Greetings Seawolf community,
With the academic year closing at Commencement a few weeks ago, summer is officially getting underway. Yet our university community continues to move forward. Monday marked the first day of new transfer student orientations, which will continue through June 24, with first-time students attending orientations throughout July.
As these newest Seawolves are on campus over the next several weeks, getting acclimated and meeting faculty and staff, I know they will be welcomed with the energy and enthusiasm that are hallmarks of the Sonoma State experience.
Summer also gives each of us an opportunity to thoughtfully reflect on the past year and to recharge ourselves. I know that for our SSU community, there is much upon which to reflect. I hope you will find time to relax and enjoy events, activities, and meaningful time with your families and friends.
I continue to be inspired by the commitment of the Sonoma State community to our students, fellow faculty and staff, and the diverse communities we serve. In the four weeks since I stepped into this role, I have continued to listen and learn about the strengths and assets of our university community, the challenges SSU has overcome, and the realities we face today. A strong set of plans was crafted over the past two years, and I write today to affirm the direction and priorities Sonoma State has been advancing:
- Growing undergraduate and graduate student enrollment;
- Finalizing the academic reorganization and formally launching the three-college structure;
- Continuing academic planning, including a commitment to develop additional programs in Allied Health and other areas, as identified by the Academic Master Plan;
- Supporting student advising and curricular and cocurricular navigation;
- Improving our fiscal position to prepare SSU for the future; and
- Developing a course of action for continued university dialogue and work based on The Path Forward.
I also want to address recent news regarding the integration of the CSU Maritime Academy with Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. My involvement in that project has been under the auspice of my previous role as CSU’s Chief Academic Officer. This work had been ongoing for the past year, culminating in the formal recommendation to the Chancellor on June 5. The CSU Maritime Academy faces a unique situation that is not comparable to any other CSU. While each CSU is striving to be more responsive and innovative in growing enrollment and delivering academic programs that meet the moment, the only viable path forward for CSU Maritime was becoming integrated with another CSU institution.
In contrast, while Sonoma State has faced a decline in enrollment over the past seven years, it has been and remains a leader in the CSU in responding to changing student demographics, developing creative enrollment management strategies, and adapting academic programs and reorganization to meet future demographic shifts. Our preliminary projections show that SSU will see a year-over-year increase in enrollment this fall. We must continue to collectively work together to reach this milestone and the many more that lie ahead.
Meanwhile, a warm welcome to summer and to our new Seawolves!