SAN MARCOS: CSUSM president shares achievements, goals during annual address

University to continue diversification, research efforts during new school year

By ANDREA MOSS - Staff Writer | Thursday, August 21, 2008 7:12 PM PDT ∞

ESCONDIDO ---- The opening of a veterans and active-duty student center and a social justice and equity project are two of the exciting things ahead for Cal State San Marcos in the next year, university President Karen Haynes said Wednesday.

And although most people associate the university with inland North County, she said the campus will participate in important coastal research.

Haynes, who spoke to more than 500 university employees at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, said the university is well on its way to achieving its goal of being an innovative and involved regional leader.

"By 2010, Cal State San Marcos will be the region's driving force by leading initiatives and partnering to meet community needs," she said. "Our graduates ... will reflect the region and be empowered to lead it. As an engaged campus, we will become a best place to work and study."

Haynes' address came during the university's annual convocation. A "welcome back" event for employees at the start of a new academic year, the convocation was Haynes' fifth since she took over as Cal State San Marcos' president in early 2004.

During her address, she looked backward as well as forward.

The list of 2007-08 school year accomplishments she cited included agreements the campus signed with San Diego County's Health and Human Services agency and Riverside County. The deals guarantee admission to former foster children in San Diego and Riverside counties who meet certain standards.

Haynes said the agreements were the first in the 23-campus Cal State system and possibly the nation.

The university program that helps foster kids apply for college and then provides them with financial help and mentoring also produced its first graduate this year, she said.

Haynes also noted that the university's College of Business sent 87 teams of students out to get "real world" experience by helping local businesses carry challenging projects as part of the university's Senior Experience program.

Psychology students won awards for their research on autism, behavioral sensitization to mood-altering prescription drugs, and the effects of oxycodone on rats, Haynes said. Students in the university's new master's and history programs produced Web-based projects, digitized databases and videos, she added.

"This is real learning," said Haynes. "And these are only a few examples of the 21st century, hands-on opportunities that engage our students."

Faculty members' research also brought the university attention, accolades and more than $5.5 million in grants, the president said.

The university's role as a member of the new California State University Council on Ocean Affairs, Science and Technology means the campus will now be involved in coastal research as well, she said.

Providing a learning environment that is as diverse as possible has long been a key campus goal. Haynes said the coming year will see the university increasing the number of international students on campus and encouraging more students to study abroad.

The social justice and equity project and the opening of the veterans and active-duty student center ---- both scheduled for this fall ---- will further diversify the campus, she said. More diversification of the faculty and staff is another goal for the year ahead, said Haynes.

Other campus officials who spoke at Wednesday's event also reported significant accomplishments.

Neal Hoss, vice president for university advancement, said the campus met its fundraising goals last year and increased its number of individual donors by nearly 400 percent. The university also received significant contributions to its nursing school, a $1 million donation to support the campus's "lifelong learning" program, and $135,000 to support the university's athletic programs, he said.

Pat Worden, vice president of student affairs, said the university was looking forward to breaking ground on a student union this spring. When completed, the building will give students more food choices and a place to hang out, study or meet with classmates, she said.

Haynes said university employees deserve much of the credit for the campus' successes.

"I probably don't have to tell you that we are, in so many areas, a campus with best practices and 'firsts' not only within our system, but in the nation," she said. "You should all feel extremely proud to have brought us here."

Contact staff writer Andrea Moss at (760) 739-6654 or amoss@nctimes.com.

First name only. Comments including last names, contact addresses, e-mail addresses or phone numbers will be deleted. Attempts to misrepresent your identity or impersonate any person will not be approved. All comments are screened before they appear online, so please keep them brief. Comments reflect the views of those commenting and not necessarily those of the North County Times or its staff writers. Click here to view additional comment policies.