You are in the official 1998-99 General Catalog
for California State University, Fresno.
President's Message
As we approach the beginning of a new century, California State University, Fresno faces many challenges in continuing to provide quality academic programs to our students. The dynamic, changing face of higher education, the advent of the information age, and the increasing global interdependence of nations makes it imperative that we find new and better ways to meet the needs of students and to prepare them to succeed in the global community. We need to do this while preserving what is unique and valuable about our history and traditions. Not an easy task!
We have adopted a new plan, "Vision for the 21st Century: A Plan for Excellence," which purposefully plans for these changes. Covering the areas of academic programs, students, faculty, facilities, and equipment, the university community, staff and administration, advancement, community linkages, and assessment and evaluation, this plan will allow us to serve our students better as we move into the new century. As an institution, we are looking at what we do best and establishing goals for excellence to be implemented over the next five years.
Our plan includes a revised General Education program, an Honors College, new instructional delivery systems, partnerships with all levels of education, greater reliance on non-state sources of support, more efficient use of our facilities, renewing our commitment to graduate education, and increasing opportunities for learning in our diverse community. Our primary priority remains to improve the educational experience for students. During your time at Fresno State you will notice these changes.
One thing will remain the same, however: the 1998-99 General Catalog reflects the university's commitment to academic excellence. That tradition will continue and grow as we recruit highly qualified students and begin a new honors program. The university will continue to offer a breadth of study that includes degrees at the bachelor's and master's levels, and at the doctoral level in educational leadership. Education is an essential tool in preparing today's students to be tomorrow's leaders. Students from all walks of life, of many ethnicities, of both sexes, and of all economic levels participate in the learning experience as they strive to meet the challenges of the new age.
We are all on a journey that may take us beyond the accomplishments of past generations. California State University, Fresno will continue to serve as a critically important institution in our community and our region as we move together into the 21st century.
President John Welty
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