April 4, 2024 – Chico State Secures Grant to Establish Black Student Center

Dear Campus Community, 
 
I'm excited to share that Chico State has been awarded a $250,000 grant from the California State University to establish a Black Student Center (BSC). Scheduled to open in fall 2024 in MLIB 143, the BSC will serve as a central hub for Black student support programs and activities. 

The center will offer a comprehensive range of services for Black students to thrive academically, socially, and personally, including tutoring, advising, emotional well-being support, professional development opportunities, community space, annual events, mentoring programs, undergraduate research opportunities, and leadership development initiatives.   

The BSC is another step in our commitment to expand the work of the Cross-Cultural Leadership Center to establish culturally specific student support and retention centers.  

In addition to supporting the establishment of the BSC, this grant funding will support the University in developing a comprehensive strategy to recruit Black students, as well as creating a comprehensive plan to recruit and retain Black staff and faculty. 

I’d like to thank members of the Black Student Union and Black Faculty and Staff Association as well as Isaac Brundage (Student Affairs), Joseph Morales (Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion), and Seema Sehrawat and Lori Miller (President’s Office) who worked extremely hard to secure this funding. 

Please join me in celebrating this news and the impact it will have on our community. 

Thank you,
Steve Perez