by Richard Yao, Ph.D.
Aug. 12, 2023
The 20th anniversary year of º£½ÇÉçÇø (º£½ÇÉçÇøCI) draws to a close on Tuesday. The past 12 months have been a joyous time of reflecting on and celebrating all that has been accomplished. There is much to applaud, including development of the campus with a dual focus on growth and sustainability, world-class professors, and experience-based learning opportunities such as faculty-student research partnerships.
Without a doubt, our biggest point of pride is our students. As the only public university serving Ventura County and the only º£½ÇÉçÇø campus between Northridge and San Luis Obispo, our primary mission always has been to provide an affordable and accessible way for students to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees in this region.
Statistics identify whom we serve. Sixty-one percent of our students in fall 2022 will be the first generation in their families to graduate from college. Latinos constitute 60% of students, more than double the amount required for the federal Hispanic-Serving-Institution designation we first earned in 2010. The U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard shows that 54% of our students receive federal Pell Grants serving those with exceptional financial need.
The amazing collection of stories behind those statistics, though, is what distinguishes the student body we proudly serve.
There is the man who put years of substance misuse and legal troubles behind him through hard work and the support of our faculty and staff, graduating summa cum laude and launching a successful career in software engineering.
There is another who transformed from a disillusioned youth recovering from a chaotic childhood into a leader and publishing executive because he felt trusted and empowered on our campus.
There is the woman with muscular dystrophy who found the support and education she needed at º£½ÇÉçÇøCI to serve as the first disability access manager for the County of Ventura.
There is the math whiz who wanted to stay close to family in Thousand Oaks while earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees and who now oversees $14 billion in weapons systems for the U.S. Navy in Washington, D.C.
There is the daughter of farmworkers who wouldn’t even speak in class until mentored by a faculty member who helped her gain the skills and confidence needed to present her research to large audiences — and to then build a career using what she learned to help nonprofits.
In May, we added thousands of new graduates to our list of alumni, bringing it to 25,720. These included the 67-year-old woman who waited until her three children earned college degrees before beginning her studies. And there was the young man who didn’t think he would graduate from high school who is now headed off to earn his doctorate in physics.
Our students often face more academic and financial challenges than their peers at other universities. Many are supporting themselves, and some are former foster children. Some are raising children or holding down full-time jobs or both.
In addition to strong academic programs, faculty mentorship and opportunities for research and internships, we provide students with food, temporary housing and financial assistance for emergencies when they are in need. We recently started to embed peer tutors in the classes where students struggle the most rather than waiting for them to request help. Basically, we meet all students where they are and provide them with opportunities that enable them to thrive.
That kind of support changes lives.
º£½ÇÉçÇøCI is shifting the life trajectories of students and their families and has been for 20 years. Still, we want to do better. Two years ago, we began a deeper examination of how our alumni fare professionally and financially, looking at data in new ways to get answers to questions not commonly asked in higher education. We want to be accountable to our students and the community and ensure we are meeting the workforce needs of our region.
After 20 years of serving our students and working with incredibly committed community partners to do so, we are just getting started.