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-Editorial
As the 2024-25 academic year begins at SDSU Imperial Valley, the campus is buzzing with excitement and new opportunities. On Monday, Aug. 26, classes officially started, and with an estimated 1,200 students enrolled, the university has set a new record. Official enrollment numbers will be finalized in mid-September, but the initial figures reflect the growing popularity of the campus.
This academic year is particularly noteworthy due to the launch of several new programs designed to enhance student life and academic offerings. The Division of Student Affairs introduced a new Intramural and Recreational Sports program, alongside the Guardian Scholars program, which provides tailored support for students who were previously part of the foster care system.
In the academic sphere, SDSU Imperial Valley’s Division of Academic Affairs has rolled out two significant new programs: a Bachelor of Science in Public Health and a Chicano/a Studies minor. Both programs are available to undergraduate students this fall and are expected to attract a great deal of interest.
The Bachelor of Science in Public Health program is set to specialize in key areas such as epidemiology, environmental health, occupational health, health services administration, and behavioral health. This program offers students internship opportunities with regional organizations, preparing them for careers in hospitals, government agencies, international programs, private and volunteer agencies, and clinics. Additionally, students in the program can pursue a Master of Public Health degree at SDSU.
This new public health program is part of a broader initiative by SDSU Imperial Valley to expand its degree offerings and support services for students. In May 2022, the university announced the creation of an accelerated pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. This program allows freshmen to complete their BSN in three years and transfer students in just two years.
Adding to the academic enhancements, SDSU Imperial Valley is also launching a new Chicano/a Studies minor. First proposed in 2021, this program mirrors the Chicanx Studies program at the main SDSU campus in San Diego and is particularly relevant to the Imperial Valley, where Hispanic and Latino residents make up about 85% of the population.
Efren Lopez, an English professor at SDSU Imperial Valley, explained that the idea for the Chicano/a Studies minor began with a student survey. “It was eye-opening to see the support from the students and university leaders,” Lopez said. “We knew the new minor program would create a stronger sense of identity and belonging on our campus.”
The Chicano/a Studies minor will cover topics such as social justice, history, U.S.-Mexico border issues, gender issues, and Chicanx feminism. Students will have the opportunity to engage in research through various grants and participate in the Transborder Scholar Collaborative, a research initiative focused on the social justice of transborder students in education along the U.S.-Mexico borderlands.
“I am honored to be part of SDSU Imperial Valley during this historic period of growth and expansion,” said Vannessa Falcon-Orta, assistant professor in the Division of Education. “The Chicanx Studies minor epitomizes this progress.”
The new minor program has received widespread support from faculty across various departments, including psychology, criminal justice, and liberal studies. Many professors emphasize that this program will help students develop a more competitive profile in the job market, especially as employers increasingly prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Dean Guillermina Gina Nuñez-Mchiri noted the collaborative effort between faculty at SDSU Imperial Valley and their colleagues in San Diego. “When our students go into the workforce with a stronger knowledge base, they will be able to feel more empowered to address the needs of their community and feel proud of their identity,” she said.
The introduction of the Chicano/a Studies minor also coincides with the addition of new public health tenure-track faculty members at SDSU Imperial Valley, supported by the National Health Institute’s Faculty United FUERTE grant, which aims to boost research on Latinx health disparities.
Gilberto Reyes, a history instructor at SDSU Imperial Valley, reflected on the journey to establish the new program. “The students taught me to never give up and they created a sense of unity that we needed to get the proposal going,” Reyes said. “We hope that this new program will help dismantle the negative stigma surrounding Chicano history and culture, and enhance the community and campus life at our university.”
