CSU Bakersfield President's Monthly Campus Update Horace Mitchell, Ph.D.
- March 26, 2010
- Vol. 5, No. 3
California State University takes the Hill in Washington, D.C.
On March 3, Beverly Byl, Vice President for University Advancement, and I joined Chancellor Reed,
CSU trustees, campus presidents, alumni, and supporters as we converged on Washington, D.C. for
the CSU's annual "Hill Day." Over a two-day period, the CSU delegation met with members of the
White House administration and more than twenty (20) members of the California Congressional
delegation to advocate for support of the CSU policy and project priorities, and CSUB appropriation
requests. Beverly and I met personally with Congressmen Kevin McCarthy, a CSU alum ('89) ('94),
Jim Costa, and representatives of Senators Barbara Boxer's and Dianne Feinstein's offices, and
presented them with a series of appropriations requests specific to CSUB. We were joined for those
meetings by CSU trustees Carol Chandler and Lou Monville, and for the evening reception by CSUB
alumni Dana Sundberg ('72), his wife Lisa Sundberg, and Robyne Schroeder ('98) ('03). The CSU
federal agenda for 2010, system wide federal policy priorities, and system wide federal priority
projects for 2010 (FY2011) can be accessed at the CSU federal relations website:
http://www.calstate.edu/federalrelations/federal_agenda.shtml. Also on March 3,
the House of Representatives unanimously adopted a resolution commemorating the 50th anniversary
of the CSU becoming a system under the Donahoe Higher Education Act of 1960.
Chevron Makes $500,000 Gift for CSUB STEM Programs
Demonstrating excellence in community partnerships, engagement, and academic excellence, I am pleased
to announce a $500,000 gift from Chevron North America San Joaquin Valley Business Unit. The funding
is targeted to support our programs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The
funds allocate $400,000 in continuing support and expansion of "REVS-UP" - the Research Experience
Vitalizing Science - University Programs. The fourth year of the program funds hands-on middle and
high school teacher-student research projects in the sciences. With the remaining $100,000 a one-stop,
enrollment-to-graduation student center will be created in the School of Natural Sciences and
Mathematics to support academic success in the STEM fields. We thank Chevron vice president Bruce Johnson
for this important gift and our continued strong community partnership, including his membership on the
CSUB Foundation Board of Directors.
AERA Energy Makes $500,000 Gift for Occupational Safety and Health Management
Academic excellence and our ability to respond to regional workforce demands are further strengthened by a
$500,000 gift from Aera Energy, LLC. The gift endows the Aera Energy Concentration in Occupational Safety
and Health Management and helps us prepare local safety and health professionals to meet the increasing
demand in a number of industries, including oil and energy. Not only does the gift allow CSUB to provide
needed local occupational safety and health training but, as importantly, it also allows industries to
recruit locally. The concentration comes under the interdisciplinary Environmental Resource Management
program. We extend thanks to Gaurdie Banister, president and CEO of Aera Energy, for their continued
partnership, and to CSUB alum Joe Bariffi ('89) principal health and safety advisor for Aera, for his work
in helping to develop the concentration. Gaurdie is also a member of the CSUB Foundation Board of Directors.
Bart Hill Joins CSUB as Major Gifts Officer
It gives me great pleasure to announce that Bart Hill, former CEO of San Joaquin Bank, has become the newest
member of the CSUB University Advancement Division. Bart joins the division as director of development
for major gifts. Well-known and well-regarded in the Bakersfield community, Bart comes to us with 35
years' experience in the banking industry. His commitment to serving the Bakersfield and Kern County
communities is demonstrated by an exemplary record of service which stretches back over 30 years. He
has served as the past president of the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce, Kern County Board of
Trade, Downtown Business Association, and Tree Foundation of Kern, as a member of numerous boards of
directors, and as a supporter of untold community organizations including Rotary, the Kern Adult Literacy
Council, and the Bakersfield Symphony. He currently serves as a member of the board of the First
Presbyterian Church Foundation, Mid State Development, and as secretary of the Bakersfield Californian.
Bart received a bachelor of arts degree in economics from UC Santa Barbara and a master of science degree
in agricultural economics from UC Davis. Please join me in wholeheartedly welcoming Bart to CSUB.
CSUB Marquee Goes Live
Thanks to a generous gift from the Dean and Adah Gay family, a new CSUB marquee now graces Stockdale
Highway near the Don Hart Drive West campus entrance. The gift was made to the University by the Gays
specifically to expand our outreach to the community. As part of our communications and marketing efforts,
the marquee will communicate announcements of community interest and impact which support our vision
for community engagement. These messages include, but are not limited to: University public events and
information for the general public; major University-sponsored academic, cultural, or athletic events,
and some smaller specialized events; major University, faculty, staff, student, and alumni accomplishments
and profiles; significant donations, gifts, or grants; donor profiles; and Academic Corporate Circle
members (corporations with annual giving of $25,000 or more). Complete messaging standards, operations,
and message request guidelines are available through the Public Affairs and Communications office in
the Division of University Advancement at 654-2136 or by visiting
http://www.csub.edu/pac/index.shtml.
Thank you to the Dean and Adah Gay family.
Celebrating CSUB's 40th Anniversary
As part of Celebrate CSUB! and other annual events throughout the year, we will commemorate the 40th
anniversary of the start of classes at CSUB. Highlighted below are a few of the activities at Celebrate
CSUB! which will focus on our 40th. I invite you to participate and enjoy.
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CSUB Oral History - The Public History Institute, in collaboration with the CSUB Alumni
Association, invites long-time current and retired faculty and staff, retired and emeriti
faculty, and alumni to share their CSUB stories and photos. Interview appointments will be
taken at the oral history kiosk on the Red Brick Road. Video interviews will be conducted and
documents and photos will be scanned in the Walter Stiern Library under the direction of
Miriam Vivian, professor of history and department chair.
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New CSU Bakersfield Flag - As a culminating event, we will dedicate three new flag poles in
the library circle median onto which we will raise the U.S. flag, the California flag, and a
newly designed CSU Bakersfield flag in blue and gold. Alumni, students, faculty, and staff will
gather at the flag pole for the activity.
- March of the Alumni - Following the raising of the flags, alumni and all gathered will march to Runner Park to share in a 40th anniversary cake.
Campus Clean-Up Scheduled for April 21st
The campus community is invited to join the Student Union, Student Recreation Center, Residential Life,
Alumni Association, Associated Students Inc., Student Involvement and Leadership, Aramark, and Togo's
for the 2nd Annual CSUB Campus Clean-Up Day. This event will be held on Wednesday, April 21st from
11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Volunteers will gather on the Student Union Patio. To participate, please register
by calling the Student Union at 654-2494. This is a great way to give back to the campus. Lunch and tee
shirts will be provided for all participants.
University Council
The next University Council meeting is scheduled for Friday, April 16, 2010 from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. in the Albertson Room.
I look forward to seeing you around campus or at an upcoming University or community event. Take care.