CSUSM Garners Two 2015 CASE District VII Awards

The Far West District of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) will recognize California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) with two Awards of Excellence at its annual conference and awards luncheon on Friday, March 6.

In the category of General Interest Magazines with a circulation less than 30,000, CSUSM won a Bronze Award for Steps, a biannual magazine for alumni and donors. The University also earned a Silver Award in the category of Issues & Crisis Management for its execution of crisis communications during the devastating Cocos Fire, a wildfire which threatened the university and resulted in the postponement of commencement ceremonies in May 2014. Steps and strategic/crisis communications are produced by the Office of Communications.

“We received a tremendous number of entries this year, over 470, and your excellent achievement stood out among the best,” wrote the CASE Awards of Excellence Committee in an e-mail announcing the awards.

The CASE District VII annually recognizes excellence and best practices in alumni relations, fundraising, public/government relations, advancement services, special events and outstanding communications. Entries are judged by a panel of experts who examine each entry for quality, creativity, innovation, adherence to professional standards, and success in meeting stated objectives.

“Acknowledgement by our peers that our programs and strategies represent best practices is extremely gratifying,” said Vice President for University Advancement Neal Hoss. “I am pleased to have our dedicated and talented staff recognized for their efforts to foster ongoing relationships with alumni and donors, and share our stories with the region and beyond. Their professionalism and responsiveness in the face of the Cocos Fire crisis—even when their own homes and families were being impacted—is particularly laudable.”

CASE, headquartered in Washington, D.C., CASE is an international association of professionals who advance educational institutions. CASE District VII represents the western region of the United States and includes Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada, Northern Mariana Islands and Utah.