June 17th, 2013 • Access for Students, Educational Quality, Impact on California
By Ian Ruddell
Chico State 2013 Graduate
CSU Student Trustee, 2011-2013
Hearst/CSU Trustees’ Scholar, 2010
Commencement at Chico State – from left to right: CSU Chancellor Timothy P. White, CSU Student Trustee Ian Ruddell and CSU Board of Trustees Chair Bob Linscheid
Embracing Tim White and Bob Linscheid after receiving my bachelor’s degree, it hit me that this commencement at Chico State was my last official event as a California State University student and as a trustee. This was the end of an extraordinary experience and the beginning of a new journey.
Transitions always involve emotional reflection on growth, change, relationships lost and friends gained. My time at Chico State and in the CSU captured a period of personal realization, growth and change. I am leaving a lot of who I once was behind, including an identity and name.
Coming out to the CSU Board of Trustees as transgender, undergoing transition from female to male, was nerve-racking. In retrospect, their embracing support was a natural extension of the welcome they had extended me since my appointment. I also knew I had an ally in Chancellor White.
As an activist advocating for gender and sexual equity at Chico State and in systemwide student government, publicly sharing this life-changing moment was the logical decision as well as an educational opportunity for those around me. More …
Tags: Advocacy, Alumni, Graduation, Hearst/CSU Trustees' scholar, Made in the CSU, Service, Student
April 23rd, 2013 • Educational Quality, Impact on California
By Rebecca Mieliwocki
Seventh Grade English Teacher
at Luther Burbank Middle School
National Teacher of the Year, 2012
Alumna of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and CSU Northridge
Mieliwocki is honored by the CSU Alumni Council and Board of Trustees on March 20, 2013. From left to right: Alumni Council President Guy Heston, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo President Jeffrey D. Armstrong, CSU Northridge President Dianne F. Harrison, Rebecca Mieliwocki and CSU Chancellor Timothy P. White.
The central premise of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is “learn by doing.” This principle permeates every academic course and every student activity. It has also become my motto in life.
In high school, I wanted to attend Cal Poly to become an architect. That program was highly impacted, so I went into Speech Communication instead. It turns out that was a perfect major for me and I loved the program. I went from earning a Speech Communication bachelor’s degree at Cal Poly to completing a credential program at CSU Northridge.
As many do, I found a different path forward in life than what I planned as a child. I am thankful that the education I received in those early years and at the university prepared me to go in many different directions. I try to keep that in mind when I’m preparing my own students. More …
Tags: Alumni, Educator, Service
April 22nd, 2013 • Educational Quality, Environmental Sustainability
By Erik Fallis
CSU Public Affairs
Student power is leading the way on saving power on California State University campuses. CSU Chico, CSU Fullerton, Humboldt State, CSU Long Beach, Cal Poly Pomona, CSU San Bernardino, San Diego State and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo each host PowerSave Green Campus Programs dedicated to student-driven energy efficiency education. The programs are supported by the Alliance to Save Energy – a nonprofit organization that promotes energy efficiency worldwide through research, education and advocacy. Currently, PowerSave Green Campus Programs employ more than 100 interns each year.
Joining the League
A little friendly competition goes a long way. Two CSU Chico residence halls (Shasta and Lassen) competed against each other in Wildcat Sustainability Showdown – an effort to reduce energy use. Simultaneously, the halls advanced their campus bid in a competition against ten other campuses as a league in the Campus Conservation Nationals. PowerSave Green Campus interns and their network of volunteers informed and encouraged their peers throughout the competition. CSU Chico residence halls cut energy consumption by nearly 13 percent and walked away as league champions.
“Competing in Campus Conservation Nationals was a great learning experience. We feel very lucky to have been able to compete in such an amazing project,” said PowerSave Green Campus team manager Kayla Mahoney. “Our team learned valuable lessons regarding student behavior, outreach tools, and incentives. We built a foundation for the future competitions on our campus and we hope to win again next year.”
Shasta Hall residents celebrate their win in the Wildcat Sustainability Showdown. Students gather in the sustainability photo booth to take photos with the green competition trophy and reaffirm their sustainability commitments. More …
Tags: Environmental Sustainability, Green, Service, Student
February 18th, 2013 • Access for Students, Educational Quality
By Rudy Silva
CSU Long Beach student
Silva shares his story with the CSU Board of Trustees during their January meeting. His speech acknowledges Bob Cole, whose generosity continues to support music instruction and student scholarships at CSU Long Beach.
As a kid from Indio, it was impossible to realize that the clarinet would be my path to Cal State Long Beach.
At the urging of a church friend, I somewhat reluctantly decided to explore the band program in middle school. The clarinet was my choice for a simple reason: I was able to get a decent sound out of it on the first try. With no musicians in the family, that note – if it could be called an actual note – opened up an entire world. I went from dancing with the radio to quickly advancing through music books. In fact, my teacher would not believe me at first when I told her I was ready for new material.
I continued making music throughout high school with the marching band, jazz band, district honor band, and community orchestra. I even found myself as drum major in my junior year of high school. With all that, I never thought of my future in music until my band teacher asked me, “Are you going to be an artist or a band director?” as we worked on a prop for a performance. The potential that he saw in me made the next step seem possible. More …
Tags: Alumni, Arts, Educator
January 31st, 2013 • Educational Quality, Environmental Sustainability
Congratulations to the crew of the R/V Point Sur for their Jan. 26 arrival at Palmer Station on Anvers Island, Antarctica. Their journey has already spanned nearly two months since departing from home – Moss Landing Marine Laboratories in the Monterey Bay area. More …
Tags: Green, National Science Foundation, Ocean, Research
January 29th, 2013 • Access for Students, Educational Quality, Impact on California
James M. Rosser
President
California State University, Los Angeles
Cal State L.A. President James M. Rosser greets prospective CSU students from the congregation of the New Covenant Baptist Church in Norwalk.
Like many of the thousands of CSU employees, alumni, students, and, of course, our partners in church congregations across the state, I placed high hopes on the Super Sunday effort and our collective aspirations of encouraging more young African Americans to enroll in college.
From those very first town hall meetings that inspired the CSU African American Initiative, to now our eighth year in this effort, our success is more than apparent; it is applauded and serves as a model for educational outreach and change across the nation.
Next month, when I again stand in front of a congregation to discuss the Road to College and the life-enriching benefits of a college degree, I look forward to making meaningful connections with the young people and those for whom this information is so critical. For some, shedding a little more light on the path is all that is needed. For others, the information is a call to action.
More …
Tags: African American Initiative, Educator, Super Sunday
December 17th, 2012 • Educational Quality, Environmental Sustainability
On November 29, the Moss Landing Marine Laboratories’ (MLML) Research Vessel Point Sur and its crew departed for Antarctica to provide sea-going support to a number of National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded research teams from around the country.
Below is the first blog entry from the Point Sur’s voyage:
The Point Sur’s home is Moss Landing Marine Laboratories in the Monterey Bay area, but she will be steaming to new foreign ports and traveling over 8,000 miles before reaching the final destination of Palmer Station in Antarctica. This is a very exciting time for the crew in Marine Operations and the entire MLML community!
In Antarctica, we will be supporting various scientific research groups for two months. We will be there in the “summer” as it is the only time of the year a vessel of like ours can navigate around the Palmer peninsula. This is a historic voyage for the Sur and we are proud to be part of supporting science in one of the most remote and dynamic places in the world.
Throughout this journey we will be reporting on the adventure. Look for future posts to learn about the current transit, how we prepared for the trip, what science is happening in the Antarctic region, our cast of characters and, of course, lots of spectacular photos!
Last week, the day the Point Sur departed, one of our local news channels, KION, aired an in-depth report which was an exciting way to profile the beginning of our epic journey.
We will be back with more updates soon, in the meantime, take part in following the Point Sur’s progress underway with the vessel tracker on our website.
CSU Voices and View will also follow the Point Sur – posting images and captions of the ship and crew’s journey. Below is the first of those images.
The Point Sur, cruising along the coast of Mexico and getting ready to pass Acapulco, is treated to a gorgeous sunset as it sails South.
This photo was taken by India Grammatica who is the relief cook handling the transit South.
Tags: Green, National Science Foundation, Ocean, Research
November 21st, 2012 • Access for Students, Educational Quality
Rear Admiral Thomas A. Cropper
President, California Maritime Academy
President Cropper and Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood during LaHood's recent visit to The California Maritime Academy
Great organizations lead with best-in-the-world attributes. The California Maritime Academy is a world leader in “pracademics” — the practical reinforcement of academics by real world application. Cadets seamlessly go from learning metallurgical concepts in the classroom to creating functioning parts on the Training Ship Golden Bear. Intellectual learning is tested throughout summer training cruises under the guidance of strong faculty and proven maritime professionals. Cal Maritime is exemplary of a devotion to hands-on learning that one encounters on all Cal State campuses. I know the power of this type of education — I have personally witnessed the tremendous benefits of the CSU approach as the proud father of a son who completed his Cal Maritime degree and a daughter who is finishing at San Diego State. More …
Tags: Advocacy, Educator, Ocean, Public Administration, Veteran, Workforce
November 7th, 2012 • Access for Students, Educational Quality
By Travis Fugate
CSU Monterey Bay student
Army Veteran of the Iraq War
Travis Fugate sits on a bench accompanied by his black Labrador service dog, Mr. Fess.
I was able to see the world around me for most of my life.
At the age of most students at CSU Monterey Bay, I was driving cars and playing video games. I had an experience of life that was similar to the one they know. Then I made the fateful decision to serve in the Kentucky National Guard. I expected that decision to change my life, but I had no idea how different things would become.
An ethos that defines the military experience is success through training. A person is almost infinitely capable if they commit to train. I believe this and face every day with the determination to learn.
This determination served me well as a soldier stateside and in Iraq. Something often forgotten in discussions about the military is the level of responsibility entrusted to young people. Soldiers who are still teenagers are making critical decisions in the field. Training is key to making the right choice in the heat of the moment. More …
Tags: Student, Veteran
October 17th, 2012 • Access for Students, Educational Quality, Impact on California
By Jamillah Moore
Chancellor, Ventura County Community College District
Sacramento State Alumna
Dr. Moore speaking with Ventura County Community College District faculty.
I take to heart the fact that community colleges exist to serve the community. Building and strengthening the neighborhoods surrounding the 112-campus California Community College system is a shared mission, central focus and key identifier. This mission involves extending a welcoming hand to high school students and giving our college students a supportive boost into their next phase of life.
The California Masterplan for Higher Education also envisioned a public system that would allow any student to work their way to the highest levels of education. Open access community colleges play a critical role in that plan. Some high school graduates’ grades or family finances are not ready for the university. For them, the community college system is the transfer pathway to success. The CSU and community colleges have been working especially hard over the last two years to make that process smoother as more and more students embrace the community college route to a four-year degree.
As the youngest of six girls, I can relate to family financial pressure. Still, my mother early on laid out “the choice” for her children. We could get a job and support ourselves or go to college and my parents would provide all the support they could. My mother was never very subtle about the option she preferred. A woman who experienced the segregation of the Deep South, she knew that education was the path to empowerment.
More …
Tags: Advocacy, Alumni, Educator, Public Administration, Service, Working for California
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