Magazine | President's Letter

Dear friends of Cal State Monterey Bay,

As our university’s celebration of our Silver Jubilee winds down, we reflect on our incredible 25 years at California State University, Monterey Bay. This year strengthened the foundation for an even brighter future. Our renewed accreditation – for the longest possible term of 10 years – shows that we exceed expectations as an institution, and our rising graduation rates speak to our commitment to student success.

We are elevating our regional profile as a valued partner providing educational opportunities to underserved communities and promoting sustainable economic growth, but much work remains.

Last fall, the College Futures Foundation reported 144,000 college-ready students will be turned away annually from California’s four-year higher education institutions by 2030 — double today’s numbers. This poses a severe threat to the state’s economy and will widen racial, income, and geographic inequities.

At CSUMB, we are part of the solution, and we are ready to grow with the need. Unlike many CSU campuses, we have room and the flexibility to do so in a way that broadens our statewide impact as an engine of economic growth and social mobility.

We moved forward with new degrees in agricultural plant and soil sciences and sustainable hospitality management. Those programs directly impact our local economy. Our teacher pathway program, a collaboration with community college partners, addresses the critical shortage of teachers in our region with graduates committed to their communities.

We are also addressing the need for more nurses and physician assistants through degree programs that partner with local health organizations. We are building support for a new school of engineering with its first degree program, mechatronics, serving emerging areas in the agriculture industry, and meeting broader needs for employees with tech expertise.

We are all impacted by the unprecedented events of 2020 and the coronavirus pandemic. I believe this will have a significant and lasting effect on higher education and how we operate. We’ve included a special section in this magazine about our response. As we respond and adapt to the new normal, we remain committed to the success of our students and to helping our region thrive.

Sincerely,

Eduardo M. Ochoa, President