Dear Students and Alumni,
As summer continues to heat up, so do the numerous activities at CSU.
CSU launched its radio show, CSU Talk Radio, in April and I am looking forward to being a guest on Tuesday’s show along with my sister, Chantell. She and I are often approached by students and alumni who tell us about their wonderful experiences with CSU and how their degrees have impacted their careers and families. I am always humbled to hear how much our customer service and dedicated faculty have made such a difference in so many lives.
We are looking forward to chatting with you and learning how CSU changed your life at 6 p.m. CDT Tuesday.
The CSU Student and Alumni Engagement Department (SAE) is really excited about two sold-out alumni events scheduled in Atlanta this week. About 140 graduates and their families will attend a reception Saturday at the Georgia Aquarium. The alumni weekend continues with a tailgating party on Sunday at the Atlanta Braves vs. Philadelphia Phillies baseball game! We are expecting a huge crowd as all 225 tickets have been reserved.
In addition, the busy SAE department is launching the first phase of the new career services manager, CareerQuest this week. CSU students and alumni will be invited to log in and check it out. During the next few months, SAE will be enhancing the job bank with new career opportunities from our learning partners and CSEG Business Development Alliances.
Speaking of departments, the CSU Outreach Department is sending representatives to a host of conferences this summer. One of the key events will be the Firehouse Expo on July 15-17 in Baltimore, Md. Also attending this conference will be representatives from Waldorf College, CSU’s sister institution. As most of you know, Waldorf is based in north Iowa and has a full offering of online degree programs and an active traditional campus with athletics and fine arts programs. Waldorf’s accredited online programs include associate and bachelor degrees in areas such as occupational safety, fire science, criminal justice, and organizational leadership. A Masters in Organizational Leadership is in the works and will hopefully be available this Fall. If you are in the area, please stop by the joint CSU/Waldorf Student & Alumni reception Thursday evening at the Baltimore Hyatt Regency at 5 p.m. to chat with a representative.
Other conferences slated for July include the Alabama Sheriff’s Association (July 24-27) and the Alabama Association of Chiefs of Police (July 27-31). Both will be here in Orange Beach and feature CSU representatives.
Also this month, CSU will present the Mid-States Fire Conference on July 30 through Aug. 1 at the Embassy Suites Northwest Arkansas Hotel, Spa & Convention Center in Rogers, Ark. Firefighters and fire officers are encouraged to attend this potent and career-building event to learn a great deal about leadership. Read more about this conference and a featured speaker.
In January, I told you about a new building we were adding to the campus in Orange Beach. Today, I am happy to report that building is complete and is now occupied by several departments. The new facility will also be a great location to host conferences and trainings.
At the end of this month, CSU students will have an opportunity to socialize via the new Blackboard social learning tools. Students can participate in a social environment geared toward academic engagement and learning. These tools connect students at Blackboard Learn institutions around the globe while encouraging them to learn from one another. Read more about the tools here.
Lastly, the CSU family offers sincere condolences to the friends and family of CSU alumnus Gordon Ambelas, of the FDNY, who died in the line of duty earlier this month. We applaud his bravery and loyalty to duty.
God Bless,
Robert Mayes
President
