Greetings faculty and staff!

As we welcome students back to campus for the first day of classes, I am grateful for the faculty and staff whose dedication makes the start of a new academic year possible. And as I begin my sixth academic year as Fresno State’s president, I am especially mindful of the extraordinary role you play in advancing our mission and supporting our students.

The beginning of a new academic year is an opportunity to reflect and to look ahead. How can we continue to enhance the student experience, respond to the changing needs of our region and ensure that Fresno State remains a place where students are prepared to serve the Valley and compete anywhere in the world?

At last week’s Fall Assembly, I shared several examples of the progress we have made over the past year toward that goal — strengthening the pathway to, through and beyond Fresno State and laying the groundwork for even greater impact in the years ahead. Here are a few highlights:

CLEARING THE PATH

We are ensuring that Fresno State is the natural next step for our region’s students, fostering a true sense of belonging from day one.

Bulldog Bound Transfer Program
10+ community college partners
3,100 transfer students registered for fall 2026

Launchpad: Freshman Success Camp
250+ first-generation students
Three local school district partners

SUPPORTING THE JOURNEY

Our commitment to student success is reflected in our infrastructure and magnified by the power of philanthropic partnerships.

New Affordable Student Housing
228 apartment-style beds added
First new housing project in 50 years

$44.4 million in charitable giving
Second-highest fundraising year in university history

INNOVATING FOR THE FUTURE

We are expanding access to advanced technology and creating opportunities for innovation that ensure tomorrow’s workforce is prepared to address our most pressing needs.

F3i Super Computing Center
Tools spanning artificial intelligence and advanced analytics

The Forge
Innovation hub supporting economic and industry growth

As we look to the semester ahead, there is much more to celebrate, including a new provost, new student housing and other developments across campus. I invite you to read more about what’s new this fall on Fresno State Today.

Thank you for carrying this work with me. I look forward to what we will continue to achieve together.

Go ’Dogs!

Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval, Ph.D.
President