At Cal State Monterey Bay, we recently reached a milestone that speaks to the power of higher education as well as the future strength of California’s workforce. For the last 10 years, the California State University system has taken on an ambitious challenge, the Graduation Initiative 2025, or GI 2025, to increase graduation rates and eliminate equity gaps across the state. Cal State Monterey Bay has been recognized as the only CSU campus to achieve all six of its GI 2025 targets. That achievement reflects more than institutional success. It represents lives transformed, communities strengthened and opportunities expanded across our region.
We increased our four-year graduation rates for first-time students by more than 23 percentage points and our two-year graduation rates for transfer students by 32 percentage points. Just as important, we closed the gaps for historically underserved and Pell Grant-eligible students, so all students are graduating at similar rates. The success of our university in the GI 2025 initiative has expanded opportunities for every student, regardless of financial background, to move forward and build a strong foundation for the future.
As a result, more of our graduates are entering the workforce sooner, carrying less debt, and sharing their talents across the region. Each student who graduates on time begins earning, innovating and serving the community earlier. Reducing time-to-degree lessens the financial burden on families, increases early career earnings and strengthens the regional talent pipeline. From agriculture and education to technology and healthcare, our graduates are making a lasting difference throughout the Central Coast and beyond.
Continued progress has strengthened Cal State Monterey Bay’s position as a state and national leader in student success and upward social mobility. The new California Mobility Index, released by the College Futures Foundation in February 2025, placed Cal State Monterey Bay at the top of the list for advancing economic mobility. The university continues to earn top upward-mobility placements in national rankings. Being recognized among the leading universities in California and across the nation is a powerful reminder of the impact of our shared commitment to student achievement and opportunity.
The increase in our graduation rates and the elimination of the equity gap did not happen by chance. It was the product of collaboration, creativity and a shared belief by all members of Cal State Monterey Bay in the potential of every student. Faculty, advisors and staff worked together to remove barriers that too often slow progress toward a degree. We redesigned high-failure courses with stronger supports, expanded tutoring and supplemental instruction, and strengthened transfer pathways with our local community college partners. We will continue our momentum using technologies that help us identify students who need additional support and allow us to connect them to resources.
Our success with GI 2025 affirms the value of innovation and persistence in public higher education. When all students, regardless of background, have equal access to success, our communities gain a more skilled, diverse and resilient workforce. Equity and economic vitality are inseparable outcomes that provide opportunity for our region.
As we celebrate the moment, we continue to look toward the future by adapting our academic programs to support workforce needs across our region. We are expanding and developing new programs in healthcare to address the growing need for skilled professionals in clinics, hospitals and community health organizations. We are preparing future accountants who will support businesses and public agencies. We are growing our sustainable hospitality and tourism management program to meet the region’s demand for exemplary service professionals. We continue to establish agricultural programs that support one of our strongest industries.
We are also developing a comprehensive mentoring program that will guide students from their first day on campus through graduation and into their careers or graduate studies. Our goal is to ensure that every student has both the knowledge and the network to succeed after college. This approach supports the broader CSU promise: that our work does not end when students graduate, but continues as they build lives, careers and communities that strengthen California.
The success of GI 2025 proves what is possible when an entire university community unites around student success. With the momentum we have built, Cal State Monterey Bay will continue to lead, innovate and transform lives. Our graduates are not only achieving their dreams; they are shaping the future of our state, one degree at a time.
Vanya Quiñones is the president of Cal State Monterey Bay.
