Letter from President Morales and Provost McMahan
Dear Members of the CSUSB Campus Community:
In response to a decision made by the CSU system, our university is transitioning its academic calendar to the semester system, beginning in Fall 2020. This is an opportunity for the campus to work together to re-imagine the best pedagogical and learning experiences that we might provide for our students. So, while this undertaking is a challenge on many levels, once achieved it will certainly benefit the entire CSUSB community.
Under the semester system, our students will continue to receive a strong educational experience. The expanded timeframe will provide additional study time and increased interaction with faculty while allowing for more in-depth projects, quality research and expanded internship opportunities.
Faculty will also have more classroom time to engage students in active discussion and research and to provide more substantive feedback to students on their work. Such additional support and greater opportunities for mentoring are sure to contribute positively to student learning and retention.
This change will also better align CSUSB with other colleges and universities. It will offer greater opportunities for collaborative efforts with CSU-member institutions and provide an easier transition for those students entering from community colleges or other semester-based schools.
The transition to a semester calendar is a long and intensive process. It will involve nearly every aspect of campus life and operation, requiring extensive curriculum revision, cost analysis, budgeting, and procedural review. While some areas will require relatively minor adjustments, others will be making broad changes to better meet the needs of our students, faculty and staff.
Staff will be key partners in this initiative, as they provide support for campus processes and logistics as well as supporting the work that our faculty do and ensuring that our students receive the best educational experience that we can offer.
Student success remains our top priority at CSUSB. We pledge to help students stay on track and supply guidelines for how to graduate on schedule. Faculty and professional advisors will be available to assist students in outlining an individualized plan to attain their academic goals. However, along with the faculty and staff, students are encouraged to be active participants in this process including meeting regularly with academic advisor(s), openly discussing goals and asking questions, and remaining aware of timeline to graduation.
We want to emphasize that CSUSB is committed to making this a smooth transition for all involved. This dedicated website has been established to provide access to details involving the process and its progress. It will also serve as a resource where information will be made available in a timely fashion.
This important transition calls for a collaborative investment of time, energy and dedication by all sectors of our university. We are confident we have the talent and the capability to meet this challenge and establish a legacy that will benefit our campus for generations to come.
Tomás D. Morales Shari McMahan
President Provost and Vice President, Academic Affairs