What’s New This Fall?

NEW FACES, a big announcement and new course offerings are among the highlights that welcomed 36,156 students this fall semester. Cal State Fullerton introduced scores of new faculty members and unique classes, opened new residence halls and dining facilities, delivered news about CSUF President Milton A. Gordon’s plans to retire, congratulated the latest winner of the William Randolph Hearst/CSU Trustees' Award for Outstanding Achievement, Eliza M. Ramirez, and welcomed new President’s Scholars, McNair Scholars, Guardian Scholars and Sally Casanova Scholars.

Presidential News

The biggest news came from Gordon himself. During his 22nd annual convocation address Sept. 13, he announced his retirement plans.

“I love this university, take great pride in what we have accomplished together and know a bright future lies ahead for Cal State Fullerton,” he said. “It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as your president, and I wish to thank all of you — faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors and friends in the larger community — for your ongoing support, help and advice, which has helped to build Cal State Fullerton into the extraordinary university that it is today. I am grateful to be able to call higher education my life's work. I will hand over the reins with confidence and pride.”

Titans on and off campus responded to Gordon’s announcement with an outpouring of tributes and testimonials.

Gordon will hand over the presidential reins when his successor is named.

Housing News

The on-campus residential population more than doubled when students moved into new residence halls, which feature dormitory-style housing and a dining facility dubbed the Gastronome.

Caption: Diners await the grand opening of the Gastronome. Photo by Karen TapiaDownload Photo

New Degrees and Programs

Three new degree programs debuted this fall — an M.F.A. program in screenwriting, an M.A. in chemistry and a B.A. in earth science. The latter two are geared for those who are in or are planning careers outside the research field, but in professions that require scientific knowledge, including teaching at the high school and community college levels. The new degree programs join those leading to a B.A., B.S. and M.S. in chemistry, as well as a B.S. and M.S. in geology.

In addition, Mihaylo College of Business and Economics launched a full-time M.B.A. program. The 16-month program emphasizes "soft skills" development and practical leadership training, and includes an international cultural experience and global business study.

A new minor in queer studies also debuted this fall and is housed within the Women and Gender Studies Program (formerly known as Women's Studies). Courses taught by faculty members from various disciplines examine the dynamics of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender roles, as well as the influence of these factors on our daily lives, cultural institutions, political discourse, the media and the arts.

In addition, an online program for educators seeking a professional administrative credential begins this month.

New and Variable Courses

Some of the university's new and variable courses being offered this semester include: “Video Game Analysis,” “Railroad Engineering and High Speed Rail,” “Alternative Healing Therapies,” “Civil Disobedience and Social Justice,” “Psychology of immigration,” “Behavioral Economics,” “Stem Cells and Regnerative Medicine” and “Psychological Study of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Experiences.” (See listing at right for descriptions of some of the courses.)

Special Events and Lectures

Six will be inducted into the Titan Athletics Hall of Fame Oct. 1.The honorees are: three -time NBA champion Bruce Bowen; major league baseball veteran Brent Mayne; Lynn Rogers, the architect of the women's gymnastics dynasty; Susan Lewis-Newton, one of college softball's most powerful hitters; and Merilyn and Jerry Goodwin, two of the most generous donors to the Cal State Fullerton Athletics Department. The event is being held in the Titan Student Union.

Upcoming lectures, which are free and open to the public, span the “Thinking Queer” speaker series and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute lecture series. Also, “Gustavo's Awesome Lecture Series!” kicks off Sept. 29.

Cinco de Mayo will be the topic of discussion at a special lecture Oct. 3.

A Dead Sea Scroll exhibit with lectures by George Giacumakis, emeritus director of CSUF's Irvine Campus; James Rietveld, lecturer of comparative religion and history; CSUF alumnus Scott Moffatt (B.A. history ’92, M.A. history ’99), senior pastor of Legacy Church; and Benjamin Hubbard, emeritus professor of comparative religion will take place Oct. 4 in the Titan Student Union.

Alumnus Tony Ortega, editor of The Village Voice will speak about his award-winning alternative newsweekly Oct. 6.

Key executive compensation issues of interest to CEOs, directors and other executives will be discussed Oct. 6, at the second annual Executive Compensation Conference sponsored by Mihaylo College of Business and Economics and the Forum for Corporate Directors.

The award-winning documentary “Harvest of Loneliness: The Bracero Program” will be screened and its director, Gilbert G. Gonzalez, will discuss it Oct. 10.

William E. Roberts and Richard L. Hartman of Benefit Concepts Inc. will discuss “Preparing the Future Generation for Inheriting the Business and Wealth” during the Oct. 12 Mihaylo College of Business and Economics’ Family Business Council workshop.

Historian Arthur A. Hansen, emeritus professor of history and Asian American studies, and Chizuko Judy Sugita DeQueiroz, who lived in an internment camp as a child, will deliver a talk on “The World War II Experience of Orange County Nikkei in History and Memory” Oct. 19 at the Fullerton Arboretum.

“Noche en El Museo (Spanish for Night at the Museum): Witchcraft and Authority in Colonial Michoacán, México” will be discussed on campus Oct. 20. Phurépecha experts will talk about witchcraft and religious beliefs among the Phurépecha in the 16th and 17th centuries, and the short film “Auikanime: La Que Tiene Hambre” in Phurépecha, with Spanish subtitles, will be screened.

Anil Puri, dean of Mihaylo College of Business and Economics, joins Mira Farka, associate professor of economics, and Richard Davis, chairman, president and CEO of U.S. Bancorp., in a discussion of the current local, state and national economy at the 17th Annual Economic Forecast Conference Oct. 27 at the Hyatt Regency in Irvine.

In November, veterans will be feted during the university's annual Veterans Day commemoration Nov. 5 in the Titan Student Union.

Cal State Fullerton’s College of Engineering and Computer Science will host its annual Pumpkin Launch Nov. 5 in Titan Stadium.

In the planning stages are American Mathematical competitions Nov. 15, a geography symposium Nov. 18 and a number of other events.

Exhibits

The Begovich Gallery on campus will feature exhibitions on “Acquired Taste: Food and the Art of Consumption” Oct. 29-Dec. 8; “2012 Faculty Show” from Jan. 28 through March 1; and “Stanislav Szukalski: Sculptures, Drawings and Paintings” from April 7 through May 10.

The university’s Grand Central Art Center in Santa Ana is presenting “Chaos’ Job...Restrain Order” and “Choucrallah Fattouh” through Oct. 16. It also will present 10 other exhibitions throughout the rest of the academic year.

The Anthropology Teaching Museum in McCarthy Hall is hosting the “Cultural Treasures of Mexico: The Phurépecha of Parangaricutiro” exhibit through Dec. 22. The Fullerton Arboretum's Orange County Agricultural and Nikkei Heritage Museum is hosting the Civil War and Civil Rights exhibit through Feb. 29, and the Old Orange County Courthouse in Santa Ana is hosting “A Class Action: The Grassroots Struggle for School Desegregation in California” through June 30. Cal State Fullerton's Center for Oral and Public History curated the Civil War and Class Action exhibits.

Sept. 28, 2011