Press Release
Education Leaders Meet at City College of San Francisco and Discuss Impact of Historic Partnership between SFSU, SFUSD and CCSF
The new initiative seeks to guarantee admission for eligible students to the university, creating significant opportunities to pursue degrees and advance careers.
San Francisco, CA (January 16, 2026) — The 2026 Cohort of the Leadership San Francisco Program hosted an inspiring session focused on education at City College of San Francisco (CCSF), including a panel with the Superintendent of San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) Dr. Maria Su, San Francisco State University (SFSU) President Dr. Lynn Mahoney, and CCSF Chancellor Dr. Kimberlee Messina.
The panelists addressed the historic MOU recently signed between SFSU, SFUSD, and CCSF, which creates a guaranteed admission pathway to the university for local high school seniors and community college students who meet eligibility requirements, and the impact they believe this initiative will have on the area’s workforce.
The new program eliminates the uncertainty of the application process and expands opportunities for students seeking an SFSU degree. The partnership represents a major expansion of the long-running SF Promise Initiative, SFSU’s initiative to developing educational opportunities for families in the City and County of San Francisco.
To qualify for guaranteed SFSU admission, SFUSD graduates will need to complete the required A–G high school courses with a grade of C or better and earn at least a 2.5 GPA in those courses taken in grades 10–12. Transfer students from CCSF will need to complete at least 60 transferable units with a minimum 2.0 GPA across all colleges attended and finish the “Golden Four” core courses — Oral Communication, Written Communication, Critical Thinking and Math/Quantitative Reasoning — with a grade of C- or better.
CCSF Chancellor Messina said: “It was an honor to participate in this panel with two of the top education leaders in our region. Jointly spearheading this Guaranteed Admission initiative between our institutions reduces barriers to higher education citywide. A key goal at City College of San Francisco is to transform students lives to not only provide access, but to provide clear and attainable pathways to achieve their goals, especially for first generation college students.”
MEDIA CONTACT: Alexandra Céspedes Kent, (510) 413-8445, alexandra@volersa.com
About City College of San Francisco
Since 1935, City College of San Francisco has offered instruction opportunities, serving more than 40,000 students annually at six locations throughout San Francisco. The College offers an affordable opportunity to earn associate degrees, prepare for transfer, pursue career and technical education, and personal development and enrichment. Visit: www.ccsf.edu.