An architectural rendering shows California State University San Marcos’ Integrated Science and Engineering Building, which broke ground July 31 and is currently under construction. (CSUSM courtesy photo)
San Marcos-based Hunter Industries is donating $10 million toward the construction of a new science-engineering building at California State University San Marcos in what the university calls one of the largest gifts in its history.
The announcement was made Friday, Sept. 19, the same day the university launched its $200 million Blueprint for the Future fundraising campaign. On Monday, Sept. 22, CSUSM announced a $2 million National Science Foundation grant to support chemistry and biochemistry majors.
CSUSM’s Integrated Science and Engineering Building broke ground in July and will be named in honor of Hunter Industries, a global manufacturer of products for landscape irrigation and lighting, dispensing technologies and custom manufacturing. The naming requires approval of the California State University system Board of Trustees, according to a CSUSM news release.
Completion of the building is expected by fall 2027, the university stated. The project is funded through a combination of CSU systemwide money and external contributions such as Hunter’s.
“This gift represents an extraordinary investment in the future of our region,” university President Ellen Neufeldt said in the news release. “Hunter Industries has been part of CSUSM’s story since our very beginning, growing as we grew, believing in our mission and sharing a vision for the future. I truly cannot imagine a better partner to walk alongside us in this next chapter. This will have such a great impact for our campus and region — opening doors to higher education and preparing the next generation of highly skilled engineers and scientists.”
With the Integrated Science and Engineering Building, university officials said CSUSM can meet the increasing demand for STEM education in San Diego County and the greater region. The complex is expected to expand enrollment in engineering disciplines from 500 to nearly 2,000.
“What excites me most about CSUSM is how innovation here directly translates into workforce opportunity,” Simon Kuo, chair of the CSUSM Foundation Board and vice president of corporate quality at Viasat, said in a news release. “The ‘Blueprint for the Future’ campaign is about fueling new ideas and building the pipeline of talent our region needs to thrive — from health care and technology to education and the arts.”
The $2 million grant from the National Science Foundation announced Sept. 22 aims to foster a strong learning community for chemistry and biochemistry majors in addition to scholarships for qualified students, the university stated. The program plans use a vertical mentoring learning community approach — where advanced students mentor newer students in a communal setting — for about 30 students per year, with eight first-year students receiving renewable $15,000 scholarships based on financial need, according to CSUSM.
“The community aspect of it gives it a supportive place to really go for your goals, but also a safe and secure place to experiment,” chemistry and biochemistry professor Robert Iafe said in the Sept. 22 announcement.
The program is led by Iafe, in addition to chemistry and biochemistry professor Afra Panahi, and CSUSM Chief Diversity Officer Aswad Allen.
“There are concrete benchmarks along the way for students to actually see themselves progressing,” Allen explained in the announcement. “Vertical learning allows students to visualize their futures and see themselves where they want to be.”
The program aims to provide a comfortable learning environment with like-minded individuals guiding newer students toward their careers or future studies in STEM fields.
“We make sure they participate in professional development activities so they can build a strong science identity and become more competitive for graduate school and job market,” Panahi said in the Sept. 22 news release. “The supportive environment from their peer mentors, academic advisers and professional mentors can really help them build a stronger network.”
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});