ÌÇÐÄÉÙÅ®

Dr. Viridiana Diaz, Vice President

I am pleased to present the 2025-2030 Strategic Plan for the Division of Student Affairs at Cal State San Marcos—a dynamic blueprint that reflects our collective vision and commitment to student success.  

Building on the transformative foundation set by the university’s Strategic Plan, The Power of ÌÇÐÄÉÙÅ®, we embarked on an extensive planning process in fall 2023 to ensure our work remains aligned with the university’s priorities and responsive to the evolving needs of our students.  

At the heart of this plan is our commitment to shared ownership. Our planning process engaged Student Affairs staff/faculty, students, and campus partners—ensuring that the priorities set forth reflect the perspectives, experiences, and needs of our entire university community. Its success will depend on how we, collectively, bring it to life. 

• Collaborative Leadership

  Develop the skills to harness both individual and collective team strengths to achieve shared objectives and goals.

  Metrics:

  1. Engagement in leadership roles, group projects, or team-based initiatives
  2. Demonstrated shared ownership, accountability, and follow-through in collaborative contexts
  3. Application of communication, decision-making, and conflict-navigation skills
  4. Leadership confidence demonstrated through initiative and responsibility

  Growth Indicator Examples:

  1. Takes initiative and responsibility in group decision-making
  2. Seeks input from others and integrates diverse perspectives
  3. Shares responsibility for outcomes and credits others’ contributions
  4. Navigates disagreement constructively while maintaining trust
• Career and Professional Development

  Cultivate the capacity to identify and apply personal interests, strengths, values, and skills to inform and pursue academic and career pathways.

  Metrics:

  1. Engagement in career-related programs, internships, experiential learning, or career readiness activities 
  2. Ability to articulate connections between academic major(s), interests, strengths, and potential career pathways 
  3. Application of skills, values, and feedback to academic, career, or experiential decision-making 
  4. Persistence, progression, and graduation outcomes examined in relation to participation in career and experiential learning opportunities 

  Growth Indicator Examples: 

  1. Describes how coursework, co-curricular experiences, or employment relate to specific career interests 
  2. Identifies multiple potential career pathways aligned with skills and values rather than a single fixed outcome 
  3. Makes informed decisions about internships, majors, or opportunities based on self-assessment and goals 
  4. Demonstrates increased initiative in seeking experiential learning, mentorship, or career exploration 
  5. Reflects on experiences to clarify next steps (e.g., skill development, graduate study, workforce entry) 
• Critical Thinking

  Enhance the ability to actively and skillfully conceptualize, apply, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information gathered from observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication as a guide to belief and action.

  Metrics:

  1. Demonstrated ability to analyze information, identify patterns, and evaluate multiple perspectives 
  2. Use of evidence to inform decisions, problem-solving, or recommendations 
  3. Application of critical thinking skills to academic, co-curricular, or real-world contexts 
  4. Reflection on growth in reasoning, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities 

  Growth Indicator Examples:

  1. Breaks complex issues into parts to better understand causes and implications 
  2. Weighs evidence from multiple sources before drawing conclusions or making decisions 
  3. Articulates rationale for decisions rather than relying on opinion or assumption 
  4. Adjusts conclusions when presented with new or conflicting information 
  5. Applies lessons learned from one context to a new or unfamiliar situation 
  6. Demonstrates increased comfort navigating ambiguity or uncertainty 
• Holistic Wellness

  Build resilience skills and establish lifelong habits to realize personal definitions of success.

  Metrics:

  1. Utilization of wellness, basic needs, and support services when needed 
  2. Demonstrated awareness of personal well-being and resilience strategies 
  3. Confidence and effectiveness in seeking support and navigating campus resources 
  4. Application of self-care, coping, and help-seeking strategies in response to challenges 
  5. Persistence and continued enrollment examined alongside utilization of wellness and basic needs supports 

   Growth Indicator Examples:

  1. Identifies stressors and accesses appropriate support or resources 
  2. Demonstrates increased comfort and agency in help-seeking behaviors 
  3. Applies coping strategies to manage stress, workload, or personal challenges 
  4. Articulates knowledge of campus wellness and basic needs resources 
  5. Makes informed decisions that balance academic responsibilities and well-being 
  6. Sustains engagement or enrollment during periods of challenge with appropriate support 

• Equity & Inclusion

  Integrate, be knowledgeable of, and engage with people from different backgrounds. Actively challenge systems, structures, and policies of inequity to create a more just community.

  Metric:

  1. Sense of belonging and inclusion within campus environments 
  2. Engagement in equity- and inclusion-focused programs, initiatives, or learning experiences 
  3. Demonstrated awareness of diverse perspectives, identities, and systemic inequities 
  4. Application of inclusive practices in decision-making, interaction, or program participation 
  5. Persistence and retention patterns examined alongside belonging and engagement, with disaggregation where appropriate 

  Growth Indicator Examples:

  1. Articulates how identity, culture, or lived experience shape perspectives and interactions 
  2. Recognizes and names barriers or inequities within systems, policies, or practices 
  3. Adjusts behavior or approach to be more inclusive of others’ needs or experiences 
  4. Demonstrates increased comfort engaging across differences with respect and humility 
  5. Advocates for equitable access to resources, opportunities, or support 
  6. Participates in or helps shape spaces that foster belonging for marginalized students 
• Social Responsibility

  Recognize and engage in opportunities to care for the environment, civic responsibility, community involvement, and moving toward social change. Apply concepts of sustainability to address one’s social, economic, and environmental impacts.

  Metrics:

  1. Engagement in civic engagement, service, advocacy, or community-based activities 
  2. Application of social, civic, or environmental awareness to decision-making and action 
  3. Demonstrated understanding of individual and collective responsibility within communities 

  Growth Indicator Examples:

  1. Participates in service, civic, or advocacy activities with a clear purpose and follow-through 
  2. Articulates connections between personal actions and broader social or community impact 
  3. Demonstrates respect for diverse community contexts and lived experiences 
  4. Applies ethical reasoning when addressing social or civic issues 
• Oral and Written Communication

  Effectively utilize diverse forms of communication to express ideas to targeted audiences, including verbal, written and digital styles.

  Metrics:

  1. Demonstrated effectiveness in oral, written, and digital communication across contexts 
  2. Application of communication strategies appropriate to the audience, purpose, and medium 
  3. Increased clarity, organization, and confidence in conveying ideas 

  Growth Indicator Examples: 

  1. Communicates ideas clearly and persuasively in presentations, meetings, or group settings 
  2. Produces written or digital materials that are organized, audience-appropriate, and purposeful 
  3. Adjusts communication style based on feedback, context, or audience needs 
  4. Uses communication to facilitate collaboration, understanding, or action 
• Technological Fluency

  Gain proficiency in ethically integrating technologies that support knowledge acquisition, collaboration, innovation, and productivity.

  Metrics:

  1. Engagement in activities that involve the applied and purposeful use of technology 
  2. Effective use of technology to support learning, collaboration, productivity, or problem-solving 
  3. Demonstrated awareness of ethical, responsible, and appropriate technology use 

  Growth Indicator Examples: 

  1. Selects and uses technology intentionally to support tasks, learning, or collaboration 
  2. Demonstrates responsible use of digital tools, including attention to ethics, privacy, and access 
  3. Applies technology to streamline processes, enhance communication, or solve problems 
  4. Reflects awareness of the limitations and impacts of technology in different contexts 

• August 2023
  • Student Affairs embarked on a comprehensive strategic planning process, in collaboration with Batista Consulting Services.
• September 2023 – December 2023

  • Engaged Student Affairs staff and stakeholders to foster trust and add value to the plan.

    Completed a comprehensive review of data and documents, including institutional reports, assessments, and strategic plans, to establish a foundation and identify key focus areas for the planning process.

    Collected insights and feedback from staff and stakeholders through surveys and focus groups to inform the strategic planning process.

• January – February 2024
  • Analyzed and synthesized data from surveys and focus groups.
  • Workgroup proposed new Learning Domains to replace the Co-Curricular Learning Model.
• March 2024

  • Presented the strategic planning report findings to the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and the Student Affairs Leadership Team (SALT). The report included findings from surveys, focus groups, and other activities.

• April 2024 – May 2024
  • Senior Leadership Team (SLT) began reviewing the recommendations from the strategic planning report presented in March 2024.
  • Mission, Vision, & Values Workgroup proposed new mission, vision, and values for the division.
  • Senior Leadership Team (SLT) conducted further review of the recommendations.

• August 2024 – September 2024

  • Senior Leadership Team (SLT) refined strategic recommendations into strategic goals and priorities.

• October 2024 – November 2024
  • Strategic Goals and Objectives Workgroup, with two representatives from each unit, convened to identify actionable steps and develop assessment metrics for each goal.
  • Workgroup submitted recommendations to the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and Vice President of Student Affairs for final review.
  • Continued implementation planning and preparation for finalization.
• February 2025
  • Official launch and celebration of the completed strategic plan.
• Spring - Summer 2025
  • Guidance and support will be provided to align departmental goals and objectives with the new strategic plan.
  • Introduction of a tracking and reporting system to continuously monitor progress, keep us on course, and ensure accountability.