San Marcos,
05
November
2013
|
09:00 AM
America/Los_Angeles

CSU Chancellor Visits CSUSM

By Katie Chappell

When California State University Chancellor Timothy White visited Cal State San Marcos on Oct. 24, he praised it for being a “university of its times” in its structure, leadership and curriculum.

White visited CSUSM as a part of his first tour of the 23-campus CSU system. The statewide circuit was a goal he set for his first year in office to better understand the unique needs of each university.

During his daylong visit he spent time with representatives from each of the University’s four colleges, learning about CSUSM’s innovative research and serving spirit. Students and faculty presented their scholarship in topics from digital history and psychology to kinesiology and digital electronics and shared how they are reaching out to the local community through business and healthcare.

At an open forum, White identified four areas he intends to focus on as chancellor: student access, affordability, quality and degree completion. White answered questions from the campus community and shared enthusiasm for the work being done at Cal State San Marcos. “What I’ve sensed on this campus—and really across the board—is this sense of pride and purpose of what we do,” he noted.

Chancellor White made students a priority during his visit—his campus tour was led by students and he made frequent stops to interact with others throughout the day. During U-hour—CSUSM’s lunchtime activities hour on Tuesdays and Thursdays—he teed off at the disc golf course, learned about the Civility campaign and posed with Crash the Cougar, CSUSM’s mascot.

CSU Chancellor Timothy White
Our job in higher education is to give anyone with the intellect and the willingness to do the work, the opportunity to earn a degree at CSU.
CSU Chancellor Timothy White

Student tour guide Ake Martinez commented, “Chancellor White emphasized the importance of education and the duty we have as student leaders to reach out to our communities. He's an inspiring servant leader.” Student Joe Sandoval added, "We are in great hands! He is an amazing guy and an inspiration that if we understand why we do the things we do, we will find significant meaning as to why we continue."

In the evening White attended a reception and forum for community members and friends of CSUSM where he thanked supporters for the good work they have done in helping the campus transcend the normal silos of higher education to equip students for success in a contemporary world.

Said White, “Our job in higher education is to give anyone with the intellect and the willingness to do the work, the opportunity to earn a degree at CSU.”