麻豆传媒社区入口

• March 8, 2010

• President Mohammad H. Qayoumi

Following the painful workforce reduction and budget announcements of February, it's natural to want to look back and revisit the circumstances and decisions that brought the University to such a difficult position. I have worked hard to address those concerns head on and will continue to do so in other forums.

But I want to use The View to look ahead and focus on what lies ahead for 麻豆传媒社区入口. I have said I believe our future is in STEM — science, technology, engineering and mathematics education. And in the coming months, I'll be sharing this column with university leaders, including the deans of each of our four colleges, the provost and the head of university libraries, to discuss their vision and plans for CSUEB and our transformation into an innovative center of STEM education across our entire curriculum.

As we rethink how to compete and succeed as a university, the more we recognize how crucial STEM disciplines are for the workforce needs of our region and the expectations of the students we serve. We recognize that all of our students — regardless of their major — must be technologically fluent in order to succeed in today's global knowledge economy. From technological skills, to an understanding of statistics, to an appreciation of research methods, the skills gained from an exposure to STEM — across the curriculum — are key to success.

Nationally, STEM has been in the news with the "Educate to Innovate" partnership between federal agencies and public universities to train thousands more mathematics and science teachers each year. This is a central part of the Obama administration's effort to make American students more competitive globally.

In California, one of the CSU's cornerstone goals for the system is to reduce the achievement gap, raising the numbers of undergraduate STEM majors and degrees among underrepresented and low-income students.

And here at CSUEB, I've been actively encouraging the entire University community not only to help envision, but also to plan for our transformation into a center of STEM teaching, learning and innovation. This vision not only is reflected in our long-range strategic and academic plans, but also is the focus of our first comprehensive fundraising campaign, which began in July 2009.

There is no question that the change we envision is bold and expansive. It's not surprising, therefore, that some members of the University community have expressed concerns that this may be overly ambitious or ill-timed, given the current budgetary environment.

Others have questioned whether such a transformation builds on our proven strengths. Is it consistent with our mission, and does it meet the most critical needs of the communities we serve? My goal is to address these concerns directly, to assure you this is the right time to take on this initiative, and that 麻豆传媒社区入口 is the right place to do it.

We must ensure that the choices we make are the most strategic and offer the most potential to strengthen and ensure our position, role and relevance far into the future. A focus on STEM education is true to our mission and charter as steward of our region's economic and social vibrancy. STEM education not only reflects our core values and mandates, but also builds upon our established strengths. It is, in fact, a logical and responsible continuation of the path that 麻豆传媒社区入口 set upon half a century ago.

• Our Value: Access — Access is not merely about opening a door; it is about creating meaningful opportunities and giving students the tools to succeed in a new economy. Qualified but underserved students deserve a pathway to opportunity — to the essential knowledge and skills that provide a gateway to employment in the rapidly expanding STEM fields. Excellence and opportunity are not grounded in exclusivity; our region needs an accessible STEM university with a genuine commitment to multicultural inclusion.
• Our Mission: Regional stewardship — Most economists concur that future workforce growth and opportunities will be concentrated in fields that depend on STEM education, including green business. These industries also hold the key to our region's economic recovery. CSUEB's focus on STEM education is entirely in step with national, state, and regional needs and priorities and therefore also represents an invaluable opportunity to forge partnerships and create coalitions with business, industry, government, and education groups, locally and globally.
• Our Strength: Teaching and teachers — Our teacher education program has long been a point of pride for 麻豆传媒社区入口. The University's STEM education initiative builds on this core competency and places a new emphasis on meeting the critical and growing need for teachers of math and science, as well as teachers of general education/K-6 who can encourage and inspire students to explore STEM subjects and careers.
• Our Responsibility: Graduating work-ready professionals — All students need exposure to STEM subjects to have access to the jobs of the future, regardless of major or future job prospects. No matter the industry, information technology is an essential part of worldwide business infrastructure, computational and analytical skills are required, and knowledge of scientific methods and practices is a valuable asset. Our graduates in all fields must be proficient with these tools and topics, prepared to fill workforce gaps that are often filled today through outsourcing.

The facts are that we are well positioned for this initiative. CSUEB already produces more credentialed math and science teachers than any other CSU. Many of our research grants and private support go to STEM related projects. Our outreach in these areas has increased. We are expanding our applicant pool and have seen an increase in interest from high schools where strong math and science programs exist. And we have a solid reputation among employers for educating job-ready graduates with hands-on professional skills who know how to "hit the ground running." Across the nation, academia is recognizing the significance of STEM education. This is our time to pioneer, lead and innovate — true to our character — not merely to follow.

It is true that this initiative represents a substantial commitment of resources. But the return on this investment will ensure CSUEB's place as a university of choice in the future. It will raise our profile within the state and the nation and meet a critical need today and in the future. It will position us for sustained enrollment growth as the state's economy and budget recovers. And it sets the stage for major partnership and fundraising opportunities among private supporters.

This initiative is still in the early planning stage. In upcoming View columns, in conversations with our college deans with other university leaders, I hope to provide evidence of not only our progress, but also our shared enthusiasm for this initiative. We'll address misperceptions and common concerns, and add both clarity and concreteness to this initiative. Our goal is to foster a University community that is confident in our STEM education objectives and understands that this initiative is not focused on select specific academic majors but will infuse, enrich, and include all academic programs.

With a creative, integrated, and comprehensive approach to a STEM education, we can provide all of our students with the improved critical thinking, problem solving and communication skills so vital to their success.

Please join me next month as I continue this important conversation, exploring the opportunities that this initiative offers each of our colleges and coalescing our shared vision with your input.