The naming of a building, a $2.5 million federal grant and the First Year Experience are the lead topics for President Ortiz’s video message this week.

The CSU Board of Trustees last week approved the naming of Building 163 as “Ronald W. Gregoire Hall.” Gregoire has served on various university advisory boards and gave $2.5 million to the College of Business Administration complex that includes Building 163. The college also presented him with an honorary doctorate last spring.

Meanwhile, the College of Engineering has received a $2.5 million grant from the U.S Department of Education to promote graduate education for underrepresented students who are interested in water conservation and sustainability. The program is open to non-engineering majors.

The First Year Experience is a program that teaches new students the skills they need to succeed on campus and become lifelong learners. Each year, the students read a common book. This year’s selection is “Where Am I Wearing? A Global Tour to the Countries, Factories and People That Make Our Clothes” by journalist Kelsey Timmerman.

Timmerman will speak at the Bronco Student Center on Thursday, and the talk is open to the entire campus community.

In other news:

• IT Vice President John McGuthry was named one of the nation’s top leaders in information technology by Computerworld magazine. During his tenure, the campus has expanded wireless Internet, redesigned its websites and is converting the phone system;
• The women’s soccer team defeated Point Loma and Cal State L.A. in the first two rounds of the NCAA playoffs this past weekend and is headed to the third and quarterfinal rounds that begin on Thursday.
• The women’s volleyball team didn’t make the playoffs, but still finished another strong season. Junior Nicolleta Stork was named CCAA Player of the Week, and the team had a four-game winning streak at one point during the season.
• The cross country team heads to the NCAA Regionals in Billings, Montana, this weekend.
• The DREAMer’s Ally Network trains faculty, staff and students on how to help undocumented students. The next training session is 1 to 3 p.m. on Wednesday in the Bronco Student Center.
• The Kellogg University Art Gallery is hosting a Faculty Art Show touching on environmentalism, human struggle, pop culture and life in Los Angeles.
• International Education Week promotes cultural exchange and study-abroad opportunities. For details, see the PolyCentric story or visit this website.

To read the entire video message, download a PDF of the transcript.