1. NCU delays start date to Fall 2006 - cites backlog at State of CA BPPVE
2. NCU Scholarship Gala to launch the establishment of a Scholarship Endowment Fund - Sept 17th, 2005
3. NCU Board of the Faithful
4. NCU article in the National Catholic Register
5. Benefactor comfort level with online donations to NCU increasing.
6. NCU to accelerate permanent name selection
7. NCU notified of its State of California tax exempt status

1. The New Catholic University for Media & Technology delays start date to Fall 2006 - cites backlog at State of CA BPPVE
The Board of Trustees decided, in their Jan 21, 2005 meeting, to postpone the NCU opening date to Fall 2006 citing delays with the processing of NCU's 'Approval to Operate' by the State of California. The Board of Trustees apologizes to all those students and their parents who had hoped to start in Sept 2005. NCU submitted its 'Approval to Operate' application to the State of California's Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education (BPPVE) on July 6, 2004. Based on the best information available at that time, NCU expected a ruling on its request to receive temporary 'Approval to Operate' during January or February 2005. However, in a conversation with BPPVE staff in January 2005, NCU discovered that BPPVE is backlogged with applications because of staffing issues caused by the State's budget crisis and they do not expect to review NCU's application before mid-March or April, 2005. NCU now expects 'Approval to Operate' around May 1, 2005. Most students planning to start college in Fall 2005 will have finalized their college plans by that date, making it impossible for NCU to recruit a cohort of students for Fall 2005.

This news will come as a major disappointment to many students who had anticipated starting at NCU in Fall 2005. Once the 'Approval to Operate' has been granted, NCU will aggressively recruit 120 students for admission for the Fall of 2006 and will offer 4-majors.

2. NCU Scholarship Gala to launch the establishment of a Scholarship Endowment Fund - Sept 17th, 2005
Mark your calendars now - reserve the evening of Saturday September 17th, 2005 for the NCU Scholarship Gala. The Scholarship Gala will launch the truly critical effort to build the NCU scholarship endowment fund. The black tie optional event will be held at the beautiful La Jolla Hyatt, which hosted NCU's wonderfully successful Inaugural Gala in Sept 2004.

3. NCU Board of the Faithful
Please join our prayer group. Prayer group members are asked to attend Mass or pray the rosary every first Friday and to include NCU in their prayer intentions.

4. NCU in the National Catholic Register
Carlos Briceno wrote a superb article on NCU in the National Catholic Register. You will enjoy a provocative essay by Carlos on What is Missing from Catholic Radio?. He would like to hear from people, including teens, who might be interested in learning about radio and/or contributing audio.

5. Benefactor comfort level with making online gifts to NCU increasing.
NCU benefactors are increasingly using the option to contribute online. In the past month, NCU has received donations ranging from $25 to $500 online from benefactors all across the US. You can make a tax-deductible donation online. For larger gifts, please consider sending a check (payable to New Catholic University) to: New Catholic University; PO Box 501713, San Diego, CA 92150-1713. Currently, volunteers perform all tasks, nobody is on payroll, and all donations are going to the financial reserve required by the State of California for 'Approval to Operate'.

6. NCU to accelerate permanent name selection
Most of you realize that 'New Catholic University' is a temporary name. The Founders had planned to keep this name for a few years, while it looked for a major benefactor to claim naming rights (just like Harvard, Yale, Stanford Universities). However, the Trustees have been advised that it is better to select a permanent name sooner rather than later. The Trustees hope to select a permanent name within the next two months and unveil it once NCU gets its 'Approval to Operate'. The current preference is to use a 2-word Latin name, including 'Christi' as one of those words - for example 'Corpus Christi University' - we welcome your comments.

7. NCU notified of its State of California tax-exempt status
The State of California, in a letter dated January 31st, 2005, notified NCU of its tax-exempt status under Section 23701d of the California Revenue & Taxation Code. NCU obtained notification of its Federal Tax exempt status in Nov 2004. All donations to NCU are tax deductible as permitted by law.