CSULB Again Ranked Among Top
Public Western Universities By
U.S. News & World Report

For the second time in a row, California State University, Long Beach has been ranked one of the top three public master’s universities in the West by U.S.News & World Report in its 2006 edition of America’s Best Colleges Guide, which was released on Aug. 19.

In addition to placing third among the 64 Western public master’s universities ranked by the magazine, CSULB once again was included among the publication’s first tier of rankings, placing the campus in the top 25 percent of a total of 123 public and private universities in its category in the region.

“The value of students’ degrees is always based on the reputation of their academic institution,” said Robert C. Maxson, university president. “I am so proud that U.S.News & World Report has recognized this campus for the quality education that students receive at Cal State Long Beach. It is especially satisfying because so much of the ranking is based on how we are perceived by our peers.”

U.S.News & World Report also ranked CSULB’s College of Engineering among the top 50 undergraduate programs nationally, and also noted Long Beach’s programs for first-year students among “stellar examples” of “academic programs that are believed to lead to student success.”

In U.S.News & World Report’s survey methodology, colleges provide data for up to 15 indicators of academic excellence. Each factor is assigned a weight that reflects publication officials’ judgment regarding how much a measure matters. Finally, the colleges in each category are ranked against their peers, based on their composite weighted score.

Among the indicators used to measure the academic quality of the colleges and universities were: peer assessment (weighted by 25 percent), retention (25 percent in master’s colleges), faculty resources (20 percent), student selectivity (15 percent), financial resources (10 percent), and alumni giving rate (5 percent).

As defined by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, institutions in the universities-master’s category provide a full range of undergraduate programs and some master’s level programs. They also offer few, if any, doctoral programs.

With approximately 35,000 students, CSULB offers 85 bachelor’s degrees, 67 master’s degrees and two doctorates.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Craig Smith Named CSU Trustee

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Craig Smith, chair of the Department of Film and Electronic Arts and professor of communication studies, to the California State University Board of Trustees as its faculty trustee.

Smith is serving a two-year term on the board, which is made up of 25 members who meet seven times per year and is responsible for the oversight of the 23-campus CSU system.

“I hope to protect and improve the California State University system and the way it serves the rest of the public institutions in the state,” said Smith, who also directs the CSULB Center for First Amendment Studies.

Smith has been a CSULB professor since 1988, during which he won the Distinguished Teaching, Distinguished Scholar and Outstanding Professor awards. He also has served as a broadcast election commentator and speechwriter for President Gerald Ford and Chrysler CEO Lee Iacocca.

 

David Sanfilippo, George Deukmejian and Robert Maxson, from left.

Former Gov. Deukmejian and Wife Fund Scholarship For Students With Disabilities

CSULB’s Disabled Student Services (DSS) office is the beneficiary of a $107,000 donation from former California Governor George Deukmejian and his wife, Gloria, to establish a new scholarship for students with disabilities.

The Deukmejians are long-time Long Beach residents, and the former governor chaired a fundraising committee for DSS beginning in 1993.

“With that invitation (to join the committee), I became very familiar with all of the services that CSULB makes available to students who have special needs,” Deukmejian said. “I was extremely impressed with the scope of those services and with the leadership provided by David (Sanfilippo, director) and his staff.”

DSS provides a variety of services for students with disabilities, including registration assistance, note-taking and sign language interpretation. It also includes the High Tech Computer Center, Stephen Benson Learning Disability Program and the WorkAbility IV Program that provides career planning and placement assistance.


George Lucas Donates to Film and Electronic Arts Program

Internationally acclaimed filmmaker George Lucas donated $100,000 to CSULB’s Department of Film and Electronic Arts to support the restoration and repair of equipment that was damaged during last year’s rainstorms. The announcement was made at CSULB’s annual Director’s Guild of America showcase of its students’ films in Hollywood.

The department was flooded during strong storms that lashed California last fall. Lucas’ donation covered equipment replacement and the purchase of additional technical equipment for use by film students and to support student scholarships.