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California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB), also called Cal State Bakersfield, is a public university located in Bakersfield, California, was founded in 1965. CSUB opened in 1970 on a 375 acre (1.5 km²) campus, becoming the 19th school in the California State University system. The university offers 31 bachelor's and 22 master's degree programs. The main building is the Walter Stiern Library, with a 650,000 volume capacity.
As of fall 2002, some 7,700 undergraduate and graduate students attended CSUB, at either the main campus in Bakersfield or the satellite campus in Lancaster, California, in the Antelope Valley of Los Angeles County.
History
CSUB owes its founding to the Donahoe Higher Education Act of 1960, which formalized the creation of the CSU-system, initially as the "California State Colleges"-system. The areas in the Southern San Joaquin Valley had been demanding a four-year university since the 1950s. After considering several locations, including nearby Delano and parts of Kings and Tulare County, a steering committee decided on Bakersfield because at the time it was the largest isolated metropolitan area in the United States without a 4-year university. Their decision was turned into a bill by Bakersfield's State Senator Walter W. Stiern, ratified by the California State Legislature and signed into law by Governor Edmond G. Brown.
Under these rules, the school was founded as California State College, Bakersfield in 1965. It opened for classes in September 1970. In 1982 the California State College system became the California State University system and the school changed to its present name.
Athletics
The university invests heavily in its athletic department and was part of the NCAA Division II program in all sports but wrestling until 2006. Roadrunner teams formerly competed in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. For wrestling, CSUB competes in the Pac-10 conference. The Roadrunner sports teams have won national championships in men's basketball, swimming, wrestling, soccer, women's volleyball, tennis, and softball. Men's and women's basketball teams compete at the Rabobank Arena in downtown Bakersfield.
On June 1, 2006, Cal State Bakersfield President Horace Mitchell formally announced that they will be moving their athletics program to Division I and attempting to raise $6 million, to cover additional costs and start a baseball program.* During the four-year transition process, CSUB teams will be ineligible to compete for NCAA Championships.
External links
California State University | Los Angeles area colleges and universities | Universities and colleges in California | Western Association of Schools and Colleges | Bakersfield, California
"California State University, Bakersfield"