​​​​​The California State University is strong, resilient and poised to honor the voices of the pandemic, Chancellor Joseph I. Castro told the Board of Trustees during his first “State of the CSU" address​ since being appointed to lead the 23-campus university.

As the CSU emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic and one of the most challenging times in its history, Dr. Castro urged the university's trustees, employees and stakeholders to embrace the lessons of the last 18 months to illuminate a path to become a more dynamic and equitable institution.

“Let's honor the voices of the pandemic. To ignore them is to compound the tragedy. So let's be inspired by them—let's heed their lessons as we reimagine an even more vital California State University," he said.

Castro focused on four lessons, or voices, the pandemic has taught the university:

1. To continue being flexible and bold
   
2. To be even more technology focused
3. To be more compassionate
   
4. To be more inclusive and equitable

During the pandemic, the CSU transitioned 80,000 courses to virtual modalities in the span of about two weeks, and students excelled, Castro said. Recognizing that learning happens in many different settings, the CSU continues to be flexible in meeting students where they are to support their academic success. From awarding credit for prior learning through Professional and Continuing Education programs, to improving access to high-demand STEM programs through Humboldt State's pending transition to a polytechnic institution, the CSU continues to be the nation's most powerful driver of socioeconomic mobility.

Technology and support strategies employed during virtual instruction were vital to student success during the pandemic and the CSU will continue to refine and expand these tools to enrich the student learning experience moving forward, Castro said. But he also acknowledged that bridging the digital divide will be essential with the increasing focus on technology.

The new CSUCCESS initiative is one way the CSU is improving tech equity. Currently rolling out at eight campuses, the first phase of CSUCCESS offers a new iPad Air, Apple Pencil and Apple Smart Keyboard Folio to every incoming first year and transfer student.

“I am confident that it will be a game-changer in terms of student success, and I look forward future phases, and the day—coming soon—when technology will be an essential and invaluable tool, and not a barrier, for every CSU student."

Castro reflected on speaking with students during his recent campus visits​​. “I've had the pleasure of spending time with students—and every time, I am reminded of just how much our students have gone through as they've continued to work toward their degrees during extraordinarily challenging circumstances," he said. “I always make a point of asking them what I, as Chancellor, can do to better serve them. Their responses have been heart-wrenching in their simplicity: They want understanding. Empathy. A little flexibility. They want compassion. We will come through for those students and their peers—because compassion is part of our DNA."

Castro pointed to several examples that highlight the CSU's compassion, from the Mental Health First Aid training program to Humboldt State's Inclusivity Project supporting Black-owned businesses to Cal State Fullerton's Gender Affirming Closet for gender non-conforming students to find free clothing in a safe space.

Compassion also means supporting students' basic needs, such as free curbside food pickup for food-insecure students at Cal State LA, to Chico State's rapid-rehousing program for students who found themselves displaced during the pandemic.

Two of Castro's highest priorities as the leader of the largest four-year higher education system are to create a more inclusive and equitable institution. “It is extraordinarily important to me that our students see themselves in our campus communities and feel a sense of belonging—that they feel seen, heard and valued in their surroundings."

​​​With the graduation of the Class of 2021, the CSU reached the milestone of 4 million living alumni. To honor this achievement, the California State Assembly and State Senate each passed a resolution this summer to join the CSU in celebrating the Class of 4 Million, its global network and its broad impact on California. The Assembly adopted HR​ 53 on July 15 and the Senate adopted SR 44 on September 1.

“The 23-campus California State University system is the pride of California. Its 4 million graduates have been the driver of the state's economy and the nation's vitality for more than 50 years," said former CSU Trustee and current California Senator Steve Glazer (D-Contra Costa). "Students from all walks of life—first-generation, immigrants, working parents—are able to fulfill lifetime goals by attending and graduating from these high quality and affordable universities. Today, the State Senate salutes the campus and system leaders who are making a remarkable difference for their students. As a proud CSU alum [San Diego State '79], I am honored to join in recognizing this historic milestone."

While the CSU's alumni have spread out across the globe, about 84 percent of them remain in California, with one in 10 of all workers in the state holding a CSU degree. And one in every 20 Americans with a college degree earned it at the CSU, making the CSU's alumni network larger than the population of 23 individual U.S. states. Together, CSU alumni are working at all levels to serve their communities, grow the economy and lead California to a better future.

“The California State University is an educational powerhouse that propels California's culture and economy," said California Assemblymember Marc Levine (D-Marin County). “My path to the California State Assembly would not have been possible without my extraordinary California State University, Northridge education ['96]. I'm proud to be among the first 4 million graduates and cannot wait to see where the next 4 million lead California in the future."

Both the Assembly and Senate resolutions praised the CSU as an unparalleled engine of social mobility with students receiving a high-quality education that propels them into higher economic strata. They also recognized the university's critical role in the state's economy and the creation of California's workforce by awarding nearly one-half of all bachelor's degrees in the state each year. In addition, the resolutions acknowledged that the CSU's graduation rates have increased to an all-time high under Graduation Initiative 2025, helping to meet California's need for degreed workers.

 
Meet some of the four million remarkable CSU alumni making a difference in the lives of the people of California and the world. 

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California Senator Susan Eggman and CSU alumna (Stanisluas State) spoke on SR 44 on September 1, along with Senator Glazer, in support of the resolution.  

California Senator Jim Nielsen and CSU alumnus (Fresno State) spoke on SR 44 on September 1, along with Senator Glazer, in support of the resolution.  

​​In partnership with Apple and California Governor Gavin Newsom, the California State University (CSU) is announcing the establishment of a Global Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Equity Innovation Hub to be housed on the California State University, Northridge​ (CSUN) campus.

The Global HSI Equity Innovation Hub at CSUN will work to transform HSIs throughout the CSU and nation in order to increase student success and equip Latinx and other historically underserved students with skills for high-demand careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

CSUN's Global HSI Equity Innovation Hub will work in collaboration with other CSU campuses and HSIs across the nation to accelerate educational equity while ensuring students have the skills to succeed once they've earned their degrees.

“The CSU, the nation's largest four-year higher education system, has long been a leader in serving Latinx students with 21 of our 23 campuses receiving HSI designation," said CSU Chancellor Joseph I. Castro. “The CSU takes great pride in the work we have undertaken to provide pathways to STEM education that result in the careers that power the world's fifth-largest economy. Through bold vision from our state's leaders in Governor Newsom, Senator Padilla, Congressman Cárdenas and Assemblywoman Rivas, this is an exciting opportunity to collaborate with an outstanding partner in Apple and to leverage their cutting-edge and creative technologies with the intellectual capacities of world-class faculty to combine that work to benefit thousands of talented students in California and beyond."

CSUN President Erika D. Beck agreed.

“By reframing serving through an equity and racial-justice lens, the Global HSI Equity Innovation Hub seeks to exponentially accelerate educational equity across the CSU system and nation," CSUN President Erika D. Beck said. “The Equity Hub at CSUN is an ideal site to continue these ongoing, collaborative efforts, while also expanding the map across HSIs nationally, to capture proven strategies to the benefit of all. We aim to shift the conversation away from what students must do to be successful to what our institutions must do to successfully serve our Latinx and other diverse students."

The hub is the result of a public/private partnership, and the building was made possible through a $25 million allocation in the 2021-22 California state budget and a donation from Apple.

“This exciting initiative showcases California's commitment to create new pathways to success for all individuals, reinforcing the fact that our innovation economy continues to expand," said Governor Gavin Newsom. “Expanding equitable educational opportunities for the state's largest population has been a goal of my administration, and this $25 million allocation—along with the donation from California-based Apple—will help accelerate that goal."

In addition to the significant financial support Apple is providing for the Global HSI Equity Hub programming, it also will provide innovative Apple technology, design support and thought partnership as the project expands.

“We are focused on advancing enduring change, and our newest grant commitments will further that effort by supporting problem solvers and solution seekers in communities of color nationwide," said Lisa Jackson, Apple's vice president of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives. “Education, economic opportunity and environmental justice are fundamental pillars to ensuring racial equity, and everyone has a role to play in this critical mission."

California State University campuses awarded more than 26,000 undergraduate and graduate degrees in the STEM Fields in 2020-21. Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) are defined under the Higher Education Act (HEA) as colleges or universities where at least 25 percent of the undergraduate, full-time enrollment is Latinx; and at least half of the institution's degree-seeking students must be low-income. Twenty-one of the CSU's 23 campuses meet these criteria, allowing them to compete for federal funding to build institutional capacity that expands and enhances educational opportunities for their students, in particular Latinx and other students from historically underserved groups.

CSUN is annually among the nation's leaders in awarding degrees to Latinx students, and more than 21,000 of the campus' approximately 39,000 students enrolled in fall 2021 identified as Latinx.

A number of federal and state legislators were also instrumental in securing funding for the Hub.

“To support a highly educated workforce, develop future leaders, and build a more inclusive democracy and economy, we must ensure Latinx students thrive. I'm proud to see this public-private partnership launch in California, home to more Hispanic Serving Institutions than any state in the nation. And there's no better location than CSUN—at the center of Southern California's creative and tech economy," said Senator Alex Padilla. “As the first Latino to represent California in the U.S. Senate and one of the few Senators with an engineering degree, I know firsthand the importance of increasing diversity in the institutions that shape our society. The Global HSI Equity Innovation Hub is a smart investment that will increase student success and equip Latinx and other diverse student groups with the skills necessary for high-demand careers in STEM." 

“Growing up in the 'barrio' of Pacoima, I was told it was too hard for people like me to go to college," said Congressman Tony Cárdenas. “Luz [Rivas], Alex and I—all kids from 'that side of town'—experienced people telling us that we could not do it. We all overcame that constant drumbeat of ignorance, all three of us became engineers and later elected leaders in the San Fernando Valley. Together we encouraged the California State University system, Apple and the State of California to create and build the Global HSI Equity Innovation Hub at California State University, Northridge, a Hispanic Serving Institution. The donation from Apple and the $25 million from the State of California will build off of CSUN's existing work to nurture and inspire our next generation of Latino leaders in science and innovation. Luz, Alex and I are first-generation college graduates; we believe in supporting our youth to overcome all obstacles and achieve every single one of their dreams."

“I am thrilled to have helped secure critical funding for the Global HSI Equity Innovation Hub in the state budget," said Assemblywoman Luz Rivas (D-San Fernando Valley). “At its core, the Global HSI Equity Innovation Hub will provide much-needed services to our students coming from communities of color. CSU Northridge is a key economic and intellectual driver of the San Fernando Valley, and this new center gives the campus an opportunity not just to serve Californians, but to also serve as a worldwide destination for equity-driven learning. Congratulations to CSUN on this achievement and a thank you to Apple, Governor Gavin Newsom, Senator Alex Padilla and Congressman Tony Cárdenas for their work to make this project a reality."

About the California State University
The California State University is the largest system o f four-year higher education in the country, with 23 campuses, 56,000 faculty and staff and 486,000 students. Half of the CSU's students transfer from California community colleges. Created in 1960, the mission of the CSU is to provide high-quality, affordable education to meet the ever-changing needs of California. With its commitment to quality, opportunity and student success, the CSU is renowned for superb teaching, innovative research and for producing job-ready graduates. Each year, the CSU awards nearly 129,000 degrees. One in every 20 Americans holding a college degree is a graduate of the CSU and our alumni are 4 million strong. Connect with and learn more about the CSU in the CSU NewsCenter. 

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​California State University Chancellor Joseph I. Castro released the following statement:

“I applaud the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's full approval of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine, and urge everyone 16 years of age and older to be vaccinated in order to slow the spread of COVID-19 and its highly infectious Delta variant.

“Since vaccines became available in December 2020, their use has allowed us to begin to return to many of the activities we had missed over the past 18 months, including seeing and engaging with family and friends. To win our nation's fight against the pandemic once and for all, each of us has a role to play and it is imperative that we all do our part.

“Each of our 23 campuses currently offers on-campus vaccination options to CSU students, faculty and staff. Campus community members can also visit myturn.ca.gov to learn of other locations where they can receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

“I thank everyone who is doing their part to protect themselves – and to protect all of us – as our state and nation continue down the path of full economic recovery."

Per acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodstock: “The FDA's approval of this vaccine is a milestone as we continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic. While this and other vaccines have met the FDA's rigorous, scientific standards for emergency use authorization, as the first FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine, the public can be very confident that this vaccine meets the high standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality the FDA requires of an approved product. While millions of people have already safely received COVID-19 vaccines, we recognize that for some, the FDA approval of a vaccine may now instill additional confidence to get vaccinated. Today's milestone puts us one step closer to altering the course of this pandemic in the U.S." 

Regulators are still reviewing Moderna's application for full approval of its vaccine. Per news reports, that decision could take several weeks. Johnson & Johnson is expected to apply soon for full approval.

The California State University announced on July 27, 2021​ that it will require faculty, staff and students who are accessing campus facilities at any university location to be immunized against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, without waiting for any further action by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Dates by which faculty, staff and students must certify vaccination will vary by campus due to differences in academic calendars, but all certifications must be completed no later than September 30.​

About the California State University
The  California State University is the largest system o f four-year higher education in the country, with 23 campuses, 56,000 faculty and staff and 486,000 students. Half of the CSU's students transfer from California community colleges. Created in 1960, the mission of the CSU is to provide high-quality, affordable education to meet the ever-changing needs of California. With its commitment to quality, opportunity and student success, the CSU is renowned for superb teaching, innovative research and for producing job-ready graduates. Each year, the CSU awards nearly​ 129,000 degrees. One in every 20 Americans holding a college degree is a graduate of the CSU and our alumni are 4 million strong. Connect with and learn more about the CSU in the CSU NewsCenter. 

​​​​As COVID-19 cases have roared back with the highly infectious Delta variant, the number of unvaccinated adults is a growing concern. In fact, 99% of California's COVID-19 infections occur among the unvaccinated. With this in mind, the CSU is requiring all students, faculty and staff to be vaccinated before accessing campus facilities this fall.

Beyond the university campuses, CSU students are also taking action to protect vulnerable communities by educating local residents—especially those in high-risk areas—on the importance of getting vaccinated.

“There are a number of reasons why many are still unvaccinated," says Diane Vines, Ph.D., adjunct lecturer at Cal State San Bernardino. “Some people fear the vaccine's efficacy and safety while others simply don't have access to the vaccines."

Through campus programs, student volunteers are serving as ambassadors in their communities by speaking to residents one-by-one, debunking myths and increasing people's confidence in the vaccine.

Influencing through built trust

Dr. Vines says gaining a person's trust is key to effectively persuading them to get vaccinated.

As the director of CSUSB's Street Medicine program, Vines has been leading nursing students to provide free healthcare services for homeless and unsheltered people in the Coachella Valley since 2018.

“Our students have gained trust from the people we've been serving, so our urging has helped convince those who are hesitant to be vaccinated. We are working with physicians, trusted leaders and community organizations to influence people," explains Vines.

The program's mobile clinic also travels around the area to provide vaccinations for those who face barriers to access. This includes elderly residents who live in senior housing and farm workers and their families, to name a few.

Dispelling myths and misconceptions

At CSUN, students are using social media to address myths associated with the vaccine and virus. Students enrolled in cinema and television arts courses created informative videos on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook intended to be shared among their fellow Matadors and the greater community.

To reach Spanish, non-English speakers, Sonoma State's Center for Community Engagement partnered with the Latino Health Forum for a series of bilingual videos addressing concerns and common misconceptions about the vaccine and Covid.

Peer outreach

With the fall semester just around the corner, the Civic Action Fellows Program at Cal State LA and San José State are ensuring students and staff are ready to come to campus. Cal State LA's AmeriCorps program partnered with the LA County Department of Public Health to develop a comprehensive outreach campaign promoting vaccination among students, staff and their families. At SJSU, Civic Action Fellows created social media threads answering community questions about Covid-19.

The CSU supports California's comprehensive efforts to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus. In addition to requiring vaccinations for students and employees, campuses are offering vaccination clinics and testing services. To learn more about how the CSU is responding to the Coronavirus pandemic, visit Calstate.edu/coronavirus.

​​​​​​​​Have you ever wondered how the kangaroo got her pouch? There's an Aboriginal legend that tells the tale of a mother kangaroo who spots a blind wombat struggling to find food. After leading the wombat to grass, the kangaroo discovers the wombat is actually creator spirit Baiame. To repay the kangaroo for her kindness, Baiame grants her a pouch so she can protect her joey. But rather than thinking only of herself, the kangaroo requests that all of her kind receive the same gift. The moral of the story: When riches come into your life, share them with others.

Novelist and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott embodies the lesson of this fable. In June, she donated $2.7 billion to 286 charitable and educational organizations, citing that it “would be better if disproportionate wealth were not concentrated in a small number of hands, and that the solutions are best designed and implemented by others."

Scott gifted a combined $135 million to four CSU campuses: California State University Channel Islands ($15 million), California State University, Fullerton ($40 million), California State University, Northridge ($40 million) and California State Polytechnic University, Pomona ($40 million). Each of these gifts is the most generous ever received by the respective campus. And these are unrestricted funds, which means these campuses are free to utilize the money however they see fit to best meet the unique needs of their diverse students.

In a recent blog post, Scott wrote: “Higher education is a proven pathway to opportunity, so we looked for two- and four-year institutions successfully educating students who come from communities that have been chronically underserved."

Here, campus presidents react to Scott's donation:

CSU Channel Islands, Interim President Richard Yao
“This gift represents the largest one-time gift in the history of our institution, and it could not have come at a more critical time in our history. The generosity is a testament to the data that reflects the incredible work that our faculty, staff and administration are doing every day to eliminate equity gaps and increase the social mobility of our students by creating powerful academic and co-curricular programs that support student retention and success. We could not be more grateful for their generosity as we recognize the transformative power that this level of support has for our students and campus."

Cal State Fullerton, President Fram Virjee
“While we are still in the very early stages of allocating this gift, all decisions will be driven by our strategic plan and core mission of student success; diversity, equity and inclusion; and faculty research, support and retention. We will also be looking at possible infrastructure improvements, matching fund projects with colleges and enhancing community partnerships.

“As we celebrate this investment and begin the planning phase that will ensure its impact is eternal, please join me in expressing our profound gratitude…not just for the generosity of the gift, but also for the vision and diligence in seeking out and supporting our work and success."

CSUN, President Erika Beck
“This transformative gift provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to advance our future as leaders in equity-centered student success to provide a brighter and more equitable future for our students, their families and the communities we are so proud to serve.

“…We can, and will, use these dollars to transform our campus for generations to come… There are some clear campus priorities identified, including the elimination of equity gaps, accelerating our work in diversifying the faculty, academic excellence, holistic student support, access to actionable data and other disruptive strategies to facilitate our students' educational goals and intellectual promise. This work will further our campus's role in fostering a world that is just, inclusive and equitable."

Cal Poly Pomona, President Soraya Coley
“A gift of this magnitude represents a transformative moment for our institution. The donation comes at a time when we are actively investing in key areas that advance our Strategic Plan with special focus on student success and future paths; faculty and staff diversity, advancement and well-being; and institutional innovation and excellence. Through a newly created endowment fund, this historic contribution will provide permanent and ongoing support for future generations of Broncos.

“Ms. Scott's generosity will undoubtedly change many lives across Cal Poly Pomona, as well as within communities and families in our region and beyond."

See other ways in which alumni, faculty, staff, trustees, champions and friends have given in support of our students, values and mission.​​