Report of the Chair

On behalf of Chair Carter, I would like to make the following remarks. First I’d like to welcome several new trustees to the board to their initial meeting as CSU trustees: Hsing Kung has joined our board and we look forward to having him as our colleague. (ask Kung to say a few words). Also, I'd like to welcome Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom and Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson.

Also, we have a new president here today – Jeff Armstrong who will take the helm at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo next week. Welcome to you Jeff.

Speaking of presidents, we are in the search process for two of our campuses – San Jose and San Diego, and we expect to welcome two new presidents to those campuses over the next several months.

On February 14, the CSU is hosting the Summit on Transformative Change in the Preparation of Teachers in collaboration with the National Academy of Sciences. This effort is something that I asked Assistant Vice Chancellor Beverly Young to put together to focus on highlighting successful approaches in teacher preparation – many of which the CSU is already implementing. There will be a variety of speakers and workshops including a keynote from Martha Kanter, U.S. Under Secretary of Education and Linda Darling-Hammond, who is a professor of education at Stanford and well known in the teacher education community. The summit will build the foundation for scaling up strategies that significantly improve P-12 education by recruiting and preparing outstanding teachers. There will be a special focus on looking at effective approaches for helping new teachers to be successful with students who are economically disadvantaged or underrepresented, have special needs, and are English learners – in order to close the persistent achievement gaps that exist. The summit will also launch a state alliance in what is a national effort focused on clinical preparation in teacher education. With CSU preparing 60 percent of California's teachers, this summit couldn't be more timely.

Congratulations go to three CSU campuses – Channel Islands, Dominguez Hills and Sacramento – who were honored for their community engagement by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of teaching. To earn this elite distinction, campuses have to fully demonstrate an alignment of community engagement with their institutional mission, culture, resources and practices. These CSU campuses join an elite group of colleges and universities across the country including 10 other CSU campuses that have received this honor

Several of our campuses have opened new facilities this month. Cal State East Bay officially opened its Recreation and Wellness Center and Cal State Bakersfield has a new Graduate Student Center. At East Bay, students, faculty and staff can now enjoy the new 54,000 square foot facility that also has a host of green and sustainability features. At Bakersfield, the new graduate center was funded by a $2.5 million Title V grant for Hispanic Serving Institutions from the U.S. Department of Education. The center will increase the number of students receiving degrees and strengthen community engagement. Congratulations to both campuses.

Members of the board, that concludes my remarks.