To: All CSUSM Corporation and CSUSM Faculty and Staff The California State University and CSU San Marcos are committed to the highest ethical standards and to creating an environment where fraudulent and other dishonest acts are not tolerated. CSUSM is dedicated to ensuring that all entrusted resources are utilized ethically, prudently, and for their designated purpose.  CAMPUS REPORTING OF FISCAL IMPROPRIETIES  Campus and auxiliary personnel must notify the Office of Internal Audit of all cases involving an actual or suspected fiscal impropriety. Once informed, the campus Internal Auditor, in consultation with the Associate VP of Administration, is responsible for determining whether notification to the CSU and other state officials is required under CSU Executive Order 1104 (EO 1104).  EO 1104 articulates systemwide requirements related to reporting actual or suspected fiscal improprieties affecting the CSU and its recognized auxiliary organizations to the Chancellor’s Office and other state officials. The reporting requirements apply to both state and non-state funds.  For questions or to report a suspected fiscal impropriety, please contact the Office of Internal Audit at audit@csusm.edu.   WHISTLEBLOWER AND WHISTLEBLOWER RETALIATION COMPLAINTS  The Office of Human Resources has been designated by the campus president to receive complaints from employees, former employees, and applicants for CSU employment who wish to report alleged improper governmental activity.   CSU Executive Order 1115: Reporting Procedures for Protected Disclosure of Improper Governmental Activities and/or Significant Threats to Health or Safety  CSU Executive Order 1116: Complaint Procedure for Allegations of Retaliation for Having Made a Protected Disclosure under the California Whistleblower Protection Act For whistleblower and whistleblower retaliation complaints, contact campus HR at hr@csusm.edu and refer to the following webpage https://www.csusm.edu/hr/lrer/compliance/whistleblower.html for additional information. 

Dear CSUSM community, As many of you know, our vice president for University Advancement, Jessica Berger, joined CSUSM in July 2021. Given that our campus policy requires that I conduct a periodic review of vice presidents in the third year of their initial appointment (and at intervals no greater than five years thereafter), I write to inform you that this process has begun and to invite your participation and feedback. Not only is it California State University policy to inform our university community of this review and to allow members to submit comments that respond to the specific criteria, but your participation is also important to me. Your feedback will support CSUSM’s forward progress, particularly as it relates to the leadership of University Advancement. The Periodic Review of the Provost and Vice Presidents policy provides details of the process and criteria. Your feedback and letters are invited on Vice President Berger’s approach to: Leadership and management Strategic planning University and community partnerships, and Functional oversight and management Please note that I am unable to accept petitions and unsigned letters. Please submit an email or letter no later than Tuesday, May 7, addressed as follows: Email: Periodicreview@csusm.edu Dr. Ellen Neufeldt, President California State University San Marcos Administration Building 5302 333 S. Twin Oaks Valley Road San Marcos, CA 92096-0001 Following the deadline, the written responses will be summarized into a report that will be discussed with Vice President Berger. None of the commentators will be identified by name, and responses will be treated in confidence to the extent permitted by the law. Please keep in mind that this is intended to be a constructive process that should benefit both our vice president and university. Thank you again for your participation in this important review process. Sincerely, Ellen J. Neufeldt, Ed.D. President

The Cal State San Marcos Alumni Association has received the 2024 Alumni Association Inclusive Excellence Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the largest and oldest diversity and inclusion publication in higher education. The award honors alumni associations’ pioneering programs, culture and initiatives that encourage and support diversity, inclusion and a sense of belonging for all alumni, irrespective of racial or ethnic background, sexual or gender identity, religion, socio-economic status, world view and beyond. CSUSM will be featured, along with 31 other recipients, in the June 2024 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. "Today, we celebrate not only the remarkable achievements of our Alumni Association and our team, but also the vibrant mosaic of experiences, backgrounds and dreams that define our alumni community,” said Lori Brockett, associate vice president of alumni engagement and university events. “Over 57% of our graduates last year were first in their families to earn a degree, and each one of our alumni brings a unique narrative of resilience, making it imperative that our association board reflects the diversity of our student body.” INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine selected the CSUSM Alumni Association because of its commitment to diversity initiatives, including a focused goal of recruitment and representation on the Alumni Council Board to reflect that of the diverse student body at CSUSM. The CSUSM Alumni Association also was noted for creating and building affinity group alumni networks over the past few years.   “We know that alumni associations are not always recognized for their dedication to diversity, inclusion and belonging,” said Lenore Pearlstein, owner and publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. “We are proud to honor these college and university alumni associations as role models for other institutions of higher education.” This marks a special recognition for the CSUSM Alumni Association and coincides with the recent accolade won by the CSUSM library for access and diversity. CSUSM proudly upholds its commitment to fostering an inclusive and equitable campus community and also celebrates a decade of consecutive honors as the recipient of the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity award by INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. For more information about the 2024 Alumni Association Inclusive Excellence Award, visit insightintodiversity.com.

How can one turn popular candies such as gummy bears, gummy worms and peach rings into a side business? Ask Cal State San Marcos marketing student Mo Carrasco.  Carrasco has been surrounded by entrepreneurs for multiple years, as her mother and aunt have a business in which they create and sell rim dip, a paste usually created with tamarind and chamoy that are then used to cover the rims of beers and other beverages. Carrasaco’s mom and aunt developed their own recipe for these rim dips in 2020. While Carrasco wasn't involved in the process, she used it as inspiration for her own business, Hot Summer Gummies (@hotsummergummies on Instagram).  “Where I live, tamarindo gummies are very popular,” said Carrasco, who is from Imperial Valley. “Personally, I don’t really like those ones, but my mom’s recipe was really good, so I pitched ideas.”  Carrasco’s mom was on board with the new idea. Together they picked up different kinds of candy, developed logos and packaging, and then Carrasco started selling the new gummies at her community college sporting events while attending Imperial Valley College.  “A lot of people really liked them, and I was selling out every time I went to the games,” Carrasco said. “I pitched the gummies to the owners of the stores that had rim dip in them. They loved the idea and gave me space to put them in their stores.” Carrasco said her goal going forward is to expand her business into San Diego, or even sell the gummies on campus. Carrasco is on the right track to help her business progress. Last fall, she was the winner of the Innovation Hub’s Quick Pitch competition, which closely resembles the hit TV show “Shark Tank” in which competitors pitch their business ideas to a panel of judges. Carrasco received $1,000 for her winning pitch.  “I was in shock,” Carrasco said. “I had a big smile on my face, and I was like, ‘Oh my god, no way.’ ” Carrasco put the prize money into her savings, with plans to utilize it for her business.   Not only did winning the Quick Pitch provide funds to help grow the business, but it also equipped her with lifelong lessons.  “I remember sitting down at the competition and I almost walked out because I was so nervous,” Carrasco said. “But I said, ‘We’re just going to do it.’  “It really showed me what I was capable of and helped me step out of my comfort zone – and it made me feel that what I'm doing is good. I got really good feedback. I brought gummies with me and went home empty-handed at the end of the night because I sold them all. It just gave me a lot of confidence.” Carrasco is using this newfound confidence while working toward her degree at CSUSM. She will graduate in May 2025 with a bachelor's degree in marketing. While she has thoughts of continuing with the business, her dream is to be a social media coordinator for the Los Angeles Lakers.  “I’m very open-minded,” Carrasco said. “I’ll just see what happens.”  Media Contact Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Editorial and External Affairs ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

Cal State San Marcos’ HOPE & Wellness Center is among the winners of the 23rd annual Live Well San Diego Public Health Champion Awards. The awards are given to people or organizations with extraordinary achievements in areas of public health services that protect and promote the health of San Diego County residents. CSUSM was one of the three winners in the category of public health services when the awards were handed out on April 5. “We’re truly humbled to receive this award,” said Cathy Nguyen, coordinator of health promotion at CSUSM. “It’s a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team at the SHCS: HOPE & Wellness Center over the past 23 years.” Part of Student Health & Counseling Services, the HOPE & Wellness Center provides culturally competent health promotion programs to help students develop healthy behaviors and lifestyle choices. The center aims to educate students about various health topics and engage them in activities, events and counseling, all to build healthier students.  “Through advocacy, education and culturally competent health promotion programs, we’ve strived to foster a campus culture that prioritizes student well-being,” Nguyen said. “This recognition highlights the collective effort of our incredible past and present staff, interns and peer educators who have contributed significantly to our mission. It reaffirms the importance of promoting wellness in higher education and motivates us to continue our efforts in creating a healthier, happier campus community because public health is everything and everything is public health.” Media Contact Eric Breier, Interim assistant director of editorial and external affairs ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314

Cal State San Marcos psychology professor Alex Huynh recently had a paper published in Cognition, an international journal that publishes theoretical and experimental papers on the study of the mind. Since he started at CSUSM in 2020, Huynh has taught classes on such topics as social psychology and advanced research methods in social psychology. As a social and cultural psychologist, he is interested in culture, diversity and understanding different perspectives. Using these interests, Huynh co-wrote a paper that shows the process of explaining controversial political issues to others. The paper encourages open-mindedness and emphasizes minimizing negativity toward those who disagree politically.  Huynh’s paper discusses four different studies performed by him and co-authors Abdo Elnakouri and Igor Grossmann. They explore the method behind the studies, participants and results, then conclude with a discussion about the results found from each of the studies.  The authors' conclusion supported their hypothesis -- providing an explanation of a topic results in more open-minded political thinking. The paper, “Explaining contentious political issues promotes open-minded thinking,” was published online on March 23 and is free to read for a limited time. Media Contact Eric Breier, Interim assistant director of editorial and external affairs ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314