General Information

Overview

Welcome to the California State University (CSU) - the nation’s largest and most diverse four-year public university.  With 23 unique universities and seven off-campus centers, the CSU serves approximately 460,000 students and employs more than 56,000 faculty and staff.

Each year, the university awards more than 130,000 degrees, changing the trajectory of students’ lives by opening doors to opportunities for upward mobility.  Nearly one-third of CSU students are the first in their families to attend college and more than half of CSU students are from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds.

For one of the most affordable tuitions in the country, students learn from world-class faculty, gain valuable hands-on experiences and receive strong career advising, empowering them to become leaders in the changing workforce.

CSU graduates are serving as leaders in the industries that drive California’s economy, including business, agriculture, entertainment, engineering, teaching, hospitality, and healthcare. To learn more vist the California State University website.

A Tradition of Excellence for More than Six Decades

Since 1961, the CSU has provided an affordable, accessible, and high-quality education to 4 million living alumni throughout California. While each university is unique based on its curricular specialties, location, and culture, every CSU is distinguished for the quality of its educational programs. All CSUs are fully accredited, provide a high-quality broad liberal educational program, and offer opportunities for students to engage in university life through the Associated Students, Inc., clubs, and service learning. 

Facts

• Today, one of every 20 Americans with a college degree is a CSU graduate.
• 1 in every 10 employees in California is a CSU graduate.
• The CSU’s network of more than 4 million alumni is larger than the population of 23 U.S. States.
• The CSU awards nearly half of the bachelor’s degrees earned in California.
• The CSU awards more than one-third of California’s undergraduate nursing degrees.
• Between 2016 and 2021, the CSU prepared more of California’s teachers than any other institution. 
• About four percent of the nation’s teachers graduate from the CSU.
• In 2021-22, CSU students earned more than 20,000 business degrees and more than 7,500 engineering degrees.
• The CSU offers more than 400 degree programs that align with the state’s workforce demands.
• The CSU’s online concurrent enrollment program gives students the ability to enroll in courses offered by other universities in the CSU system.
• Through CSU community engagement centers, 52,000 student volunteers participated in service-learning, contributing 2 million hours of service in 2021-2022.

Governance

The CSU is governed by the Board of Trustees, most of whom are appointed by the governor and serve with faculty and student representatives. The CSU Chancellor is the chief executive officer, reporting to the Board. The campus presidents serve as the campus-level chief executive officers. The trustees, chancellor, and presidents develop university-wide educational policy. The presidents, in consultation with the CSU Academic Senate and other campus stakeholder groups, render and implement local policy decisions.

CSU Historical Milestones

The individual California State Colleges were established as a system with a Board of Trustees and a chancellor in 1960 by the Donahoe Higher Education Act. In 1972, the system was designated as the California State University and Colleges, and in 1982 the system became the California State University. Today, the CSU is comprised of 23 campuses, including comprehensive and polytechnic universities and, since July 1995, the California Maritime Academy, a specialized university.

The oldest university-San José State University-was founded in 1857 and became the first institution of public higher education in California. The newest-CSU Channel Islands-opened in fall 2002, with freshmen arriving in fall 2003.  And in 2022, the CSU in Humboldt became the California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, joing San Luis Obispo and Pomona as the state’s third public polytechnic university. 

In 1963, the CSU’s Academic Senate was established to act as the official voice of CSU faculty in university-wide matters. Also, the California State College Student Presidents Association- which was later renamed the California State Student Association (CSSA)- was founded to represent each university student association on issues affecting students.

Through its many decades of service, the CSU has continued to adapt to address societal changes, student needs, and workforce trends. While the CSU’s core mission has always focused on providing high-quality, affordable bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, over time the university has added a wide range of services and programs to support student success - from adding health centers and special programs for veterans to building student residential facilities to provide a comprehensive educational experience.

In 2010, in an effort to accommodate community college transfer students, the CSU, in concert with the California Community Colleges (CCC), launched the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT), which guarantees CCC transfer students with an ADT admission to the CSU with junior status.  The ADT has since proven to be the most effective path to a CSU for community college transfer students.   In 2023, the CSU will launch the Transfer Success Pathway program to guarantee future CSU admission to high school graduates who are entering a California community college and who commit to transferring within three years.

Always adapting to changes in technology and societal trends to support student learning and degree completion, the CSU launched CSU Fully Online, which enables CSU students to complete online courses at other CSUs, expanding enrollment opportunities and providing more educational opportunities for students who may prefer an online format to a traditional classroom setting.

The CSU marked a significant educational milestone when it broadened its degree offerings to include doctoral degrees. The CSU independently offers Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), Doctor of Audiology (AuD), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), and Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) degree programs. Additionally, the CSU was recently authorized to offer the independent Doctor of Public Health (DrPH).  A limited number of other doctoral degrees are offered jointly with the University of California and private institutions in California.

The CSU strives to continually develop innovative programs, services, and opportunities that will give students the tools they need to meet their full potential. In 2016, the university launched Graduation Initiative 2025, a bold plan to support students, increase the number of California’s graduates earning high-quality degrees and eliminate achievement and equity gaps for all students. Through this initiative, the CSU is ensuring that all students have the opportunity to graduate according to their personal goals, positively impacting their lives, families, and communities. 

By providing an accessible, hand-on education that prepares gradutes for career success, the CSU has created a network of alumni so extensive and renowned that is spans across the globe.  More than 4 million CSU alumni are making a difference in the lives of the people of California and the world.

Trustees

Ex Officio Trustees

The Honorable Gavin Newsom
Governor of California

The Honorable Eleni Kounalakis
Lieutenant Governor of California

The Honorable Anthony Rendon
Speaker of the Assembly

The Honorable Tony Thurmond
State Superintendent of Public Instruction

Dr. Jolene Koester
Interim Chancellor, California State University

Officers of the Trustees

The Honorable Gavin Newsom
President

Wenda Fong
Chair

Jack B. Clarke
Vice Chair

Andrew Jones
Secretary

Steve Relyea
Treasurer

Appointed Trustees

Appointments are for a term of eight years, except student, alumni, and faculty trustees whose terms are for two years. Terms expire in the year in parentheses. Names are listed alphabetically.

Correspondence

Correspondence with Trustees should be sent to:

c/o Trustees Secretariat
The California State University
401 Golden Shore
Long Beach, California  90802-4210

Office of the Chancellor

The California State University
401 Golden Shore
Long Beach, California  90802-4210
Phone: (562) 951-4000
 

Dr. Jolene Koester  ~ Interim Chancellor, CSU System

Mr. Steve Relyea ~ Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer

Mr. Andrew Jones ~ Executive Vice Chancellor, General Counsel

Ms. Leoro D. Freeman ~ Vice Chancellor, Human Resources

Mr. Vlad Marinescu ~ Vice Chancellor and Chief University Auditor

Dr. Nathan Evans ~ Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic and Student Affairs

Dr. Dilcie Perez ~ Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic and Student Affairs

Ms. Jessica Darin ~ Interim Chief of Staff

Ms. Michelle Kiss ~ Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief of Staff, Board of Trustees

Campuses

Map

Funding

Average Support Cost per Full-time Equivalent Student and Sources of Funds

The total support cost per full-time equivalent student (FTES) includes the expenditures for current operations, including payments made to students in the form of financial aid, and all fully reimbursed programs contained in state appropriations. The average support cost is determined by dividing the total cost by the number of FTES. The total CSU 2022-23 budget amounts were $4,589,590,000 from state General Fund (GF) appropriations, before a $(68.5) million CalPERS retirement adjustment, $2,446,491,000 from gross tuition revenue, and $672,655,000 from other fee revenues for a total of $7,708,736,000. The 2022-23 resident FTES target is 383,680 and the nonresident FTES based on past-year actual is 19,953 for a total of 403,633 FTES. The GF appropriation is applicable to resident students only whereas fee revenues are collected from resident and nonresident students. FTES is derived by dividing the total student credit units attempted by a fixed amount depending on academic level (e.g., 30 for a semester university and 45 for a quarter university, the figures that define a full-time undergraduate or postbaccalaureate student’s academic load).

*Represents state GF appropriation in the Budget Act of 2022-23; GF is divisible by resident students only (383,680 FTES).

**Represents CSU Operating Fund, gross tuition, and other fees revenue amounts submitted in university September 2022-23 final budgets. Revenues are divisible by resident and nonresident students (403,633 FTES).

The 2022-23 average support cost per FTES based on GF appropriation and net tuition fee revenue only is $18,023 and when including all three sources as indicated below is $19,960, which includes all fee revenue (e.g. tuition fees, application fees, and other campus mandatory fees) in the CSU Operating Fund.  Of this amount, the average net tuition and other fee revenue per FTES is $7,728.

The average CSU 2022-23 academic year, resident, undergraduate student basic tuition and other mandatory fees required to apply to, enroll in, or attend the university is $7,520 ($5,742 tuition plus $1,778 average campus-based fees).  However, the costs paid by individual students will vary depending on campus, program, and whether a student is part-time, full-time, resident, or nonresident.

CSUMB Administration

CSUMB operates under the direction of a president appointed by the CSU Board of Trustees as the chief executive officer of the campus. The president develops campus policy through broadly based consultative procedures that include students, faculty, staff, and administrators in decision making. The CSUMB Academic Senate and its Academic Senate Executive Committee, made up of elected representatives of the faculty, recommend academic policy to the president through a shared-governance process.

The university divides its operations into administrative divisions, each under the direction of a vice president.

President

Vanya Quiñones, Ph.D., was appointed by the California State University Board of Trustees to serve as the fourth president of California State University, Monterey Bay. She began her term on Aug. 15, 2022, and is focusing on student success in graduation and beyond, making the campus a cultural hub for the region, championing diversity and inclusion, and positioning CSUMB to be a model in public higher education.

She is also a neurobiologist, biopsychologist, and noted researcher who has published more than 70 peer-reviewed papers. She’s accumulated a 30-plus-year career working in scientific research, academic administration, program- and research-focused fundraising, student success, and diversity in the arts and sciences.

Vanya Quiñones was born in the small beach town of Arecibo in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, and grew up in the country’s capital city of San Juan.

She went on to earn a bachelor of science degree in biology and a master of science degree in cell biology from the University of Puerto Rico, and a doctorate in neurobiology and physiology from Rutgers University.  Dr. Quiñones was one of a handful of research pioneers that described gender differences in the brain, and helped change the course of future research in that area.

President Quiñones is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, New York Academy of Sciences, Sigma Xi, and the Society for Neuroscience. Her academic and professional honors include Outstanding Undergraduate Mentors in the Sciences at Hunter College and multiple CUNY Faculty Scholar Awards, and she has directed research and student training programs including the Mellon Art Program and the PI McNair Program at Hunter College.

She enjoys hiking, running, and lifting weights, describes herself as a soccer fan, and devotes time to volunteering with homeless populations and serves on the board of a homeless shelter.

She tries to lead with gratitude, and subscribes to a South African proverb that approximately translates to: “I am because we are.”

Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

As Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Andrew Lawson provides central and academic leadership with primary responsibility to plan, develop, and administer all aspects of the university’s programs, activities, personnel, and budget in the support of students and student learning.

In July 2023, Dr. Lawson was appointed Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, after serving as CSUMB’s Dean of the College of Science since 2016. Prior to coming to CSUMB, Dr. Lawson served as Interim Dean, Associate Dean and Professor of Entomology at CSU Fresno.

Dr. Lawson completed a bachelor’s degree in biology from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and a Ph.D.in entomology from the University of California, Berkeley. His graduate and post-doctoral work focused on using natural enemies to control urban forest insect pests. Since joining the CSU in 2001, Dr. Lawson led a successful research program focused on integrated pest management in almonds, grapes, pistachios, and urban forest systems. At CSUMB, he has led efforts to expand academic programs in agriculture and engineering and secured grants to support student success and diversity in STEM fields.  He has also been active in engaging with our regional community and providing support and opportunities for all CSUMB students.

He enjoys cycling, hiking, and surfing and time spent with his niece, nephews, and close friends.

VP Enrollment Management & Student Affairs

Dr. Ben M. Corpus is the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs at California State University, Monterey Bay. He is a national expert in enrollment management, student affairs and governance with more than 23 years of proven executive experience on campuses within four of the largest public university systems in the country, including SUNY, CUNY, the University of Texas system, State University System of Florida. Prior to arriving at CSUMB, Dr. Corpus was Vice Provost for Enrollment Management at Florida Polytechnic University, Vice Provost for Enrollment Management at the University of Texas at Austin, Vice President for Student affairs, Enrollment Management and Strategic Academic Initiatives at Baruch College (CUNY), Vice President for Student Development & Enrollment at Hostos Community College (CUNY) and Chief of Staff to the President at Plattsburgh State University (SUNY), in addition to administrative positions at NYU and the University at Albany. He has served as an admissions and enrollment management consultant to UC San Diego, New Jersey City University, Northeastern Illinois University, The College of Trinidad & Tobago, UC Davis and RISD.

Dr. Corpus has designed and built institutional capacity through pioneering enrollment marketing approaches, econometric modeling, and integrated strategic planning to help colleges serve students.  Under his leadership, institutions have significantly advanced student support services, increased student applications and new enrollments, increased academic quality, improved academic excellence, enhanced diversity and developed summer high school programs that dramatically transformed student portfolios for college admission. He was nominated as a HACU Leadership Fellow, and ASSCU Millennial Leadership Fellow.

He received his bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Psychology and minored in English Literature at Oswego State University (SUNY), earned an M.S. from the University at Albany (SUNY) in education policy and his Ph.D. from New York University in Higher Education Policy.  He has completed the Certificate Program on Negotiation for Senior Executives at Harvard Law and a certificate from IEM at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education.

VP Administration & Finance

Mr. Glenn R. Nelson serves as the Chief Financial Officer for CSU Monterey Bay and directs a wide range of campus departments that provide essential services to students, faculty, staff, and to the external community. He has direct oversight of finance, facility maintenance operations, campus planning and construction, and public safety.

Dr. Nelson brings extensive and varied experience in administrative positions in higher education to CSUMB. He joins us from Idaho State University, where he was the Vice President for Finance and Business Affairs. Before that position, he held appointments at Arizona State University, and in the Arizona, Wisconsin, and Oregon university systems, among other institutions. He brings energy and passion to the mission of student success of CSUMB and deep experience in financial and administrative matters at many institutions of varying scale.

VP University Advancement

As the Vice President for University Advancement, Barbara Zappas oversees the university’s fundraising, marketing, and communication efforts as well as the Foundation of CSU Monterey Bay.

She has previously served as the Assistant Vice President for University Advancement.

Prior to joining the University in early 2012, she served as assistant dean for external relations at the law school of Lewis & Clark College. Earlier, she had been a senior vice president at Oregon’s Legacy Health System.

Barbara holds a master of public health degree from Yale University and completed her undergraduate bachelor of arts at the University of California, Berkeley.

Other Information

Information concerning the cost of attending CSUMB is available online.  This page includes tuition and fees; the estimated cost of books and supplies; estimates of typical student room, board, and transportation costs; and, if requested, additional costs of specific programs.  You can also use the Cost of Attendance Calculator to estimate your costs.

The following information concerning student financial assistance may be obtained from:

Angeles Fuentes
Student Services Building, 3rd Floor
100 Campus Center
Seaside, CA 93955
Phone:  831-582-5100

• A description of the federal, state, institutional, local, and private student financial assistance programs available to students who enroll at CSUMB;
• For each aid program, a description of procedures and forms by which students apply for assistance, student eligibility requirements, criteria for selecting recipients from the groups of eligible applicants, and criteria for determining the amount of a student’s award;
• A description of the rights and responsibilities of students receiving financial assistance, including federal Title IV student assistance programs, and criteria for continued student elibility under each program;
• The satisfactory academic progress standards that students must maintain for the purpose of receiving financial assistance and criteria by which a student who has failed to maintain satisfactory academic progress may reestablish eligibility for financial assistance;
• The method by which financial assistance disbursements will be made to students and the frequency of those disbursements;
• The way the school provides for Pell-eligible students to obtain or purchase required books and supplies by the seventh day of a payment period and how the student may opt out;
• The terms of any loan received as part of the student’s financial aid package, a sample loan repayment schedule, and the necessity for repaying loans;
• The general conditions and terms applicable to any employment provided as part of the student’s financial aid package;
• The terms and conditions of the loans students receive under the Direct Loan Program;
• The exit counseling information the school provides and collects for student borrowers; and Contact information for university offices available for disputes concerning federal, institutional, and private loans; and,
• Information concerning policies regarding the return of federal Title IV student assistance funds as required by regulation.

Information concerning the refund policies of CSUMB for the return of unearned tuition and fees and other refundable portions of institutional charges is available online in the Tuition & Fees  section of this catalog.

Information regarding special facilities and services available to students with disabilities may be obtained from:

Terilynn Bench Harris, Director Student Disability and Accessibility Center
Health & Wellness Services, Room 110
100 Campus Center
Seaside, CA 93955
Phone:  831-582-4369

Information concerning CSUMB policies, procedures, and facilities for students to report criminal actions and other emergencies occuring on campus may be obtained from:

University Police Department
Valley Hall
100 Campus Center
Seaside, CA 93955
Phone:  831-655-0268

Information concerning CSUMB’s annual university security report and annual fire safety report may be obtained from:

John Fraire, Interim VPSA and Interim Clery Director
Student Services Building, Suite 201
100 Campus Center
Seaside, CA  93955
Phone: 831-582-4363

Information concerning the prevention of drug and alcohol abuse and rehabilitation programs may be obtained from:

Ana Hernandez, Senior Director Health & Wellness Services
Personal Growth & Counseling Center
100 Campus Center
Seaside, CA  93955
Phone: 831-582-3969

Information regarding student retention and graduation rates at CSUMB and, if available, the number and percentage of students completing the program in which the student is enrolled or has expressed interest may be obtained from:

Jeffrey Marks, Interim Director Institutional Assessment & Research
Green Hall, Room 134
100 Campus Center
Seaside, CA  93955
Phone: 831-582-3508

Information concerning athletic opportunities available to male and female students and the financial resources and personnel that CSUMB dedicates to its men and women’s teams may be obtained from:

Kirby Garry, Director Athletics
Mountain Hall Suite F
100 Campus Center
Seaside, CA  93955
Phone: 831-582-3051

Information concerning teacher preparation programs at CSUMB, including the pass rate on teacher certification examinations, may be obtained from:

Christy Hanselka, Credential Analyst
Del Mar Room 119
100 Campus Center
Seaside, CA  93955
Phone: 831-582-3638

Information concerning grievance procedures for students who feel aggrieved in their relationships with the university, its policies, practices and procedures, or its faculty and staff may be obtained from:

Idonas Hughes, Student Conduct Administrator
Student Center Room 132
100 Campus Center
Seaside, CA  93955
Phone: 831-582-4597

Information concerning student activities that CSUMB provides can be found on the website. You may also contact the Student Activities & Leadership Development Office at: 831-582-4686

Information concerning student body diversity at CSUMB, including the percentage of enrolled, full-time students who are (1) male, (2) female, (3) Pell Grant recipients, and (4) self-identified members of a specific racial or ethnic group, may be obtained from:

Jeffrey Marks, Director Institutional Assessment & Research
Green Hall, Room 134
100 Campus Center
Seaside, CA  93955
Phone: 831-582-3508

CSUMB Extension Sites 2022-2024

In order to better support the needs of our surrounding communities as well as our growing academic offerings, CSUMB utilizes the following extension sites in the delivery of some academic programs and a variety of courses:

CSUMB at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories
8272 Moss Landing Road
Moss Landing, CA  95039

CSUMB at North Main/Salinas
1450 N. Main Street
Salinas, CA  93906

CSUMB at City-Center
1 Main Street
Salinas, CA  93901

CSUMB at King City
117 N. Second Street
King City, CA  93930

CSUMB at Cuesta College
Highway 1
San Luis Obispo, CA 93405