San Jose State Propels New Academic Year

SAN JOSE, CA — Way beyond its location in the cerebral empire of the world, there's a reason San Jose State University excels across the board in accolades and achievements.

It's excellence in leadership from the top down. With SJSU President Mary Papazian's usual grace, determination and inspiration, the pillar of high achievement welcomed a whole new assortment of fresh faces and old-guard veterans eager to continue their higher education with the promise of improving our world on many fronts.

As Thursday’s annual tradition that marks the start of the new year, Papazian delivered the fall welcome address with messages of hope, strategy and innovation for the budding 36,000 students — one of the largest classes in San Jose State history.

Some messages revolve around academics like research and student success, from a fire engineering center to programs that embrace the arts. Others focused on the life of the student on campus, with improvements such as a state-of-the-art aquatic center and the pledge to conduct a 2020 college climate survey that aims to study a student's perception of the university.

Housing proposals will continue on the southeast corner of the campus, and measures to define the culture on campus will maintain order in a nation experiencing "troubling times," she mentioned as a call to stomp out bigotry, hate and intolerance.

"San Jose State is not immune to it," she said.

Papazian winced at the notion that just about a week ago white supremacy-oriented fliers were found on a campus known for speaking cultural values of "inclusion, equity, fairness, acceptance and respect" with conviction.

Still, in her own stellar way, she asked this class and its faculty to rise above and remember the greatness that resulted in two honors recognized in Money magazine as a "transformative" college and Forbes' nod as a "best value."

"We're no longer a best kept secret," she said. "Thanks to all of you, as they say, the cat is out of the bag."