By Dr. Patricia L. Prado-Olmos Vice President of Community Engagement California State University San Marcos

For 25 years Cal State San Marcos has trailblazed a new pathway in uncharted territory for public higher education. Defined by its strategic priorities, the University has steered toward success to become a mature, first-choice university that is positively transforming its region.

“But if we are to succeed at impacting tomorrow together, we must also agree on a destination,” President Haynes stated at her 12th Annual Report to the Community in February. “I believe that destination must be a revisioned American Dream.”

In the traditional model of the American Dream, each new generation enjoys a better standard of living than their parents. College was once a primary part of that dream—but at the very time when global competitiveness depends on a well-educated citizenry, educational access is slipping.

“We must reset our compass toward this new reality— the new American Dream of a college education for all in our region who seek it—and we must do so by renewing our collective commitment to three critical goals: Increasing access to higher education…embracing innovation in all that we do…and building global awareness within our curriculum and among our students,” said Haynes.

Speaking to the approximately 600 individuals in attendance from business, civic and service organizations, Haynes noted that for far too many youth in CSUSM’s region, the American Dream of a college education remains out of reach. But, in the face of insufficient state support— Governor Brown proposed funding for only one percent growth for the coming 2016-2017 academic year—she said that CSUSM is committed to growing enrollment.

Haynes highlighted how new online programs are serving more students while providing additional convenience for working adults. In addition, CSUSM at Temecula continues to be Southwest Riverside County’s only four-year public institution of higher learning.

Furthermore, using innovative “high impact practices”—techniques and designs for teaching and learning that have been proven to be beneficial for student engagement and learning among students from diverse backgrounds—CSUSM is working to ensure more students graduate with the skills they need for success in tomorrow’s workplaces.

“[Students] work alongside dedicated faculty and community partners to conduct research in the lab and in the field,” Haynes shared. “They tackle real-world business challenges. They design and lead important social justice initiatives. They develop creative solutions to pressing regional, national and global issues.”

Looking forward, Haynes said that Cal State San Marcos is committed to creating programs that graduate students who are academically prepared, socially responsible and career ready.

Recently CSUSM launched a Master’s Degree in cybersecurity— the only one of its kind in California—and a hospitality and tourism management option for the Specialized MBA program. On the horizon, the University is in the early stages of developing an “Enginbeering” program that will focus on the business of craft beer as well as brewing science and brewery engineering. The campus will also soon launch a Master of Public Health and a Master of Science in Health Information Management.

“It’s been said that ‘great achievement has no road map’ and that there can be no gain without some risk,” said Haynes. “I stand ready, with you by our side, to go where no university has gone before…to impact tomorrow together.”