April 4, 1997
Cornerstones
The faculty and staff of every CSU campus have been asked to make recommendations for a new systemwide initiative, called Cornerstones Project. This is a majopr strategic planning effort initiated in 1996 to develop future-oriented public policy for our system. It is predicated on the ralization that the strategic priorities of the CSU, i.e. our "cornerstornes," include:
- providing educational excellence in teaching-centered, collegiate institutions;
- providing access for the growing population needing higher education in California;
- establishing evidence of our effectiveness for our own purposes and to demonstrate accountability to the publics we serve; and
- learning to link our postbaccalaureate programs to the rapidly changing needs of our state for highly trained professionals.
As we have discovered at Cal State Northridge, economic, demographic, financial and political changes mandate the creation of new strategies, and a new public policy framework, to assure that the goals of the system represent the needs of California and to secure the necessary support to sustain our mission.
The Cornerstones Initiative involved representative trustees, faculty, presidents, and students in four task forces which identified key issues and developed frameworks and recommendations for systemwide discussion. The completed task force reports are entitled: Learning for the 21st Century; Meeting the Enrollment and Resource Challenge; Institutional Integrity, Performance, and Accountability; and Postbaccalaureate and Continuing Education. The first consultation about the reports occurred in February at an academic conference in Monterey attended by twenty-six faculty and staff representatives from Northridge.
The next stage of the consultations will take place on each campus, as outlined in the schedule below. Provost Louanne Kennedy, Vice Presidents Art Elbert and Ron Kopita, Faculty President Jim Goss, and the chairs of Faculty Senate committees are providing leadership for the campus consultation process and invite everyone to review the draft reports and contribute to our conversation. Several copies of the Cornerstones Principles and Draft Reports, the "Blue Book", have already been circulated on campus. If you have not received a copy, you can review the document in the University Library, at the Provost and Vice Presidents'offices, or on the CSU web site at: http://www.co.calstate.edu/aa/Cornerstones .
A schedule of our proposed campus process includes:
April 7, 2:00 p.m, USU Performing Arts Center:
Campus Open Forum moderated by Faculty President Goss. Representatives from the Chancellor's Office and the Cornerstones group, including Tom Ehrlich, Jim Highsmith, Harold Goldwhite, Gary Hammerstrom, and Frank Wada, will present and discuss the major Cornerstones recommendations and entertain questions and discussion from the floor.
April 24, 2:00-4:00 p.m., USU Pasadena Room:
Throughout the month of April discussions will involve the Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate, the Educational Policies Committee, the Educational Resources Committee, the Associated Students, the Graduate Studies and Extended Learning Committees, department chairs, and area meetings in Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Administration and Finance. On April 24, representatives from these groups will meet to share preliminary feedback from their area consultations and to outline an agenda for a campus forum.
May 9, 1:00-5:00 p.m., USU Grand Salon:
Campus forum to discuss summary reports from the campus groups and make recommendations on the content of the report the President will submit to the Chancellor on May 20, 1997.
The results of the Cornerstones project could be very influential in shaping future policy directions at the system level. We also want to understand those aspects of the Cornerstones project that support or conflict with our own strategic priorities. Therefore, I hope you will participate in as many scheduled activities as possible so that I can accurately represent your views, both to the Chancellor and within our own continuing strategic planning process.
My thanks, too, to the faculty and staff who are assuming significant leadership responsibilities in this effort.
Visit to Sacramento
On March 3, 1997 a delegation of ten Cal State Northridge supporters visited the State Capitol and met with Marian Bergeson, Secretary of Child Development and Education, and Assembly members Tony Cardenas, Robert Hertzberg, Sheila Kuehl, Ted Lempert, Tom McClintock, and Jack Scott.
The delegation provided a visual demonstration of the business and volunteer support we enjoy. The delegation included members of the CSUN Foundation (Myrtle Harris, Tony Kurtz and Al Lapides), the CSUN Alumni Association (Gerard Mooney and Allan Oberman), the CSUN Legislative Connection (Laura de Valencia), and campus personnel including Dean Bill Flores, Dean Ann Stutts, Michael Hammerschmidt and Dorena Knepper (who organized the trip to successfully use every minute of the day).
The day's visit was capped with a reception for the Legislature, hosted by the CSU Statewide Alumni Association. Chancellor Munitz presented awards to Assembly member Hilda Solis and former State Senator Al Alquist acknowledging their efforts on behalf of higher education.
My sincere thanks to the members of the delegation who took time away from their busy schedules to walk the halls of the Capitol and represent the university as "Ambassadors for Higher Education."
University Graphics Standards
As a reminder of our policy on the use of the University logo, the Office of Public Relations has produced a publication entitled University Graphic Standards, which is designed to help members of the University community convey a consistent Northridge image in all of our graphic and visual representations, including publications, stationery, business cards, signage, advertising, promotional materials, newsletters-anything we use to represent the University.
A consistent, recognizable institutional identity is important in our strategic goals to achieve wider recognition for our work and to distinguish Cal State Northridge from other institutions. The "Oviatt Library" logo has already demonstrated a strong enough image to be recognized and remembered. It also has proven to be flexible and adaptable to almost any form of communication. I ask each of you, and all supervisors, to be vigilant in representing the University with the appropriate logo. Please contact the Public Relations Office at extension 2130 should you need a copy of the standards document or assistance in adapting the standards for your publication. Many thanks.
Blenda J. Wilson
President
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