President's Monthly Campus Update
- October 2006
- Vol. 1, No. 10
Our Best Year Ever in Fund Raising
I am pleased to announce that during 2005-06, the year that ended June 30, 2006, we enjoyed our most successful
philanthropic year in the University's history. Here are some important milestones:
- The grand total of charitable gifts and confirmed pledges to the University was $7.28 million, which included more than $5 million in income and an additional $2.27 million in new pledges. Overall philanthropic support increased by over $2 million, compared to the 2004-05 academic year, which also was a great year. Outright giving increased by close to $3 million.
- The endowment increased by $2.7 million during the year to $10.32 million and this does not count the generous bequest from Dolores Cerro that has been added to the endowment during the first quarter of this current fiscal year - 2006-07.
- Programs benefiting from this generous support include student scholarships, student research opportunities, and other academic programs.
- Of the $5 million in gift income, $924,000 was given in support of the Division I campaign. Through June 30, more than $3 million in pledges was committed toward that $6 million goal. We will be releasing current pledge numbers and will have updated reports regarding that campaign in coming weeks.
These results could not have been achieved without the leadership of the CSUB Foundation Board, which is chaired by Ben Stinson, and Vice President Michael Chertok and his staff in University Advancement.
Student Preparation, Access, and Success
The college-going rate of Kern County high school students is approximately half the state's college-going rate.
Of the approximately 9,000 students who graduate from high school in Kern County each year, only roughly 1,600
have taken the "A-G" pattern of courses which makes them eligible for university admission. The rates for students
who historically are underrepresented are even more dire. CSUB's outreach to populations who do not think college is
possible is a vital part of turning around these statistics. Our goal is not only to increase the number of students
who are prepared and eligible for college admission, but also to ensure that our campus culture and support services are
in place to facilitate students' academic and co-curricular success and development, and their timely graduation.
Highlighted in this issue are exemplars of partnerships and outreach programs which significantly enhance the recruitment,
admission, retention, and graduation of our students.
Antelope Valley College Day
Members of the Cabinet, deans, faculty, administrators, Academic Senate Chair Jess Deegan, and I traveled to
Lancaster on October 5th for Antelope Valley College Day. The event provided an opportunity for us to meet with our
counterparts at the college to strengthen our collaboration with our community college partner. Antelope Valley
College President Jackie Fisher and I welcomed the participants and engaged them in discussions which included
the Antelope Valley College Master Plan, CSUB Strategic Initiatives, the Dual Admission Program, and other issues of
joint interest. Our goal is to facilitate the seamless transfer of Antelope Valley College students to CSUB's Antelope
Valley Center campus. Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Soraya Coley and Associate Vice
President for the Antelope Valley Center John Hultsman and their staffs coordinated the event along with
President Fisher's staff. Similar events are in development for Bakersfield College, Porterville College, Taft
College, and Cerro Coso College.
Native American College Information Day
In collaboration with the Kern County Indian Education Center, CSUB hosted its first targeted outreach to Native
American students in Kern County. Approximately forty-five high school seniors and their families were welcomed in
the Tejon Plaza on Saturday, October 7, 2006 where they received information regarding admissions requirements,
academic programs, co-curricular offerings, campus life, and financial aid. Parents and students had the opportunity
to communicate and interact with faculty, students, and administrators from various departments across campus. For
some parents, the event was their first experience on a college campus. Among the follow-up events planned is the
enrichment of student life with the establishment of a Native American students club. For further information, please
contact Keith Powell, Director of the Educational Opportunity Program, at 654-2276.
BPA's Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society Honored
The board of directors and officers of Beta Gamma Sigma have designated CSUB's chapter as a "2006 Exemplary Chapter,"
one of only five chapters in the Western AACSB to be so honored. We extend congratulations to BPA's honors students,
chapter president Vince Carter, and all officers and staff for this outstanding achievement.
Hispanic Excellence Scholarship Foundation
Recognizing academic excellence, the Hispanic Excellence Scholarship Foundation awarded $104,500 in scholarships to
seventy-three outstanding CSUB students on September 30th. Now in its twenty-third year, the Foundation has provided
$1,800,000 to more than 900 students who maintain a 3.0 grade point average and demonstrate interest in leadership.
The scholarships range between $1,000 and $1,500 and are awarded each fall. The deadline for applications is March 31st.
Thomas Martinez, Special Assistant to the President, oversees the event with the assistance of Alicia Escalante,
Confidential Office Support, and Stella Chavez, Presidential Aide and HESF board member. For further information
regarding scholarship applications, please contact Alicia Escalante at 654-2241.
Dr. Ernest W. Williams, Jr. Scholarship
The Dr. Ernest W. Williams, Jr. Scholarship Fund celebrated its 20th anniversary awards dinner on October 7th.
Seventeen CSUB students with a minimum 3.0 grade point average were awarded $1,000 scholarships. Eugene Clark,
Interim Associate Dean of the School of Humanities & Social Sciences coordinates the program on campus. Event
organizers were Tina Giblin, Administrative Support Assistant in the Department of Political Science, Kathy
Velguth, Administrative Support Assistant in the Career Development Center, and Tiara Cox, a communications
and political science double-major. The deadline for scholarship applications is mid-April. For further information,
please contact Tina Giblin at 654-2141. A list of campus-based and specialized scholarships, as well as information
regarding financial aid, can be obtained at
http://www.csubak.edu/05-07Catalog/finaid.htm or by
contacting the CSUB Financial Aid Office at 654-3016.
The Bernard Osher Foundation
Congratulations go to the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute on its receipt of a $100,000 grant from the Bernard
Osher Foundation. The grant funds the second year of the Institute's programs and courses offered at CSUB.
Highlighted in the Foundation's funding letter are the Institute's assessment of community demographics and needs, as
well as its outreach to and collaboration with CSUB's Sixty-Plus Club. Current membership stands at 211 with an
anticipated membership of 400 by the end of the next grant period. We salute Marla Iyasere, Dean of the School
of Humanities & Social Sciences, Beth Rienzi, Interim Associate Vice President for Faculty Affairs, Eugene
Clark, Interim Associate Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, and Yvette Morones, Osher
Institute Coordinator, for their successful proposal and their work with the Osher Institute.
American Association of Colleges of Nursing
CSUB Master's of Science in Nursing student Denise Johnson-Dawkins has been selected by the American Association
of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) to receive the California Endowment-AACN Nurse Faculty Scholarships. Denise is one of
nine outstanding graduate students who will receive the $18,000 scholarship to support their graduate studies in nursing.
Recipients of the award have committed to teach nursing in California after graduation. Denise is the only CSU student
among this year's recipients. We congratulate Denise on her award and look forward to her entrance into the teaching
profession in nursing.
New Staff Members
Laura Catherman has been appointed as the new Director of the Student Union. A CSUB alum, Laura returns to CSUB
from the UC Merced Bakersfield Center, where she served as Assistant Director. She will join us on November 1, 2006.
We look forward to having her as part of the Division of Student Affairs leadership team.
Michelle "Shelly" Brooks is the newest employee of the Services for Students with Disabilities office at CSUB-Antelope Valley Center. Shelly began her tenure as Disability Management Counselor earlier this month. She is available to assist Antelope Valley students with disabilities with their academic-related accommodations. In addition, she also will serve as a resource to the Antelope Valley campus community. Shelly is a welcome addition to the Disabilities Office staff.
University Website
This weekend, the CSUB website will have a new face. Along with a more engaging design, the site is more user-friendly,
easily navigable, and presents information that is of interest to our many audiences. Phase I of the redesign reorganizes
the layout of the website, making information easier to find. Future phases will include streaming video, profiles of
faculty, staff, students, alumnae, and donors, and updated department and faculty pages.
University Council & the President's Campus Forum
The next University Council meeting will be on Friday, November 17, 2006, from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. in the Albertson Room.
The President's Campus Forum will resume later this fall.
I look forward to seeing you around campus or at an upcoming University or community event.