California State University, Monterey Bay

California State University, Monterey Bay
Established 1994
Type Public
Endowment $7.7 million[1]
President Dianne F. Harrison
Academic staff 334
Undergraduates 4080
Postgraduates 140
Location Seaside, California, United States
Campus formerly Fort Ord
Colors

Bay Blue, Golden Sand and Valley Green

                           
Nickname Otters
Affiliations California State University system
Website www.csumb.edu

California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB) is a small public university in the California State University system on the site of the former U.S. Army base Fort Ord, on the Central Coast of California. It is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

CSUMB was founded in 1994 with a student enrollment of 654 students. The founding president was Peter Plympton Smith, Ph.D. It was the 21st campus in the California State University System and took as its slogan "The 21st campus for the 21st century".[2]

As of 2009 the university had 4,688 students and 141 full-time faculty members. The university operates on the semester system. The institution seeks to distinguish itself through "outcomes-based education," with undergraduates required to conduct a capstone research project, and compile a portfolio demonstrating competency in their concentration, with a faculty member as advisor. In 2006, Dianne F. Harrison, Ph.D., was elected from 3 candidates to be the new President of the University.[3]

Contents

Faculty and student demographics

Faculty

Faculty demographics reflect those of the CSU system overall. Of 334 faculty members, 141 (42%) were employed full-time and a (113) third were tenured or tenure-tracked. More than three-quarters (77%) held doctorate degrees. Those with doctorate degrees were more likely to be employed full-time and tenured. The faculty includes an American Book Award winner, six Fulbright Scholars, and numerous other grant and award winners.

Students

Demographics of student body
Undergraduate
African American 4.4%
Asian American 4.1%
White American 54.2%
Hispanic American 30.9%
Native American 1.0%
Ethnicity unreported/unknown 15.8%

As of fall 2005, the majority, 56% were less than 21 years of age, 27% between 22 and 25, 8% between 26 and 30, 5% between 31 and 40, and 4% over 41. The most common majors were Business Administration (17%), Liberal Studies (15%) and Human Communication (11%). A little more than third (37%) of students came form the tri-county area (Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito County), while 59% came from other parts of California, 2% from other U.S. states and 2% from outside the U.S. Almost a third (30%) of students were low-income and almost half (46%) were first generation college students. Students were somewhat unequally distributed across class levels; 24% being Freshmen, 12% Sophomores, 23% Juniors and 32% Seniors. Only 4% were graduate students, 5% were seeking credentials and 1% were involved in post-bacclaurate studies.[4]

Academic programs

Undergraduate majors and concentrations[5]

Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of Science
Collaborative Health and Human Services Biology
Global Studies Business Administration
Human Communication Communication Design
Integrated Studies Computer Science and Information Technology
Japanese Environmental Science, Technology, and Policy
Liberal Studies Kinesiology
Music Mathematics
Psychology
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Spanish
Teledrama Arts and Technology
Visual and Public Art
World Languages and Cultures

Master's majors and concentrations

Master of Arts Master of Public Policy Master of Science Executive M.B.A.
Education Public Policy Coastal and Watershed Science & Policy Business Administration
Instructional Science and Technology (MIST) Management and Information Technology
Marine Science

CSU Monterey Bay’s master’s of science degree in marine science is taught in conjunction with the Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, providing students valuable on-site experience.[6]

Student life

Roughly two thirds of CSUMB students live on campus. Residence halls, suites and apartments (bldgs. 200s and 300s) are located within walking distance to all campus facilities. East campus housing offers additional apartment life two miles away for students and families that receives shuttle access to and from campus.

Students can walk, drive or take the campus shuttle to classes and activities. The MST bus service comes to the campus and housing communities as well. Students also enjoy going into downtown Monterey, which is a popular tourist destination, being home to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row and Old Fisherman's Wharf. Additionally, students enjoy nearby Santa Cruz, with such attractions as the Boardwalk and the Mystery Spot, let alone downtown Santa Cruz. Other popular spots near CSUMB are Carmel-by-the-Sea, the 17-mile scenic drive, world-famous Pebble Beach Golf Resort, and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

Child care services

CSUMB offered child care services on campus from 1999–2006, the center was closed due to an unanticipated shortage of staff for the 2006-2007 school year. The center previously served toddler and preschool age children using programs for low income families. Some limited child care services are now available to a limited number of students with families.

Clubs are a popular activity at CSUMB. Some popular clubs are the Anime Club, Pride, M.E.Ch.A, Black Student United, EMPOWER, Otter Christian Fellowship, and the Business Club. The Associated Students (Student Government) at CSUMB offers a variety of committees and organizations for students to take part in. Some current groups are the Academic Committee, Diversity Council, Environmental Committee, Lobby Corps, Public Relations Committee and the Technology Committee.

Campus Dining Services

Sodexo, the university's food service provider, offers the campus community with four dining locations on-campus: Dining Commons, Otter Express, Otter Bay Restaurant, and the Library Cafe brewing Peet's Coffee & Tea. The Library Cafe is located inside the Tanimura & Antel Family Memorial Library.

Campus Dining has a focus on providing the campus community with local and sustainable food. The Otter Bay Restaurant menu has many local food items and is a proud member of the Monterey Bay Seafood Watch Restaurant Program. The Restaurant opened in 1999 with patio seating and a view of Lover's Point; the restaurant is located inside the University Center, near the campus bookstore. (View CSUMB Sustainable Article)

The Dining Commons was newly remodeled in the Summer of 2009 and is in review of becoming a Silver LEED certified building. As an all-you-care-to-eat dining facility, campus community members are able to choose from any five entrée stations, a salad bar, soup station, and deli station, as well as a plethora of beverages and a frozen ice-cream machine (view menu).

The Otter Express is open Monday-Friday from 7am-12am and from 2pm-12am on Saturday and Sunday(view a portion of the menu). The Library Cafe, known as Peet's Coffee, is located on the first floor of the Tanimura & Antel Family Memorial Library (view hours of operation and menu)

In the Fall of 2010, Campus Dining introduced CSUMB to an International promotion, "Meatless Monday." To help with promoting healthy planet, healthy me, a dedicated entrée station at the Dining Commons has been converted into a Vegetarian Station. On Mondays all four dining locations highlight and introduce Meatless options (view CSUMB Meatless Monday Article, view Cal State Sustainability Blog Article), and also have the option to "take the pledge" to go Meatless.

View CSUMB Campus Dining Website: www.csumb.org/dining/

View Campus Dining's Photo album View the Harvest Feast Photo album

Student organizations

Delta Omega Rho

Delta Omega Rho Multicultural Sorority is the first Greek letter organization to be fully created and founded at CSUMB. This multicultural sorority bases its organization principles on scholarship, leadership, friendship, integrity, honesty, loyalty, and unity. The primary goal of the founding members was to develop an organization that every woman could be involved with regardless of race, religion, age, culture or ability.

Multiculturalism, understanding, and community service has been the driving force for this newer organization on the CSUMB campus, as they strive to bring together a well rounded sisterhood in line with the university's mission for diversity. The sorority's purpose has been to build up the characteristics of each member through academics and advancement in education, as well as building leadership skills; promoting pride within each member and within the organization; and to forge a lasting relationship among all sisters.

Currently, Delta Omega Rho has focused its philanthropic efforts on groups like SPCA of Monterey County, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Smile Train, Animal Friends Rescue Project, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Girl Scouts, and many other local community organizations.

Nu Alpha Kappa

Nu Alpha Kappa (ΝΑΚ), is a Latino-based fraternity which encompasses and values all cultures. Currently Nu Alpha Kappa stands as one of the largest Latino-based fraternities on the west coast. Often referred to as "NAK", Nu Alpha Kappa was founded on February 26, 1988 on the campus of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo with twenty-one established chapters across California, Nevada, and Colorado, with the 15th chapter established here at CSUMB.[1]

Chapter Website

Omega Delta Phi

Omega Delta Phi is a fraternity on campus that is both active in its community and campus. They are a service/social fraternity who emphasizes on their academics, service, diversity and brotherhood. They have received numerous awards recognizing their outstanding G.P.A, service, spirit, and athletics. This fraternity competes in competitions across the nation in strolling and stepping.

Sigma Theta Psi

Sigma Theta Psi is an active sorority at California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB). They are a multicultural, academic and social sorority, who uphold the values of honesty, loyalty, respect, open mindedness, leadership and academic excellence. Sigma Theta Psi's national philanthropy is Breast Cancer. Their sisterhood has dedicated itself to promote awareness of this disease, in various campus and community events. They have been recognized for their outstanding service to community and their outstanding academic excellence.

Sigma Omega Nu

Sigma Omega Nu is a Latina Interest Sorority at California State University, Monterey Bay(CSUMB). Although, it is a Latina Interest Sorority, any ethnicity is welcomed. Sigma Omega Nu was founded on November 6, 1996 at California Polytechinic State University, San Luis Obispo. Sigma Omega Nu was established at CSU Monterey Bay on May 17, 2008. Sigma Omega Nu, also known as the "Sunnies" is based on Academics, Cultura and Sisterhood. The purpose of the sorority is to create sisterhood, scholastic excellence, self-improvement, Latina awareness, and to provide service to the community.

Children Do Count Club

The Children Do Count Club was established by students concerned with the closure of the child care center. The clubs main function is to provide support for child care services offered on campus and resources to students with children.

CSUMB Law Club

The CSUMB law club was established by students who wished to crate a collaborative group interest in issues regarding the law and policy. The club also pursues volunteer work with the Veterans Transition Center (VTC).

Athletics

CSUMB athletes and sports teams are known as the Otters. A member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II, the Otters are also members of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). The Otters field fourteen sports for men and women for the fall, winter, and spring seasons. Fall sports for men include cross country and soccer. Fall sports for women include cross country, soccer, and volleyball. The winter sport for men is basketball. The winter sport for women is basketball. Spring sports for men include baseball and golf. Spring sports for women include golf, softball, and water polo. CSUMB also has a coed sailing team which competes in the fall and spring (although the spring season is more important).

CSU Monterey Bay is now part of NCAA Division II after being a member of the California Pacific Conference in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.

The Otter Sports Center is the home to the CSUMB Otters Men's and Women's Basketball and Women's Volleyball teams. The Sports Center is affectionately known as "The Kelp Bed" referencing the floating home of the Sea Otter.

CSUMB's baseball program, which was started by a dedicated group of Otter Pioneers, began with the start of the 2006 Baseball season. The team is coached by former minor league player and local born Rich Aldrete.

Arts

Programs at CSUMB are interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary. In the arts, students can major in Music and Performing Arts (MPA), Teledramatic Arts and Technology (TAT), and VIsual and Public Arts (VPA).

The World Theater is a performing arts venue that presents campus events such as guest lectures and screenings, student capstones (thesis projects) and Capstone Festivals. They present a professional performing arts season of performance, music and dance.

The Teledramatic Arts and Technology Department offers cross-disciplinary study and practice of media and live performance. The program integrates the traditional disciplines of theatre, radio, broadcast, film and new media.

The Visual & Public Arts Department displays their original artwork throughout the campus with public installations and murals that paint the campus.

Music & Performing Arts Department offers choirs and activities to enrich the culture of CSUMB. They include a Gospel Choir, a Chorale and many music performers and lecturers. It also now offers theatrical classes, transferred from the TAT major it originated from. The Music and Performing Arts major offers a concentration in Recording and Technology and houses one of the area's best recording studios.

Tanimura & Antle Family Memorial Library

The Tanimura & Antle Family Memorial Library opened in December 2008 after breaking ground in October 2006. The three-story building, with views of both Monterey Bay and the Salinas Valley from the upper floors, replaced a one-story library that, like so many other buildings upon the opening of CSUMB in 1994, had been reworked from preexisting buildings at Fort Ord.

Inside the library are 136,151 square feet (12,648.8 m2) of floor space, with a towering central atrium drawing natural light deep into the building interior. Located at Divarty and 5th Street, and diagonally across from the Chapman Science Center, the library was the first entirely new building constructed at CSUMB. A cyclical one-way roundabout sits between the library and the science building.

Aside from being the largest building to exist on the CSUMB campus, it is the greenest in terms of energy usage. Up to 30% less electricity is needed, for example, because of floor to ceiling glass walls that let in natural light. Additionally, ventilation techniques operate through the floor instead of the ceiling, allowing cooler air to travel a lesser distance. The light let in from the atrium is indirect rather than direct sunlight.

In March 2008, the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, headed by Clint Eastwood, donated $620,000 to the university, with $500,000 of the grant for the new library. The largest donation, $4 million of the $69 million total cost, came from the Tanimura and Antle families from the Salinas valley. Accordingly, the library was named after them.

From December 1–5 of 2008, CSUMB held the library's Grand Opening Week, with the Campus Opening Ceremony on December 3, and the Public Dedication Ceremony on December 5.

Black Box Cabaret

The Black Box Cabaret (BBC) has been the home of student expression since the birth of CSUMB. It opened in 1996, when business students (from the student organization BO$$), faculty and staff took a military building, originally put up temporarily, and created the BBC, a place for students and the community to express themselves.

In 2000, the BBC was shut down when it failed to comply with ADA regulations. With no plans to re-open the BBC, the students took it upon themselves and shouted "Our Box! Our choice!" 350 students and community members marched, chanted and rallied to save the building.

Students approved a $40 per year student fee (with a 5% increase every 5 years) to fund the BBC's $1,066,146 renovation, ensuring the Box would re-open. Summer 2001 saw the beginning of renovation and February 2002 saw the re-opening of the Black Box Cabaret. In Fall 2009, the Box's renovation debts will be paid off, and be under the full control of the Otter Student Union via CSUMB's Associated Students. In the 2009–2010 academic year the BBC was closed again. Events are still hosted there, but is no longer a place to dine.

Since its original opening, the BBC has showcased student visual, theatrical and musical art. It offers food, drink and alcohol. One semesterly event that is always hosted at the BBC is called "TAPS" (Teledramatic Arts Presentation Showcase), in which students watch submitted short films made throughout the semester.

Interestingly, the Black Box Cabaret was the site of the first known public performance by the experimental rap group [Aaron and Tupac], and the last known public performance by Japanese Rock Group Guitar Wolf before their original bassist Bass Wolf died in 2005. It was also the only known venue for a live performance by the Mongolian-Congolese jam band 'The Thesaurus'.

CSUMB presidential history

Name Commenced term Ended term
1. Dr. Peter Plympton Smith 1994 2005
Diane Cordero de Noriega (Interim) 2005 2006
2. Dianne F. Harrison (Current) 2006 -

References