December 9, 2025 - A Semester of Momentum and Graitude

Dear Campus Community,

As the fall semester winds down and we look toward winter break, I’ve been reflecting on what a meaningful and momentum-filled semester this has been. Across enrollment, student success, campus culture, and financial stability, we’ve taken important steps forward together.

Thanks to the hard work of everyone on campus, our enrollment continues to grow, and as we look toward spring, we anticipate continuing our seven-semester streak of continuous growth yet again. In recognition of our efforts, the Chancellor’s Office recently shared encouraging news: Chico State’s enrollment target for 2026–27 will remain flat at 14,640 California resident full-time equivalent students as part of a broader CSU strategy to better align resources with student demand. This is a vote of confidence in the work so many of you do every day to recruit, support, and retain our students. It means that we will not have an enrollment-related reduction in our general fund allocation from the system. Thank you for all you have done to make this happen. We still have work to do, but this is a significant milestone for our campus. To take ourselves to the next level, this fall we approved the Strategic Enrollment Management Plan, which is implementing dozens of initiatives to bring innovation and coordination to our work on recruitment, retention, and student success.

In other good news, the CSU’s Economic Impact Report, released this fall, underscores the tremendous value Chico State brings to the region and the state. In 2023–24 alone, our University supported more than 9,200 jobs and generated nearly $1 billion in industry activity. For every dollar the state invested in Chico State, more than $5 is returned in statewide industry impact — and when alumni earnings are included, that number rises to over $40! What an incredible testament to the power of public higher education and our contribution to our North State region.

Of course, our impact extends far beyond economics. Our commitment to our mission continues to show up in meaningful ways across campus and in our community. This fall, Staff Council supported student success by assisting more than 2,900 students at its Ask Me tables, and provided holiday assistance to 45 Butte County families through its Joy of Giving Program. In Academic Affairs, interdisciplinary partnerships led to the approval of the BS in Wildland Management, the first degree of its kind in California and just one of many new academic offerings we are exploring to support our students. Faculty continue to identify and secure external funds for research, such as Robert Griffin-Nolan, who secured a $430,000 grant from the Agricultural Research Institute to engage students in studies to better understand the impacts of drought and climate change on California’s rangelands. And of course, the focus on retention has led to powerful changes across campus. In the College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Construction Management, its Student Success Center has been helping new students plan their schedules and register for the spring semester, leading to an all-time high one-year retention rate of 85.5% for first-time students. These are but a small sampling of the passion and innovation our faculty and staff are bringing to their roles every day.

When we think about making an impact, it’s also been critical to focus on our faculty and staff. The Employee Engagement Committee has been making great strides toward our Great Places to Work goals. From new onboarding tools and enhancing pride through Wildcat Wednesdays and Spirit Fridays to expansive conflict resolution training and the new mentorship program to increased and enhanced all-campus engagement in town halls, open forums, and budget discussions, improvements have been taking place that touch areas across the University. More will be shared on that soon, as well as an invitation to share new ideas you may have.

We also invested in the future of Chico State, as we celebrated the opening of the Agricultural Education Center and Jay Gilbert Farm Store, the dedication of the Casillas Family Auditorium, and breaking ground on the new Human Identification Laboratory. These new and named facilities represent an investment in our students, in hands-on learning and innovation, and in strengthening our academic programs for years to come.
As a large, diverse, caring, and involved campus community, we continue to have interactions, conversations, and discussions exhibiting differing viewpoints, opinions, and passions. This is as it should be, and it is heartening to see the community interact with the level of respect, empathy, and integrity that makes Chico State special.

Last, but certainly not least, our budget outlook is becoming more stable thanks to the careful planning and discipline of the entire campus community. We continue to anticipate deficits in the coming years and must continue to be thoughtful in our spending, though we are making notable progress. We are meeting the needs of our students and employees while also safeguarding long-term fiscal sustainability. I invite you to learn more at our upcoming budget forum from 3–5 p.m. on Monday, December 15. A Zoom link will be sent later this week.

As we complete the final two weeks of the semester, I want to express my deepest appreciation for your hard work, perseverance, and care for one another. We have accomplished so much together. With one final push to finish the semester, we will soon enjoy a well-deserved opportunity to rest and recharge before the spring semester to continue the important work ahead.

Thank you,
Steve Perez