'Runners hope to score big with Division I

By Jaclyn Loveless and Mike Stepanovich

CSUB has made it official. President Horace Mitchell announced in June the university will enter its first transitional year this fall, the next phase of its five-year move to National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I athletics.

Fundraisers are on the move as well. The Division I campaign has raised nearly $4 million towards its $6 million fundraising effort to help fund the added costs of NCAA Division I affiliation.

In late May CSUB forwarded to NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis confirmation of its intention to advance to the first year of the four-year transitional period.

In a letter to Bo Kerin, NCAA associate director of membership services, Mitchell wrote, "This letter serves as confirmation of our intention to advance to first year reclassified status. As required, enclosed is our initial Intercollegiate Athletics Strategic Plan for 2006-2011. This plan addresses the Division I philosophy statement and certification operating principles."

The declaration means CSUB will start playing Division I opponents during the 2006-07 academic year, and will take on a full Division I schedule in 2007-08. Roadrunner teams and athletes will be eligible to win NCAA championships in all sports after 2009-10, the last year of the reclassification process. The move will not affect the Roadrunner wrestling, which already competes at the Division I level, or the water polo team, which competes in a combined Division I, II and III championship.

The university has been in the process of raising the $6 million since September 2005. To that end a team of athletics and university-advancement officials and community leaders has been working to raise a portion of that money from community sources. CSUB students voted in spring 2005 to increase their campus fees to help fund the move at about $1 million per year. The campaign is at $3.8 million and climbing.

In May CSUB received two more major gifts that pushed the campaign past the $3 million mark thanks to a $100,000 gift from Tejon Ranch Co., and a $120,000 gift from TRC Operating Co.

"We've made great progress and we have a ways to go; but we are confident that we will reach our campaign objective," said Mike Chertok, vice president of university advancement at CSUB. "We are grateful to Tejon Ranch and TRC for helping us reach this milestone in our campaign."

Tejon Ranch and TRC join an impressive list of corporate donors, including Kern Schools Federal Credit Union, Crisp & Cole and Associates, SC Anderson; Klein, DeNatale, Goldner, Cooper, Rosenlieb and Kimball LLP; and two anonymous donors who have contributed gifts at the $100,000-plus level.

"Receiving the gift from Tejon Ranch is important to us because they are such a valued community partner," said Laura Wolfe, assistant vice president for development. "We've enjoyed a long partnership with them, and they have been a major contributor to our business development center."

Tejon Ranch's mission is to preserve California's legacy and provide for the future. "We know the future of our local community will be greatly influenced by what happens at the university, and that's why we're pleased to help CSUB realize its vision for the future," said Bob Stine, president and CEO of Tejon Ranch. "Tejon Ranch is committed to providing for California's future, and there are few better ways to do that than by investing in higher education."

Of the $6 million being raised, $2.5 million is to launch a baseball program.

George Culver, who has been working to raise funds for CSUB's planned baseball program, said he was delighted that TRC "has stepped up to the plate and joined our team. Their gift brings us closer to our goal of having a Division I baseball team at CSUB."

More than $700,000 is earmarked for the baseball program, which the university will launch as soon as the fundraising goal is reached. The ideal scenario would be to hire a head coach during the next academic year (2006-07) and field a team in 2007-08.

"It's clear to me that with this kind of enthusiasm and this kind of momentum in the community that Bakersfield wants a Division I athletics program," Mitchell said. "This move not only provides our student athletes with top-notch competition, but also adds to the university's overall excellence. Further, it elevates Bakersfield, a proud city with a proud history and a proud university."

Dan Gianoutsos, the former Associated Students, Inc., president at CSUB and an instrumental force in the push for Division I, sees multiple benefits from the move.

"The students will benefit from the move to Division I, as it will increase school spirit, enhance student life, and add recognition to their degrees," he said.

For those interested in contributing to the Division I campaign, please call (661) 654-2136.