I don't want to give away too much, but I can say that I've had the privilege of working with many talented creatives on a CSU Stanislaus documentary film that will serve as part of the University's WASC accreditation process this year. The film will focus on student learning at its core, and the ways it is accomplished here.

Within our Communications Department alone, our talented art director, Eric Arvizu, has produced some very cool videos about the University's Direct Emergency Notification system, the Alumni Spring Reunion, and Commencement 09. But far and away, his best video work at the University to date has been the creation of the "Life After Death Valley" documentary, where he gives accounts of the 2009 student field trip to Death Valley led by retiring Anthropology/Geography Professor Ida Bowers. You can check it out below. The video will not disappoint, and is an example of the quality to expect of future videos at CSU Stanislaus.

There's also a Promise Scholars video that's been filmed by on campus and is in the works as I write this. Coming from someone who interviewed Promise Scholars Program Coordinator Wanda Bonnell and three talented Promise Scholars for the 2009 issue of STAN Magazine, I can say with absolute certainty that this program is worth every penny invested in it — and it is indeed the real deal.

All in all, it's a pretty exciting time for CSU Stanislaus, as the University takes its steps toward finding more creative and interactive ways to reach out to alumni, informing and engaging them.

Pass the Junior Mints, please.