In an inspirational Convocation address, President William A. Covino expressed gratitude to students, faculty and staff for past achievements and unveiled a Strategic Plan that will be a roadmap for the University’s future.
“We’ve accomplished a great deal together,” Covino told the audience inside the packed Luckman Theatre. “Today, we see a new University emerging: a University that is moving forward, fueled by our collective energy.”
The University has made significant strides in key areas such as faculty hiring, grants and contracts, philanthropic support and community engagement. In 2015-2016, faculty secured more than $32 million in grants and contracts.
Covino credited students, faculty and staff for building on Cal State LA’s legacy as the premier comprehensive public university in the heart of Los Angeles, and thanked members of the University community for their contributions.
Convocation featured the introduction of 52 new faculty members, who join a faculty that is among the best, “distinguished by their research, scholarship and dedication to student success,” Covino said.
“Adding new faculty means adding to these achievements,” he said.
With the start of the academic year next week, the University returns to semesters after about 50 years under the quarter system. Shortly after Covino arrived at Cal State LA in 2013, the Quarter to Semester initiative was just beginning. The conversion to semesters, Covino noted, resulted in a new University catalog featuring 579 new courses and thousands of courses and programs that have been modified.
“Moving from quarters to semesters was an enormous undertaking, a collective enterprise that involved every division of the University,” Covino said.
During his address, Covino explained the Strategic Plan's mission, vision and values.
The Strategic Plan process was spearheaded by Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Lynn Mahoney and a Strategic Planning Coordinating Committee comprised of students, faculty members, administrators and staff.
“Our new Strategic Plan is a roadmap for Cal State LA, created by Cal State LA," he said.
The University launched the planning process in October 2015 and gathered input from more than 2,500 stakeholders through planning workshops, surveys and town hall meetings. After gathering feedback and analyzing the data, the committee refined the University’s mission, vision and value statements. Committee members also identified key strategic priorities and established outcomes that can be measured and tied to action plans.
As Convocation ended, Covino again acknowledged the efforts of students, faculty and staff.
“Thank you all for bringing us to this new beginning. Here's to a great year, and to the years ahead."
Photos: Top, Cal State LA President William A. Covino addresses the campus community inside the packed Luckman Theatre. Below, Cal State LA's Afro Latin Ensemble electrifies the crowds enjoying University Convocation. (Credit: J. Emilio Flores/Cal State LA)
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Cal State LA is a university dedicated to engagement, service, and the public good. Founded in 1947, the University serves more than 27,000 students and 247,000 distinguished alumni, who are as diverse as the city we serve. Located in the heart of Los Angeles, Cal State LA has long been recognized as an engine of economic and social mobility. Led by an award-winning faculty, the University offers nationally recognized programs in science, the arts, business, criminal justice, engineering, nursing, education and the humanities.
Cal State LA is home to the critically-acclaimed Luckman Fine Arts Complex, Pat Brown Institute for Public Affairs, Hertzberg-Davis Forensic Science Center, Hydrogen Research and Fueling Facility, Billie Jean King Sports Complex, TV, Film and Media Center and the Center for Engagement, Service, and the Public Good. For more information, visit www.CalStateLA.edu.
08/18/16