Student Services
Various student and campus services are offered to individualize and enrich university instruction. This is based upon the principle that personal development and maturity are integral components of a comprehensive educational experience. To these ends, student and campus services are designed to help students gain full benefit from university life and to assist each student in meeting his or her individual needs.
The Vice President for Student Affairs reports directly to the President of the University and oversees departments, programming, and services that directly impact the quality of the student experience on campus. Departments within the Division of Student Affairs include the Career Development Center; Residence Life and Housing; Office of Services for Students with Disabilities; Health Center; Counseling Center; Student Activities office (responsible for student activities, cultural programs and foreign student services); Associated Students, Inc; Food Services; Bookstore; Student Union; and the soon to be constructed Student Recreation Center. The Antelope Valley Student Services Coordinator, the Dean of Student Life (responsible for Student Conduct issues), and the Associate Vice President for Campus Life also report directly to the Vice President for Student Affairs.
ASSOCIATED STUDENTS, INC.
The Associated Students, Inc. (ASi) of California State University, Bakersfield exists to provide an official voice through which students’ opinions and issues may be expressed regarding university and statewide affairs. ASi seeks to assist in the protection of the rights and interests of individual students and the student body as a whole. In the spring of 1976, the constitution which instituted student government at CSUB was approved by an overwhelming majority of the student population. The organization has evolved since that time and was incorporated in 1987 as a non-profit organization. It is an officially recognized auxiliary organization of the California State University.
More than just a student government, ASi is a unique organization that fosters student development and involvement in educational, cultural, and social activities.
This is accomplished through the provision of resources and programs that encourage leadership, civic participation, and social, educational, political and cultural awareness for the betterment of the students.
ASi is comprised of a Board of Directors (with directors from each school, class level, residential life, and Antelope Valley) in addition to the student body president and vice presidents. ASi oversees a budget that is funded entirely by student fees, paid each quarter through registration. ASi does not receive state support. This Student Body Fee is reallocated by ASi to support clubs, organizations, activities, programming, services, athletics, and the Children’s Center. When you see the ASi logo, you see your student dollars at work.
CAMPUS BOOKSTORE
The Runner bookstore is a full service bookstore providing service to the University campus and its visitors. The bookstore carries all course required materials as well as school supplies, study guides, convenience items, and emblematic giftware, including clothing. The bookstore also offers educationally priced software online.
CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTER
The University offers a centralized Career Development Center providing career exploration and counseling services to CSUB students. Professional trained staff at the career center work directly with students to explore and discuss educational and career plans, with the goal of creating an academic and professional road map for success. These services are provided in support of the educational mission of the University, in cooperation with various academic departments and student services departments.
Career Counseling
- An emphasis is placed on assisting students with self reflection and appraising strengths relative to career goals and aspirations. Career inventories are used to assist students in identifying interest patterns and characteristics that facilitate informed career decisions.
Career Guidance
- Enjoyable and meaningful testing is offered to help students identify interests and skills. Test results are used to connect interests and skills with careers and to open a variety of occupational opportunities for students.
Resume Development and Job Search Strategies
- The career center utilizes an effective resume development methodology focused on highlighting skills and preparing students for interviews. Additionally, the career center works individually with students to create job search strategies uniquely designed for the student. Presentations, Seminars and Events - The career development center can also be found in the classroom. Brief presentations and 10 week career development courses include topics such as the basic elements of the job search process, resume writing and interview preparation. Career fairs occur regularly throughout the academic year to provide a connection to companies and organizations.
On-Campus Interviews
- On campus interviews are a significant part of the job search process and are facilitated by the career development center. Visits from a variety of organizations and companies are a regular occurrence on campus. And representatives are invited to visit CSUB to provide students the opportunity to explore career paths and meet potential employers. Vacancy Listings and Referrals - Each year over 7,000 jobs are listed with the Career Development Center. The center lists available jobs through the department website and by direct referrals to students from the career center staff.
Research Contribution
- The Career Development Center may furnish information about the employment of students who graduate from programs at CSUB. The information is collected from graduates nationally and compiled by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.
CHILDREN’S CENTER
The Children’s Center is a student-sponsored program through the University Foundation which is designed to provide developmental activities and care for children aged 2 through 5. The program is concerned with the personal growth of children while providing a meaningful educational experience for those participating youngsters. Included in the approach is a concern for the children’s educational needs, social learning, emotional growth, and physical well-being.
While the emphasis is to provide a program for the children of California State University, Bakersfield students, other children are welcomed for admission as space permits. Interested families should contact the Director of the Center as early as possible prior to the start of each quarter in order to complete application procedures.
COUNSELING CENTER
The University provides services to address the mental health needs of college students at the Counseling Center. These services are designed to help students develop their maximum potential while pursuing their educational and personal goals, as well as to help remove any emotional or psychological barriers that may interfere with students’ successful graduation from CSUB.
Professional counseling services are provided to all registered CSUB students at the Counseling Center. Outreach, consultation, and emergency response services are also provided to students, faculty, and staff.
The licensed, professional, and caring counselors who staff the Counseling Center provide, free of charge, confidential individual and group services in the following areas:
- Crisis Intervention - Counselors are available at all times that the Center is open to provide crisis intervention assistance.
- Educational Counseling - Educational counseling includes selecting an appropriate major, working on academic problems, and educational planning. Counselors provide opportunities for identifying interests, goals, and skills, and learning decision-making skills.
- General Studies Courses - Each quarter a variety of General Studies courses are offered. Courses are typically available in such areas as self-esteem, stress management, parenting, test anxiety, and adult children from dysfunctional families.
- Personal Counseling - Personal counseling is an opportunity to meet on a one-to-one basis with a licensed counselor to explore various needs and concerns. Concerns include relationships, abuse, and emotional issues such as loneliness, self-confidence, anger, and depression. Personal counseling may address any issue which influences a person’s sense of well-being and progress in school. Due to high demands for services, an appointment may be necessary and the number of individual counseling sessions is limited.
FOOD SERVICES
The Runner Café and the Dining Commons are operated by SodexhoUSA, Campus Division. The Cafeteria is open Monday through Friday 7:30 am to 2 pm and graband- go items and snacks until 5 pm; and on Friday until 3 pm. Wiley’s Pub is open Monday through Thursday, 11 am to 9 pm, and Friday 11 am to 5 pm. Jazzman’s Café is open Monday through Thursday 7:30 am to 8:00 pm, and on Friday to 3:00 pm. The Dining Commons are open to the public.
Each location serves a unique menu, designed for that location. Please see our website at: www.csub.edu/ foodservices for more information, menus, nutritional information, and promotions.
STUDENT HEALTH SERVICES (SHS)
The College Health Specialists at the CSUB Student Health Services are dedicated to providing the highest quality health care to the diverse community at Califor nia State University Bakersfield. Services are designed to help students stay healthy and reach their academic goals. Enrolled students at CSUB have access to basic medical care at the Student Health Services located on both the main campus and the satellite campus in Antelope Valley. The SHS excellent medical staff of physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurse and other licensed medical professionals offer a wide range of care to help students stay well and get better quickly should they become ill or injured. The Health Service is accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, an independent national accrediting organization that recognizes the Health Service’s high standard of outpatient medical care and services.
All currently enrolled students can access the health services with their CSUB identification card. Current enroll students of the Extended University can qualify for care once they have paid the quarterly mandatory health fee. If students are under 18 years of age, they are required to submit a signed “Consent to Treat” form by their parent or guardian prior to receiving any services. Forms are available at the Health Center reception desk.
Services offered at the Health Center include both basic and augmented services such as general medicine, physicals, immunizations, health education, laboratory, x-ray, and pharmacy. All basic services rendered in support of actual illness or injuries are provided at no extra cost. Augmented services such as pharmacy services, specialized lab testing, or services requested for health maintenance or clearances have a small fee associated with them. The complete fee schedule is posted in the Health Center and on the website: www.csub.edu/ healthcenter/.
All charges for health care provided off campus are the responsibility of the individual student. The Health Services recommends that students have supplemental health insurance for services beyond the scope of the Health Center; such as emergency room care, ambulance service, hospitalization, and outside specialist care. For those students not otherwise covered, medical insurance plans are available through the Associated Students, Inc.
Please also see the catalog section on Health Screening regarding documentation of the vaccine series for Hepatitis B vaccination for those students 18 years of age and younger, and documentation of a vaccination for Measles and Rubella.
RESIDENTIAL LIFE & HOUSING
The campus residence halls provide CSUB students the opportunity to live on campus, establish a community of support with fellow residents, and engage in a variety of social, recreational, and educational activities while pursuing their academic goals.
CSUB residential facilities consist of six three-story buildings. These traditional residence halls accommodate fifty-five students in double and triple rooms. Each hall is accommodated with a television lounge and a study room which are located on the ground floor. All living areas are carpeted and all rooms have individualized heating and air conditioning. All student rooms come with basic cable television and high speed internet access. Other amenities include microwave ovens in each lounge, a centrally located coin operated laundry facility, swimming pool, bicycle racks, parking, and a lighted sand volleyball court. Freshman who do not live at home or with legal guardians are encouraged to live on campus.
The Residential Life Office sponsors a series of social, educational and recreational programs throughout the year. The Dining Commons serves as a focal point for many of the programs as well as food service. Students must select between a 14 and 19 meal plan when living in the campus resident halls. The dining format is all you can eat and includes hot entries, a deli line, a charbroiler line, a twenty four item salad bar and a desert bar including ice cream.
The residence hall staff includes a full time professional Resident Coordinator as well as student Resident Assistants and Programming Assistants. All staff has been trained in community development with the express purpose of enhancing student life on campus.
SERVICES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES (SSD)
California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB) was planned with a dedication to academic excellence and an emphasis on accommodating individual student needs. This philosophy is extended to all students and is implemented for students with disabilities through the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD).
The mission of SSD is to provide support services that will enable every student, regardless of disability, to have access to a university education. In addition, SSD staff will promote campus awareness of and sensitivity to disability issues.
CSUB is accessible both in its architectural planning and in the attitudes of the faculty and staff. As the nineteenth institution in the California State University system, CSUB was built in the 1970’s in compliance with state architectural building codes that mandate acces sibility for persons with disabilities. It is a small campus, built on flat terrain, with classrooms and services located close together and with proper ramping. SSD recognizes the following disabling conditions which may impede the educational process and necessitate support service(s) or programs: visual limitations, communication disability, mobility limitation, specific learning disability, other functional limitations, and temporary disabilities.
- Services are available without charge to all enrolled students with verified temporary or permanent disabilities. All contacts and obtained information are confidential within CSU policies and state and federal laws.
- Assistance is available for mobility, reading, writing, and communication needs that may occur during registration.
- Readers, note-taking paper, test proctors, scribes, and interpreter services are provided as appropriate.
- Priority registration is available for students with disabilities.
- A variety of equipment is available including: tape recorders, assistive listening devices, a Kurzweil reading machine, Brailler, CCTV large text display, and adaptive computer training.
- Contact is made with off-campus agencies such as the Department of Rehabilitation in order to best meet the needs of the students. SSD staff serves as liaison with campus departments and personnel to ease the student’s integration into the campus population.
- A learning disabilities specialist is available to provide diagnostic assessment at no cost to currently enrolled CSUB students who feel they may have a learning disability.
- Disabled Parking spaces for persons with physical disabilities are designated near each major facility on campus and may be used with a valid DMV Disabled placard.
- Students who are interested in obtaining information about services appropriate to their disabilities should contact the SSD staff for an application for services. SSD is located in the SA 140. Upon receipt of a completed application, including current medical documentation or previous diagnosis of a learning disability, the SSD will evaluate and certify the disability and recommend appropriate accommodations.
Disability Services Advisory Committee
- Each campus in the CSU is encouraged to establish an advisory committee for services to students with disabilities in order to assist in the evaluation of current campus policies and procedures relating to students with disabilities. The Advisory Committee will also develop plans relating to programs and services for students with disabilities, recommend priorities, review barrier removal priorities as specified in the State University Administrator’s Manual (SUAM), and develop timelines.
At CSUB, members of the Disability Services Advisory Committee are appointed by the Director of Disability Services, as designated by the campus President. The composition of the committee includes campus representatives from various student disability categories, administrative, and academic areas including the Disability Services Office, the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships, Admissions and Records, Housing Office, Counseling Center, faculty, etc.
Any disability related concerns should be forwarded to the Advisory Committee to be placed on the agenda for their next meeting. The Committee normally meets on a quarterly basis and more frequently should the need arise.
STUDENT ACTIVITIES
The Office of Student Activities assists students, faculty and staff in the development and coordination of social, cultural, educational and recreational activities and programs for the university. Co-curricular activities and programs are planned to enhance instructional offerings, provide opportunities for student involvement, and make available a variety of diverse experiences to assist students in the development of their interpersonal and social skills. These activities and programs include: campus clubs and organizations, fraternities and sororities, special interest programs, recreational and leisure activities, intramural sports and student government.
Student Activities is also concerned with the development and training of student leaders. All students are encouraged to become involved in the planning of various student activities and to serve on the numerous campus committees. Student Activities is interested in student ideas for new activities and programs and for suggestions for improving the existing ones. Students who have ideas for activities and programs or who want to get involved are encouraged to visit the Office of Student Activities.
International Study Abroad Program - Information concerning study opportunities for American students in foreign universities is available from the Office of Student Activities. This office organizes the selection of U.S. students applying to one of the International Programs operated by the California State Universities in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Denmark, France, Ger many, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, Republic of China, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and Zimbabwe. For additional information, refer to the section on International Programs under Academic Information.
STUDENT UNION
The Student Union is designed to serve as the social center of the campus community and provide a comfortable atmosphere for students to meet, organize, and attend a variety of events. The building is a contemporary, dynamic facility unique in structure and appearance on campus. The Student Union offices, organizations, facilities and services are intended to support and enhance a successful university experience. Organizations and services housed within the Student Union include: Wiley’s Pub, a video arcade, The Runner Bookstore, Office of Student Activities, Student Resource Center, Associated Students, Inc., Safe1 Credit Union, Choices Grant Office, and the Student Union Director’s Office. The Student Union, Inc. Board of Directors is comprised of students, alumni, faculty, and staff members who guide the direction of the Student Union and set its policy.
Reservations for Student Union facilities may be made by contacting the Director’s Office. Facilities that are available for rental include a variety of conference rooms, a large meeting room, outside patio areas, and Runner Park. Rental charges vary depending upon the facility utilized and whether the reservation is being made by a student group, campus department, or off-campus guest.
In addition to tables and chairs, the Student Union has portable stage risers and a variety of audiovisual equipment including portable light and sound systems for use within the building.
The Student Union hours of operation vary throughout the year. Contact the Director’s Office or Information desk for specific days and hours of service.
CSUB - ANTELOPE VALLEY STUDENT SERVICES
Counseling Services - The Antelope Valley Counseling Center offers CSUB-AV students services such as personal coaching, educational advising, and career counseling. These services are designed to encourage and facilitate students’ academic success, as well as to assist students in reaching their maximum potential while pursuing their educational and personal goals.
Health Services - Health services are available at the Antelope Valley campus for all registered students who have paid the health services fee. There is a Nurse Practitioner on staff to provide non-emergency medical care at no extra cost. There is a slight fee for specialized lab testing, pharmacy services, etc. The Health Center also offers vaccinations to fulfill the mandatory university immunization requirement. For more information about services offered through the Antelope Valley Health Center, please refer to www.csub.edu/health center/ antelopevalley.
Services for Students with Disabilities - Disability Services for the AV campus is located in the Student Services Building (200). Services provided and eligibility requirements are the same as those listed for Disability Services at the main campus. SSD is staffed by one part-time Disability Management Counselor and one part-time student assistant. Further information on the types of services and listed requirements for eligibility is available in the Student Services Building on the AV campus.