University

It is a luxury to look in the rearview mirror as we drive down the road toward the establishment of a Cal State University in Ventura County. We have traveled far in a short space of 12 months and particularly since January 1996, when the chancellor pledged his commitment to the establishment of a CSU campus in the region.

In January 1998, that pledge became real with the announcement that the governor’s budget identified funds to renovate the Camarillo State Hospital to house the existing off-campus center of Cal State Northridge. Such a gesture not only highlighted the support of Sacramento administration but also enabled us to look within a much shorter time frame to the reality of establishing a full-scale campus here in Ventura County.

Developing a university is no small task and particularly so in view of the sensitivity of our site and its location. From the first, the new campus was dependent upon the willingness of the community and the university to work together. To see that this interaction took place, we hosted meetings with many special-interest groups and individuals as well as full community meetings. These meetings were essential in developing the plan that we took to the CSU trustees in September as part of our request to certify our environmental impact report. This watershed meeting was to me a triumph of community endorsement of a process that resulted in the exciting and innovative project that we are presently undertaking.

Undoubtedly, this meeting was the highlight of the year and led to the formal conveyance of the site to Chancellor Charles B. Reed in October. However, it was by no means the only significant achievement.

Universities are not only bricks and mortar (or, in our case, reinforced concrete) but rather cultural and educational centers for the community. We have just begun to make available the educational wealth that is the CSU. At present, we have neither faculty nor students but we are determined to make our contribution in whatever way our resources allow. We have responded to a specific need in the education of professional social workers by facilitating the offering of graduate-degree courses by our sister campus, Long Beach State. We have made a commitment to assisting the upgrading of English and math skills in area schools and, working with our district superintendents and community colleges, we can expand the program to wherever a need is identified.

Challenges in 1999 range from launching an innovative 18-month fast-track teaching credential to helping every high school in the county gear up for CSU Channel Islands. Other projects include siting a model preschool and wellness / telemedicine center accessibly and affordably within the reach of our students, families and neighbors.

We know that we will be adding to the overall quality of life of the Ventura County region, but we can only guess at the value our existence will have on the individual lives of those who follow.

It is time to return our attention to the road ahead--there is far to travel.