California State University, Bakersfield Explained

Motto:"Inspiring Excellence, Transforming Lives"[1] [2]
Type:Public university
Parent:California State University
Accreditation:WSCUC
Endowment:$26.9 million (2020)[3]
Budget:$111.5 million (2018)[4]
Administrative Staff:526 (Fall 2017)[5]
Faculty:662 (including Lecturers) (Fall 2017)
President:Lynnette Zelezny
Provost:Vernon B. Harper Jr.[6]
Students:11,264 (Fall 2021)[7]
Undergrad:9,788 (Fall 2020)
Postgrad:1,609 (Fall 2020)
City:Bakersfield
State:California
Country:United States
Campus:Large city[8]
Campus Size:375acres
Former Names:California State College, Bakersfield (1971–82)
Colors:Blue and gold[9]
Sports Nickname:Roadrunners
Free Label:Other campuses
Free:Lancaster
Free Label2:Newspaper
Free2:The Runner

California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB, Cal State Bakersfield, or CSU Bakersfield) is a public university in Bakersfield, California. It was established in 1965 as Kern State College and officially in 1968 as California State College Bakersfield on a 375acres campus, becoming the 20th school in the California State University system. The university offers 39 different bachelor's degree programs, 17 master's degree programs, and a doctoral program in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.).[10] [11]

As of fall 2021, there were more than 11,000 undergraduate and graduate students at either the main campus in Bakersfield or the satellite campus, Antelope Valley Center in Lancaster, California. CSU Bakersfield has more than 59,000 alumni from its four schools: Arts and Humanities; Business and Public Administration; Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering; and Social Sciences and Education. The university is primarily a commuter campus serving the city of Bakersfield. CSU Bakersfield's petroleum geology program is the only one offered by a public university west of the Rockies. The university is a Hispanic-serving institution. Past alumni include local, state, and federal politicians, including one former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.

History

CSUB owes its founding to the Donahoe Higher Education Act of 1960, which formalized the creation of the CSU system, initially as the "California State Colleges" system. The areas in the southern San Joaquin Valley had been demanding a four-year university since the 1950s. After considering several locations, including nearby Delano and parts of Kings and Tulare County, a steering committee decided on Bakersfield because it was the largest isolated metropolitan area in the United States without a four-year university at that time. Their decision was turned into a bill by Bakersfield's State Senator Walter W. Stiern, ratified by the California State Legislature and signed into law by Governor Pat Brown.

Under these rules, the school was authorized as Kern State College, in 1965, and founded as California State College, Bakersfield in 1968. First classes were held on October 1, 1970. In 1982, the California State College system became the California State University system. The school changed to its present name in 1988, when it was granted university status.

Presidents

Academics

Cal State Bakersfield academics are grouped into four schools with the exception of interdisciplinary programs:[12]

Together, the four schools offer 39 baccalaureate degrees, 17 master's degrees, and one educational doctorate.

Popular majors for undergraduates in 2018 included Business Administration (Management and Operations) at 19.39%, Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at 12.82% and Psychology (General) at 8.53%. While popular majors for graduates were Education (General) at 35.28%, Social Work at 20.56% and Student Counseling and Personnel Services at 9.44%.[13]

On May 24, 2019, at the 49th annual undergraduate commencement ceremony, CSU Bakersfield awarded 2,312 bachelor's degrees, a 28% year-over-year increase and a record for the university.[14] On May 22, 2019, 462 graduate degrees, including the university's first 12 doctoral degrees, were awarded at the annual hooding ceremony.[15]

Research

The Office of Grants, Research, and Sponsored Programs (GRASP) provides administrative support for student and faculty research. External grant funding grew from 2014/15 to 2016/17, with active awards increasing from 54 to 70 and total funding increasing from $10M to $14.7M.[16]

Institutions that have been established as part of university research include:[17] [18]

Cal State Bakersfield conducts scientific research using advanced facilities and technologies. Facilities include the Materials Science Engineering Lab,[19] Sediment Analysis Lab, Computer Mapping and Simulation Lab, Plant Physiology Lab, and Elemental Composition Lab, Wireless Communications Lab, Robotics Lab, Power Systems Lab, VLSI/Circuits Lab, Cognitive Processes Lab, Behavioral Neuroscience Lab, Social Cognition Lab, and more.[20] [21] Researchers on campus have access to advanced equipment including scanning electron microscopy, high resolution CAT scanning, and 2D gel electrophoresis.[22]

Active areas of research include synthesizing polymers from renewable resources[23] and geologic CO2 storage.[24]

The California Energy Research Center (CERC) was announced in 2013[25] to foster collaborations between CSUB students, faculty, and the Kern County energy industries.[26] Dr. Alan Fuchs became director of CERC in 2017. The California Energy Research Center will be housed in the 53,000 square-foot Energy and Engineering Innovation Center after its completion in 2023.[27]

Rankings

The Wsj:401-500
Usnwr Reg:34
Wamo Mastersu:25
2023-2024 U.S. News & World Report Rankings[28]
16 (Tie)
Top Performers on Social Mobility: West Region 22
Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs (nationwide, at schools where doctorate not offered) 69
319

Athletics

See main article: CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners. CSU Bakersfield is currently an NCAA Division I school. The Roadrunners began the transition process in 2006 and became a full Division I member in July 2010. Following a period as one of a small number of Division I independents, CSU Bakersfield joined the Western Athletic Conference in July 2013 for most sports.[37] For wrestling, CSUB competes in the Pac-12 conference. CSUB wrestling is the institution's original Division-I sport and has placed 3rd (1996) and 8th (1999) in the NCAA D-I Wrestling Championships.[38] [39] The men's and women's basketball teams compete on campus at the Icardo Center.

On June 1, 2006, CSU Bakersfield president, Dr. Horace Mitchell, formally announced that CSUB would raise $6 million over a five-year period for the additional costs for the athletics program. Part of the additional costs were to start a baseball program and a women's golf program.[40] In September 2011, CSUB accepted an invitation to join the Western Athletic Conference for baseball.

Rudy Carvajal was CSUB's athletic director from 1972 until his retirement on December 31, 2010. In 2005, Carvajal received the prestigious CSU Wang Family Award. Under Carvajal's leadership, CSUB has 30 national championships and received the Sears Directors Cup in 1998.[41] Nearly 60,000 people attend NCAA sporting events at CSU Bakersfield.[42]

On May 17, 2007, CSUB announced that Bill Kernen would be the school's first baseball coach, with the school's first official season beginning in spring of 2009.[43]

On January 8, 2011, Jeff Konya assumed the position of athletic director.[44]

Kenneth "Ziggy" Siegfried was named director of athletics on August 20, 2015.[45]

On November 27, 2017, CSUB president Dr. Horace Mitchell announced that CSUB had accepted an invitation to join the Big West Conference. The Roadrunners will remain a member of the Western Athletic Conference until July 1, 2020, at which point it will begin a full membership in the Big West.

Athletic achievements

National Division II championships

Student life

Undergraduate demographics as of Fall 2023
Race and ethnicity[46] Total
Hispanic
White
Asian
Black
Unknown
Two or more races
Foreign national
Economic diversity
Low-income
Affluent

Admissions

Institutional Research, Planning and Assessment[47] [48] [49]

In fall of 2013, CSUB enrolled its largest freshman class of over 1,300 students.[50] As of fall 2018 CSU Bakersfield has the largest enrollment percentage of unknown Americans and along with CSU Chico the second largest enrollment percentage of Native Americans in the Cal State system.[51]

Clubs and organizations

CSU Bakersfield has 120 recognized student clubs and organizations (including seven Greek Organizations: Phi Sigma Sigma, Gamma Phi Beta, Nu Phi Chi, Theta Sigma Chi, Kappa Delta Nu, Delta Zeta Tau, and Kappa Sigma) as of spring 2018. Each year, the top juniors, seniors, and graduate students receive membership invitations to join Alpha Chi through the California Iota chapter of the national honor society.[52] The Associated Students Inc. (ASI) is the recognized student government and is known for having an active role on campus. The Bakersfield campus has a Student Union and a 75000square feet Recreation Center.[53]

Enrollment and dormitories

CSUB is predominantly a commuter school, drawing its student body from a mix of recent high school graduates in the local area and working people returning to school or pursuing a degree part-time. While the majority of students live off-campus, the campus dorms can accommodate up to 324 students, or under 5% of the 2002 enrollment figure of 7,700. Space in the dorms has historically been plentiful, with single-occupancy rooms often available and one entire dorm devoted to faculty offices through the mid-1990s. However, space is now impacted and usually fills up quickly. New dorms opened in 2015.[54]

The six buildings comprising the original (West) dorm complex are each named after locations in J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings novel: Rivendell, Rohan, Entwood, Numenor, Dobry, and Lorien. Dorm facilities include a first floor lounge in each building, a dining commons, a swimming pool, a sand volleyball court, a pond, and a parking lot.[55] CSUB has added a new dorm complex called Student Housing East on the northeast end of campus. The original dormitories have been partially repurposed for use as offices.[56]

Tradition

The CSUB Fight Song and Alma Mater were selected through a structured contest initiated by the student government, Associated Students Inc. (ASI). The winner of the Fight Song Contest was a current music student, Gwendolyn Wilcox, and the winner of the Alma Mater Contest was a CSUB alumnus and current high school music instructor, Bill Ingram.[57]

Notable alumni

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: CSU Bakersfield Fact Book 2018 . CSU Bakersfield . 13 May 2019.
  2. Web site: About CSU Bakersfield . CSU History . 13 May 2019.
  3. As of June 30, 2020. U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2020 Endowment Market Value and Change in Endowment Market Value from FY19 to FY20 . . February 19, 2021 . February 21, 2021.
  4. Web site: 2017-18 University Budget Book-Final.pdf . CSU Bakersfield . 14 May 2019.
  5. Web site: Archived copy . 2013-06-18 . 2015-09-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150923195927/http://www.calstate.edu/hr/employee-profile/documents/Fall2012CSUProfiles.pdf . dead .
  6. Web site: Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs . CSU Bakersfield . 2021-03-05.
  7. Web site: Fall Term Student Enrollment . The California State University Institutional Research and Analyses . November 24, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191202230848/http://asd.calstate.edu/dashboard/enrollment-live.html . December 2, 2019 . dead .
  8. Web site: IPEDS-California State University, Bakersfield.
  9. Web site: CSUB Visual Identity Guide. CSUB.edu. July 15, 2020.
  10. Web site: Search CSU Degrees . 2013-01-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140202103125/http://degrees.calstate.edu/csu_degree_search2?noCache=703:1358363360 . 2014-02-02 . dead .
  11. Web site: Archived copy . 2017-02-14 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150424234126/http://degrees.calstate.edu/uploads/55/64/5564d4b6ec1584227ca2d1054c759f0f/Credential-Programs-08212012.pdf . 2015-04-24 .
  12. Web site: Schools and Departments California State University, Bakersfield. www.csub.edu. 2019-02-27.
  13. Web site: California state university%2c bakersfield programs - Bing. www.csub.edu. 2020-12-29.
  14. Web site: CSUB Will Graduate a Record Number This Year President Zelezny: A 'Golden Time in the History of CSUB' California State University, Bakersfield. www.csub.edu. 2019-05-16.
  15. Web site: First group of CSUB doctoral students prepares to graduate. SASIC. EMA. The Bakersfield Californian. 19 May 2019 . en. 2019-05-20.
  16. Web site: CSUB Fact Book 2018. 18. 2019-02-26.
  17. Web site: Institutes & Research Centers California State University, Bakersfield. www.csub.edu. 2019-02-27.
  18. Web site: Campus Centers and Institutes CSU. www2.calstate.edu. 2019-05-13.
  19. Web site: Dr. Luis Cabrales - Materials Engineering Laboratory. www.csub.edu. 2019-02-27.
  20. Web site: Dept of Computer & Electrical Engineering & Computer Science. www.cs.csub.edu. 2019-02-27.
  21. Web site: Research opportunities California State University, Bakersfield. www.csub.edu. 2019-02-27.
  22. Web site: CSUB Master of Science in Biology Program Student Guide. csub.edu. 2019-02-26.
  23. Web site: Dr. Luis Cabrales - Research. www.csub.edu. 2019-02-27.
  24. Book: Engineering Aspects of Geologic CO2 Storage . SpringerBriefs in Petroleum Geoscience & Engineering . 2017 . en. 2019-02-27. 10.1007/978-3-319-56074-8. 978-3-319-56073-1 .
  25. Web site: Energy and Engineering Innovation Center Academic Facilities Master Plan Proposal. 2018-02-26.
  26. Web site: Energy resource center to open in winter. 2014-10-15. en-US. 2019-02-27.
  27. Web site: Cal State Facilities Planning Documents 2019-2020 Submittals. COBCP for "Bakersfield - Energy and Engineering Innovation Center". 170–180. 2019-02-26.
  28. California State University–San Bernardino – U.S. News Best Colleges Rankings. U.S. News & World Report. 2021. September 26, 2020.
  29. California State University–Bakersfield - U.S. News Best Grad School Rankings. U.S. News & World Report. September 24, 2020.
  30. Web site: California State University--Bakersfield Rankings . U.S. News & World Report . September 25, 2020.
  31. Web site: 2020-08-30. Washington Monthly's 2021 College Guide and Rankings. 2021-12-06. Washington Monthly. en-US.
  32. Web site: 2020 Best Bang for the Buck Rankings: West. Washington Monthly . August 31, 2020.
  33. Web site: 2019 Master's University Rankings. Washington Monthly. September 27, 2019.
  34. News: America's Great Working-Class Colleges. The New York Times . 18 January 2017 . Leonhardt . David .
  35. Web site: CollegeNET . Social Mobility Index 2015 - CollegeNET . Socialmobilityindex.org . 2016-01-08.
  36. Web site: CSUB Makes List of Time Magazine's Best Colleges Ranking. May 4, 2014. CSU Bakersfield. October 5, 2018.
  37. http://www.gorunners.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=13300&KEY=&ATCLID=653464 THE MOVE TO NCAA DIVISION I – GoRunners.com—Official Web Site of the CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners
  38. http://www.wrestlingstats.com/ncaa/pdf/brackets/NCAA%201996.pdf
  39. http://www.wrestlingstats.com/ncaa/pdf/brackets/NCAA%201999.pdf
  40. Web site: Evans . Jeff . Historic signing: Bellows first to join golf team. Bakersfield Californian . July 26, 2006 . March 21, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20070927035353/http://www.bakersfield.com/150/story/64342.html . September 27, 2007.
  41. Web site: Loveless . Jaclyn . AD is 4th CSUB Wang winner . Cal State Today . March 21, 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070930193949/http://www.csub.edu/CSUBNews/cstoday/fall05/page3.htm . September 30, 2007 .
  42. Web site: CSU Bakersfield - The Impact of the California State University. California State University. October 5, 2018.
  43. Web site: Bill Kernen Bio. GoRunners.com. March 21, 2008. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110606012627/http://www.gorunners.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=58067&SPID=6320&DB_OEM_ID=13300&ATCLID=1387966&Q_SEASON=2007. June 6, 2011.
  44. Web site: Jeff Konya To Become Roadrunner Director of Athletics Jan. 8 . 29 November 2010. GoRunners.com. January 8, 2011.
  45. Web site: Siegfried Named Athletics Director at CSUB . Go Runners . 20 August 2015 . 20 June 2019.
  46. Web site: College Scorecard: California State University--Bakersfield . . 8 May 2022.
  47. Web site: Institutional Research, Planning and Assessment. https://archive.today/20130217091714/http://www.csub.edu/irpa/Applicant%20Report.shtml. 2013-02-17. 2013-01-16. dead.
  48. Web site: Archived copy . 2013-10-02 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131002081705/http://www.csub.edu/irpa/CDS%202012-2013.pdf . 2013-10-02 .
  49. Web site: Newsroom CSU Chancellor's Office . Calstate.edu . 2016-01-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150923221323/http://www.calstate.edu/pa/documents/Fall2014Applications.pdf . 2015-09-23 . dead .
  50. Web site: Fast Facts - Fall 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20150109061116/http://www.csub.edu/irpa/_files/Student%20and%20Campus%20Data/Fast%20Facts%20-%20Fall%202013.pdf. January 9, 2015. CSU Bakersfield.
  51. Web site: Ethnicity Enrollment Profile. www.calstate.edu. 2019-07-09. 2019-10-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20191025201228/https://www.calstate.edu/as/stat_reports/2018-2019/feth02.htm. dead.
  52. Web site: Alpha Chi Honor Society . CSU Bakersfield . 29 May 2019.
  53. Web site: Facilities Planning Development & Operations – BAS CSUB. https://web.archive.org/web/20060902195014/http://www.csub.edu/BAS/fpdo/projects.shtml. 2006-09-02 .
  54. http://www.csub.edu/housing/index.html Welcome to CSUB Residential Life
  55. Web site: Campus Map - Quadrant 2 . 2004-01-06 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20040106040139/http://www.csub.edu/campusmap/quad2/ . 2004-01-06 .
  56. Web site: Oliver. Megan. Old dorms buildings repurposed. therunneronline.com. 22 January 2017. 21 August 2017.
  57. http://www.csub.edu/csubnews/cstoday/fall05/page15.htm Cal State Today Spring 2005
  58. Web site: Biography. Roy Ashburn. https://web.archive.org/web/20080303072620/http://republican.sen.ca.gov/web/18/pro.asp. March 3, 2008. 2008-03-21.
  59. News: Next gen enters the fray. 2018-12-16. The Tribune India. 2019-05-13.
  60. Web site: Greg Colson CSU. www2.calstate.edu. 2019-05-13.
  61. Web site: Jeff Colson CSU. www2.calstate.edu. 2019-05-13.
  62. Web site: Jeremy Gunn - Staff Directory. Charlotte 49ers. en. 2019-05-13.
  63. Web site: Men's Staff. www.stanfordsoccer.com. 2019-05-13.
  64. Web site: 2019-08-12 . Brandon Landers: Aretha . 2024-05-28 . Meer . en.
  65. Web site: About Kevin . KevinMcCarthy.House.gov . 2008-03-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080227192537/http://kevinmccarthy.house.gov/showpage.asp?ID=62 . 2008-02-27 . dead .

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