Welcome From the President
This catalog will introduce you to the
world of one of the finest universities in the nation. But there is so
much more to it than what these pages will tell you about our
programs, events, and services. In particular, let me share with you
some thoughts on the spirit of this university, for that is truly what
makes us distinctive and worthy of your participation in our community.
The spirit of inquiry.
The spirit that most animates us is the spirit of inquiry, that is, the
quest to discover truth and something about ourselves in the process.
This spirit flows from our faculty who have cutting edge familiarity
and engagement in their disciplines and who, most importantly, bring
this currency to bear in their teaching. The women and men of our
faculty understand, in particular, that teaching excellence derives as
much from mastery of an academic area as it does from the ability to
generate imagination, trust, and enthusiasm among their students.
No less so, they are supported by an experienced and dedicated
staff who know that student success and learning is defined by the
quality of their experiences both in and outside the classroom.
The spirit of community.
The hallmarks of a good community - a connected sense of purpose,
shared values, and a common outlook - clearly define our work together.
No values are higher in this regard than academic excellence,
integrity, and civility. Combined with openness and a genuine respect
for different viewpoints and cultures, we share expectations of high
standards for the way we work and learn together, and the way we care
for one another. We aim not only to stimulate intellectual achievement,
but also those qualities of compassion and kindness that stand for the
largeness of the human spirit.
The spirit of service.
We recognize and accept the responsibilities of being an engaged
citizen in the life of our local community and the larger twelve-county
service region of the North State of California. From preparing
teachers to protecting watersheds, promoting economic development to
supporting archaeological research, our faculty have enabled the
university to be a positive force in the communities we touch and
serve. The same is true for our students. Through such organizations as
the Community Action Volunteers in Education (CAVE), the Community
Legal Information Center (CLIC), and dozens more, Chico State students
provide invaluable services and experience firsthand the rewards of
giving back and paying forward. We as a university are effectively
balancing theory and practice and providing our students with
innumerable opportunities to learn through doing and serving.
The spirit of place.
Located in a true campus town, Chico State enjoys a seamless
relationship between one of the most livable cities in California and a
campus unmatched for its natural beauty. Chico Creek, flowing out of
the Sierra foothills and through Bidwell Park, one of the largest urban
parks in the nation, winds its way through the campus, arched by
several picturesque bridges and bordered by magnificent tall trees
and gardens. As distinctive as the harmony between the natural
and built environments of the campus, we are guided by a keen sense of
our past and the guidance it provides for our future. Indeed, our
motto, "Today Decides Tomorrow," emphasizes that we are a university
with a profound sense of place and purpose.
We are a university of
many spirits, but one purpose - to be a living and learning community
worthy of the trust that our students and the people of California have
placed in us. Welcome to Chico State!