Brand new state-of-the-art classroom buildings and residence halls went up, and we started getting attention and recognition for what we had accomplished - our Service Learning program was highlighted in U.S. We added athletic teams competing in more sports. Over the next several years, CSUMB continued to grow and evolve. The entrepreneurial spirit and camaraderie that those early classes embodied still exists on-campus - students are empowered to get involved, start things up and grab every opportunity they can imagine so that CSUMB reflects them and their passions as much as it makes a difference in their lives. Even so, then-president Bill Clinton paid a visit to the university's opening dedication ceremony. In a few short months, that team adopted the Vision Statement, which set out our core values, educational philosophy, and defines what we aspire to be.īill Clinton at CSUMB's dedication ceremony in 1995Īugust 28, 1995, marked the first day of classes, and as our pioneer alumni can attest, the campus was still a bit rough around the edges. The opportunity to create a new university drew some of the most dedicated, creative and talented people in the field of higher education to Monterey Bay. Hank Hendrickson, then Executive Dean of CSUMB, signed the deed on August 29, 1994.

In June 1994, that plan was approved and Cal State Monterey Bay began. When Congress decided to shut down Fort Ord, the local community proposed the base be converted into a university. In all, more than 1.5 million men and women received basic training at Fort Ord. Even celebs like Jimi Hendrix and Clint Eastwood completed basic training here. Throughout the '50s, '60s and '70s, Fort Ord was a major location for basic training, reaching its heyday during the Vietnam War. We grew out of Fort Ord, a decommissioned Army base with a rich history going back to 1917. Our history definitely makes us stand out.

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