Dear Students,

Welcome to Cal State University, Northridge, and to the Looking Glass Student Information Center.

Today's students face many special challenges as they prepare for careers in a new century. While the economy has improved after several years of adjustment to new global demands, the workplace has changed dramatically. Industries and jobs that did not exist a quarter century ago now offer many exciting new employment opportunities for our graduates. This is reflected in the increasing number of sudents who recognize the importance of an advanced degree and the large number of older students who are returning to school for personal enrichment and to advance professionally in the new work environment. We recognize that these students who are investing in their future demand more of their university experience and we welcome the challenge of serving their educational needs.

In response to these challenges, Cal State Northridge has embarked on a major strategic planning process to renew our commitment to serving students and the community. Our goal is to ensure that the university educates the vanguard of leaders and citizens for the new millenium and that the campus remains a vibrant center of excellence in teaching, scholarship, research and creativity. Our strategic planning has involved the entire campus family, including faculty, staff, students, alumni, and our many friends in the community.

The centerpiece of our planning is a mission and values statement that will guide the university into the 21st century. This living document will help us to design programs and activities that will enrich students and develop their academic competencies, professional skills, critical abilities, and personal values for a democratic society, an interdependent world, and a technological age. It will enable us to assess our performance and to set standards of excellence for faculty and students; build an inclusive and cooperative community in an interdependent and increasingly diverse world; assist us in working in partnership with the local schools, businesses, community colleges, and government and social agencies to advance the educational, intellectual, artistic, civic, cultural and economic aspirations of our surrounding community; and create an environment conducive to innovation, experimentation and creativity.

Our students have already begun to benefit from this work. Students are already trained in using the many new communications and information technologies now available. All students, for example, have a personal computer account that gives them access to state-of-the-art information resources like e-mail, the Internet, and World Wide Web. Many faculty have also integrated these technologies into their coursework, to enhance student learning and expand the resources available to the students.

We are also working to identify and strengthen programs which embody the best of the university as an academic institution. This will enable us to meet our goal of ensuring that those programs which are already strong at Cal State Northridge will continue to receive the kind of support and resources necessary to enable them to meet the expectation of the students.

We also take great pride in the rich and diverse university experience we offer to students. In addition to the many cultural activities offered by the campus, more than 225 student organizations offer career preparation, recreation, artistic, religious and political opportunities. The recently expanded Student Union features state-of-the-art fitness facilities and a swimming pool, along with conference tooms and an impressive 500-seat performing arts center. Students also compete in a full intramural athletics program and NCAA Division I athletics as one of the newest members of the Big Sky Conference. And students are given plenty of opportunities to serve the community.