14 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY SEPTEMBER 5-11, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com Town and Gown As CSUMB celebrates its 30th anniversary, it’s time to think ahead for the next 30 years. By Vanya Quiñones FORUM Last week, on Aug. 29, CSU Monterey Bay marked its 30th birthday. This milestone allows us to reflect on the impact we’ve had on our students and the community across three decades. Since our founding, we have graduated 30,000 students, many of whom have gone on to work in leading industries in our region and across the state. This birthday is a celebratory moment for us (we have an anniversary event planned on Oct. 12), and it is also a moment to consider how we need to evolve to stay relevant to students and to the community for the next 30 years, and beyond. We have heard the debates about the cost of a college education and its value. Earlier this year, the Pew Research Center published a report titled “Is College Worth It?” Nearly a third of respondents said they didn’t think it was. Yet I am a firm believer in the power of education to transform the lives of each student, as well as the families and communities around them. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, people with a bachelor’s degree earn about 60 percent more annually than those with just a high school degree, resulting in a lifetime of higher earnings. College graduates land higher-quality jobs with more benefits. Once in those jobs, they have more avenues to advance. And when ready to leave, they have more options—they have more social and career mobility. College graduates experience lower incarceration rates, and less poverty and unemployment. But it’s not just about career achievement and earnings. College degree holders experience greater well-being, security, health, and maybe even happiness, according to the National Institutes of Health. The true value of a university education is that it allows students an opportunity to challenge themselves and step out of their comfort zone—in a space with a strong network of people dedicated to their success. College graduates learn to think critically, to be engaged citizens and to be adaptable in a world that continues to move at an ever-faster pace. At CSUMB, at least half of our students are first-generation, 66 percent receive full tuition from non-loan sources, and we ranked No. 50 in the nation for graduating the most Hispanic students. A CSUMB education provides social mobility to our students. The only way CSUMB will be successful as we embark on this next decade of our institution will be through deepening our collaboration and connections in our community. As a university, we are looking to evolve our programs to ensure we are meeting the needs of our regional and state economies, seeking partnerships that will allow us to provide more internships for our students, and providing clear career pathways and outcomes for our graduates. While we are still a young institution, it is critical that we think ahead and continue adapting to best serve our students in an ever-evolving economic landscape. Vanya Quiñones is the president of California State University, Monterey Bay. She is also a neurobiologist, biopsychologist and noted researcher. OPINION A CSUMB education provides social mobility. ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES Stop By To Shop And Find Your Vintage Treasure OVER 100 DEALERS 21,000 SQUARE FEET The Largest Antiques and Collectibles Mall on the Central Coast 471 WAVE STREET MONTEREY (831) 655-0264 P M canneryrowantiquemall.com Open Daily 11am-6pm ’23 Voted Monterey County's Best Antique Shop ♦ 3 Card Poker ♠ Century 21st No Bust Black Jack ♣ Texas Hold’em ♥ Baccarat FULL BAR! BLACKJACK BONUS POINTS PAYS UP TO $20,000 SMALL TOWN BIG PAYOUTS! 1-800-Gambler • Gega-003846, Gega-Gega-003703, Gega-000889 Gega-000891 Gega-002838 The Marina Club Casino ensures the safety and security of all guests and team members at all times, while providing exceptional service. 204 Carmel Ave. Marina 831-384-0925 casinomonterey.com ♠ ♣ ♥ ♦ Just minutes from Downtown Monterey Where Monterey Comes To Play
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