Leaders from the California State University system met with local churches across the state today to increase black student enrollment.

Applications from blacks to the CSU have gone up 15 percent and enrollment by 8.5 percent since the Super Sunday outreach program was started. Gonzalez said enrollment still has not gone up enough, and the university’s goal is to increase enrollment among black students to ten percent. Currently, blacks make up 7 percent of Sac State students.

Event speakers emphasized the need to recruit at the local level, including visiting local elementary and high schools and picking a school close to home to help ease some of the financial stress.

Chevelle Newsome, Sac State Graduate dean and event organizer, explained that the recruiting efforts extend beyond the Sunday event and include EOP and EAP programs.

“(The programs) are really big initiatives to help with early assessment,” Newsome said.

He also said that there are other avenues for attending school, and Sac State is determined to help make that happen for students.

Teresa Lerma, Financial Aid office manager, said that the office is providing one-on-one help for those concerned about tuition costs.

“There is financial aid?the resources are out there,” Lerma said.

Lerma also said the deadline for Cal Grant and FAFSA applications for the 2009-10 school year is March 2.

“We are there for the students,” Gonzalez said. “We want everyone to be successful.”

Julia Baum can be reached at [email protected]