Institutional Information

California State University Long Beach
(Name of Institution)

1. Type of institution: X Public   Private

2. Year institution was founded: 1949

3. Special affiliation (e.g., religious, military)? Yes   X No

4. Coeducational? X Yes  No

5. Total student enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combines) [using a full-time equivalency (FTE) basis]: 26,479.9

6. Number of faculty [using a full-time equivalency (FTE) basis]: 1,347.73

7. Highest level of academic degree offered: 63 Masters Degrees / 1 Joint Doctorate

8. Institution’s governing entity (e.g., board of trustees): California State University Board of Trustees

9.

a. Regional accreditation agency: Western Association of Schools and Colleges

b. Date of most recent regional accreditation self-study: July 2002

c. Current accreditation status: Accreditation Reaffirmed

Athletics Information

1. Subdivision status of athletics program: X I-A

2. Conference affiliation(s) or independent status: Big West Conference and Mountain Pacific Sports Federation

3. Athletics program structure: One combined athletics department

4. Date of NCAA major infractions case(s) (if any) since previous certification self-study and impact (if any) on the areas of the certification program: None

5. Other significant events (with dates) in the history of intercollegiate athletics program:
December 1991: Terminated football program.
November 1994: Pyramid Events Center opened.
July 1996: Athletics program certified by the NCAA Committee on Athletics Certification.
March 2000: "Beach Pride" student referendum passed, adding more than $1 million to the Athletics Department’s annual budget.



Previous Certification Self-Study

1. Date of previous orientation visit, evaluation visit and interim self-study report (if applicable):
October 1994: Orientation Visit by NCAA Compliance Representative Rebecca Bowman.
February 1996: Peer-Review Team Evaluation Visit.
April 1996: Final Report issued by Peer-Review Team.

2. Initial certification-status decision rendered by the NCAA Committee on Athletics Certification (and date): July 28-30, 1996.

3. Subsequent actions or changes in certification status (if any) made by the NCAA Committee of Athletics Certification (and date):
June 1997: Long Beach State University submits Status Report on Strategies for Improvement to NCAA Committee on Athletics Certification.
August 1997: NCAA Committee on Athletics Certification acknowledges receipt of Status Report; advises that Long Beach State’s certification status has not been changed.

4. Changes in key senior-level positions, institutional or athletics program, (if any) since the institution’s previous certification self-study:
March 1999: Vice President for University Relations and Development appointed.
July 2002: Provost/Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs appointed.

5. Significant changes impacting the institution and/or athletics program, if any (e.g., conference affiliation, sports sponsors, changes in admissions standards, significant changes in graduation rates, changes in mission statement of the athletics program, changes in fiscal stability/condition of the athletics program), since the institution’s previous certification self-study:

A number of significant changes in key areas impacting CSULB and its sports program have taken place since its initial NCAA Certification review in 1995-96.

First, in the area of sports sponsorship, the University made several strategic changes in order to carry out its strategic plan to reach gender equity. Specifically, the sports of men’s and women’s fencing were dropped in 1996-97, while men’s and women’s indoor track and field were added in 1997-98. Additionally, two women’s sports were added – soccer (1998-99) and water polo (1999-00) – bringing the university’s athletic program to its current total of 18 varsity sports. The University’s gender equity plan has brought the athletic program into compliance with the Cal-NOW consent decree, which monitors several specific and quantifiable participation and funding categories.

Admission standards for CSULB have also dramatically increased over the past five years. The University currently has "impacted" status among the 22 campuses in the California State University system, thereby requiring higher admission standards than the norm. The Athletic Department has worked closely with the Assistant Vice-President for Enrollment Services in preparing the coaching staff for carrying out the recruiting process for student-athletes while also working to adjust the Special Admissions policy accordingly. Despite the higher admission standards, the Athletic Department has seen its student-athlete graduation rate improve more than 30 percent over the past decade, while nearly 40 percent of the Department’s 300-plus student-athletes maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better.

The Athletic Department received a major financial boost beginning with the 2000-01 academic year with passage of the "Beach Pride" referendum. The student-supported initiative provides approximately $1 million new dollars annually to the athletic budget, with the bulk of the support going to student-athlete scholarships and sports operating budgets.

Envisioning the need to be more specific in the communication of its vision, mission and purpose, the Athletic Department re-wrote its Mission Statement prior to the 2002-03 academic year in order to further clarify its direction and goals.

Strengthening the Department’s infrastructure and the ability to better service its many constituencies, the Athletic Department has also increased professional staffing in three critical areas – student-athlete academic services, NCAA compliance and student services, and the Athletic Business Office.

Finally, while CSULB has maintained membership in the Big West Conference (BWC), it has played a strategic role over the past five years in re-shaping conference membership. Previously a NCAA Division 1-A Conference, CSULB helped engineer a strategic move toward a re-classification to NCAA Division 1-AAA in order to better match the programs and philosophies of Big West Conference member institutions located in California. It is anticipated that by academic year 2005-06, BWC membership will be made up of nine institutions – all located in California. This new alignment will provide CSULB and the BWC with enhanced stability based on the philosophical and geographical similarities of its conference members.



Certification Self-Study Information

1. Steering committee chair (name and title): Douglas W. Robinson, Vice President for Student Services

2. Chief report writer/editor of self-study report (name and title): Douglas Young, Professor, Kinesiology and Physical Education

3. Describe the extent of broad-based participation of campus constituencies in the self-study. Specifically, report on the opportunities that actually were provided to various individuals or groups in the broad-campus community to: (a) offer input into the self-study report before its findings and plans for improvement were formulated, and (b) review the self-study report after it was drafted.

a) Pre Self-Study Input:
Campus Orientation Sessions: SAR-All Dept. meeting, January 23, 2002; Academic Senate, February 28, 2002; Staff Council, March 8, 2002; Alumni Association Executive Committee, March 19. 2002; 49er Athletic Association Board of Directors,
March 20, 2002; Associated Students Inc. Senate, April 3, 2002.
Public Forums: October 15, 2002; November 2, 2002; November 21, 2002.
b) Post Self-Study Input: Final self-study report circulated to University President; Academic Senate; Committee on Athletics; Associated Students, Inc.; Staff Council; Alumni Association; Student Athlete Advisory Council; and 49er Athletic Association.

4. Attach a copy of the institution’s written plan for conducting the self-study. Attached