Spring Classes Begin Jan. 22

Cal State Fullerton students begin their first classes of the spring semester Saturday, Jan. 22. Awaiting them are new facilities and festivities to help ring in the new year, also marked by personnel changes. Among them:

New Location for CSUF Irvine Campus — Students at the university’s branch campus will be attending classes near the Irvine Spectrum in a modern, two-story facility at 3 Banting Road. The university signed a seven-year lease in July for the 70,000-square foot facility, near the Irvine Transportation Center, a hub for trains and buses. The new locale is about four miles southwest of the shuttered El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, where the campus had been housed.

New Roles for Campus Leaders — Campus veterans have been tapped to fill positions vacated by those who have retired or taken on new roles:

• Silas H. Abrego is the newly named acting vice president for student affairs. A former associate vice president for student affairs and member of the campus community since 1985, he fills the position vacated by Robert L. Palmer, who retired in December.
• Kandy Mink Salas, former dean of students, fills Abrego’s prior post. As associate vice president for student affairs, she now administers programs affecting the academic and developmental needs of students, and oversees the directors of specific units, centers and grant programs.
• Lea M. Jarnagin is the new dean of students, succeeding Mink Salas. She had been assistant to the vice president for student affairs and previously, associate dean for new student programs and assistant dean for student affairs in the College of the Arts.
• Ryan E. Alcantara, has moved up from assistant vice president to associate vice president for student affairs, with oversight for budget, human resources, staff development and technology functions.
• Jeremiah W. Moore is now acting assistant to the vice president for student affairs, filling the post vacated by Jarnagin. He most recently served as director of student academic services.
• In the College of Health and Human Development, Shari G. McMahan, former chair of the Health Science Department, is now acting dean, following the retirement of Robert Rikli.

Caption: A workman walks past one of the play areas adjacent to the new Children's Center on campus. Photo by Karen TapiaDownload Photo

Incoming Communications Dean — William G. Briggs, director of San Jose State University’s School of Journalism and Mass Communications, is the newly named dean of the College of Communications. “I am very excited about Cal State Fullerton and my role as dean,” Briggs said. “There is an enormous amount of respect for the university and the college among the other CSU campuses. It is gratifying to be able to join the team there as we plan and prepare students for the future.”

The near future includes a new M.F.A. degree program in screenwriting, debuting in the fall. Those interested in enrolling must first apply and be admitted to the university, then by March 1, apply to the Radio-TV-Film Department to enter the program. It will be the first such degree program in the 23-campus CSU system.

New Children’s Center — Doors soon will open for the campus’s youngest population — the children of enrolled students. The new complex of three, one-story buildings features 10 classrooms, two play areas, an administrative wing and a full-service kitchen to serve up to 122 children at any one time. Students voted to pay additional fees to cover the costs of building the new center. A grand opening is planned for March 24.

Titan Weeks of Welcome (WOW) — Events and activities to welcome new and returning students are offered over the course of two weeks to help students make the most of their college experience. Kicking off Monday, Jan. 24, and continuing through Friday, Feb. 4, offerings include:

Caption: The Titan Varsity Band performs at last year's homecoming. Photo by Donald McLaren

• Jan. 24-25 — Information stations to provide generation information, directions and giveaways. The stations, open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., will be located at McCarthy Hall, Pollak Library/Performing Arts walkway, outside the College of Engineering and Computer Science, and the area between the Nutwood Parking Structure and Visual Arts Center. The stations are sponsored by New Student Programs.
• Jan. 26 — Irvine Campus Open House and Resource Fair will provide students with information on the new campus, programs and services available, plus tours. The 3:30-7:30 p.m. fair is sponsored by New Student Programs and the Irvine Campus Student Affairs Office.
• Feb. 2-3 — Discoverfest in the Quad showcases student organizations and clubs, services, departments and resources to encourage campus involvement. The event is from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. both days and is co-sponsored by Student Life and New Student Programs.
• Feb. 3 — Sunset Strike from 5 to 8 p.m. offers free food, bowling and billiards at Titan Bowl & Billiards in the basement of the Titan Student Union.
• Feb. 5 — Homecoming features pregame festivities and lively entertainment, followed by a match between theTitan men’s basketball team and UC Riverside Highlanders. The tailgate action begins at 3 p.m. in front of Titan Gym; the game begins at 6 p.m. The event features: performances by the varsity band, spirit squad and dance team; face painting; plus mascot Tuffy Titan, a caricaturist and balloon artist. Additional information is available online.

More about Titan Weeks of Welcome available at 657-278-2501.

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Media Contact:
Pamela McLaren, Public Affairs, 657-278-4852 or pmclaren@fullerton.edu