California State University, Chico

All students are members of the Associated Students of CSU, Chico, a multi-million dollar corporation managed by students. The A.S. is responsible for the Student Government, the Student Bookstore, Adventure Outings, the student union (Bell Memorial Union), A.S. Events Programming, and other services for students.

Student publications include The Chico Historian; Contrapposto: Student Essays in Art History; The Orion newspaper, the Women's Center magazine; and Watershed literary magazine.

Top Ten Majors

Liberal Studies (elementary teaching)
Business Administration
Psychology
Computer Science
English
Recreation Administration
Biology
Media Arts
Agriculture Business
Communication Design
Management Information Systems (tied for tenth)

Faculty & Staff

Faculty (instructional only)958

Percentage Faculty with Doctorates/Terminal Degrees53%

Staff 1,179

Academic Programs

CSU, Chico is accredited by the following asssociations:

Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology

Accrediting Council for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication

American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business

American Chemical Society

American Council for Construction Education

American Dietetic Association

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

Commission for Teacher Credentialing

Computer Science Accreditation Board, Inc.

Council on Social Work Education

National Academy of Early Childhood Programs

National Association of Industrial Technology

National Association of Schools of Art and Design

National Association of Schools of Music

National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration

National League for Nursing

National Recreation and Park Association Council on Accreditation

State of California Board of Registered Nursing

Western Association of Colleges and Schools

CSU, Chico has seven colleges and three schools:

College of Agriculture

College of Behavioral and Social Sciences

College of Business

College of Communication and Education

College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology

College of Humanities and Fine Arts

School of the Arts

College of Natural Sciences

School of Nursing

School of Graduate, International, and Sponsored Programs

Center for Applied and Professional Ethics
Center for Bilingual/Multicultural Studies
Center for Computers in Education
Center for Economic Development
Center for Economic Education
Center for Geographic Education
Center for Information Systems Research
Center for Instructional Technology Research
Center for Manufacturing Excellence
Center for Mathematics and Science Education
Center for Multicultural and Gender Studies
Center for Policy Studies on Youth and the Family
Center for Regional and Continuing Education
Center for the Study of Bilingual Education
Bachelor of Arts Programs36
Bachelor of Science Programs27
B.A. and B.S. Options (within the Major)79
Master of Arts Programs16
Master of Science Programs10
M.A. and M.S. Options (within the Major)16
Minors90
Certificate Programs23
Professional Education Credential Programs27
Other Programs Offered:

Bachelor of Fine Arts
Master of Business Administration
Master of Fine Arts
Master of Public Administration
Master of Rural and Town Planning
Pre-Professional Programs in Dental Hygiene, Dentistry, Forensic Science, Forestry, Law, Medicine, Optometry, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Theology, and Veterinary Medicine
The General Studies Thematic program: 36 first-year students enroll in a two-semester common curriculum of 33 units of intensive study in the humanities, arts, and social sciences.

Fees

Undergraduate (Fall 1999):

0 - 6 units: $ 697 Total Per Semester

6.1 + units: $ 997Total Per Semester

(Non-resident tuition: $246 per unit, in addition to fees)

Residence Hall expenses for 1999-00: $5,860

Thematic Living Program: $3,787

University Village: $2,769/$3,250

CSU, Chico's History

In 1887, General John Bidwell, pioneer, statesman, and founder of Chico, donated eight acres of cherry orchard, and construction began on Chico State Normal School. The campus opened in 1889 with ninety students and five faculty members. The first class of teachers graduated in June 1891. The State Normal School became Chico State Teachers College in 1921. The legislature converted its teachers colleges to state colleges in 1935, and Chico State Teachers College became Chico State College. In 1972, the College became California State University, Chico. The campus proper is 119 acres. The university also manages 800 acres of farm land and 250 acres of range land.

Programs, Facilities, and Services

Art Galleries:

BFA Gallery
Gallery of Alternative Space
Janet Turner Gallery
Lew Oliver Gallery
Third Floor Gallery, BMU
University Art Gallery, Taylor Hall

Associated Students:

Adventure Outings, Bookstore
Bell Memorial Union (student union)

Athletic Facilities:

All-weather track, putting green, jogging trails; 2 gyms; soccer, baseball (Nettleton Stadium), and football fields; tennis, basketball, and handball courts; weight room, swimming/diving pools; dance studio

Athletic Programs:

Men (Div. ll) - Baseball, Basketball, Soccer,Cross Country, Track & Field, Golf
Women (Div. II) - Basketball, Soccer, Softball,Volleyball, Cross Country, Track & Field.

Community Action Volunteers in Education

Community Legal Information Center

Computer Center

Electron Microscopes

Food Services:
BMU Garden, Primo Espresso, Butte Station

Geographical Services:
maps, aerial photos, and remote sensing imagery

Labs:
Agriculture, Archeology, Art, Bio-Psychology, Child Development, Computer (5 Open Access labs, including 1 24-hour lab; 40+ department labs; 6 residence hall labs),Consumer Science, Counseling Psychology, Dietetics/Food Nutrition, Engineering,Industrial Technology, Physical Anthropology

Media Services

Model U.N. Program

Museums:
Anthropology, Natural History

Publications:
Chico Statements, Inside Chico State, Orion (student newspaper)

Regional and Continuing Education:
California State University Satellite Network,
Open University and Non-Credit
Workshops, Special Session Credit Courses

Theatres/Auditorium:
Harlen Adams Theatre
Laxson Auditorium
Larry Wismer Theatre
Ruth Rowland-Taylor Recital Hall

Planetarium

Radio Station KCHO

Reading Services for Sightless

Residence Halls:
Whitney, Lassen, Shasta, Mechoopda, Esken, Konkow

Self-Instructional Language Program

Student Services:
Career Exploration Center; Disability Support Services; Educational Support Program; Financial Aid, Learning Assistance Center; Psychological Counseling, Testing, & Wellness Center; Student Employment Center; Student Health Center; Student Learning Center; Writing Center

Telecommunications Satellite

University Farm:
meat lab; mechanics lab; herds of beef, sheep, swine, dairy cows

University Greenhouse

The Meriam Library contains 633,873 books, serial backfiles, electronic documents, and government documents; 11,289 current serial subscriptions; 1,125,797 microforms;18,789 audio-visual materials; and over 1.2 million historical photos, maps, and other items in archives.

The Instructional Media Center (IMC) has over 3,700 videos.

KCHO, operated by Northstate Public Radio, is located in the basement of Meriam Library. About 32,000 people attend over 500 festivals, exhibits, concerts, athletic events, speakers, and plays on campus each year.

The University Art Gallery in Taylor Hall is a major exhibit space in Northern California.

The Janet Turner Gallery in Laxson Auditorium has 15,000 visitors per year.

Student Activities sponsors more than 200 student organizations each year, including fraternities, sororities and special interest, social, and professional groups.

Chico Geographical Facts

Chico is 90 miles north of Sacramento.
Chico is 174 miles northeast of San Francisco.
Chico is 8 miles from the Sacramento River.
Chico is 2 miles from the foothills of the Sierra Nevada.
Bidwell Park has a total of 3,670 acres, the third largest municipal park in the U.S.
Chico is 230 feet above sea level.
Average annual rainfall is 25.75 inches.
Chico has an average of 219 clear days in a typical year
Population of Butte County (January 1999): 201,900
Population density of Butte County is 120.9 persons per square mile, compared to 216.5 for the state of California.

Chico Community

Government: City Council and City Manager

Date of City Incorporation: January 8, 1872

Population within Chico City Limits (January 1999): 54, 093

Total Population of "Chico Urban Area": 94,500

58 Houses of Worship
26 Hotels and Motels and 5 Bed & Breakfasts
1 Hospital and 5 Acute Care facilities

2 Shopping Malls

Police Department: 71 sworn personnel, 43 non-sworn personnel

Fire Department: 56 firefighters, 36 volunteer firefighters

Communications: 15 radio stations, 6 television stations, 1 daily newspaper, 1 weekly newspaper, 4 alternative newspapers

Transportation and Shipping: Chico is served by Greyhound bus line and Amtrak trains. United Express provides air service. Chico Municipal Airport is within 10 minutes of downtown. A municipal bus line, CATS, provides bus service throughout the community, and Butte County Transit provides service throughout Butte County. The Chico Clipper provides transportation for seniors and persons with disabilities.

Recreation: CARD, the Chico Area Recreation and Park District, offers free or inexpensive recreational programs. About 290 softball teams play in CARD leagues. Chico has more than fifty tennis courts, over a dozen racquetball courts, a bowling alley, a roller-skating rink, three golf courses, and six gymnasiums. Bicycle magazine named Chico "America's Best Bike Town" in 1997. Snow skiing is two hours away. Three recreational lakes are within a few hours' distance. Bidwell Park has barbecue pits, swimming pools, softball diamonds, a children's playground, horseback and jogging trails. Bidwell Nature Center and Chico Creek Nature Center offer educational experiences for children and adults.

Arts and Entertainment: There are five movie theatres in town, and eighteen music and dance clubs in the area. Community theatre productions run year round. Over a dozen local art galleries/exhibit halls display local and international artists' work. The Chico Museum, Bidwell Mansion, and Stansbury House are open to the public.

Chico Unified Schools Fall 1999 Enrollment:
Grades K - 6  7,061
Grades 7 - 8   2,271
Grades 9-12   4,362
Total 13,696
Butte Community College  14,329