University Convocation Focuses on Preparing, Building, Solving

At California State University San Marcos’ (CSUSM) annual Convocation, President Karen Haynes welcomed new and returning faculty and staff to campus, Thursday, August 25, while setting the tone and outlining goals for the new academic year.“We’ve come a long way in our 21 years, doing the ‘heavy lifting’ of building a university literally from the ground up—developing curriculum, creating service infrastructure, and constructing facilities,” she said. “Now it’s time to focus on what we want our institutional ‘adulthood’ to look like as we focus on 2015 and our 25th anniversary. [We will] . . . focus our efforts on what we do best: preparing, building and solving.”Haynes reported that CSUSM continues to excel at providing students with hands-on learning opportunities through undergraduate research and community service learning.  She noted that as the university continues to improve processes and fortify structures to support students on their academic journey, CSUSM is preparing students to become leaders – not just aware of the big problems and questions facing society but actually responding and contributing and finding answers.The university’s recent Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Oceanside Unified School District, as well as the upcoming signing of an MOU with Temecula Valley Unified School District, are examples of how CSUSM is building great communities through partnerships that serve the university’s mission while also benefitting the region. Haynes also sited CSUSM’s growing athletics program, and increased recreational and cultural opportunities as ways for community members to become engaged with the campus. “As we welcome more of our neighbors to campus to get to know as the vibrant and rich center for exploration, innovation, creativity and lifelong learning that we are, we will continue to build better communities.”As an innovative institution, Haynes shared how students and faculty are currently engaged in research and creative activities critical to understanding, reducing, preventing and solving some of today’s most pressing issues. She said that the university would continue to focus on reducing the educational achievement gap between traditional and first-generation college students, garner visibility and support for research and related activities, and further enhance opportunities for collaborative partnerships in pursuit of solving critical issues.Haynes closed her remarks by thanking faculty and staff for their continued commitment to Cal State San Marcos. “[The] single most important ‘point of pride’ and the one that stands out the most to people who arrive on this campus—potential students and their parents, donors, community partners, and participants at events—is the spirit of this place. That spirit is you—always welcoming, always facilitating, and always caring.”About California State University San MarcosCalifornia State University San Marcos combines the ambiance of a mid-sized, personal, modern campus with the unequaled value of the California State University. Since its founding in 1989, the campus has distinguished itself. Students benefit from the latest facilities and equipment, a superb faculty that enjoys teaching, and a rigorous academic program that prepares students for a successful life in and out of the workplace. A recent survey reported that our annual spending in the region was $161 million, generating a total impact of $307 million on the regional economy. 85 percent of CSUSM’s alumni stay in the region. CSU San Marcos is located on a 304-acre hillside overlooking the city of San Marcos. It is 15 miles east of the ocean; just 30 miles north of downtown San Diego.