CSUN President Erika D. Beck
The knowledge taught and gained at CSUN exists to be a bright and unwavering light shared with the world. Few programs embody that purpose more clearly than CSUN VITA. In the midst of a global pandemic that disproportionally affected low-income populations and put socioeconomic inequities into sharp focus, this program’s work in assisting community members has never been more critical.
For more than 50 years, CSUN VITA — a service of the CSUN David Nazarian College of Business and Economics — has had a twofold mission: to equip students with the expertise and confidence needed to embark on their professional careers, and to use those skills to serve individuals and families who otherwise would not be able to afford help with preparing their taxes. When COVID-19 shut down all 17 VITA sites last year, the team never lost sight of this mission, quickly pivoting to a virtual platform to help the thousands of low-income individuals who had come to rely on their help.
This year, the CSUN VITA Clinic came back even stronger, with a roaring launch of its CSUN Virtual VITA program. More than 200 student volunteers were trained to provide free tax preparation using a secure virtual platform, and a drop-off method was launched to serve individuals facing technological challenges. The result: Low-income community members had access to VITA Clinic services seven days per week, eight-plus hours per day, throughout the entire tax season.
I am incredibly proud of the dedication of the VITA team and the program’s growth. Thanks to supplemental funding from the IRS this year, CSUN VITA was able to continue supporting clinics at Cal State LA, Cal State Long Beach and Cal Poly Pomona, extending its reach across Los Angeles. In addition, CSUN VITA has inspired more than 8,000 clinics around the country, helping families in all 50 states.
My gratitude goes to Nazarian College Dean Chandra Subramaniam and Bookstein Chair in Taxation and Director of the Bookstein Institute for Higher Education in Taxation Rafi Efrat for their continued leadership, especially during these unprecedented times.
CSUN VITA is a clear example of how higher education and a university degree have the power to not only change individual lives, but to impact the world beyond our campus. I look forward to seeing our Matador students, faculty and community partners continue to work toward creating a brighter and more equitable future through this vital service.