Annual Report
2021

Workforce Development

Certificate Programs (2020-21)

Our professional certificate programs provide pathways for people to change or advance their careers, upskill and ultimately move forward in their goals.

CSUF Extension & International Programs is proud to support our students in their professional and educational endeavors. This year we had the honor of providing scholarships to 11 students.

In collaboration with regional business leaders and organizations, we developed several new programs to meet the needs of the workforce, both present and in the future. This fall we kick things off with the Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering Certificate and the Data Science & Data Analytics Certificate programs.

Educator Programs

Our online courses and programs help California educators fulfill their professional needs, including completing credentials and meeting prerequisites. In partnership with CSUF’s College of Education, we provide the training needed for the teachers of the future.

Improvement Science for Education Leaders

The Improvement Science for Education Leaders one-year certificate program launches in Fall 2021. It is the latest of a wide variety of online offerings for educators who are passionate about positively changing students’ lives.

This program supports students in identifying interventions that promote positive change within their own organizations in a short amount of time while fine tuning their lens of adaptation and adaptability.

Student Success Story:

Trent DeLazzer (Game-Based Learning)

In Summer 2020, during the pandemic, we launched the new Game-Based Learning Certificate program in partnership with the Orange County Department of Education. Math teacher and esports general manager Trent DeLazzer was a part of the pilot program, and was able to use what he learned to create new ways of teaching to his high school students:

Degree &
Academic Credit
Programs

Online Degree Completion Programs

Working full-time, raising a family, and grappling with the ongoing pandemic — these are just some of the challenges students face, all while trying to obtain their degree. Our online bachelor’s degree completion programs provide the flexibility that many adult learners need to reach their academic goals, eliminating the hassles of transportation, class during normal working hours and other time-consuming obstacles.

Our programs include Business Administration, Sociology, and Humanities & Social Sciences.

Alumni Success Story:

Melisa Peralez

When Melisa Peralez began planning to finish her bachelor’s degree, she knew the CSUF Online BA in Business Administration Degree Completion program was the right fit for her. Not only were all her classes fully online, but she was able to build her network with her peers while earning her degree. Upon graduation Melisa used her degree to advance her career, and is currently earning her MBA! Watch her full story here:

Pre-Health Program

Guiding the Health Professionals of the Future

Our Pre-Health Professions Postbaccalaureate Program provides a way for students without a science background to begin careers in the medical field and other health related occupations.

Alumni Success Story:

I was attracted to the program because it allowed me to take all my prerequisite classes for dental school in less than two years and it has a high acceptance rate from the program to dental schools.

Matthew Cosaert was immersed in theological studies when he decided to make a career change to dentistry. He enrolled in our pre-health program to prepare for dental school.

Not only did Matthew graduate and get accepted to the Loma Linda University School of Dentistry, but he also received the 2021 Miles D. McCarthy Health Professions Award from Cal State Fullerton! The award signifies exceptional academic achievement and integrity.

After completing his studies in dentistry, Matthew plans on serving active duty in the U.S. Navy as part of the Health Professions Scholarship Program before returning to be a dentist in his local community.

Master’s Degree Programs

We continue to offer advanced degree programs for postgraduates. Programs include the Fully Employed Masters in Business Administration (FEMBA), Master’s in Social Work (MSW) and MS in Counseling. The MS in Counseling program in particular continues to grow with each passing term. Our newest degree offering, the Accelerated Master in Software Engineering (AMSE), has seen great success, with students finding employment in their field before graduating.

Student Success Story: Faheem Samol

CSUF alumnus Faheem Samol obtained his Accelerated MS in Software Engineering through CSUF Extension & International Programs. Using the project-based knowledge he acquired in the program, he applied for, and was hired by Amazon to be a cloud engineer shortly after graduating! He currently lives and works in Seattle, and continues to use the skills he learned at CSUF to this very day.

Summer & Winter Session

In support of CSUF’s “Finish in 4” initiative, the University's summer and winter sessions provide a way for students to stay on track to graduate without overloading their schedules during the fall and spring terms. Smaller class sizes and fast-paced schedules are the perfect combination for many students.

Summer Session (2020)

Winter Session (2021)

Open University

International Programs

Community
Engagement

Fullerton Arboretum

Even without the pressures of the pandemic closures, Fullerton Arboretum was set to undergo drastic changes in the 2020-2021 fiscal year. The Arboretum is a self-support unit within Extension and International Programs and received financial support from the City of Fullerton through a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) agreement.

In the last 40 years, the Arboretum has earned revenue in order to operate the facility and maintain an outstanding living collection by renting facilities, holding special events, offering photography permits, selling plants and offering membership and donor programs while also using the City’s commitment to operate. In December 2020, the revenue provided by the City of Fullerton ended with the expiration of the JPA.

Because of this, the Arboretum has made significant moves to raise funding on their own, hosting virtual events, applying for grants, seeking new memberships and donations, and working together to find ways to reach new audiences and strengthen funding.

We partnered with APGA for "Go Public Garden Days." We planted and tended to the "Simply Spectacular Sunflower Field," full of beautiful, towering sunflowers right here in the Arboretum. Participants could purchase signs to plant alongside the sunflowers with messages to loved ones written on them.

The garden inspired virtual visitation (until we reopened at the beginning of July), increased donation dollars and shone a spotlight on our volunteers, who were largely responsible for the growth of the garden.

2020-2021 at OLLI

OLLI was designed for in-person communities: classes, events, a space for older adults to belong. When the pandemic stole that space, OLLI leaders and members quickly pivoted.

The virtual transition began with Zoom workshops, where members could learn how to use the software to tune into meetings and classes. Next, instructors and OLLI volunteers worked together to bring former in-person classes online.

OLLI 2021
Outstanding Graduate Student Award:

Michaela Thompson graduated from CSUF in 2019 and began her career as a gerontologist. The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute recognized her passion, leadership skills and strong academics, and awarded Michaela the 2021 Outstanding Graduate Student Award.

Since graduating, Michaela has mentored incoming gerontology master's candidates and volunteers with the Girl Scouts of Orange County. She is a member of the California Council on Gerontology and Geriatrics and the American Society on Aging.

She continues to pursue her passion, currently working at the Women’s Transitional Living Center as an elder abuse specialist.

OLLI 2021
Betty Robertson Award:

A true lifelong learner, Titan Elke O'Brian is the recipient of the 2021 Betty Robertson Award from CSUF’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.

Elke is committed to lifelong learning and helping older adults like herself. At age 82, she is graduating with a master's degree in gerontology from Cal State Fullerton, and plans to write articles aimed at helping older adults find alternative approaches to healing.

1st-8th graders served

Thank you for this awesome class, I really enjoyed it! I usually hate speaking to people I don't know very well (anxiety), but this class made me comfortable enough to speak freely and share my opinions and writing pieces with everyone. It has also made me want to write more! - 6th Grade Student, “Writing & Speaking” course

The Future

Our vision for the future remains clear: ensure the transformative power of education remains available, accessible and accommodating to all.

We look forward to innovative collaborations with new community partners and organizations, while cultivating the ones we already have. At CSUF Extension & International Programs, we believe lifelong learning is important, and it is our job to make opportunities accessible to the diverse populations we serve, from students at CSUF to learners around the world.

Certificate Programs

2020 revealed the need for stronger workforce development programs. With furloughs and layoffs upending lives, and entire industries changed by the pandemic, people are searching more than ever for affordable and applicable reskilling and upskilling opportunities, courses and programs, and ways to adapt in a post-pandemic world. Our programs aim to meet them there. With plans for new courses covering industries like advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, real estate, cybersecurity, user experience design and data science, we strive to meet professionals where they are, equipping them for the next step in their careers and education. We’ll continue making multiple learning modalities a priority, providing rich educational experiences for students they can transfer directly to their real-world jobs.

Global Engagement

We’re proud of our Titans for pursuing cultural enrichment through virtual internships and study abroad programs. We expect these opportunities to continue in the years to come, providing a way for students to explore the world without the financial burdens and travel complications that traditional study abroad programs assume. That being said, we also look forward to spreading our wings once more, continuing to develop our university exchange programs with institutions around the world. "I think the entire Study Abroad & Global Engagement team and our partners across the CSUF campus involved in international education have learned enormously. We each have a broader perspective on global education and that, while powerful, traditional mobility is not and will not be the only mode of providing global experiences to our Titan community." - Jack Hobson, Global Titan Center Senior Director (Quote taken from: The Daily Titan)

International Student Outreach

One of the things we most look forward to in our post-pandemic future is the return of more international students on campus. We continue to see a strong interest from international students in our University Semester Abroad and degree programs, particularly the Accelerated Masters in Software Engineering (AMSE). Looking to the future, we’re excited to introduce additional programs, such as the Accelerated Masters in Applied Computer Science (AMACS). We’ll also continue to develop relationships with international educational institutions, providing rich cultural experiences for students around the world, while also working together to meet increasing global workforce demands.

Community Partnerships

We place a lot of importance on our community partnerships. We have continued to enjoy strong relationships with Southern California municipal employees, local tech companies, community colleges, and corporate organizations, creating programs based on the needs of the workforce, degree-seeking students, and lifelong learners within Orange County and the region. By taking the time to speak with the communities we serve, we are able to find ways to support each other, partnering on courses, events, projects and programs that play to our strengths and benefit lifelong learners of all ages.

Moving Forward

To say this was an unusual year is an understatement. It was the first full year we spent working, teaching and learning remotely. We watched as the world battled its way through a global pandemic. We faced civil unrest and a rocky transition of presidential power. Through it all, an unwavering light shone on the importance of providing inclusive and diverse programs that are accessible to all. We are excited to build on what we have created, and to forge new paths in a post-pandemic world.

As new opportunities arise we meet them with enthusiasm, ready for the next challenge and eager to help our students excel in their careers. In creating virtual learning experiences for each of our programs, from Arboretum community classes, OLLI workshops, professional development certificates, and collegiate classes and degrees, to collaborating with global institutions and organizations on virtual internships and study abroad experiences, we have found new ways to make learning accessible to all. Looking to the future, we see a hybrid world, where both in-person and virtual programs provide the best learning experiences possible to those who seek it.

We will continue to build, adapt, and meet challenges, doing what we can, with what we have, exactly where we are. Thank you for your continued support of CSUF Extension & International Programs. Let’s work together to shape our collective future.