By Sonni Simmons

Community News Editor

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Cal State University San Marcos has transformed in numerous ways since classes began in 1990, and the campus continues to grow even after 25 years.

The campus opened to 448 students in its first year, far less than over 11,000 students that are enrolled today. The student population of CSUSM, however, is not the only component of the university that has grown in the last 25 years.

In the last two years alone, five buildings and centers were constructed on campus. These additions to the campus include the Jan and Esther Stearns Center for ACE Scholars, which opened in February 2014, the Nursing facility in University Hall in January 2015, the Student Health and Counseling Services building in January 2015, the Veteran’s Center in September 2014 and the University Student Union, completed in January 2014.

“Since 2004, CSUSM has averaged one new building a year. These are the physical signs of a growing, breathing, living campus,” said Margaret Chantung, Director of Communications and Senior Public Information Officer for CSUSM.

The addition of these buildings is a physical expression of the intellectual growth that CSUSM nurtures. The value of community also serves as the foundation for this growth, since they were made possible by donations and students themselves.

“The growth often reflects partnerships with the community – for instance, the Veterans Center was a donation from the students of the Stevens Institute for Technology in New Jersey and is a space that allows us to better support student veterans, active-duty military members and their family members,” Chantung said. “The QUAD, built by a private partner, not only helped us fulfill one of our strategic priorities – to enhance student life – but allowed us to have the capacity to build the USU.”

“The USU, the Student Health and Counseling Services building and now The Sports Center, currently under construction, are all funded by student fees so these buildings also reflect the vision of students and their commitment to leaving a legacy for future Cougars,” Chantung said.

As CSUSM students evolve and the population grows, the university grows in tandem. To accommodate the students, there will be more campus growth in the near future.

“The Athletics Department just hosted the groundbreaking of The Sports Center on Monday, March 23. We look forward with excitement and anticipation as we watch this facility take shape over the coming months and then celebrate its grand opening in the late summer of 2016,” said Chantung. “We […] also look forward to the new and innovative CSUSM University Store that will combine the University Store and Bookstore together in one central location in the Dome, opening in fall 2015.”

The growth of CSUSM allows students to be apart of a transforming campus environment that fosters success within every aspect of the college experience.