President's Welcome
It is my pleasure to welcome you to the home page for California State University, Bakersfield. When you think of
Bakersfield, you might ask, "Why Bakersfield"? Our answer is simple: excellence. We have charted a course
toward our vision of excellence:
"By 2014-15, CSU Bakersfield will be the leading campus in the CSU system in terms of faculty and academic excellence and diversity, quality of the student experience, and community engagement. Realization of our vision will be advanced by the recruitment, development, and promotion of excellent and diverse staff within an organizational culture committed to excellence in all areas."
We strive for excellence in our four schools: Arts and Humanities; Business and Public Administration; Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering; and Social Sciences and Education, as well as in our Extended University Division. We have an excellent and diverse faculty and the highest percentage of faculty in the California State University system with terminal degrees. More than 90% of our tenured faculty earned doctorate degrees in their fields of study.
In the words of one of our faculty members, "CSUB offers an Ivy League education at a CSU price." That is, with our excellent academic programs, we are one of the most affordable universities in the country, offering bachelor's degrees in 31 academic areas and the master's degree in 18 academic areas. A master's degree in biology was added in the fall of 2007, and a doctor of education (Ed.D.) degree is in development. We are the only public four-year-degree-granting university campus within a 100-mile radius.
Our 8,000 undergraduate and graduate students on the main campus in Bakersfield and CSUB-Antelope Valley in Lancaster enjoy excellent academic programs with a student-to-faculty ratio of 18:1. In addition to more than 90 registered student clubs and organizations, student and campus life are enlivened and enriched by the move of our athletics program to NCAA Division I, and the construction of a new 75,000 square foot recreation center which opened Spring 2009. New residence halls to accommodate 500 students are on track to open in fall 2013.
CSUB is proud to have more than 33,000 living alumni, 70% of whom continue to reside in our service region. Many have become outstanding leaders in our local communities and in state and national affairs.
We invite you to explore our website and discover the rich treasures which abound at CSUB. We are certain that you will come to see CSUB as we do: CSUB... It's Your University.
Horace Mitchell, Ph.D.
President
