Delivering remarks during her first convocation since becoming president of Cal State Fullerton, Sylvia Alva lauded the university’s accomplishments over the past year, while outlining goals for the new academic year.
Two priorities are to continue to build on CSUF’s standing as a leader in degrees earned by first-generation and underrepresented students and to fine-tune methods to provide “a welcoming and inclusive university experience,” the president said.
Speaking in front of a packed Meng Concert Hall on Sept. 14, with hundreds more watching via livestream, Alva drew on her own experiences as a child of Mexican immigrants and a product of the CSU system, mirroring in many ways the demographic makeup of a significant portion of current CSUF students.
Alva took over as CSUF president in August, returning to the institution where she began her career as an educator 30 years ago, as an assistant professor of adolescent development.
“Today feels very special, like a homecoming beyond my imagination,” Alva said. “It is a privilege, and quite frankly, a bit surreal, to have the honor of serving as your president. This is a beautiful and fulfilling full-circle moment that reaffirms why the CSU is the greatest driver of social mobility in California and the nation.”
In pointing out accomplishments, the president noted that CSUF granted nearly 11,000 degrees in May.
“That is more than the total headcount of several other CSUs,” Alva said.
This year, the university welcomed an incoming class of 7,100 first-time freshmen, 4,000 transfer students and more than 1,800 graduate students, making it the largest incoming class in Titan history, Alva said.
By graduating 11,000 and enrolling 12,900, Alva noted that enrollment is up.
CSUF is also No. 2 in the state for degrees earned by women, No. 3 in the nation for degrees earned by Latinx and underrepresented students and No. 7 in the nation in social mobility, she said.
Additionally, the university was awarded the national Seal of Excelencia for its distinction as a Hispanic Serving Institution.
“We must recommit ourselves to assure that every one of our students is given the opportunity to achieve their full potential and goal of earning a degree from this impressive university,” Alva said. “To do that, we must center equity in everything we do. We must continue to build on our data and technology infrastructure to guide and support our students in achieving key success milestones and being ready to intervene in a more proactive and integrated way when they need our support.”
Another highlight was the completion of the largest and most successful comprehensive fundraising campaign in CSUF history.
The original goal for the “It Takes a Titan” campaign was $175 million, but after Mackenzie Scott’s gift of $40 million, the goal was raised to $250 million, Alva said.
Ultimately, more than $270 million was raised, providing the means to accomplish several priorities and key initiatives.
Several infrastructure projects are either underway or will be launched in the coming months.
Those include construction of a new Visual Arts Complex, scheduled to open in fall 2024.
Designs are in progress for the Center for Leadership, known as Landmark Hall, with occupancy scheduled for November 2025.
In December, construction is scheduled to get underway on student housing phase 5, with occupancy expected for fall 2026.
Construction of the Titan Gateway Bridge is scheduled to begin in October 2025 and the design phase for the new Engineering and Computer Science Innovation Hub will begin soon, with occupancy expected in July 2026.
Alva is also calling on the entire campus community to contribute to finalizing the 2024-29 Strategic Plan.
Last spring, the universitywide Review and Reflection activities attracted 5,100 participants, including 2,609 students, and nearly 2,500 faculty and staff.
The Strategic Plan Development Committee worked over the summer to begin analyzing the input collected in the spring into a strategic plan draft.
“So, we have a road map for a new generation of Titans to grow and thrive under our stewardship,” Alva said. “In this call to action, we need to prioritize a holistic model of equity-centered student success that addresses strategic enrollment management and refines the student journey.”
Studying trends in a changing enrollment landscape will also be necessary in the wake of a variety of shifting data points, from declining birth rates shrinking the size of high school graduating classes to the spike in California residents leaving the region and state in search of more affordable housing.
Also, all community colleges offer two years free of tuition and are working to get state approval to offer more bachelor’s degrees.
“When done correctly, an enrollment plan is a road map,” Alva said. “We are intentional in shaping the incoming class and overall student population, and we decide what is the right enrollment target for the university, based on a realistic and sustainable financial model that secures the resources needed to reach and serve new audiences.
“Easy? No, but we got this,” the president said. “We are Titans, right?”
