Welty identifies 3 key trends

President John D. Welty

By Shirley Melikian Armbruster
University Communications

President John D. Welty welcomed the staff and faculty back to the fall semester on Aug. 16 and17 with optimism that the future for Fresno State “remains bright.”

Speaking at the annual fall assemblies, Welty pointed to three key trends that he said “bode extremely well for the university and the region it serves.” The trends are:

• A better-than-expected state budget for 2004-05 and agreement on a six-year plan, or “compact,” with the Governor that provides for reasonable and known fee increases and predictable funding increases in coming years.
• One of the largest programs of new construction in the school’s 94-year history. Projects under way include the Science II building, Downing Planetarium Museum, Ricchiuti Academic Center and Duncan Building Expansion. Coming soon is construction of the Student Recreation Center, a massive renovation of the Henry Madden Library and the International Center for Water Technology. In addition, an $18 million project – largely underground – to significantly upgrade the campus computer and networking infrastructure begins this fall.
• Excellent progress on the university’s comprehensive campaign for private support, the largest fund-raising program in Fresno State’s history.

Looking at the comprehensive campaign in detail, Welty said six major areas of emphasis have been identified: Transforming the University, Celebrating the Arts and Cultures of New California, Making the Region Work, Creating a Healthier Valley, Transforming World-Class Agriculture and Educating Our Children.

A variety of new programs and institutes will be developed, existing ones will be strengthened and resources committed to improving the educational experience of students and serving the people of Central California, Welty said.

The goals of the campaign represent one-quarter of a billion dollars in new support for the academic excellence of the campus beyond the base support provided by the state, he said.

Full text of President Welty’s Faculty Assembly address