What do you benefit most from being a member of NCPC?
NCPC provides an incredible opportunity for professional development, leadership experience and networking for CSUSM’s Development team. As North County’s only four-year public institution, it is important for members of University Advancement to be well connected in the region to advance collaborations and cultivate a culture of philanthropy to better serve our community.

What is your Mission?
Building on an innovative 30-year history, California State University San Marcos is a forward-focused institution that focuses on the student as an active participant in the learning process. As a Carnegie-classified “community engaged” university, CSUSM students work closely with faculty whose commitment to sustained excellence in teaching, research and community partnership enhances their learning. The university offers rigorous undergraduate and graduate programs distinguished by exemplary teaching, innovative curricula and the application of new technologies. CSUSM provides a range of services that respond to the needs of a student body with diverse backgrounds, expanding student access to an excellent and affordable education. As a public university, CSUSM grounds its mission in the public trust, alignment with regional needs and sustained enrichment of the intellectual, civic, economic and cultural life of our region and state.

What do you offer to the community?

• Accessible, affordable, quality education to students in our region.
• Graduates who are well-trained in their discipline through experiential learning; 80% stay in the region after graduation, fueling our local workforce.
• A commitment to building a stronger and more vibrant region by connecting the university to surrounding communities in mutually beneficial ways.
• CSUSM is an economic engine that supports thousands of jobs by pumping more than $458 million into the region annually and boosting the future earning potential of its students, according to a comprehensive study.

What was your organization/company’s biggest accomplishment in the past six months – one year?
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, donors gave generously to our Student ReliefFund, including many gifts from CSUSM faculty and staff. Donor support, along with other sources of funding to the Student Relief Fund, provided relief aid to over 1,400 students during the spring semester. This support helped students with tuition, technology and basic needs, allowing them to stay on their educational journey.

What program or campaign do you have coming up that you would like to share with our readers?
Students and faculty across the university have a passion for addressing global issues, and they have the ingenuity to tackle those challenges. The new CSUSM Innovation Hubis designed to bring the resources, education and support to develop collaborative partnerships among students, faculty and community in order to meet societal needs through innovation and entrepreneurship. By providing mentorship, guidance and access to technology and expertise, the Innovation Hub supports the creation of new products, services and collaborations. The hub also engages with our community by addressing societal needs through innovative practices and partnerships with a focus on enriching the intellectual, civic, economic and cultural life of our region.

What changes/opportunities have occurred due to COVID-19?
In mid-March, CSUSM moved university operations to a virtual environment. All classes were moved online, and staff and faculty transitioned to working remotely. This fall, more than 90% of classes will be taught virtually and most staff and faculty will continue to work remotely through December.

Have you made a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion within your organization?
CSUSM has a longstanding commitment to providing students with an inclusive educational experience that prepares them to be effective in a multicultural and diverse work and living environment, both in the region and in the world. The university has received the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED)  Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education, for six straight years. This national honor recognizes U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment  to diversity and inclusion. CSUSM remains focused on ensuring that institutional priorities, initiatives, policies and practices take into account, reflect and support the university’s goals and expectations for diversity and inclusion. With this aim, CSUSM continues to improve institutional access and equity through effective recruitment and retention of diverse students, faculty, staff and administrators, providing them with equitable and expanded opportunities for success. We strive each day to make all campus community members feel welcomed and valued.

For more information go to www.csusm.edu