November 2006

November 17-18, 2006
Hotel Zoso, Palm Springs, CA

Association Updates:

1. Chapter Professional Development Seminars – Fall kicks off the Professional Development Seminars (PDS) season in WESTOP.  The Northern California Chapter started things off with a PDS in Monterey, CA on October 8-10, 2006.  The Southern California Chapter hosted their PDS in Palm Springs, CA on November 15 -17, 2006. The Central California Chapter will hold their PDS in December in Monterey, CA.  The Pacific Islands Chapter and Arizona Chapter will be hosting a PDS as well.

1. WESTOP is also preparing for its first annual Technology Conference scheduled for January 2007 in La Jolla, CA.  This will be in partnership with the University of Washington Training Grant.
2. Finally in yet another showcase of political support of TRiO programs in California, Senator Barbara Boxer is offered certificates of recognition to all California TRIO program participants. Good work TRiO in the California!

4. UB, UBMS and VUB grants were due November 6, 2006.  The application maintained most of the changes mentioned in the Absolute Priority with the exception that programs could continue to select 10th graders as opposed to initial language in the priority that limited recruitment to freshmen.
5. WESTOP prepared comments to the Department of Education regarding the Office of Postsecondary Education’s Notice of Negotiated Rulemaking for Programs Authorized Under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as Amended.  This comment period served as an opportunity to speak to the challenges facing TRiO programs and how TRiO impacts the educational outlook of many low-income, first-generation students.
6. The 2007 WESTOP Regional Conference is right around the corner.  Special thanks to Romeo Garcia for stepping up to chair the Conference Planning Committee.  The conference is scheduled for February 18-21, 2007 at the Hyatt San Francisco Airport in Burlingame, CA.  Detailed information will found at the WESTOP website.  Information is added/changes often so please visit the page often.
7. COE is still fighting the UB priority every opportunity they get.
8. COE Board Meeting, Florida; December 12-17, 2006
9. COE National Conference, September 6-9, 2006 at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.  Record attendance was reported and fundraising seemed the highlight.  COE is making serious strides to become recognizable in corporate America.

Action Items: None

Respectively submitted by:                        Lydia Perez

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