Infographic by Scout Passalacqua

California Lutheran University administrators announced new investments in university growth initiatives aimed at strengthening enrollment, Athletics and Student Life at the Town Hall meeting on March 5 in Samuelson Chapel.

Following up on the announcement of Cal Lutheran’s intended fall 2026 launch of an esports program, as announced at the Oct. 28 Town Hall meeting, President John Nunes said the university will be investing $1.1 million into the new program as a way to increase enrollment.

“We are going to do esports differently than is done in a lot of other places,” Nunes said. 

While esports teams typically play first-person shooter games or games of similar nature, Nunes said the program’s gameplay will limit gratuitous violence and unnecessary sexualization of women in games in an effort to maintain alignment with the university’s mission. 

Nunes said prior to the Town Hall, a Board of Regents meeting was held acknowledging the work done to the Ahmanson Science Center, as well as budgetary plans for Cal Lutheran’s future.

“There’ll be some investments like the gas pedal, there’ll be some cutting like the brake pedal, and it’s going to feel kind of jerky along the way,” Nunes said.

Updates on the university’s “Where Dreams Take Flight” campaign, as announced at the Oct. 28 Town Hall, were shared by Interim Vice President for University Advancement Rachel Ronning. So far, Cal Lutheran has raised $2.3 million for scholarships, $1.8 million for the track and field facility and $230,000 for Samuelson Chapel renovations. 

 “We have a $25 million campaign, we are at $4.3 million. We are 20% of the way there,” Nunes said. 

Rebecca Campos, executive director of strategic projects, announced more information on Pathways, a university initiative under development with plans to launch during fall 2026, according to an Oct. 13 email from the Office of the President. Campos said Pathways’ goal is to connect students, regardless of their background, with more resources and opportunities Cal Lutheran has to offer. The email said the new academic advising and faculty mentorship model, which is also under development, will be “critical” to the initiative’s success. 

The addition of a new icon to the MyCLU portal homepage was announced by Caitlin Hodges, director of executive operations and board support. The icon, to be titled “Propelling the Mission,” will link to a Google Form that will allow anyone affiliated with Cal Lutheran, particularly students, to submit initiative ideas for university advancement. Part of the form, Hodges said, will ask the sender if they are interested in serving as an “initiative owner,” a role that would give the “curator” creative insight. 

“If you have an idea for something that’s going to improve this campus, it does not have to fall within your department or division,” Hodges said. “We would love to have your participation, as you are the curator.”

Nunes said earlier in the week a summit was held to discuss a course of action for the university’s Athletics Department, attended by himself, faculty, donors and current and former student-athletes. 

Nunes said while Athletics are “central,” the university is in a “tough spot” with the department as a result of its rising costs and the university’s declining enrollment.

At the summit, Nunes said, the student-athletes in attendance were able to deliver testimonies about the role athletics played in their lives. 

Hodges said the university’s budget advisory committee, comprised of faculty and staff from various departments within Cal Lutheran, discussed how the upcoming budget cycle will affect the university.

Hodges said the meeting prioritized mindfulness about what would have to be cut, as well as retaining items relating to Cal Lutheran’s mission.

“Cutting does not get us where we need to go, but that does not mean we will not cut strategically, but we will also invest strategically in areas that will produce growth,” Nunes said. “It will be a jerky ride. There’s no easy way out of a hard situation.”

Editor’s Note: This article was updated at 4:10 p.m. on April 7 to correctly attribute Director of Executive Operations and Board Support Caitlin Hodges as the announcer of the “Propelling The Mission” icon to the MyCLU portal homepage, not Manager of Academic Affairs Angela Naginey.