Mar 29, 2024  
2019-2020 Academic Catalog 
    
2019-2020 Academic Catalog [Archived Catalog]

About Stanislaus State


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Mission, Vision, Values and Diversity Statements

Mission

The faculty, staff, administrators, and students of California State University, Stanislaus are committed to creating an inclusive learning environment that encourages all members of the campus community to expand their intellectual, creative and social horizons. We challenge one another to realize our potential, to appreciate and contribute to the enrichment of our diverse community and to develop a passion for lifelong learning. To facilitate this mission, we promote academic excellence in the teaching and scholarly activities of our faculty, encourage personalized student learning, foster interactions and partnerships with our surrounding communities and provide opportunities for the intellectual, cultural and artistic enrichment of the region.

Vision

California State University, Stanislaus strives to become a major center of learning, intellectual pursuit, artistic excellence and cultural engagement for California’s greater Central Valley and beyond. We will serve our diverse student body, communities and state by creating programs, partnerships and leaders that respond effectively to an evolving and interconnected world.

University Values

To achieve our mission and vision:

  • We inspire all members of the campus community to demand more of self than of others to attain new knowledge and challenge assumptions.
  • We challenge each other to be fully engaged and responsible citizens with the ethics, knowledge, skills and desire to improve self and community.
  • We value learning that encompasses lifelong exploration and discovery through intellectual integrity, personal responsibility and global and self-awareness, grounded in individual student-faculty interactions.
  • We embrace diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice as vital components of educational quality.
  • We are a student-centered community committed to a diverse, caring, inclusive and respectful learning-focused environment that fosters collegial, reflective and open exchange of ideas.
  • We, as students, create the collegiate experience through initiative, participation, motivation and continual growth to meet the demands of self and others.
  • We, as faculty, elicit, nurture and enhance the different voices of ourselves, students and communities through deliberate engagement, continual discovery and ongoing transformation.
  • We, as staff and administrators, contribute to an inclusive learning environment by demonstrating the knowledge, skills and values that serve and support the University’s mission.

Statement on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice

California State University, Stanislaus is a collegiate community that serves a diverse population of students, faculty, staff and administration. These facets of diversity encompass but are not limited to: race, ethnicity, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, creed, religion, age, social class, socio-economic status, physical and cognitive differences, political views and veteran status. The University is intent on engaging with all of its community members in meaningful ways that support the values and strengths that each individual brings to this campus. In building a community inclusive of everyone, more than recognition, tolerance, acceptance and celebration are required; California State University, Stanislaus also strives to teach, incorporate, mediate and promote issues of diversity that go beyond the surface. The ways in which the University actively embodies diversity include:

  • Offering courses that are centered on or incorporate material for our diverse student, faculty and staff populations, as well as educating us about each other.
  • Recruiting and hiring administrators, faculty, staff and students to create a diverse campus community through employment practices and faculty/staff development opportunities.
  • Recruiting and hiring faculty who are passionate about and committed to: sharing, as appropriate, course materials reflective of underrepresented histories and cultural issues; participating in discussions related to these matters in the classroom on a regular, rather than occasional, basis; honoring the complex diversity of this region; and engaging colleagues and students in teaching and learning that promotes dialogue, critical reflection and action focused on human dignity and worth.
  • Encouraging, organizing, funding and promoting workshops, trainings, clubs, lectures, forums, orientations and other events that allow our community of students, administrators, staff and faculty to come together to learn about and support one another and discuss experiences, understandings and values.
  • Assembling services, activities, and committees that continually gauge the ways in which diversity is honored and promoted on campus and in neighboring communities.
  • Offering targeted methods of outreach toward the recruitment, retention and graduation of a diverse student body.
  • Understanding that creating an inclusive community is an ongoing project, thus always requiring reassessment.

Through these various strategies, California State University, Stanislaus seeks to do more than merely acknowledge its invaluable members and local constituents. We wish also to consistently demonstrate equity in status, rights and opportunities through the establishment of purposeful conversations that inspire our students to reach out to each other and beyond. This thread of respect should resonate through the attitudes of campus administrators, students, staff and faculty. The University believes this type of environment will continue to attract and retain a socially just image of what we represent and who we are.

Definition of Student Success

Stanislaus State recognizes that student success occurs when our students are engaged and supported in their quest for knowledge and understanding. Student success is realized when our students are equipped and empowered to positively transform their lives, to inform the practice of their chosen profession and to exercise civic rights and responsibilities to transform their communities. 

At Stanislaus State,

  • We use the power of education, community and civic engagement to transform lives.
  • Student success occurs when we engage and support our students in a quest for knowledge and understanding that encourages and empowers them to identify their personal goals and professional aspirations. Successful students strive to make their own unique contributions to our diverse world.
  • We support our students by expanding opportunities and enriching experiences that broaden their awareness of others’ perspectives and develop their intellectual capacity and ethical character.
  • Student success is achieved when our students can imagine a better world and are empowered to make it a reality within the Central Valley region and beyond.

History

The State Legislature established Stanislaus State College in 1957, and the first classes opened on the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds in 1960. The college moved to its current 228-acre location in 1965. It was awarded university status in 1985, changing its name to California State University, Stanislaus.

Stanislaus State established its first classes in San Joaquin County in 1974, occupying office space in downtown Stockton. The classes were moved to San Joaquin Delta College in 1981, and then to their current location in Stockton’s University Park in 1998, establishing a permanent site for the Stanislaus State Stockton Center. As a way to better reflect the University’s growing presence and impact on San Joaquin County, the site was renamed Stanislaus State Stockton Campus in 2018.

Institutional Accreditation

Stanislaus State received its first full accreditation in 1965 and full reaffirmation of accreditation in 1999 and 2010 from:

WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
985 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 100
Alameda, CA 94501
Phone: (510) 748-9001 | Fax: (510) 748-9797 | www.wscuc.org

Specialized Accreditation 

The following programs are accredited by their specialized accrediting agencies:

College of the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

  • Art - National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)
  • Music - National Association of Schools of Music (NASM)
  • Public Administration - National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA)
  • Theatre Arts - National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST)

College of Business Administration

  • Business Administration - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), Intl.

College of Education, Kinesiology and Social Work

  • Education - California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC)
  • Social Work - Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)

College of Science

  • Genetic Counseling - American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC)
  • Nursing - California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN); Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

Affiliations

Stanislaus State is part of the California State University, a 23-campus system across California. With more than 484,000 students, it is the largest, the most diverse, and one of the most affordable university systems in the country. CSU campuses emphasize access to quality public higher education and workforce preparation that is responsive to regional needs.

Stanislaus State is a member of the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program, giving students from outside of California a valuable opportunity to participate in California’s top-notch public university system. The WUE is a part of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). Through WUE, students in Arizona, Montana, Oregon, Alaska, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Washington, Hawaii, South/North Dakota, Wyoming and Idaho may enroll at Stanislaus State at a reduced tuition level: 150 percent of in-state resident tuition. WUE tuition is considerably less than nonresident tuition.

Reputation

For 13 straight years, the Princeton Review has honored Stanislaus State as one of the top 384 schools in the country, a distinction awarded to less than 15 percent of colleges and universities in the United States. In 2015, Money Magazine ranked Stanislaus State No. 3 overall and No. 1 among the nation’s public universities among schools that best help students “exceed expectations” and currently ranks Stan Stan No. 26 among the nation’s top colleges for transfer students. In October, 2015, in a study commissioned by National Public Radio, Stanislaus State was ranked No. 5 in the nation and No. 1 among public colleges for the “upward mobility” of its students. In addition, US News & World Report ranks Stanislaus State No. 9 for attracting Hispanic students and the University is designated as a federally-designated Hispanic-Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education. The University consistently receives high ratings from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. It is noted for small class sizes and for the low student debt upon graduation.

Student Body

The diverse student body includes many first generation college students and working parents. As of fall 2018, the student body of 10,214 includes slightly more than 9,000 undergraduate students.

Alumni

The success of an educational institution is measured by the success of its graduates. Stanislaus State prides itself on its contributions to the economy of the state of California and to a wide range of fields that include education, public service, law enforcement, business, health care and other important professions. According to Forbes.com, Stanislaus State ranks in the top universities nationwide for producing top wage-earning alumni. Since the founding class, more than 60,000 alumni proudly call Stanislaus State their alma mater. The Office of Alumni Relations promotes involvement in the community with activities such as receptions, fundraisers, service projects, advocacy, networking and family-oriented events.

Campus 

California State University, Stanislaus blends modern facilities with the pastoral charm of the countryside. The University enjoys an ideal location in the heart of California’s Central Valley, a short distance from the San Francisco Bay Area, Monterey, Big Sur, the Sierra Nevada and the governmental hub of Sacramento. The 228-acre campus is located in the city of Turlock - a community that prides itself on its small-town atmosphere, clean living space, excellent schools and low crime rate. The campus itself is one of the region’s largest urban forests and is a beautiful, park-like setting in an environment conducive to learning. Shaded by hundreds of trees and graced by ponds, trickling streams and waterfalls, the picturesque campus offers moments of peace and relaxation to busy students, staff and visitors. These physical surroundings encourage and welcome students, faculty, staff and the community to actively participate in the learning-centered activities sponsored by the campus.

Facilities

The campus had two buildings when it opened in its present location in 1965: the classroom building, renamed Dorothy and Bill Bizzini Hall, and the library building, named after founding President Dr. J. Burton Vasché. The library building began a major renovation project in June 2019, and will reopen in summer 2021. The art, theatre, music and science buildings were added in the 1970s. The Health Center, dedicated in 1981, provides basic medical services, health maintenance and health education.

A $52 million student-funded renovation of The University Student Union is scheduled to be completed in spring 2020. The USU will house the Associated Students, Inc. offices, student Lounges, a game room, TV lounge, and various conference rooms. The Dining Hall complex offers a 553-seat cafeteria, a smaller dining room, Warrior Grill and Pop’s convenience store.

The Residence Life Village student housing complex opened in 1993 and includes apartment-style accommodations with laundry facilities, a dining hall, a computer lab, recreation room, tennis courts, courtyard with barbecue areas, two pools and a unit for faculty in residence.

Physical education facilities include a fieldhouse, the 2,000-seat Ed and Bertha Fitzpatrick Arena, baseball and softball diamonds with lights for night play, tennis courts and an aquatic facility. In addition, the Student Recreation Complex, which opened in 2009, is anchored by an 18,000-square-foot fitness center and includes Warrior Stadium, a 2,100-seat state-of-the-art facility that is home to Stanislaus State’s soccer and track and field teams. The stadium played host to the 2011 NCAA Division II Track and Field Championships.

Demergasso-Bava Hall, built in 1998, houses classrooms, lecture halls, laboratories and faculty offices, several academic departments, The Signal student newspaper, the campus radio and television stations and the Distance Learning Center.

The Mary Stuart Rogers Educational Services Gateway Building, completed in 2002, provides one-stop student services, including enrollment, advising, counseling, career development and several administrative offices.

The John Stuart Rogers Faculty Development Center, which opened in 2003, offers faculty members a gathering place to form research partnerships, promote service learning, integrate academic technology into pedagogical practices and work on projects in multimedia laboratories.

The Bernell and Flora Snider Music Recital Hall, dedicated in 2003, provides the ideal acoustical showcase for student, faculty and guest talent.

The Nora and Hashem Naraghi Hall of Science, completed in 2007, offers state-of-the-art classrooms and laboratories, plus a new observatory, animal care facility and greenhouse.

The University Bookstore was completed in 2008 as the first separate building for the bookstore in the history of the University. Designed by internationally-known architect Thomas Gordon Smith, it features an impressive octagonal entry tower and basilican form.

Built in 1971, the Science 1 building underwent an $18 million, two-year seismic retrofit and renovation. The building - reopened in 2014 with eight new classrooms and an open computer lab - is the home for the departments of mathematics, philosophy and modern languages, as well as the School of Nursing, which boasts a cutting-edge simulation lab. Photovoltaic solar panels were installed on the roof to provide for the majority of the building’s energy needs. Additional skylights and windows provide more natural light and have further reduced energy costs.

Summary

Location: Turlock, California

Organization: College of the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; College of Business Administration; College of Education, Kinesiology and Social Work; College of Science

First Class: 1960 (as Stanislaus State College)

President: Dr. Ellen Junn

Faculty: 662 full and part-time (as of Fall 2018)

Enrollment: 10,214 (as of Fall 2018)

Affiliation: The California State University (23-campus system)

Fields of study: More than 180 undergraduate majors, minors and concentrations; master’s degrees in 16 programs; an Executive and Online MBA; a doctorate in education; credentials in teacher preparation and professional areas and more than 2,000 courses.

Annual Cost: $7,362 for full-time undergraduate in-state student tuition fees

Student Aid: About 80 percent of students receive some form of financial aid

Athletics: NCAA Division II

Women: Basketball, cross country, soccer, volleyball, softball, tennis, track and field

Men: Baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, track and field