About the APEX Program
Advancing Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Student Success
Asian Pacific Excellence—APEX—is Cal State Fullerton’s comprehensive initiative designed to strengthen educational access, belonging, persistence, degree completion, leadership development, and post-graduation success for Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) students and other underserved students.
APEX supports students throughout their educational journey—from recruitment and transition into CSUF through graduation and preparation for careers, graduate education, leadership, and community engagement. Through culturally responsive programs, mentoring, academic support, leadership opportunities, community experiences, and campus partnerships, APEX helps students build meaningful connections between their identities, education, goals, and communities.
All APEX Program events, activities, and programs are open and available to all who are interested in applying and/or participating, regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity, national origin, or any other protected status.
Our History
APEX was created as part of the California State University Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Student Achievement Program, known as CSU ASAP.
In 2022, Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Legislature approved the creation of the California AANHPI Student Achievement Program. The initiative was subsequently established within the CSU through California Education Code Section 89297.1. The legislation provides ongoing state funding to expand culturally responsive services that enhance students’ educational experiences and promote higher education success, particularly for low-income, underserved, and first-generation AANHPI students.
The legislation recognizes that AANHPI students represent many distinct ethnicities, cultures, languages, immigration histories, socioeconomic backgrounds, and educational experiences. Aggregate data and stereotypes such as the “model minority” myth can conceal significant differences in access, opportunity, belonging, retention, and degree completion. CSU ASAP was created to help institutions better understand and respond to these varied student experiences through culturally relevant and evidence-informed services.
The state established a similar AANHPI Student Achievement Program within the California Community Colleges, creating opportunities to strengthen support across California’s public higher education systems. The CSU ASAP Central Office, based at Sacramento State, provides systemwide leadership, coordination, professional development, assessment, and support to participating CSU universities. Learn more about CSU ASAP.
A Major Investment in Cal State Fullerton Students
For the 2025–2030 funding period, Cal State Fullerton was awarded $370,000 annually for five years—a total investment of $1.85 million—to develop and sustain APEX.
CSUF received the second-largest annual CSU ASAP allocation in the system, reflecting both the strength of the university’s proposal and the significant opportunity to support its large and diverse AANHPI student population. In fall 2025, CSUF enrolled 8,828 AANHPI students, representing 19.6% of the university’s student population.
This investment allows CSUF to build an intentional, coordinated network of programs and partnerships that recognizes the diverse strengths, experiences, and needs of AANHPI students. The funding also supports long-term program development, assessment, and institutional learning so that effective practices can become a sustained part of the CSUF student experience. View the CSU’s 2026 AANHPI Student Achievement Program Report.
The APEX Framework
APEX organizes its student learning and engagement opportunities around four interconnected pillars:
