![CSUSB student Asia Ponder (left) talks with alumnus Alberto Jasso ’15 about her courses.](/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/upload/image/2024/precollege.jpg.webp?itok=sTHv75pw)
“I think the fact that [alumni] have returned to the university speaks to the positive, relationship-building aspects of our [pre-college] programs and to the opportunities the programs offer,” said Summer Steele, the executive director of CSUSB’s Pre-College Programs. “Many begin as student assistants in our office, build their skills and continue on. CSUSB is great for those students who were part of the pre-college pipeline.”
![Former Upward Bound students walk the CSUSB campus](/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/upload/image/Pre-College-Programs_Slide.jpg.webp?itok=zh1AmU92)
In the last 10 years, CSUSB has grown from having two pre-college programs serving 100 students per year, across six high schools, to now housing programs serving more than 10,000 students per year, across 16 school districts in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties.
![Roderick Figgs](/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/NewsSlide_BHM_GearUP_RoderickFigg_12Feb2020.jpg.webp?itok=zH5Mjfx9)
As part of our celebration of Black History Month, take a look back when Roderick Figgs, assistant director of GEAR UP, was named the 2019 Professional of the Year by the National Council for Community and Education Partnerships.
![5th annual Black & Brown Young Men’s Conference](/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/upload/image/_NewsSlide_BlackBrownConf_02Nov2018_1.jpg.webp?itok=VVgCym-E)
About 100-150 Latino and African-American high school seniors will visit CSUSB for the fifth annual Black & Brown Young Men’s Conference on Nov. 22.
![Roderick Figgs](/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/NewsSlide_GEARUP_Figgs_18Jun2019.jpg.webp?itok=1iEGOPoR)
Roderick Figgs, assistant director of GEAR UP at Cal State San Bernardino, has been named the 2019 Professional of the Year by the National Council for Community and Education Partnerships (NCCEP).
![GEAR UP at Cal State San Bernardino](/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/upload/image/_NewsSlide_GEAR-UP_12July2018.jpg.webp?itok=r8NybcmX)
GEAR UP is part of an effort to make students, and their parents, aware of the opportunities available to them to attend college, and what the students need to do so that they can determine their own future.
![GEAR UP at Cal State San Bernardino](/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/upload/image/_NewsSlide_GEARUP_23Sept2018.jpg.webp?itok=J_m5L05j)
The week commemorates the continuing success of GEAR UP, a college access program providing students and families the support and resources they need for college success.
![Student Leadership](/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/NewsSlide_StudentLdershipConf_20Feb2019_v2.jpg.webp?itok=XxNKHX8N)
The conference for area high school students, “Calling All Leaders: Speak UP, Speak OUT,” is set for Saturday, Feb.23.
![2nd annual Educators Conference](/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/CSUSB-News_Slide-GEARUP2017.jpg.webp?itok=jKET9RZQ)
During the three-day conference, educators will explore what impacts students, how outside factors impact students and what they can do to impact students’ lives.