI) placed about 500 students in local schools every semester to provide tutoring. But since instruction moved online and school districts lost the ability to monitor and control interactions, K-12 officials have been reluctant to allow online tutoring due to liability concerns.

The pandemic has created a paradigm shift — a “new normal” — in which everyone is learning to conduct their business and continue their education online. To better help prospective students during this unprecedented time, ÐÔÊӽ紫ý has released a brand new virtual campus tour.

The term “raft” is a fitting metaphor for this time at ÐÔÊӽ紫ý, one that turns to the university’s otter mascot, Monte Rey. California sea otters gather on the water in large social groups called rafts, often holding hands or wrapped in kelp to keep from floating away. So the word, here, can symbolize strands of connection, keeping afloat, staying together.

ÐÔÊӽ紫ý’s Otter Cross Cultural Center issued the following statement in celebration of Pride Month and the landmark Supreme Court ruling on June 15 that provides protection for gay and transgender people under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlaws employment discrimination on the basis of sex:

For over 30 years, CSU Summer Arts has assembled some of the world’s best creative artists to teach and inspire students across all art genres. Due to the impact of COVID-19, CSU Summer Arts was forced to cancel the 2020 season. However, to foster creativity and inspire hope, the CSU Summer Arts program has established a one-time scholarship opportunity open to any current California State University student. All students are encouraged to apply and submit an entry regardless of their financial

Elementary students from two Monterey Peninsula Unified School District (MPUSD) schools — Foothill Elementary and Dual Language Institute — visited CSU Monterey Bay in February as part of a new program called ÐÔÊӽ紫ý AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination).