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'California State University, Fresno', commonly referred to as 'Fresno State', is one of the campuses of California State University, located at the northeast edge of Fresno, California, USA.
The campus sits at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in the San Joaquin Valley. Fresno County is the sixth largest metropolitan area in California. The university is within an hour's drive of many mountain and lake resorts and within a three- or four-hour drive of both Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Fresno State operates on a semester schedule. The fall semester runs from late August through December. The spring semester runs from mid-January through mid-May. A summer semester was officially established in 2007 and runs from late-May through early-August.

Contents

Campus

Academics

Accreditation

Colleges

Athletics and traditions

Sports

Sports facilities

Traditions

Fight song

Alma Mater

Notable alumni

Notable athletes

Notable faculty and staff

Notable former faculty and staff

External links

References

Campus

The greater campus extends from Fraternity Row off of Millbrook and Bulldog Stadium in the west to the Save Mart Center and soon to be constructed Campus Pointe and Highway 168 in the east. Vineyards and orchards designate the northern boundary of the campus, while Shaw Avenue designates the southern.
The 388 acre (1.6 km²) main campus features more than 46 traditional and modern buildings. An additional 34 structures are on the 1,022 acre (4 km²) University Farm, which is considered one of the most modern and best equipped agricultural facilities in the West. Fresno State was officially designated as an arboretum in 1978 and now boasts more than 4,000 trees on campus.
In February of 2006, the Student Recreation Center opened. The center was fully funded by private donations and continues to be fully funded by a semester student-use fee. The center has four full-size basketball courts, a dance studio, a 1/8 mile (200 m) indoor running track, locker rooms, 2 racquetball courts, aerobic equipment, and weight-lifting machines. The Student Recreation Center is adjacent to the Save Mart Center arena.
A variety of projects are under construction, including a solar panel-covered parking lot and a new library building which will serve as the new campus centerpiece. The north wing of the building was demolished in the fall of 2006, and when completed in 2008 the new Henry Madden Library will be the largest in the 23-campus California State University system.

Academics

Smittcamp Family Honors College - Scholarship program providing top California high school graduates a fully paid scholarship, room and board, as well as other amenities for the duration of their studies. Named after longtime campus friend and philanthropist Earl Smittcamp.
Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) - Designed as a program to increase the number of college students and graduates from underserved and rural Hispanic families.
The Craig School of Business is considered one of the top business schools in the western US. According to the Princeton Review, Craig School (MBA) is a top-45 business school nationwide, based on annual rankings. Listed in that publication's 2006 "Best 282 Business Schools." The Sid Craig School of Business at California State University Fresno is accredited by the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
Air Force AFROTC and Army ROTC detachments on campus.
Graduation - Annual Commencement ceremony now takes place at the Save Mart Center arena (since 2004). Previous graduations were conducted at Bulldog Stadium.

Accreditation

Fresno State is accredited by California Board of Education and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The university has 23 nationally accredited departmental programs, among the highest number within the CSU system.

Colleges

★ College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology

★ College of Arts and Humanities

★ Craig School of Business

★ Kremen School of Education and Human Development

★ College of Engineering

★ College of Health and Human Services

★ College of Science and Mathematics

★ College of Social Sciences

Athletics and traditions

Fresno State is a member of the NCAA's Division I. Fresno State has been a member of the Western Athletic Conference since 1992. Before that, it had been a member of the Big West Conference since 1988. Fresno State was also a member of the Big West's predecessor, the Pacific Coast Athletic Association since its inception in 1969 and was a member of the California Collegiate Athletic Association from its beginning in 1939 (when Fresno State was in Division II).
Fresno State's football team, currently coached by Pat Hill, has garnered a reputation for being willing to play any top-ranked opponent, anytime, anywhere (usually on the opponent's field). Fresno State (as of December 2005) has achieved success with a 10-8 record against BCS teams, the most by any program not in a BCS conference. This has not only helped Fresno State gain revenue from top-ranked programs, it has also provided the Bulldogs a following among college football fans who admire its willingness to challenge the best teams (and has resulted in the Bulldogs being featured more regularly on college football TV programs than most non-BCS conference teams). However, their success in their non conference games hasn't translated to championships in conference play. The Bulldogs haven't won the WAC title since sharing it in 1999. Fresno State often travels between 10,000-20,000 miles (30,000 km) during its football season, between its WAC conference games (the conference itself is spread from Ruston, Louisiana to Honolulu, Hawaii) and its usually brutal non-conference schedule. Boise State and the University of Hawaii are two of Fresno State's major in-conference rivals.
Bulldog basketball squads play at the crown jewel of the WAC, the Save Mart Center. Facility houses the ECHL's Fresno Falcons hockey team and is regularly on the Pollstar list of top 25 concert and entertainment venues by attendance.
The Lady Bulldog softball team has had a lengthy tradition of winning since the inception of the sport. The softball team owns the distinction of winning the first and only NCAA National Championship for Fresno State in 1998. Fresno State defeated then-top ranked Arizona 1-0 in the 1998 NCAA championship game in Oklahoma City thanks to the strong arm of All-American pitcher Amanda Scott and the bat of All-American Nina Lindenberg, who scored the game's only run on a solo home run. The Bulldogs finished the season ranked No. 1 in the nation. Through the 2007 season, Fresno State remains the nation's only softball team to have participated in all 26 NCAA Division I championships. The Bulldogs are coached by Margie Wright, the nation's winningest Division I coach in the sport. Wright, who has led Fresno State to nine Western Athletic Conference championships in the last 10 years and 17 league crowns overall, enters her 23rd season as head coach of the Lady Bulldogs in 2008.
Beiden Field was the former home of the Pacific Coast League (AAA) farm team of the San Francisco Giants (1998-2001). The Fresno Grizzlies moved to their current downtown stadium in May of 2002. Beiden Field is often listed by Baseball America as a top-25 NCAA baseball facility. It hosted the 2006 WAC baseball tournament.

Sports

Fresno State fields seven sports for men:

★ Baseball

★ Basketball

★ Football, (Division I-A)

★ Golf

★ Tennis

★ Outdoor Track and Field

★ Cross Country
Fresno State fields nine sports for women:

★ Basketball

★ Cross Country

★ Equestrian

★ Golf

★ Soccer

★ Softball

★ Tennis

★ Outdoor Track and Field

★ Volleyball

Sports facilities

★ Bulldog Stadium, football

★ Save Mart Center, basketball, and volleyball

★ Pete Beiden Field, baseball

★ Bulldog Diamond, softball

★ Student Horse Center, equestrian

★ Warmerdam Field, track and field

★ Spalding G. Wathen Tennis Center, tennis

Traditions

★ Official colors are Cardinal and Navy blue

★ The mascot of Fresno State is a bulldog named Timeout.

★ The green "V" worn on the back of the football players' helmets (and also on the front of the basketball uniforms along the neckline) honors the agricultural industry of the San Joaquin Valley, and the importance it plays in financially supporting Fresno State (as well as the university's contributions to the area economy).

★ In August 2006, Fresno State brought back the official live Bulldog of the team. Victor E. Bulldog, a 2-year old Bulldog, was introduced during the football home opener versus Nevada on September 1, 2006.

Fight song

''Fight Varsity''

''On your toes dig in and hit that line!''

''We're all pulling hard for you''

''So fight and give the best there is in you''

''Fight Varsity''

''On your toes and hit that line!''

''We'll fight on to victory''

''We're always true to Fresno State!''

Alma Mater

''Let us in song, our voices raise

''In cloistered courts, to sound thy praise.''

''Each voice and heart that sings is true''

''To thee, oh, Cardinal and Blue.''

''For thee, our hopes and memories;''

''For thee, our hearts and loyalties.''

''Thy sons and daughters hail thee great,''

''Our Alma Mater, Fresno State!''

Notable alumni

★ Armen A. Alchian, Professor Emeritus, Founder of the "UCLA Tradition" in Economics

★ Verna L. Allen, Exec. Dir. Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Ed

★ Theresa Alvillar-Speake, Director of the Office of Minority Economic Impact, Department of Energy

★ Marvin Baxter, Justice, California Supreme Court

★ Prof. Wendell Bell, Yale University's Graduate Studies Director

★ Robert Beltran, Actor, Commander Chakotay of the USS Voyager (Star Trek)

★ William Boyanjian, former President, Gemological Institute of America

★ Lee P. Brown, former Mayor of Houston, former New York Police Commissioner

★ Ezunial Burts, President - Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce

★ Cruz Bustamante, California Lieutenant Governor

★ Joe Cafaro, Cafaro Cellars, Napa Valley, California

★ Daniel Chacón, University professor, acclaimed essayist, playwright, and fiction writer

★ Malinda Chouinard, Owner of Patagonia, one of the world's most successful designers of outdoor clothing and gear

★ Roy Christopher, Emmy Award winning set designer

★ Jac Cole, Winemaker for the Charles Krug Winery

★ Jim Costa, U.S. Representative, Former California State Assembly Member

★ Joy Covey, Former Chief Strategy Officer, Amazon.com

★ Sid Craig, CEO, Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board of Jenny Craig, Inc.

★ Dr. Joseph Crowley, President Emeritus, University of Nevada

★ Larry S. Dickenson, Senior VP Sales, Boeing

★ Nat DiBuduo, President, Allied Grape Growers of California

★ William Everson, poet (did not graduate)

★ David Fillpot, President of Alaras Software, enterprise software development

★ Major General Jon Gallinetti, Commander Joint Warfighting Center, and Director, Joint Training, J-7, U.S. Joint Forces Command

★ Geoffrey Gamble, President, Montana State Univ.

★ Jim Ganduglia; Touring musician with Johnny Mathis

★ Kirk D. Grimes, Exec. of Energy & Chemicals, Fluor Corp

★ Kenny Guinn, Governor of Nevada

★ Robert Hanashiro, USA Today Photographer

★ Joe Heitz, Heitz Wine Cellars, established the viticulture program at California State University, Fresno.

★ Richard Douglas Husband, mission commander, shuttle Columbia STS107, 2003

★ Sam Iacobellis, CEO, Rockwell International (retired). Led development of B1 bomber

★ Bill Jones, former California Secretary of State

★ Emily Kuroda, Award-Winning Actress

★ John Lofgren, clothing store owner and jewelry designer. Has resided in Japan since 1998.

★ Alex A. Martinez, Deputy CAO, San Diego County

★ Mike Martz, former NFL head coach, St. Louis Rams, current offensive coordinator for Detroit Lions

★ Manny Mashouf, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, bebe stores

★ Eric McAfee, Co-founder of Cagan McAfee Capital Partners

★ Col. Steven Nagel, NASA Astronaut

★ Paul O'Neill, former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, CEO of Alcoa Corporation

★ Dr. Norval Pohl, Former President, University of North Texas

★ Charles Poochigian, California State Senator

★ Tammy Savage, Manager of Business Development, Microsoft

★ Gary Soto, acclaimed poet, essayist, and fiction writer

★ Roberta Spear, Award-Winning Poet

★ Sribala Subramanian, Times Magazine journalist

★ Sherley Anne Williams, Author, National Book Award Nominee, Emmy Award Winner

★ Tony D'Addato, Sports talk show host, general manager and part owner at KXEX 1550 Sporting News Radio

Notable athletes

★ Stephen Abas - Olympic Silver medalist Freestyle Wrestling - Athens, Greece (2004); 3-time NCAA champion

★ Rafer Alston - NBA point guard, Houston Rockets, And1/New York City streetball legend ''Skip to my Lou''

★ Laura Berg - three-time Olympic gold-medalist, USA softball

★ Bernard Berrian - wide receiver/kick returner, Chicago Bears, played in Super Bowl XLI

★ David Carr, Carolina Panthers quarterback - 1st overall draft pick in the 2002 NFL Draft

★ Duane Carter, former Indianapolis 500 racer

★ Ron Cox - former NFL linebacker (Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers), NCAA sacks leader

★ Trent Dilfer - NFL quarterback, San Francisco 49ers, former NFL All-Pro and Super Bowl-champion quarterback as member of the Baltimore Ravens, 1994 first-round draft (No. 6 overall) choice of Tampa Bay Buccaneers

★ Henry Ellard - Former NFL wide receiver with the (Los Angeles Rams, New England Patriots, and Washington Redskins)

★ Melvin Ely - NBA forward-center, San Antonio Spurs, two-time WAC Player of the Year (2001-2002)

★ Tom Goodwin - Major League Baseball outfielder, former NCAA steals leader

★ Dan Gladden - former Major League Baseball outfielder with the San Francisco Giants, Minnesota Twins, and Detroit Tigers

★ Rod Higgins - General Manager, Golden State Warriors

★ Orlando Huff - NFL linebacker, Arizona Cardinals

★ Lane Kiffin - NFL Oakland Raiders Head Coach, USC Offensive Coordinator, former Fresno State quarterback

★ Haruo Imamura - 8th Dan Black belt, 1960-62 US Open Weight Judo Grand Champion, Fresno State Judo Team Head Coach, Veteran of 1,000 Judo matches, at one time going 300-0

★ Bobby Jones - former Major League pitcher (New York Mets, San Diego Padres), 1991 NCAA Player of the Year

★ Logan Mankins - NFL offensive lineman, New England Patriots (first-round draft pick 2005)

★ Lorenzo Neal - 3-time Pro Bowl NFL Fullback, San Diego Chargers

★ Terry Pendleton - 1991 National League MVP Atlanta Braves

★ Michael Pittman - NFL Running Back, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

★ Marquez Pope - NFL Defensive Back, San Diego Chargers/Los Angeles Rams/San Francisco 49ers/Cleveland Browns/Oakland Raiders - Played for every California NFL Franchise

★ Carlos Spenceraious - 3-time National Champion, Gymnastics, (Pommel Horse, 1979-1981), USA Championships

★ Jamie Southern - Team USA national softball team pitcher

★ Kevin Sutherland - PGA Tour golfer, won 2002 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship

★ Kevin Sweeney - former NCAA record-setter in career passing yards and former quarerback for the Dallas Cowboys.

★ Jerry Tarkanian - legendary, controversial basketball coach (Fresno State, UNLV, San Antonio Spurs). Won NCAA basketball title as head coach at UNLV.

★ Jeff Tedford - Head Football Coach, University of California, Berkeley

★ Billy Volek - NFL Quarterback, San Diego Chargers

★ Cornelius Warmerdam - former pole vault world record holder

★ Nick Watney - PGA Tour golfer, NCAA All-American, and 2007 Zurich New Orleans champion

★ Jeff Weaver - Major League Baseball pitcher with the Seattle Mariners

Notable faculty and staff

★ Dr. James M. Cypher, Senior Economics Professor - Expert on economic development in Latin America.

★ Kenneth Fugelsang, Fresno State Winemaster - Leads world-renowned enology program.

★ Eric W. Hickey, Criminology Professor - Noted criminologist and author.

★ Dr. Lan Jin, Computer Science Professor - Expert in parallel design processors.

★ Dr. Keith Putirka, Geology Professor - Expert Volcanologist.

★ Bruce Thornton, Humanities and Classics - Notable author.

★ Dr. John Wakabayashi, Geology Professor - Expert in Sierra Nevada orogeny and the brewing sciences.

Notable former faculty and staff

★ Victor Davis Hanson, founder of Classics Department--historian, essayist, columnist. Regular on PBS, C-SPAN, History Channel, and Real Time with Bill Maher--Author of Mexifornia and Carnage and Culture.

★ Philip Levine, English--widely known poet and Pulitzer Prize winner

★ Roger Tatarian, journalism--editor-in-chief, United Press International (deceased)

★ 'Lawrence Sutherland' has served as Director of Bands and Professor of Music at California State University, Fresno since 1969.

★ Lillian Faderman, MFA English professor emeritus--acclaimed author

★ Juan Serrano, Music professor - Noted master of guitar in the flamenco style.
Gene Bluestein-author and folk musician

External links

★ Fresno State Web site

★ Official Fresno State athletics site

★ Official Fresno State news service -- daily updates

★ Top Ten Things That Make Fresno State Unique

★ Local Paper of Record

References