President's Monthly Campus Update

This summer, the CSUB campus is energetic with activity. We continue to move toward our vision for excellence in a number of areas, including those outlined below.

Math and Computer Science Building
We have taken the next step in continuing the excellence in Natural Sciences and Math with the July 11th groundbreaking of the Math and Computer Science Building. This is a long-awaited new addition to the campus and will allow us to expand our science and math programs to prepare our students for the 21st century global economy. The building's capacity of fifteen laboratories, seven classrooms, and seventy faculty offices will allow us to enhance our science and research programs and strengthen our education of K-12 math and science teachers. Completion is scheduled for first quarter 2008. Other programs, including nursing, will be able to expand into the vacated space in Science I and II.

Educational Support Events
A major tenet of our vision for excellence is to support our partners in K-12 education to increase the academic achievement, graduation rates, and college-going rates among students in Kern County. Of the approximately 9,000 high school students who graduate from high school each year, only about 1,600 have taken the pattern of courses required to qualify for admission to the CSU or UC system. To support our educational partners, CSUB hosts a number of summer educational programs to increase the academic preparation of students entering college.

Summer Bridge
From June 24th through July 22nd, first-time freshmen who need assistance with English and/or math skills attended Summer Bridge, a four-week intensive residential educational support program. Tracking studies show that regularly admitted first-time freshmen who attend Summer Bridge have higher retention rates than their counterparts who do not. This summer, 132 students attended courses in math, writing, critical thinking, as well as orientation to the university, including academic and financial aid advising. Students hailed primarily from Kern County, and also included a significant number of students from Los Angeles area high schools, and a smaller number from areas stretching from Humboldt to San Diego counties.

At the program's conclusion, students take exit examinations and are able either to advance one to two levels in math and/or English, or to test out completely, thus meeting their remediation requirements prior to the fall quarter. From this year's cohort, 29 students advanced one to two levels in math and five tested out of math remediation. Results of the English exit examination have not yet been compiled. Our thanks are extended to Summer Bridge staff Keith Powell, Director of the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP); Steve Walsh, Academic Coordinator; Adrianna Delgado, Residential Life Coordinator; Rocky Maraccini, Admissions Coordinator; Ben Perlado, EOP Coordinator; Shirlena Nadsady, Educational Support Services Administrative Support Staff; and DiDi Womack, Summer Bridge Administrative Support, for their important work in academic preparedness and student success.

College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) Summer Residential Program
This summer, the campus held its sixth CAMP Summer Residential Program, hosting 59 first-time freshmen with migrant or seasonal farmworker backgrounds. CAMP is an innovative pre-collegiate educational support program geared toward educationally underserved migrant students in the CSUB service region of Kern, Tulare, and Kings counties. As with Summer Bridge, the program runs four weeks and offers classes in English, math, and grammar development, as well as academic advising and university life, facilitating students' successful transition from high school to college. Maria Escobedo, Program Director, is joined by a dedicated faculty and summer residential staff who teach these courses, including English faculty advisor Dr. Kim Flachmann; Math faculty advisor Dr. Joe Fiedler; faculty and tutor coordinators Matt Woodman and Dawn White; grammar instructors Karen Calkins and Carlos Castillo; CAMP course instructors Maricela Ramirez and Nancy Montoya; Residential Assistant Martin Perez, office assistant Sonia Quevedo, and student assistants Lluvia Llanes and Arisve Pimentel.

Farmworker Institute for Education & Leadership Development (FIELD) Teacher Training
With its rich agricultural base, the San Joaquin Valley is home to one of the highest concentrations of farmworkers in the nation. One of the challenges of developing a skilled workforce for our region is in preparing farmworkers for sustainability in the 21st century workforce, whether in agriculture or other industries. CSUB must be a partner in elevating the educational and job skill levels of this sector of the workforce. To this end, the campus hosted for two nights 46 highly trained teachers from 12 states in Mexico who will teach English as a Second Language to an anticipated 1,200 farmworkers in Kern, Tulare, Fresno, and Monterey counties. Sponsored by FIELD in partnership with Mexico's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Public Education, Institute of Mexicans in the Exterior, the Binational Migrant Education Program, and the Mexican Consulate in Fresno, the teachers will reside with host families in the San Joaquin Valley for the four-week duration of the program. English proficiency is foundational to employment stability, career and personal development for migrant workers. Our thanks to Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Shelley Ruelas, Housing Director Bob Fallon, and Food Services Director Bob McMicken for facilitating this event.

Independent Living Program Foster Youth Retreat
A too-often overlooked and underserved population in Kern County is foster youth who are soon to be emancipated. Working with the Department of Human Services, CSUB is hosting 30 foster youth from the ages of 14-18 in a three-day retreat to prepare them for independent living and introduce them to higher education. The students are on campus from July 25-28 and are taught independent living skills by the Department of Human Services. The program is coordinated on campus by Educational Opportunity Program Director Keith Powell.

National Youth Sports Camp
CSUB was pleased to host 160 underserved youth between the ages of 10-16 for a four-week half-day sports camp sponsored by the Bakersfield City School District. The National Youth Sports Camp presents a unique blend of sports and education in a character development program which promotes positive behavior among pre-teens and adolescents. In addition to sports such as golf, field hockey, and basketball, the program utilizes Project Alert, an interactive, research-based behavior modification program which equips youth with conflict resolution and refusal skills to resist drugs and at-risk behavior. The program is administered by Dean Curtis Guaglianone in the School of Education with co-directors Lewis Neal of the Bakersfield City School District and Dean Larimer of Actis Junior High School.

The Sally Casanova California Pre-Doctoral Program
The Sally Casanova California Pre-Doctoral Program provides opportunities for upper division and graduate students interested in teaching in the CSU to explore doctoral programs. CSUB students Dee Bailey and Jared Chapman are among the 76 students selected as Sally Casanova California Pre-doctoral Scholars for 2006-2007. Each scholar receives $3,000 to support a plan developed with his or her faculty advisor to cover costs of travel to doctoral symposia, books, and application fees. We congratulate Dee and her faculty advisor, Dr. Isabel Sumaya in the Department of Psychology, and Jared and his faculty advisor, Dr. Anne Durand, also in the Department of Psychology.

The Leon and Sylvia Panetta Institute for Public Policy
Panetta Institute Leadership Seminar
2006-2007 ASI President Kenneth Buermann, and ASI Director of Statewide Affairs Valerie Poynor, along with student leaders from all CSU campuses, attended a seven-day leadership seminar at the Leon and Sylvia Panetta Institute for Public Policy located on the CSU Monterey Bay campus. The institute provides the student leaders with access to elected officials and leaders from the public sector to develop skills as leaders. Students receive four units of credit for the course.

Panetta Institute Congressional Internship in Washington, D.C.
Jenny Holland, a Political Science and English double major, has been appointed to attend the Panetta Institute Congressional Internship in Washington, D.C. for the fall 2006 quarter. The three-month internship offers outstanding students the opportunity to gain first-hand experience in the operations of Congress and the legislative process. Students spend two weeks at the Panetta Institute studying the legislative process, then eleven weeks living in Washington, D.C. and working in a congressional office. The internship offers up to 20 units of credit. Interns are appointed by CSU Presidents.

Presidential Internship
I have established a year-long Presidential Intern position which will be filled annually. The internship is open to graduate students with a minimum 3.0 grade point average who have an interest in higher education administration. The first person appointed to this position is former ASI President and current graduate student in Public Policy Administration, Dan Gianoutsos. Dan will work directly with me on several initiatives regarding university administration, student leadership, and civic engagement. He also will work with the Vice President for Student Affairs to develop and plan a model for the 2007-2008 Presidential Intern program.

New Staff Member
Please join me in welcoming to the campus Deborah Burks, the newest member of our Confidential Office Support staff in the Office of the President. Prior to joining CSUB, Deborah worked for the Bakersfield City School District for ten years. She is a welcome addition to our staff.

Retirement of William "Bill" Perry
Dr. William Perry has formally announced his plans to retire from his position as Assistant Vice President for Student Life. Dr. Perry will begin his retirement in September of the coming fall quarter, which will mark his 35th year of service and dedication to the Division of Student Affairs. At the end of September, university faculty, staff, and students will be invited to celebrate Dr. Perry's successful tenure at CSU Bakersfield during multiple receptions being planned in his honor.

University Council & the President's Campus Forum
University Council will resume meetings in the fall. The next President's Campus Forum will take place in the fall, as well.

I hope you are having a great summer with time for relaxation with family and friends. I look forward to seeing you around campus or at an upcoming University or community event.