By SDCN Staff
San Diego, CA–The San Diego County Board of Supervisors Tuesday declared September 15 “CETYS Day in San Diego County.”
The proclamation, introduced by Board Chair Pro Tem Paloma Aguirre, marks the first time the County has extended this level of civic recognition to an institution based in Mexico. It represents civic recognition of 65 years of relationships that have connected students, educators, universities, companies, and organizations on both sides of the border.
CETYS University President, Dr. Fernando León García, and alumni guests, members of the board of trustees, and CETYS deans and vice presidents attended the meeting.
Dr. García accepted the honor on behalf of university students, faculty and alumni on both sides of the border.
“We wish to express our deepest gratitude to the San Diego Board of Supervisors, and especially to Supervisor Paloma Aguirre, for this extraordinary honor,” Dr. Garcia said. “For CETYS, this proclamation represents more than just recognition of our past 65 years. We are immensely proud to be part of the San Diego and Baja California community, and we look forward to continuing to build bridges, create synergies, connect opportunities, and share this future together.”
“Education is the most powerful tool for advancement. By opening doors and creating new opportunities, CETYS does more than just prepare its students; it transforms the lives of entire families and generates an impact that lasts for generations,” Supervisor Aguirre stated. “It is a true honor to present this historic proclamation for the first time to a Mexican university, recognizing 65 years of a partnership that strengthens our region and demonstrates that education knows no borders.”
Founded in 1961 in Mexicali, Baja California as a nonprofit organization, CETYS has grown into a binational university system educating generations of students who move fluidly between both countries. It is a founding member of the CaliBaja Higher Education Consortium, and champions the CaliBaja Innovation Center in Tijuana, an initiative of the US Embassy in Mexico, as well as a State Department American Space. CETYS is also the first university in Mexico to have been accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
CETYS currently holds formal partnerships with more than 20 US colleges and universities, including the University of San Diego, San Diego State University, the University of California San Diego, Southwestern College and City University of Seattle, which have made it possible to expand opportunities for mobility, academic collaboration, research, and international training for students and faculty. This is in addition to over 100 partnerships with universities around the world.
The “CETYS Day in San Diego County” Proclamation recognizes a track record that transcends the relationship between two institutions and reflects the role education can play in building a more integrated binational region.
