Our students are the heart and soul of the University. We are singularly proud of ours. Their outstanding achievements and their scholarship are best underscored by the impressive rate at which they are admitted into post graduate programs in the most prestigious universities in the nation. Particularly noteworthy is their acceptance into top medical and law schools and into first-rate doctoral programs.

CSUB is a community of students, faculty, and staff that is extraordinarily diverse-ethnically, linguistically, culturally and socio-economically. Its diversity is reflected by the wide range in the age of our students; including significant numbers of older returning students; by students who are first-in-the-family to attend college; by international students learning about democracy and the free market-all of whom add to the fabric of our University Community and help form a tapestry of many fine threads and with their presence enrich us all.

We are dedicated to helping our students succeed, so we provide a wide range of support services, including counseling, academic advising, and financial aid services. Our Honors Program offers academic enrichment and support of high achieving students, as well as special tutorial support to students who need it. In short, we are committed to making the collegiate experience at Cal State Bakersfield a truly exceptional and rewarding one for all students.

Here at CSUB, we are proud of the close linkages we have at every level of the regional community we serve. This University plays an important and central role in the development of the entire region. This close relationship provides an interesting array of opportunities for students to become involved in collaborative efforts between CSUB and public and private local agencies. Over the years, our students have been active in the public schools, worked with small businesses to improve their operations, carried out environmental studies for new construction projects, lent support to the Battered Women's Center downtown, and assisted low-income children through churches and other civic organization-to name a few of the activities. All of these represent wonderful learning opportunities for students and add additional dimensions to their educational experiences at Cal State Bakersfield.

As we approach the new millennium with the problems and possibilities that it presents, we are deeply involved in meeting the challenges of the changing times solving the complexities of the new era. We invite you to join us in these exciting times as we strive to make these modern day complexities a part of the learning experiences of our students to prepare them better for the future. I am confident that at CSUB you will find a exceptionally rewarding collegiate experience.

I extend my warmest personal regards. I look forward to meeting and welcoming you to the Cal State Bakersfield family.

Tomás A. Arciniega, President

California State University, Bakersfield