Commencement celebrations and ceremonies Friday and Saturday mark the end of an excellent academic year at California State University, Fresno.

Students and parents: Click here for the latest commencement information

It was a banner year on many fronts. For example:

Thanks to additional state funding, the university was able to accept more students this year and once again broke the 20,000 enrollment mark. See: www.fresnostatenews.com/2005/07/0712BudgetAccord.htm

Following approval by the Legislature, Fresno State is among the first CSU campuses working to develop a Doctor of Education (Ed.D) degree. We’ve been offering a joint Ed.D. with UC-Davis since 1991. Now we are moving to an independent program, starting in 2007, to award more education doctorates and help stop the “brain drain” from Fresno and the region. See: www.fresnostatenews.com/2005/09/0922doctorates.htm

Students, faculty and staff responded to the hurricanes in the Gulf by raising funds as well as heading to Louisiana to volunteer in the relief efforts. See: www.fresnostatenews.com/2005/09/0908morerelief.htm

Fresno State beat USC – academically, that is. In one of the rounds of the annual College Bowl “Trash Tournament” last fall, Fresno State team members Laura Gaffery, Chris Marklund and Lily Pesin topped the University of Southern California team 170-145. Other schools competing in the double round-robin format were UCLA, Berkeley, Michigan and Arizona State. The Trash Tournament focuses on pop culture. College Bowl, the “Varsity Sport of the Mind,” is a competitive trivia game. See: www.fresnostatenews.com/2005/11/BulldogsDefeatTrojans.htm

OK…we beat USC again…academically. Fresno State’s academic strength in the football program was demonstrated in this year’s Academic Progress Rate report card released by the NCAA. The latest data shows Fresno State’s football APR score for 2004-05, had an aggregate score of 950, up from the 939 first-year score that was reported in Feb. 2005. USC’s team >>ahem<< had a lower academic score as did UCLA and Cal. Fresno State’s football team was #2 academically in California and the top public university in the state. See: http://gobulldogs.cstv.com/genrel/030206aab.html

Calderón-Urrea’s research revolves around the study of nematodes, the parasitic worms that are linked to a major problem facing crop production in California’s San Joaquin Valley and other agriculturalOver the past five years, our faculty has received more than $180 million in external grant support from federal and state agencies and foundations. That’s more than double the money raised in the previous five years. We’ve focused our research on issues of significant importance to Central California such as health care, agriculture, business/jobs creation and education. This research is of great value to the university, the faculty and students, as well as to our entire region, state and sometimes the world. See the report PDF: www.csufresno.edu/grants/pdfdocuments/newcentury.pdf

Commencement Special: A look back at Fresno State’s banner 2005-06 year Colorful new banners highlighting five areas of distinctiveness of the university went up on the campus and surrounding streets. The banners represent five visionary themes introduced in the fall by President John D. Welty. The banners can be seen on walkways on the campus, on Shaw, Cedar and Barstow avenues, in and around the Save Mart Center and at the Smittcamp Alumni House. The themes on the banners represent the focus of the university’s comprehensive campaign. They are: Advancing World-Class Agriculture, Educating Our Children, Creating a Healthier Valley, Helping the Economy Grow and Celebrating the New California’s Arts and Culture. The Campaign for Fresno State is the largest fundraising effort in the university’s nearly 100-year history and will support the overall academic excellence of the university. See: www.fresnostatenews.com/2005/10/1019bannersup.htm

The Student Recreation Center opened to rave reviews in February. The 92,000 square-foot, two-story building houses a 13,000 square-foot fitness center (with cardio equipment and free weights), a jogging and running track, two aerobic and dance studios, two racquetball courts, four full-size courts for basketball, volleyball and badminton, plus locker rooms and showers. The building also houses the Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the Leon and Pete Peters Educational Center, a 300-seat state-of-the-art tiered auditorium with classrooms to host public programs, workshops and conferences. See: https://www.fresnostatenews.com/2006/02/ribbonrec.htm

At the Save Mart Center next door to the Rec Center, concerts drew big crowds throughout the year: the Rolling Stones, Andrea Bocelli, George Strait, Gwen Stefani, Black Eyed Peas, Bon Jovi … and more. Coming in June – Madonna. See: www.savemartcenter.com

Bulldogging e-waste…Fresno State became the only university in California to be designated a registered collector for electronic waste. In a collaboration with Electronic Recyclers of America, the university offered monthly community e-waste recycling dates, drawing hundreds of Central California residents who dropped off tens of thousands of pounds of e-waste. See: www.fresnostatenews.com/2005/12/1201ewaste.htm

Looking ahead, there are lots of good things to report. Here are just a few:

Nothing says “great university” like a big endowment. Fresno State will be marking a big milestone this year, when the university’s endowment reaches $100 million.

Work begins this summer on the new Henry Madden Library project. Demolition of the north wing of the current building will begin in mid-July and be completed by the start of the fall semester. The striking $91 million building will start going up in September. Completion of the library is expected in fall 2008. The 283,600- square-foot addition will make the library the “architectural jewel in Fresno State’s crown,” says Michael Gorman, library dean. See: www.fresnostatenews.com/2006/03/library%20fence.htm

A new water technology and clean energy incubator is under construction at Chestnut and Barstow avenues. The Central Valley Business Incubator’s $5 million building will house research and design laboratories and testing and certification equipment, through a collaborative partnership with Fresno State’s International Center for Water Technology. The new building will also house offices for water- and energy-focused entrepreneurs and for staff helping innovators’ ideas become job-generating reality. Students will participate in the projects, learning skills and techniques that can be put to work in the industry. See: www.fresnostatenews.com/2006/03/Water&Energy.htm