Students Expand Their Horizons at California State University, East Bay
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Each week‚ more than 1‚500 area students make the scenic commute to the foothills of Contra Costa County’s Mount Diablo.
Their destination: the Concord campus of California State University‚ East Bay‚ which offers its diverse student popula tion upper- and graduate-level classes designed for the working professional.
“Students really like the intimate setting and smaller campus‚” says Barbara Hudler Cella‚ director of community affairs at the Concord campus.
With an average class size of 24 and a student-to-teacher ratio of 20:1‚ the university encourages class participation and offers students the chance to work closely with their professors and academic advisors.
The 30-classroom campus is positioned on 386 acres of quiet‚ rural farmland. Students have access to four state-of-the-art computer labs and a CSUEB branch library‚ as well as a lecture hall‚ art lab‚ two biology labs‚ a café and student lounge.
As Contra Costa County’s only public university‚ the school works with area colleges to ensure students receive the highest quality continuing education possible.
The county also is home to two private universities and a junior college‚ from which CSUEB frequently receives transfer students.
Upper-division classes enable students with at least 60 transferable semester units to complete their junior and senior years. And because the average student age is 33‚ most classes meet in the evenings and on weekends.
“Students are extremely focused‚” Cella explains. “They bring to the classroom a wealth of experience to share with others.”
She says the school’s teaching program is a popular draw for many aspiring elementary educators‚ thanks‚ in part‚ to the Fast Track Teacher Preparation Program. It’s one of 10 undergraduate degrees available at the Concord campus‚ in addition to accounting‚ business administration‚ finance‚ liberal studies and nursing.
Master’s degrees also are available in a number of fields‚ including business administration‚ counseling‚ science and social work‚ and students can earn teaching and administra tive credentials as well as other professional certificates.
The campus also is home to the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at California State University‚ East Bay. OLLI offers classes‚ lectures‚ field trips and other learning opportunities for interested adults who are 50 and older.
Cella says the university also prides itself on its affordability. The school has some of the lowest fees in the nation compared to similar schools and awards more than $37 million in financial aid each year through scholarships‚ grants and loans.
“We’re one university with campuses in Concord‚ Hayward and Oakland‚” Cella says‚ “and have the resources and knowledge to help students meet their professional and educational goals.”
Story by Melanie Hill
Photo by Wes Aldridge
