CSU president offers update on CSU happenings

Dear Students and Alumni,

Things have been busy here at CSU as 2012 kicks into high gear.

I want to share with you a few of the recent great things, internally and externally, that are happening at your university.

FDIC Conference: About 30,000 people attended this conference in Indianapolis which featured classes, training and exhibits targeting those in the fire service industry. There were people from all over the world in attendance and CSU and Waldorf were there to greet them. Our booth was one of the most popular there and featured several industry celebrities including editor of Fire Engineering Bobby Halton, CNN correspondent Mike Brooks, retired Fire Chief Alan Brunacini, “Rescue Me” actor Mike Lombardi and CSU staffers Sherri Twitty, Kim Plash, Billy Hayes, Ron Dennis, Brittany Malburg, Todd Briggs and Chantell Cooley. I was also pleased to present CSU graduate Rick Lasky, who is an icon in the fire service industry, with the 2012 DETC Outstanding Graduate Award.

Executive Fire Officer Program (EFOP): Another important matter related to the fire service industry is the admissions policy of the EFOP. At the April Board of Visitors (BOV) Meeting for the National Fire Academy, the US Fire Administrator directed the BOV to revise the admissions criteria for the EFOP. Individuals with a bachelor’s degree from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the US Department of Education shall be eligible once this revised criterion is finalized and implemented. The BOV accepted this directive and a sub-committee was created to complete this task by September 1st, 2012. Therefore, this rule change is not in effect currently and we eagerly await the implementation of this change. Sincere thanks and recognition goes to Chief Ernest Mitchell, the US Fire Administrator, for his leadership in this matter that affects so many fire service personnel and CSU graduates.

Alumni/Student Reception: CSU and Waldorf College hold receptions at many of the large conferences in which we have a presence. The next Alumni/Student Reception will be held at the National Sheriffs’ Association Summer Conference, June 18-20 in Nashville, and I would like to invite all alumni in the area to please come to the CSU reception on June 18 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Delta Ballroom D of the Gaylord Opryland Resort.

Faculty visits: Connecting is important for any organization, particularly when your employees are miles and miles away. CSU builds communication bridges with our faculty by regularly inviting them to our campus in Orange Beach. Recently, professors with the College of Arts and Science and the College of Safety and Emergency Services visited CSU separately and spent a few days training, learning about other departments, networking and meeting with various CSU executives including myself.

National Sheriffs’ Association Jail Training Seminar: Earlier this month, CSU played host to this valuable three-day seminar that addressed various issues facing jail administrators, supervisors and sheriffs. Some of the topics covered were constitutional and statutory rights of inmates. We had more than 70 law enforcement professionals at our campus in Orange Beach for this special seminar.

Chick-fil-A Leadercast: Presented locally by the Baldwin Business Support Center, the Leadercast was a one-day televised leadership development seminar broadcasted from Atlanta. About 78 area residents attended this event which CSU and two other businesses helped sponsor. I am proud to say we went the extra mile to lend a hand, as we normally do with area projects. CSU staffers in Special Programs, Marketing, and Community Events and Relations rolled up their sleeves and helped the Business Center with presenting this educational and motivating event.

Service/Program Improvement Initiatives: Each year CSU takes on aggressive goals that are aimed at continually improving programs, courses and services. More than six programs will receive significant revisions this year. This results in CSU courses being revised and continued quality improvement. In addition, we have initiatives underway to improve the student experience within CSU courses and outside of the courses. Center to all of this are efforts to maintain and improve the CSU family culture. Within this culture of caring and respect for our faculty and staff, is the heart of the excellent service we strive to provide to our students. We know that our success only comes from our students and alumni referring their friends and co-workers. For this to occur, we want your experience at CSU to be exceptional.

Lastly, I would like to remind you about the CSU Graduation Ceremony scheduled for Oct. 19. It is always a pleasure for me to attend and participate in graduation and open house so I can put a face to so many of the names that have enjoyed attending this university. We at CSU are honored to be a part of your journey and congratulate you on this remarkable achievement in your life. I look forward to seeing you there!