Remarks by Timothy P. White
Chancellor, The California State University
Breakfast of CSU Champions
Roundtable on Healthcare Workforce Contributions
California State Capitol, Sacramento
March 12, 2019
Thank you all for joining us this morning. And thank you, Senator Roth, for your role in facilitating this conversation as well as for your leadership at the local level. Through your efforts, we have seen an innovative partnership develop between Riverside City College and the California State University. This is facilitating a model program that enables us to more effectively address the growing need for baccalaureate-level nurses. President Virjee, you might want to elaborate just a little on that partnership since I know CSU Fullerton is involved.
We’re here today to talk deeply and thoughtfully about how the Cal State campuses are preparing students for the state’s healthcare workforce, and how we can continue to enhance these efforts. Fortunately, the legislature and governor have made wise investments in the CSU in the past; those investments are producing great results.
Every year, more than 25,000 health-related graduates from the CSU join the workforce. They come from our 19 schools of nursing, 14 schools of social work, 14 schools for allied health professionals and nine schools of healthcare management.
Additionally, the CSU is educating men and women to become the next generation of nursing professors and advanced practitioners. Our Doctor of Nursing Practice programs – thanks to support from Dr. Arambula and the legislature – are ensuring that we have the faculty needed to teach in our nursing programs and that we are preparing a diverse and expansive generation of healthcare workers and leaders.
I also note that we are sponsoring legislation this year – AB 829, by Assemblymember Bloom – that will grant us the authority to offer an occupational therapy doctorate. Thank you, Assemblymember, for carrying this legislation for the CSU. This degree will allow our occupational therapy programs to meet new accreditation standards in the field and address an ever-increasing demand for occupational therapists across the state. Our Dominguez Hills and San Jose campuses offer the only public master’s degrees in occupational therapy in California, and 97 percent of graduates from both those programs pass the national certification exam. That’s a pretty good indication of the caliber of healthcare education you’ll find at the CSU – and I’m sure that President Papazian and President Parham will provide us with more information about the success of their programs.
The need for healthcare is expected to balloon in coming years as life-expectancy lengthens and more people enter their golden years. Consequently, careers in healthcare-related fields are set to outpace growth in all other industries over the next 10 years. It is important that we keep these statistics in mind as we talk today about how we can work together to ensure that the CSU continues to do its part in educating California’s healthcare workforce.
Let’s move forward now, so you can hear from CSU presidents who can speak directly about the unique efforts on their campuses, and we can engage in a robust roundtable discussion. Again, thank you, Senator Roth – and all of you – for your involvement and participation today.