President Jolene Koeseter's Blog

As we approach the end of the 2008-09 academic year and prepare to graduate a new class of students, I wish to express my appreciation to our faculty and staff for their continued outstanding work on behalf of the University and its students.

Looking ahead, I hope everyone will find time during the coming summer to enjoy themselves and spend quality time with friends and family. And as I traditionally mention before the summer break, please note that the President’s Annual Convocation to mark the start of the 2009-10 academic year is scheduled for the morning of Thursday, August 20, on the Oviatt Library Lawn. I hope everyone will take a few moments to note the date on your calendars.

While every year is eventful, this year seemed to have more than its share of uncertainty and challenges. The consequences and impact of issues such as the delayed state budget and the worldwide economic crisis, enrollment impaction, the Metrolink crash, wild fires, the arrest of one of our graduate students doing research overseas, concern over the H1N1 flu virus, and other events have affected us as individuals and collectively at the University. Such events are a powerful reminder that we, as a campus community, share a common purpose, and that the ability of the institution to meet such challenges depends on the strength and resiliency of its students, staff and faculty.

Of course, we also had much to be proud of this past year. Most memorably, we celebrated “50 years of life-changing opportunity” during 2008-09. We kicked off this milestone achievement with Founders Day in September and continued the commemoration with several subsequent events, which reached its apex at the wonderful Grand Reunion last month. Although commencement formally marks the end of our 50th year anniversary, I know we begin the next 50 years and beyond with a renewed sense of pride and appreciation for the important role Cal State Northridge plays in the lives of so many people as a regionally focused and nationally recognized institution.

Summer is the traditional time in education for people to re-energize and renew themselves, and to prepare for a new year devoted to helping students achieve their goals and reach their full potential. With this in mind, I wish each of you a productive and personally fulfilling summer.