In a cross-country move from the East Coast, Lynn Mahoney has landed a newly established position, associate vice president for undergraduate studies, which is intended to improve the undergrad experience for Cal State Long Beach students.
Mahoney, born and raised in New York City, made her way over to CSULB on Aug. 1 to fulfill a position created with the intent of revising certain programs, such as University 100, general education requirements and undergraduate advising.
Undergraduate studies for some students tend to be a misguided journey, Mahoney said, and hopes her position will help students to “take ownership of their undergraduate experience.”
One of her main focuses involves modifying undergraduate advising. Many students, she explained, get overlooked at any college, and especially at a campus the size of CSULB.
“We have special programs for the good students … and for the ones we’re most concerned about,” Mahoney said. “Those folks in the middle are left to navigate for themselves.”
University 100, the mandatory freshman class, will be another one of Mahoney’s first programs to revise.
Mahoney said she has heard mixed reviews of the class from faculty and the handful of students she has met, and plans to “figure out how it can be the most effective.”
Mahoney assisted in creating the fall 2008 G.E. requirements.
Her goal is to make it easier for students to grasp general education and what the school mandates.
“It doesn’t have to be as confusing as it is. We really have to embrace it and make it less frightening,” Mahoney said.
As far as specific improvements to the G.E. process, Mahoney said she has yet to implement her ideas.
Despite the large enrollment at CSULB, Mahoney said, “I can’t believe the number of people here who are devoted to undergraduate education … I’m struck by the amount of resources.” However, she did state that CSULB has the dilemma of having to expand the resources already set in place.
Some students’ feelings toward the undergraduate experience are in tune with Mahoney.
“I don’t think advising was that helpful,” said Kristina Polk, a junior political science major. “My mom, honestly, has been more helpful.”
Polk didn’t find academic advising useful.
“The receptionist is rude. I hate going there.”
Sebastian Salceda, a senior sports psychology major, agreed. “Advising could use more work,” Salceda said. “They require it as a freshman, but it should be a yearly thing, at least until you’re done with your G.E.’s.”
The hardest part, Salceda said was figuring out the capstone courses, “But otherwise, it’s pretty simple.”
University 100 also seems to have selective uses for students.
“I’m bad with maps, so pretty much them showing me around helped,” said Monette Borigsay, a junior political science major. “It was more helpful than not.”
Some students said the class could be shortened.
“Personally, I think it could’ve been like a day,” Polk said.
Salceda said the library portion was the most useful tool in the University 100 class, but still thinks, “It doesn’t need to be more than a week.”
In the 1980s Mahoney spent a period of time in Southern California, and for “22 years has wanted to come back.” As a native New Yorker, Mahoney has fallen victim to Southern California culture, “People are definitely nicer,” Mahoney said.
Mahoney has a bachelor’s degree in American Studies from Stanford University and a doctorate in history from Rutgers University.
“[She] impressed faculty, staff and administrators with her strong commitment to undergraduate education, excellent background and leadership in student advising and student success initiatives, and her informed experience with general education curricular development,” wrote Karen Gould, CSULB provost and senior vice president, in a press release. “I am confident that she will bring expertise, insight and collaborative leadership to this important position.”
Mahoney is forming many of her ideas from student feedback.
“I would be happy to receive e-mails from undergraduates sharing their thoughts and concerns with me,” Mahoney said.