In collaboration with the California State University Chancellor’s Office, Cal State Fullerton hosted the CSU Outreach Professional Development Conference, which was themed “When Life Gives You Oranges.” The Orange County-inspired theme was carried throughout the conference in the event program, marketing and decorations, including an orange carpet.
The purpose of this annual conference is to prepare CSU campuses for the upcoming fall outreach and recruitment season. The 2025 event was well attended with almost 200 guests representing the 22 campuses, all participating in this purposeful gathering designed to inform, inspire and connect outreach professionals within the CSU system.
The conference also served as an important platform for reflection, collaboration and professional growth. Newer staff benefited from the experience and insights of seasoned colleagues, while returning professionals deepened their networks and gained new ideas to refresh and enhance their outreach and recruitment strategies. The conference agenda was carefully curated to offer a wealth of information, data, presentations and expertise. In addition to the extensive programming and resources provided, the feel of the conference was dynamic, and the energy was electric and empowering.
The three-day conference agenda had many offerings for the group, including a tenure-specific session, a mock college fair activity, regional group meetings and roundtable discussions, which included such popular topics as effective recruiting, yield intervention strategies, data-informed decision-making and strengthening relationships with community colleges.
The Chancellor’s Office provided exciting and informative updates on enrollment, financial aid, Cal State Apply and more. Leadership also addressed the San Luis Obispo/Maritime integration.
In addition to the impactful content, this conference also focused on the holistic aspect of the industry and promoted ample opportunities for inclusive team building, cross-campus camaraderie and professional networking. The CSUF outreach team planned several optional social activities to introduce the group to fun and entertaining venues in Orange County.
A highlight on the social calendar was a home game at Angel Stadium on Aug. 4, where the CSU team was acknowledged with an on-field appearance prior to the Angels taking on the Tampa Bay Rays.
The second social activity created a fun and playful environment to participate in “The CSUF Challenge: Scavenger Hunt,” which gave everyone a chance to explore downtown Fullerton, an area that many CSUF students and locals enjoy throughout the year.
On the final day of the conference, many were saddened to say goodbye to new and old colleagues alike. Cal State Fullerton’s mascot, Tuffy Titan, served as emcee for the closing of the event and offered the mic to any attendee who wanted to contribute a reflection on their time spent together. Several mentioned appreciating the rare opportunity to build their outreach community and meet so many people within their field. Others shared that they felt this conference built a strong foundation for feeling supported, especially while on the road when their busy season is in full swing and challenges and pressures arise.
To commemorate the experience, Cal State Fullerton took a group photo on the staircase in the Titan Student Union, all wearing the newly designed conference shirts. In addition to tradition, Cal State Fullerton presented an inaugural banner to the CSU that will be displayed for years to come by the Chancellor’s Office and future host campuses.
Each year, a campus is voted to take home the Team Spirit Campus trophy. The trophy was awarded to Cal State Chico.
At the close of the event, many of the attendees gathered for the final social event, aptly named “Let the Good Times Bowl.” They bowled a few games, reflected on the conference takeaways and laughed at what are now lifelong, shared memories.
It was a Titan-sized honor for Cal State Fullerton to serve as the host campus and unite both new and longtime contributors to collaborate, strengthen their practices and reaffirm their pivotal roles in advancing access to higher education.