The California State University system faces an increase of 100,000 students by 2010, the majority of whom will be Latino. Fundamental restructuring is necessary to accommodate this change, and the new California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB) may provide a model. CSUMB has a commitment to serving underrepresented populations and establishing a multilingual, multicultural, intellectual community through the use of high-quality distance learning programs utilizing innovative pedagogies. Although CSUMB has entered into partnerships with private businesses that enable it to have the latest in educational technology, it is not the quantity of computers, but rather, new behavioral approaches to technological use that are absolutely necessary. CSUMB's approach to education emphasizes outcomes and competencies and replaces a credit-based system with the assessment of demonstrated learning. CSUMB findings concerning the high tech environment include: (1) advanced technology greatly augments regular classroom instruction and is a viable delivery system for multilingual teaching and learning and for distance education, especially in underrepresented communities; (2) computer messaging systems facilitate writing across the curriculum and greatly improve student writing and logical skills in multiple languages; (3) computer technologies support active, rather than passive, learning; (4) coupled with visual materials, thinking textually is sufficient to improve literacy even when a liberal attitude is taken towards grammar, syntax, and spelling; and (5) computer technologies promote participation and learning in traditionally communicative-apprehensive learners such as shy students, limited English proficient students, and women who avoid verbally confronting men. (Contains 28 references.) (TD)