Fresno State receives record high applications

Fresno State announced record enrollment numbers on Friday.

About 30,800 students applied to the school this year – twice the application average for California State University campuses.

The number of applicants is a near 6,000 increase since 2010. The school currently enrolls more than 23,000 students.

Fresno State President Joseph Castro delivered his State of the University address at the Save Mart Center on Friday.

Castro also announced growing graduation rates.

Graduation projections have increased from about 48 percent, for the freshman class that entered in 2006, to about 58 percent for the class that entered in 2009. Most of that improvement occurred in the past two years, since Castro signed on as president.

“Our students are the hardest-working, most diverse and passionate that I have ever known in my career,” Castro told faculty and staff Friday. “They bring many special talents to our campus. Our job is to challenge and support them with a quality educational experience that leads them to graduation in a timely way and distinction in their chosen career.”

Castro also announced major construction projects, including plans for a new student union complex.

The current student union was built about 50 years ago, when the student body was much smaller. Details for the project are still being worked out, but the new union will likely not stay in the current location.

Castro also committed an additional $1 million to faculty and staff salaries and more support for diversity and food security initiatives.

The Student Cupboard was launched in November and has since served more than 800 low-income students. The Student Cupboard has been moved to a larger facility in the Industrial Technology Building and will double its operating hours this fall.

A Commission on Human Relations and Equity will sponsor several programs this year to help promote diversity and inclusion on campus.

“Our region needs and deserves the very best leaders, and developing leaders is what Fresno State does best,” Castro said. “Our core strength drives entrepreneurship, innovation and life-long learning – helping to make our Valley a vital place to live, and the world our graduates touch even stronger.”

The first day of fall-semester classes for students is Tuesday.

This story was originally published August 21, 2015 at 10:35 AM with the headline "Fresno State receives record high applications."