CSUDH News

The primary source of news and information about California State University, Dominguez Hills, its students, faculty, and staff.

Faculty

Synthia SAINT JAMES: Renowned Artist Unveils First in Series of 50th Anniversary Commemorative Paintings by Local Artists

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Every year, the Annual Fall Reception at California State University, Dominguez Hills welcomes faculty and staff to the new academic year. On August 23, this year’s celebration was especially memorable with the unveiling of a commemorative painting and poster by renowned artist Synthia SAINT JAMES. “Cincuenta” (Fifty) is the first in a series that will be created by locally based artists to celebrate the 50th anniversary of CSU Dominguez Hills.

Artist Synthia SAINT JAMES and Toby Bushee, manager, Ceremonies and Events, unveil "Cincuenta," which commemorates CSU Dominguez Hills' 50th anniversary
Artist Synthia SAINT JAMES and Toby Bushee, manager, Ceremonies and Events, unveil “Cincuenta,” which commemorates CSU Dominguez Hills’ 50th anniversary; photo by Joanie Harmon

“What I really want is for everyone who is a part of this school – faculty, staff, anyone who is an alumni – to have something to feel proud of in celebration of the 50th anniversary,” said SAINT JAMES at the unveiling in the ballroom of the Loker Student Union.

SAINT JAMES, who imbues her representational works with the deeper meanings of her subjects, did extensive research on the history of CSU Dominguez Hills, from the South Bay’s origins as the Rancho San Pedro owned by the Manuel Dominguez family to the university’s humble beginnings as California State College, Dominguez Hills, whose first graduating class was made up of four students. She also worked to represent the diversity in age, ethnicity and background of the student population.

“President García wanted me to delve into the history [of the university] but to make it current and make it about Dominguez Hills, not just any college,” said SAINT JAMES. “[The figures] typify all of the different races and nationalities. So all around, this is everybody coming together.”

The artist visited CSU Dominguez Hills in 2009 at the invitation of Gayle Ball Parker, director of University Outreach and Information Services. SAINT JAMES presented a talk to local high school students about careers in the arts and the university, co-sponsored by the University Library. President Mildred García met with the artist and invited her to create the first work for the commemorative art series.

“I just told her about Dominguez Hills, and she said yes,” said García. “She’s excited about Dominguez Hills, she loves what we do.”

Ball Parker underscored the value of students meeting a professional artist and learning about a profession that requires more than picking up a paintbrush.

“When she talks about all of the research she does for her paintings – it’s not like she just gets up and paints, there’s a lot that goes in there – students get to understand the importance of doing research,” said Ball Parker.

A copy of the 50th anniversary commemorative painting will be displayed at the CSU Office of the Chancellor alongside artwork commemorating other campuses’ anniversaries.

“Cincuenta” is one of four artworks that will be unveiled this year as part of the 50th anniversary celebration. Los Angeles-based Hispanic artist Aydee Lopez Martinez, plein air landscape and neoclassical artist Alexey Steele, and Japanese American artist Mary Higuchi are creating the other three works, which will be will be presented throughout the 2010-11 academic year.

SAINT JAMES has also donated an original painting of one of her children’s book illustrations to the University Library.

SAINT JAMES is an international award-winning painter, illustrator, and architectural designer. Significant works include her design of first U.S. postage stamp for the Kwanzaa holiday. Her paintings have been featured on the covers of books by best-selling authors, including Alice Walker and Terry McMillan. The Los Angeles native and self-taught artist has also designed ceramic tile murals for Cowan Elementary School in Austin, Texas, and for Ontario International Airport in Ontario, Calif., elevator doors for a building in California’s State Capitol East End complex, and an original painting for Glendale Memorial Hospital in Glendale, Calif.

For more information about Synthia SAINT JAMES, click here.

For more information about the 50th Anniversary celebration at CSU Dominguez Hills, click here.

Fall Convocation Highlights Achievements, 50th Anniversary, and New Strategic Plan

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On August 23, the Fall Convocation in the University Theatre welcomed faculty and staff at California State University, Dominguez Hills to the 2010-11 academic year. Dr. Irene Vasquez, chair and professor of Chicana/o studies and chair of the Academic Senate, welcomed her colleagues to the meeting in the University Theatre and introduced President Mildred García, whose annual address focused on the university’s successes and a look ahead to the new Strategic Plan.

President Mildred García addresses CSU Dominguez Hills faculty and staff at the Fall Convocation; photo by Joanie Harmon
President Mildred García addresses CSU Dominguez Hills faculty and staff at the Fall Convocation; photo by Joanie Harmon

“We came through it with respect for each other, civility, compassion, and commitment, never forgetting our high standards and by providing the best education possible,” García said of the 2009-2010 year.

During Convocation, a slideshow honored the achievements and dedication of newly tenured faculty and promoted staff members. President García recognized representatives of two exemplary groups of Dominguez Hills students, the Presidential Scholars cohort and student-athletes. Through the generosity of corporate and private donors, the number of Presidential Scholars award doubled from 11 students last year to 24 for the upcoming academic year. The new group reflects academic diversity, with majors ranging from graphic design to occupational therapy.

García recognized the 76 Toro athletes who earned honor roll status in the spring semester and the 26 athletes who were named to the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) All-Academic Team. She also noted Toro Athletics’ achievements in the 2009-2010 season, which included the women’s soccer team ranking fourth overall in the NCAA Final Four and five Toros baseball players signing with Major League Baseball organizations. She also acknowledged members of the Alumni Advisory Council in the audience who turned out to show their support for their alma mater.

García highlighted the successes the university achieved in 2009-2010 despite budgetary limitations, such as exceeding the university’s enrollment target with a record of 10,488 FTEs and more than 15,000 students on campus, with the Financial Aid Office disbursing more than $92 million to assist students. She also shared the news that the Campus Master Plan was approved by the CSU Board of Trustees. Commencement expenses were greatly reduced due to this spring’s change in ceremony format, saving the university $100,000. In addition, first-time freshmen retention rates increased by four percent, participation in commencement ceremonies increased eight percent, and alumni giving increased 14 percent.

García listed several major gifts to the university, including more than $14 million in faculty and staff grants during the 2009-2010 academic year and recent news of more than $11 million for the 2010-11 academic year. She also highlighted the $1 million endowment from the Bernard Osher Foundation in support of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) administered by the College of Extended and International Education.

Finally, García announced the introduction of the university’s new Strategic Plan. A slideshow underscored the main ideas of the plan, which began development last year through findings from focus groups, town halls with the campus and local communities, local and national employment facts, and academic and student data.

“The feedback we received helped us see that during this critical point in our nation’s history it was time to re-examine our institutional vision and mission – those have been reaffirmed and remain focused on the fundamental core which CSU Dominguez Hills was founded upon 50 years ago, which is serving our students and our community,” said García. “The purpose of the plan is to convey the university’s forward-looking vision, to provide a roadmap for our next steps, and build university-wide consensus. It defines our primary objectives and the initiatives that we will implement to strengthen vitality.”

The plan is designed to encompass and build on the areas of Points of Pride, Building Community – both internally and externally – Enrollment Management, and Financial Stability. Core Values such as accountability, collaboration, rigorous standards, and proactive partnerships were highlighted along with goals that include reinforcing CSU Dominguez Hills’ position as a comprehensive urban university; enhancing access to an excellent teaching and learning environment that supports the graduation rates and career success of students; delivering a campus wide enrollment management initiative to identify and recruit future students and support their transition, retention and graduation; achieve fiscal stability and substantially increase revenues through a range of efforts; engage local communities to support CSU Dominguez Hills’ position as the “University of the South Bay;” and systemically improve the quality and cost effectiveness of services to strengthen academic programs and student services.

García emphasized the “living and breathing” nature of the Strategic Plan.

“This will not be a Strategic Plan that sits on a shelf,” she said. “The success of this Strategic Plan will require concerted effort of all campus-wide leadership, faculty and staff, students and alumni across the university. Working together to implement these goals, we will…become a leading model as a comprehensive urban university. More importantly, we have the ability to improve the lives of our students and the communities they enrich.”

President García also announced the continuation of the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of CSU Dominguez Hills, including events such as the Presidential Lecture Series, and the university’s second annual hosting of the “Feria Deja Huella” (Educate yourself -Leave Your Mark Fair). The first lecture in the Presidential Lecture Series will take place Sept. 30 at 6:30 p.m. in the University Theatre and features Dr. Henry Cisneros, former secretary of Housing and Urban Development and executive chairman of CityView. The Feria will take place on Saturday, Oct. 9 in the University Gym and is presented in partnership with Univision and The Alliance for a Better Community.

President García closed Convocation by expressing her gratitude to faculty and staff for “the support that you have given each other and our students during the last year.”

“You have proven what CSU Dominguez Hills is made of. In spite of all the hard times we are experiencing, we receive such joy in seeing how our students succeed because of our excellent teaching, student-faculty research, student support, and beautiful, clean learning environment,” said García. “Everyone that works here is working toward transforming the lives of our students and our community. Each one of you is an important educator, the link in helping students reach the success they so desire.”

For more information on the Strategic Plan at CSU Dominguez Hills, click here.

For more information on the 50th Anniversary of CSU Dominguez Hills, click here.

CSU Dominguez Hills Receives Federal TRIO Grant

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(Carson, CA) – California State University, Dominguez Hills has been awarded the first year allocation of a five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education to continue its Student Support Services (SSS) program for disadvantaged students. The first year award is for $259,059, with the full award totally approximately $1.3 million.

SSS is a Department of Education TRIO program that aims to improve college retention and graduation rates among low-income, first generation or disabled students by providing such services as advising, counseling, mentoring, tutoring, and career planning. This is the third multi-year TRIO/SSS grant CSU Dominguez Hills has received; its program has been in place for about a decade.

“It’s all about retention, matriculation and graduation,” said Dr. William Franklin, CSU Dominguez Hills associate vice president of student success services. “So the program works with freshmen through seniors. This new grant will allow us to continue what we have been doing and also allow us to expand to more transfer students and former foster care youth.”

Former foster care youth are a population of students with one of the lowest college-going percentages, and for those who enroll in college, the retention rates are far below other students. Issues related to these youth living a transitory childhood and becoming independent at 18 years old with little to no family or economic support systems are factors in those statistics.

Transfer students, in most cases, are believed to transition to four-year college life better than first-time freshman; however that’s not always the case. Many low-income, first-generation or disabled transfer students continue to have many of the same needs as their classmates who entered as freshman.

“There were thousands upon thousands of institutions applying for this year’s grant cycle, in part because of shrinking budgets nationally in higher education,” Franklin said. “We were pleased to be selected. It validates the good work that we’ve been doing. We’re going to do our very best to be good stewards of this money.”

Outcomes from the last six years of SSS at CSU Dominguez Hills showed a 70 percent year-to-year retention rate and a 65 to 70 percent graduation rate for students in the program. The program serves 200 students each year, which is the maximum number per federal guidelines.

More information visit www.csudh.edu/studentaffairs/studentsupportservices.

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About CSU Dominguez Hills — California State University, Dominguez Hills is a highly diverse, urban university located in the South Bay, primarily serving the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The university prides itself on its outstanding faculty and friendly, student-centered environment. Known for excellence in teacher education, nursing, psychology, business administration, and digital media arts, new degree programs include computer science, criminal justice, recreation and leisure studies, social work, and communication disorders. On campus is the Home Depot Center, a multi-purpose sports complex that hosts world-class soccer, tennis, track and field, lacrosse, and cycling.

CSU Dominguez Hills, Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum Receive National Endowment for the Humanities Grant

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The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has awarded California State University, Dominguez Hills and Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum a $171,788 grant through its Landmarks of American History and Culture program to offer two weeklong professional development workshops next summer for high school teachers across the country. The proposal also received a “We the People” designation for its “efforts to strengthen the teaching, study, and understanding of American history and culture,” according to an NEH press release.

Professors from CSU Dominguez Hills, along with staff in the university’s Service Learning, Internships and Civic Engagement (SLICE) and Archives and Special Collections offices will partner with Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum to conduct a multiple-disciplined, experiential learning program that explores the history of the Dominguez family from colonial days to the 1920s. Workshop participants will attend lectures, visit historic sites like the Rancho San Pedro, Mission San Gabriel and Olvera Street, and work with artifacts and original documents, all of which will help them gain a deeper understanding of the different cultures that shaped America and further enrich their classroom teaching.

“Family history is the framework, and that opened opportunities to examine a number of issues that are essential to understanding the development of not just California’s, but the nation’s history,” said Laura Talamante, assistant professor of history at CSU Dominguez Hills and project co-director. “It’s an excellent opportunity to showcase what we have here in Carson, at CSU Dominguez Hills and the rancho.”

“As the home of the family who helped shape L.A. and southern California, the rancho is a physical representation of history,” said Dominguez Rancho executive director and project co-director Alison Bruesehoff. “Getting a chance to work with actual objects that go back hundreds of years is a rare experience, and the museum is excited to partner with the university to provide such an experiential learning opportunity for teachers.”

Each week-long session will be open to a maximum of 40 teachers from across the country. Notices about the workshops and how to apply will be sent to schools and through various education venues beginning in early spring 2011. The selected teachers will receive a stipend for travel expenses.

The grant was one of 201 grants totally $31.5 million that NEH awarded to humanities projects nationwide. For details, visit www.neh.gov/news/archive/20100810.html.

For more information about the CSUDH/Dominguez Rancho “American History Through the Eyes of a California Family 1780s to 1920s” project, call project coordinator Cheryl McKnight, director of SLICE, at (310) 243-2438.

CSU Dominguez Hills One of Nation’s Top 100 Degree Producers for Minority Students

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(Carson, CA) – California State University, Dominguez Hills is among the top 100 universities in the nation to confer the most degrees, both undergraduate and graduate, on students of color.

The magazine Diverse: Issues in Higher Education recently released its annual “Top 100 Undergraduate Degree Producers” and “Top 100 Graduate Degree Producers” rankings, and CSU Dominguez Hills ranked as high as 17th in the nation in one of the undergraduate discipline categories. Using graduation data reported by two- and four-year institutions to the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics for the 2008-09 academic year, the magazine ranked universities not only on how many degrees were granted overall to minority students, specifically African American, Asian American, Hispanic and Native American, but also gave separate rankings by ethnicity for specific fields of study.

The university saw its highest undergraduate ranking–17 out of 100–in the number of Hispanic students earning bachelor’s degrees in math. It was ninth in the number of Asian American students earning master’s degrees in health sciences. In the overall ranking combining all disciplines and minority groups, CSU Dominguez Hills ranked 52nd in granting bachelor’s degrees and 53rd in granting master’s degrees.

Other highlights in the undergraduate ranking include a 36th place for Hispanics in all disciplines, a 37th for Asian Americans earning health science degrees, a 40th for total minorities who were math majors, and 56th in degrees earned in all disciplines by African American students.

Highlights from the graduate ranking include a rank of 15 for the total number of minorities receiving health science master’s degrees, a 27 for total minorities receiving advanced degrees in education, 40 for Hispanics earning degrees in all disciplines and a 50 for degrees to African Americans in all disciplines.

CSU Dominguez Hills granted undergraduate degrees to 1,324 minority students in 2008-09, or 68 percent of the overall class, and master’s degrees to 467 minority students, or 50.2 percent. Hispanics represented the largest minority group who received their undergraduate degrees in 2008-2009 at nearly 40 percent, while African American students represented the largest minority group earning their master’s at 20.2 percent of the total number of receiving advanced degrees.

For more information on the rankings, visit diverseeducation.com/top100/BachelorsDegreeProducers2010.php or diverseeducation.com/top100/GraduateDegreeProducers2010.php

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About CSU Dominguez Hills — California State University, Dominguez Hills is a highly diverse, urban university located in the South Bay, primarily serving the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The university prides itself on its outstanding faculty and friendly, student-centered environment. Known for excellence in teacher education, nursing, psychology, business administration, and digital media arts, new degree programs include computer science, criminal justice, recreation and leisure studies, social work, and communication disorders. On campus is the Home Depot Center, a multi-purpose sports complex that hosts world-class soccer, tennis, track and field, lacrosse, and cycling.