New Academic Year Welcomes Largest First-Year Class
By Bri Phillips
Cal State San Marcos is welcoming more than 16,000 students for the start of the fall semester, which begins Monday with the largest first-year class in university history.
Fall enrollment is up 3% compared to last year, including a record 2,766 first-year students.
President Ellen Neufeldt expressed excitement and optimism during her annual convocation address to faculty and staff on Thursday.
“We’re not simply kicking off a new year; we’re building on the momentum we’ve set in motion with the launch of our strategic plan: the Power of CSUSM and the Power of Us,” Neufeldt said.
Neufeldt praised the efforts of employees and departments across campus for the work they put in regarding enrollment.
“For 34 years, we at CSUSM have stood as a beacon of opportunity, fostering success within our region and beyond,” she said. “Our success is measured by our 67,000 proud alumni – eight in 10 remaining in our region to live, work and give back.”
New affordable housing/dining complex
Parking lots O, K and N are scheduled to close in late December or early January when construction begins on a new affordable housing and dining complex that is scheduled for grand opening in 2026.
The design schematics for the new housing complex were approved in May at the CSU Board of Trustees meeting, paving the way to move forward with the project.
Parking lots O, K and N will be closed after finals in December. Parking Structure 2, located across Barham Drive next to North Commons, will allow overnight student parking, and there will be an additional 84 parking spots available to students.
Weeks of Welcome
The annual Weeks of Welcome, which started Aug. 27, includes dozens of events for students to meet new people and kick off the academic year.
Visit the Weeks of Welcome calendar for a complete schedule.
Arts & Lectures for fall
The university’s longstanding Arts & Lectures series recently released its fall lineup. This season boasts a diverse selection of six events.
Attendees can reserve tickets online via the Arts & Lectures website.
Record-breaking fundraising dinner
The inaugural CSUSM Blue & Silver Fundraising Dinner held on June 9 was a resounding success, breaking previous university fundraising event records by raising over $1 million for social mobility and student success programs and initiatives.
CSUSM named to best colleges list
CSUSM was named to the “Best Colleges in America 2023” list by Money magazine. CSUSM received a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5 in the new system developed this year by Money. Out of more than 700 colleges and universities evaluated, only 34 received 5 stars and CSUSM was one of just 189 that were awarded 4.5 stars.
Summer snippets
- Political science professor Xiaoye She is part of a new online journal with a mission of creating a more global California by showcasing the scholarship and work of faculty, students and staff of the California State University system.
- CSUSM has received a grant from the National Institutes of Health to fund a novel project to offer mindfulness training to STEM students who are preparing for graduate school. The grant of about $80,000 covers a term of one year and started on Aug. 1.
- CSUSM’s College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) collaborated with the Migrant Education Program in Los Angeles to host the inaugural Migrant Scholars Summer Institute (MSSI) from July 6-14. Nearly 40 high school students who identify as Latinx and first generation attended the residential experience at CSUSM.
- Neufeldt pledged to take the next step in climate action by signing the Second Nature Presidents' Climate Leadership Commitment on Aug. 17. The signing was followed by a tree-planting ceremony in front of the University Bookstore as a symbol of the university’s dedication to sustainability efforts on campus.
- CSUSM has received a $300,000 grant from the largest private foundation in San Diego County to partner with a local health care provider to offer free services to underserved communities through a mobile health clinic.
Media Contact
Eric Breier, Public Affairs Specialist
ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314