As the 2025-26 academic year begins, Cal State Fullerton anticipates welcoming more than 44,000 students in the fall, including approximately 7,000 first-time, first-year students and over 4,500 new transfer students.
The new school year officially begins Aug. 23, but most classes will start taking place Aug. 25. Several students had the opportunity to kick-start their academic journey before the semester began, settling into their on-campus homes during Move-In Day and learning about the CSUF community at summer orientation.
From campus construction updates to new academic offerings and more, there’s a lot for Titans to look forward to in the upcoming year.
Leadership and Faculty Updates
CSUF President Ronald Rochon celebrated his first year on campus in July, expressing gratitude for the Titan community and its continued commitment to the university’s mission and the Fullerton Forward 2024-29 strategic plan.
New campus leaders include Khalilah Doss, vice president for student affairs and strategic enrollment management; Chris Manriquez, vice president for information technology/chief information officer; and Sang June Oh, interim dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science.
The campus community welcomes 40 tenure-track faculty members who bring with them a wealth of expertise in such areas as cinematography, AI-powered marketing, sports psychology and literacy education. The Office of Faculty Affairs and Records also announced the tenure and/or promotion of 61 current faculty members.
Associated Students Inc. welcomed its newly elected president, Haneefah Syed. Passionate about leadership and advocacy, Syed is studying political science and English and aspires to a career in law.
New Academic Programs
The fall semester will see the launch of several new academic programs across various colleges, each aimed at bolstering students’ skill sets and preparing them to lead successful careers.
For arts students interested in teaching, the College of the Arts introduced a single subject teaching credential in theatre, which includes fieldwork observation and hands-on teaching experiences in secondary school settings.
The College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics is offering a minor in data science that combines statistical concepts and probability theory with practical knowledge in computational methods.
The College of Health and Human Development created a credential program for graduate students pursuing social work careers in public school settings. The program provides graduates with the tools they need to assess the impact of home, school and community factors on students’ learning and provide intervention strategies.
In the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, students can add an aging studies minor to their degree. Recognizing that there is a shortage of specialists prepared to address the needs of the aging population, this program trains students to integrate aging knowledge into various fields while also preparing them for future studies in graduate or medical school.
The college also added an urban studies minor, which focuses on the characterization and understanding of 21st-century cities and urban regions. The program gives students a solid foundation for careers in city government, urban planning, criminal justice and more.
Campus Construction Updates
Construction of the Engineering and Computer Science Innovation Hub is underway following a groundbreaking event earlier this summer. The 42,000-square-foot workspace is set for completion in fall 2027 and will feature state-of-the-art labs, immersive learning spaces and real-world, project-based experiences.
The College of Business and Economics will break ground this fall on Landmark Hall, a new three-story building that will serve as a leadership hub for CSUF and the Orange County business community. Located on Folino Drive, the building will be home to the Giles-O’Malley Center for Leadership and the Erhard Institute for Leadership Studies.
In Housing and Residential Engagement, construction is in progress for the Sequoia student housing project. The new 510-bed apartment-style complex will include laundry and mail rooms, a market, campus-support functional spaces, six resident adviser apartments, and one staff member apartment.
Student, employee and hourly parking lots were renamed over the summer to improve wayfinding. Parking lot signage was updated and installed, and the new lot names are available on the CSUF parking map.
Upcoming Events
- Discoverfest, Aug. 27-28
- Convocation and State of the University, Sept. 16