California State University, Long Beach
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| California State University, Long Beach |
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| Motto | Vox Veritas Vita (Latin: "Voice, Truth, Life") |
| Established | 1949 |
| Type | Public |
| Endowment | US $31.1 million (2009)[1] |
| President | F. King Alexander |
| Provost | Don Para (interim) |
| Faculty | 2,213 (1,128 full time) [2] |
| Students | 35,559 (Fall 2009) [3] |
| Undergraduates | 29,227 [3] |
| Postgraduates | 6,332 [3] |
| Location | Long Beach,  California, United States  |
| Campus | Urban, 323 acres (1.3 km²) |
| Former names | *Los Angeles-Orange County State College (1949-50) *Long Beach State College (1950-64) *California State College, [at] Long Beach (1964-72) |
| Colors | Gold and Black |
| Nickname | 49ers, Dirtbags, The Beach |
| Mascot | Prospector Pete |
| Athletics | 18 varsity teams, NCAA Division I |
| Affiliations | California State University system; Big West Conference, Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, AASCU, ASAIHL |
| Website | http://www.csulb.edu/ |
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California State University, Long Beach (also known as Cal State Long Beach, Long Beach State, CSULB, LBSU, or The Beach) is the second largest campus of the California State University system and the third largest university in the state of California by enrollment.[4] The University is located at the southeastern coastal tip of Los Angeles County, less than a mile from the border with Orange County.[5]
CSULB has repeatedly been recognized as one of "America's Best Value Colleges" by the Princeton Review. More than 30 factors are considered to rate the colleges in four categories: academics, tuition GPA (the sticker price minus average amount students receive in gift aid scholarships and grants), financial aid (how well colleges meet students' financial need) and student borrowing. The university attained its highest ranking in the 2007 edition, being named the No. 3 best value public college in the nation.[6] Recently, CSULB was again recognized in the 2009 edition of the "50 Best Value Colleges" rankings, making it the only university in the CSU system to receive such recognition.[7]
It has also been ranked as one of the top five public masters universities in the West by U.S. News and World Report's "America's Best Colleges Guide" each year from 2005 to 2010.[8][9][10]
In addition, Long Beach State is one of the West Coast's top universities/masters institutions in student body diversity[11] and is home to the largest publicly funded art school west of the Mississippi. The university currently operates with one of the lowest student fees in the country at US $4,370 per year for full time students having California residence.[12]
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[edit] History
Established in 1949 by California Governor Earl Warren to serve the rapidly expanding post World War II population of Orange and Southern Los Angeles counties CSULB has grown to be one of the state's largest and most well-respected universities.
At its inception, the institution was known as Los Angeles-Orange County State College. It consisted of 25 courses taught by 13 faculty members in two apartment buildings at 5381 Anaheim Road in Long Beach. In June 1950, the citizens of Long Beach voted overwhelmingly to purchase 320 acres (1.3 km2) as a permanent campus for the college, now known as Long Beach State College. The purchase price was nearly $1,000,000. Utilizing the new location, the school began to establish itself as a permanent presence in the area, and as a result its student enrollment grew rapidly.
By 1960, the student body had skyrocketed to more than 10,000 students, and by 1966 that number would reach 20,000. In 1964, LBSC changed its name to California State College at Long Beach to unify with the state system and enhance its prestige (it was renamed California State College, Long Beach in 1968).
In 1965, CSCLB hosted the first International Sculpture Symposium to be held in the United States and the first at a college or university. Six sculptors from around the world and two from the United States created many of the monumental sculptures seen today on the campus. The event received national media attention from newspapers around the country including the New York Times, Los Angeles Times Magazine, Art in America and a six-page color spread in Fortune Magazine.
The school acquired university status in 1972 along with 12 other state college campuses. The promotion was decided by the Board of Trustees of the California State University system, according to total enrollment, size of graduate programs, complexity and diversity of majors and number of doctorates held by faculty at each college. CSCLB became CSULB.
Also in 1972, the campus became the home of the largest library facility in the then 19-campus CSU system: a modern six-story building with a seating capacity of nearly 4,000 students.
In 1995, President Robert Maxson initiated the privately funded President's Scholars Program providing selected qualified California high school valedictorians and National Merit finalists and semi-finalists with a full four-year scholarship package which includes tuition, a book stipend, and housing. Since the program's inception more than 900 students have accepted the scholarship.[13]
As of Fall 2008, CSULB had 37,890 students in attendance, making it the most populous campus of the CSU system.
[edit] Campus
The campus spans 323 acres (1.3 km²) across 84 buildings and is located 3 miles (4.8 km) from the Pacific Ocean. It has its own U.S. Postal Zip code: 90840. CSULB is located at 1250 Bellflower Boulevard. It is bounded by East 7th Street to the south, East Atherton Street to the north, Bellflower Boulevard to the west, and Palo Verde Avenue to the east.
[edit] Architecture
The architecture of the campus is mostly of the International style (designed primarily by noted architect Edward Killingsworth) and is very minimalist, placing emphasis instead on the landscaping that surrounds it. This naturalistic, park-like layout has earned the campus numerous design awards, as well as other awards from gardening societies for its immaculately maintained grounds. Even the newer buildings are built in a very restrained glass-and-brick style. The integration of landscaping and architecture is perhaps most apparent at the school's theater complex, where a dense grove of ficus trees is planted in such a way that it forms a continuation of the pillar-supported canopy at the theater's entrance. The University's registration offices are located in the open courtyard of Brotman Hall, which is "roofed" by a similar jungle-like canopy. The Psychology building is also notable for its soaring, airy courtyard planted with tall Eucalyptus trees.
[edit] Campus landmarks
The University Student Union (USU) commons building is located at the center of campus. Occupying roughly 180,000 square feet (17,000 m2), the USU is a sprawling three-story glass building that establishes itself as one of the main venues on campus. In addition to housing numerous offices, the USU offers many more casual attractions, including (but not limited to) a study lounge, a ballroom, a food court, a bowling alley, an arcade, and a movie theater.
49er basketball and volleyball games are currently played in the iconic, eighteen story Walter Pyramid (formerly known as the Long Beach Pyramid) located on north campus. The Pyramid is a state of the art sporting complex that can accommodate over 5,000 fans when including temporary seating and standing room. Two sections of interior stands are fitted with large hydraulic lifts which can lift the seating elements forty-five degrees into the air, creating room for five volleyball courts or three basketball courts.[14] The Pyramid is home to the Southern California Summer Pro League, a noted showcase for current and prospective NBA basketball players.
CSULB is distinguished as home to the renowned University Art Museum (UAM) that ranks in the top 10% of the nation's 6,000 plus museums. Its permanent collection contains primarily abstract expressionist paintings, works on paper, and an outdoor sculpture garden that began in 1966. The UAM was the first accredited museum in the CSU system.[15]
The campus is also home to the Carpenter Performing Arts Center, a 1,074 seat theater named after CSULB alumni Richard and Karen Carpenter.
In addition, The University is home to the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden, an artistic retreat of solitude and beauty. Among its many picturesque attractions, The Garden features a large pond populated with Koi. Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden official website.
One of the newest areas that has become integral to student life in the Parkside dormitories is The Circle. The Circle was formed as part of the central landscaping of the Parkside Commons outdoor common area when a group of students moved the 4 'S' shaped stone benches residing there into a circle formation in the Fall of 2008. Since then, The Circle (also known as the Late Night Circle, due to its high concentration of nighttime denizens) has become the defining marker of the Parkside experience, and it continues to provide a fun hangout for the residents of Parkside Commons.
[edit] Puvunga
The campus is believed to be the location of an ancient Tongva village and burial site known as Puvunga and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as such. CSULB has challenged this designation, claiming they were not consulted when the application was filed.[citation needed] From 1992 to 1995, when the university attempted to build a strip mall and student housing on the last undeveloped portion of the campus, the Tongva people filed a lawsuit and initiated protest which involved physically occupying the land day and night to stave off bulldozers.[16] To date, no development has occurred on this portion of the campus.
[edit] Future development
In the Spring of 2007, the student body voted to approve the construction of a student recreation and wellness center on campus. Slated for completion by Fall 2010, the Rec and Wellness Center is to be an extensive all-purpose athletic center covering about 125,000 square feet (11,600 m2) on North Campus. Current plans include facilities for fitness programs and aerobics classes, courts for volleyball, basketball and badminton, rock climbing walls, an indoor track, a student lounge, and much more. This program will be funded and managed by CSULB's Associated Students, Incorporated.
[edit] Campus sustainability
The University, in its push to support climate sustainability, installed solar panels on Brotman Hall and the Facilities Management canopy parking in 2007.[17] The University has been taking steps in addressing the challenge of sustainability, with the support of its student government, student body, and organizations, such as the Environmental Science & Policy Club.
The Environmental Science & Policy Club (ES&P Club)[18] has brought support to environmental awareness and sustainability through club activities, such as coastal clean-ups, hikes, plant-restoration project, tabling, conferences, guest speakers, & Kaleidoscope. In 2006, the ES&P Club supported the installation of waterless urinals in the University's men's restrooms. [19] One of the largest events the ES&P Club puts on every year is Earth Week in April with documentary screenings, discussions, speaker series, and much more. [20] [21]
The University "has a comprehensive energy management program incorporating real-time metering and energy-saving technologies such as the EnergySaver, which provides a more sophisticated alternative to turning off the lights by automatically varying the voltage to the ballasted fixtures and reducing the power consumed, while maintaining appropriate lighting levels." [22]
[edit] Public transportation
The campus is currently serviced by:
- Long Beach Transit (routes 81, 91, 92, 93, 94, 171, 173, 96 ZAP, and Passport D)
- OCTA (routes 1, 50, and 60)
- LACMTA Express (route 577X, LACMTA Blue Line also provides service to the Long Beach area, accessible by bus routes)
In September 2008, President F. King Alexander announced the school's new "U-PASS" program in conjunction with Long Beach Transit. Under the new partnership, students with a valid CSULB I.D. card can ride any Long Beach Transit bus for free year-round.[23]
[edit] Academics
CSULB comprises seven academic colleges:
- College of the Arts
- College of Business Administration
- College of Education
- College of Engineering
- College of Health & Human Services
- College of Liberal Arts
- College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
plus an Interdisciplinary Studies program.
Together, the colleges offer a total of 81 baccalaureate degrees, 67 master's degrees, 16 education-related credential programs, and three doctoral degrees (two joint and one free-standing).[24]
The University's educational goals reflect its large population of students and faculty. Among the numerous classes and majors, Liberal Arts and Sciences represent the General Education (GE) core, while a variety of classes make up GE electives; students rarely study the same subjects as each other, but all GE classes focus on the development of writing and critical thinking skills.
[edit] Academic department reputations
CSULB is perhaps most well-known for its engineering program. U.S. News and World Report has repeatedly ranked it as one of the Top 50 undergraduate programs in the nation, and even commended the University's programs for first-year students as "stellar examples of academic programs that lead to student success."[25][26] In 2008, CSULB's engineering program received its highest ever ranking at #38.[9] Long Beach's programs in Accounting, Business Administration, Geography, History, Nursing, and Art are also well-respected in the industry.
In addition, according to the National Science Foundation, CSULB is the number one campus in the nation amongst Master's level universities for producing students who go on to earn doctoral degrees in the Sciences.[27]
In March 2008, the music department was renamed the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music in honor of an endowment gift of $16.4 million dollars from his estate. Cole, a Long Beach real estate investor, long-time music lover, and amateur pianist, died in 2004. The gift will benefit the students of the conservatory in the form of scholarships and other awards.[28]
[edit] Admission
Fall Admission Statistics[29]
| 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applicants | 68,851 | 67,816 | 65,517 | 63,165 |
| Accepted | 22,030 | 29,861 | 31,795 | 33,468 |
| % Admitted | 32.0 | 44.0 | 48.5 | 53.0 |
For the Fall 2009 semester, CSULB received 68,851 applications for admission, setting a new campus record and continuing the trend of the past several years. The total also was the highest in the CSU system, as well as one of the highest amongst all universities in the nation. Among those applications were 45,786 applications from first-time freshman, also first in the CSU. Despite the growing number of applications, California's continuing budget crisis meant that CSULB could only offered admission to 22,030 (32.0%) of the applicants. That marked the lowest percentage in school history, and was the second lowest in the CSU (behind San Jose State's 25.0%). In turn 7,972 (36.2%) of the admittees accepted their offers. In all, the total application yield rate for the Fall 2009 semester was 11.6%.[29]
The average high school GPA of incoming freshmen for Fall 2008 was 3.37, and the average SAT score was 1026/1600 (the writing section is not considered).[30]
While the official statistics haven't officially been compiled yet, the CSU system has reported a record number of total applications for the Fall 2010 semester, with more than 609,000. CSULB received over 71,000 of those applications, the most of any campus in the system and another new school record. CSULB also drew the greatest number of first-time freshman applicants (47,683) and transfer student applicants (21,973) of any CSU campus.[31] Due to the ongoing state-wide budget deficit, only an estimated 5,500 (7.7%) will be offered admission, much less than in recent school history.[32]
[edit] Impaction
Cal State Long Beach itself is an impacted campus as designated by the CSU system. As such, the University currently receives more eligible applications than the campus can accommodate, and therefore must restrict admissions beyond initial eligibility requirements. Most CSUs are not impacted in this manner.
Moreover, the university has several impacted majors, i.e. majors in which the university receives more applications than there is space to accommodate. Impacted majors are authorized to use supplementary admission criteria and/or higher admission standards than the CSU minimum requirements in considering applicants to the program. These criteria are applied equally to continuing CSULB students and entering upper-division transfer students.
List of Currently Impacted Majors
[edit] Student life
| Undergraduate | |
|---|---|
| African American | 5.7% |
| Asian American | 23.4% |
| White American | 31.0% |
| Hispanic American | 26.6% |
| Native American | 0.6% |
| International | 4.7% |
| Ethnicity unreported/unknown | 8.1% |
CSULB hosts over 350 events annually, welcoming more than 150,000 patrons to its performance halls, conferences centers, and exhibit venues.
[edit] Associated Students
Associated Students Incorporated is the student government of the campus. ASI is a non profit corporation which represents the interest of the student body and operates the University Student Union (USU), the Isabel Patterson Child Development Center, and the campus Recycling Center. In addition, ASI sponsors a number of campus events and activities through mandatory student fees. ASI Official Website
[edit] BeachBoard
BeachBoard is the campus eLearning Environment. Currently powered by BlackBoard, the BeachBoard "brand" was created in a lunchtime brainstorming session by staff members David Bradley (1948-2007), Crista Copp and Dan Olsen as members of Academic Computing Services at the University during 2001.[citation needed] The surfboard with hibiscus logo was created shortly thereafter in consultation with student graphic designer Nupur Shah of the Technology Help Desk.[citation needed] BeachBoard has grown to become an integral part of the academic fabric of CSULB and continues to grow as technology becomes further integrated into academic life. BeachBoard Official Website
[edit] Campus publications
The university has two student publications: the Daily 49er and the The Union Weekly (formerly The Long Beach Union Newspaper). The first issue of the Daily 49er, the campus newspaper, was published November 11, 1949. The Daily 49er currently publishes Monday through Thursday during the fall and spring semesters, and once a week during the summer sessions. It was one of the first college newspapers in the country to have an Internet edition, starting back in August 1994. The Daily 49er was previously affiliated with the CSULB's Journalism Department, though it is now independent of the department. It has always been, however, a student-run publication.
The Union Weekly, which is partially student-funded, and affiliated with the Associated Students, Incorporated organization (and not with any academic college, school, or university discipline), publishes every Monday during fall and spring semesters, and debuted on April 22, 1977, when it was formed in response to the Daily 49er. The Union Weekly focuses on being an alternative voice on campus and features a satirical section called The Grunion. At one time in the early 1980s, The Union was a daily newspaper giving heavy competition to the Daily 49er. However, a massive deficit brought on by daily publication nearly caused the Union to fold.
[edit] Housing
Cal State Long Beach operates eighteen residence halls on campus which are divided into five communities: Parkside, Residence, Los Alamitos, Los Cerritos, and the International House. The unique International House pairs international students with U.S. residents. In addition, the CSULB Residential Learning College offers housing and classes on the site of the former Brooks College.
[edit] KKJZ 88.1 FM
The California State University Long Beach Foundation owns the KKJZ non-commercial broadcast license of 88.1 FM, a jazz and blues radio station. Global Jazz, Inc., an affiliate of Mount Wilson FM Broadcasters, Inc., programs and manages the radio station. KJAZZ Official Website
[edit] KBeach internet radio
Kbeach is a student-run internet stream that has had a presence on campus in various forms since the 1970s. The independent and mainstream music channel is streamed over the internet and piped into the student union.
Shows currently include and have included Awesomer, Dead Air, Headbangers Beach, Sex at the Beach, BeachBollywood, Metal Top Hat Radio, Flashback Odyssey, The Powerfuse, Pop Secret, The Prime Spot, Brunch With Tiffany and Jessica, Lisa's Honest Show, The JereBear and the Jon, and Doing it Wrong. KBeach Official website Sex at the Beach was recently featured on MTV's True Life in the episode entitled 'I Work In The Sex Industry'[7]
[edit] Pow Wow
During March of every year since 1970, the University has hosted the largest pow-wow in Southern California. This free two day event, which attracts more than 6,000 persons each year, features Native American dancing, arts, craft and native foods.
[edit] Athletics
[edit] Notable people
[edit] References
- ^ CSULB Foundation Audited Financial Statements
- ^ University Facts Fall 2008
- ^ a b c Fall 2009 Headcount
- ^ CSU | AS | Term Enrollment Summary
- ^ Map
- ^ The Beach Review, Spring 2006: Princeton Review Ranks Cal State Long Beach No. 3 Best Value Public College in the United States. Public Affairs and Publications. Retrieved August 10, 2007
- ^ The Princeton Review Ranks Cal State Long Beach Among Top 50 ‘Best Value’ Public Colleges for 2009 in United States
- ^ U.S. News & World Report: September 3, 2008
- ^ a b The Beach Review, Fall 2008
- ^ Best Colleges: Top Public Schools: Master's Universities (West) Feb 1, 2010
- ^ CSULB Receives High Rankings Retrieved 2/18/09
- ^ Fees and Finances - Basics. Division of Administration & Finance. Retrieved July 8, 2009
- ^ http://karl.papubs.csulb.edu/news-events/story.cfm?hackid=1014
- ^ The Walter Pyramid. Long Beach State Athletics. Retrieved August 10, 2007
- ^ Melrod, George (January/February 2010). "University Galleries: Los Angeles Region". art ltd. (Lifescapes Publishing, Inc.): 45. ISSN 1941-8558. http://www.artltdmag.com/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1262633830&archive=&start_from=&ucat=28&. Retrieved March 3, 2010.
- ^ Background on Puvunga and the Sacred Site Struggle. About Puvungna. Retrieved August 10, 2007
- ^ [1]. CSULB's installation of solar panels. Retrieved September 10, 2007
- ^ [2]. CSULB ES&P Club. Retrieved August 2007
- ^ [3]. Water Conservation at CSULB. Retrieved April 2006
- ^ [4]. Wetland Discussion at CSULB. Retrieved April 26, 2007
- ^ [5]. EarthWeek at CSULB. Retrieved April 24, 2007
- ^ [6]. Decisions for a Sustainability Tomorrow. Retrieved April 19, 2005
- ^ "CSULB, Long Beach Transit Announce Extension of U-PASS". Inside CSULB. California State University, Long Beach. October 15, 2008. http://www.csulb.edu/misc/inside/archives/v60n18/stories/22.htm.
- ^ Introduction to the Institutional Report: Overview of the Institution. College of Education. Retrieved August 10, 2007
- ^ CSULB News and Events: This Week @ The Beach.
- ^ CSULB News and Events: This Week @ The Beach August 24, 2009
- ^ The Beach Review, Fall 2006: Building the Foundation of Science. Public Affairs and Publications. Retrieved August 10, 2007
- ^ $16.4M donation will create Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at CSULB | Signal Tribune Newspaper
- ^ a b CSU new students applications and admissions, Fall 2009. CSU Analytic Studies. 3/11/09
- ^ First-Time Freshmen SAT scores Institutional Research and Assessment. Retrieved 12/10/09
- ^ CSULB Receives Record Number of Undergraduate Applications CSULB News and Events Retrieved 9/9/09
- ^ CSULB Receives Most Applications in School History. LBPOST.com 12/3/09
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: California State University, Long Beach |
- California State University, Long Beach
- The California State University
- CSULB Institutional Research & Assessment
- California State University, Long Beach: At a glance - US News & World Report profile
- California State University, Long Beach: Summary - Princeton Review profile
Coordinates: 33°46′59″N 118°06′46″W / 33.783022°N 118.112858°W
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