1_LBBJ_Sept16_SectionB_LBBJ MASTER LAYOUT 9/16/14 9:57 AM Page 1
Focus On Business & Education
Inside This Issue • Obtaining A Master’s Degree In Today’s Economy: A Luxury Or Necessity? • Long Beach Schools And Pacific Gateway Partner With Business To Prepare Youth For The Workforce • New Transportation School To Open At Douglas Park
1_LBBJ_Sept16_SectionB_LBBJ MASTER LAYOUT 9/16/14 9:57 AM Page 2
1_LBBJ_Sept16_SectionB_LBBJ MASTER LAYOUT 9/16/14 9:57 AM Page 3
BUSINESS & EDUCATION September 16-29, 2014
Long Beach Business Journal 3-B
Obtaining A Master’s Degree In Today’s Economy: A Luxury Or Necessity? ■ By STEVE STELPFLUG Contributing Writer
aving spent more than a year looking for employment after losing his aerospace management job, Clarence McDale had nearly resigned himself to becoming just another long-term unemployed statistic. “I was ready to give up,” McDale explained. “I had sent out hundreds of resumes and gone to numerous interviews. If I was lucky, I would receive an auto-generated e-mail rejection notice, none of which ever provided any meaningful feedback as to why I was not hired. It wasn’t until I met oneon-one with a job counselor at the California Employment Development Department that I realized that my skills and knowledge were outdated for today’s job market. “That counseling session was a huge wake-up call,” McDale added. “It was pointed out to me that it wasn’t my age or work history that was holding me back. In fact, I was told those are generally positive aspects. It was that I had allowed myself to become complacent with regard to my education. I was now competing with candidates who either had current four-year degrees or graduate degrees. I came to the conclusion that I owed it to myself and family to go back school and begin work on my master’s degree.” McDale’s experience is not uncommon. Like many mid-level managers who found themselves unemployed, McDale assumed that his work experience, coupled with a sprinkling of management seminars and his 30-yearold bachelor’s degree would be sufficient to land him another job. While there is no guarantee that a post-graduate degree will be the answer, many job placement professionals say that it certainly doesn’t hurt, particularly if an individual has been out of work for an extended period of time. In fact, McDale was able to land a position based on a contact he had made through his mater’s program. “One of the things employers and
H
Michael Solt, dean of the College of Business Administration at California State University, Long Beach, is pictured with three students studying at the college. From left are: Veronica Aguilar, Mona Moucharrafie and Jennifer Mae Formeloza. More than 3,600 undergraduate students and 150 graduate students attend the College of Business Administration. With 115 full-time and part-time faculty members, the college offers a bachelor’s degree in business administration with eight focus area options, which are accountancy, finance, management information systems, human resource management, marketing, management, operations and supply chain management, and international business. The college offers a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Science in Accountancy. Dean Solt said that master’s program graduates are among the most preferred candidates for top jobs. (Photograph by the Business Journal’s Thomas McConville)
placement professionals look at in a candidate is whether the applicant has the right balance of work experience and education for the job,” noted Nicole Cox, chief recruitment officer for Decision Toolbox. “We have worked with a number of clients in the past few years who have lost their job for one reason or another, only to find out that their skills may be outdated, or at a minimum, need to be sharpened. We are also finding that many entrylevel jobs today require graduate degrees – particularly in specialized areas such as technology, finance and communications. Graduate degrees are also usually required for senior management and leadership positions.” The good news, noted Cox, is that many accredited colleges and universities now offer online graduate programs and accelerated graduate programs, which makes it convenient, and in some cases, more affordable for the student.
“An important consideration with online studies is to make sure the school is accredited,” Cox said. “I think initially there was a stigma attached to online programs but, as we have all moved into busier lifestyles and as technology has evolved, employers have come to accept online or distance learning as a legitimate learning delivery method. In fact, many larger employers are partnering with schools and universities to provide distance learning opportunities for their employees. “Employers also tend to look at gaps in employment,” Cox added. “If there is a large space of time unaccounted for on a resume, employers are going to wonder what the individual was doing for that particular period. If a candidate can fill that gap by demonstrating they were in school, they are going to be looked at much more favorably than a candidate who can’t.”
A Master’s Degree For Entry-Level Jobs
J
ust like experienced candidates, many recent or soon-to-graduate college seniors face stiff competition in the employment marketplace. As many under-graduates close in on their senior year in search for the beginning of what they hope will be a lucrative career, one of the biggest questions they face is, “Should I get a job or push on to get a master’s degree?” According to Michael Solt, Ed., dean of the College of Business Administration at California State University, Long Beach, clearly the starting point is to get a firm foundation with an undergraduate degree. “Combined with a solid foundation of a strong undergraduate degree, two to four years of work experience is likely the best way to move forward in your career,” Solt said. “While some students bank on the fact that they have (Please Continue To The Next Page)
1_LBBJ_Sept16_SectionB_LBBJ MASTER LAYOUT 9/16/14 9:57 AM Page 4
BUSINESS & EDUCATION 4-B Long Beach Business Journal
a MBA, the real difference is what the employee brings to the workplace. Serious employers need employees who have the best skills for a particular profession. In order to acquire the best, one needs to go the extra mile with their education, as well as be able to demonstrate performance.” “Master’s graduates tend to have specific expertise in their profession, making them the most preferred candidates for top jobs,” Solt said. “But often, these skills such as critical and creative thinking, project management, IT, communication, data analysis, independent thinking as well as problem-solving are best acquired and instilled when undertaking an undergraduate degree. Once these skills are obtained, they can be refined and honed in a graduate program.” “When it comes to online vs. traditional classroom education, there are clearly advantages to both,” Solt noted. “Online courses allow institutions to deliver their services to a much wider audience of students.
September 16-29, 2014
Return On Investment
A
According to the California State University, Long Beach website, more than 33,000 students, nearly 2,000 faculty and 1,600 professional staff members study and work on campus each week. The 322-acre campus is organized into eight colleges: College of the Arts; College of Business Administration; College of Education; College of Engineering; College of Health & Human Services; College of Liberal Arts; College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics; and the College of Continuing & Professional Education. Within the various colleges are 63 academic departments and programs, 24 centers, four institutes and four clinics. (Photograph provided by California State University, Long Beach)
They also offer much more flexibility for the student who may be working full time and would not otherwise be able to attend class in person. On the other hand, classroom learning
allows for much more interaction between professor and student, as well as from student to student – which is where a tremendous amount of learning takes place.”
n often overlooked aspect to deciding whether to pursue a graduate degree is return on investment. For some disciplines, such as social services, higher education, business administration, law, and medicine, an advanced degree is an absolute requirement; however, for others it’s an option that requires careful consideration. Other considerations include which school, what the earning potential is after graduation and market demand. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, on average, a master’s degree can add $12,000 to $17,000 a year in income over a bachelor’s degree; a Ph.D., $30,000 to $51,000. Over the course of a lifetime, that can add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars. But a master’s degree alone doesn’t always translate into higher earnings. “Whether a person is already employed and seeking a way to move up the corporate ladder or trying to gain a toehold in the job market, it’s always a good idea to weigh the cost of seeking an advanced degree – in both time and money – against the potential rewards and risks,” noted Steven Rozny, workforce services representative with the California Employment Development Department. “If you are working full time and have a family, it’s important that you plan accordingly and make sure you have the support of your spouse and other affected family members,” he added. “Not only will you be making a significant financial investment, the time you spend on your studies will certainly have an impact on your family and work life. “Like any major investment, it’s important to spend time researching what you should expect in terms of monetary return on your investment,” Rozny added. “If you will be borrowing the money for your tuition, don’t forget to calculate the cost interest payments as well as the impact your debt could have on your credit. While choosing to pursue a master’s degree may seem like a worthwhile investment, there are plenty of graduates who have experienced buyer’s remorse. My advice is always to take the time to do your homework and think through the process before making the commitment.” ■
1_LBBJ_Sept16_SectionB_LBBJ MASTER LAYOUT 9/16/14 9:57 AM Page 5
BUSINESS & EDUCATION September 16-29, 2014
Long Beach Business Journal 5-B
Long Beach Schools And Pacific Gateway Partner With Business To Prepare Youth For The Workforce ■ By SAMANTHA MEHLINGER Senior Writer
ong Beach schools, employment institutions and local businesses are working together to prepare youth for the workforce by identifying skills needed for current and future workforce demands, providing academic instruction and skill development for those jobs, and establishing internships and employment opportunities. From the smallest entrepreneurial establishments to the largest corporate businesses, there are several local programs underway or being launched that can help employers fill many of their workforce needs. The Business Journal examines a few of those in this special report.
L
Working With Businesses To Develop Curriculum And Career Pathways
T
he Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) and Long Beach City College (LBCC) work together and with business to coordinate career pathways curriculum so local students can obtain skills relevant to today’s local workforce and transition smoothly from high school to city college. Career pathways are academic programs integrating academic, technical and field-based instruction based upon industry sectors in California across subjects and grade levels. Upon earning a degree or certificate at LBCC, the goal is for students to be prepared for the workforce or for fur-
ther study at a university, Eloy Oakley, president of Long Beach City College, explained. He noted the Long Beach College Promise guarantees admission to former LBUSD students who have attended LBCC into California State University, Long Beach, allowing them to pursue their career path locally. LBUSD’s Education Business Advisory, a group of local business and education leaders, was founded in 2009 to develop and refine curriculum for career pathways at local high schools. “One of the big things they developed was what we call the graduate profile,” Christopher Steinhauser, superintendent of LBUSD, told the Business Journal. Business representatives from Boeing, Verizon, the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and other
organizations were involved in creating the profile. The graduate profile identifies five competencies necessary for success in college and career, and outlines criteria for achieving those competencies. “We work backwards from there as we plan our pathways and the course content,” Steinhauser said. The graduate profile states students must be college- and career-ready scholars, critical and innovative problem solvers, effective communicators and collaborators, ethical decision makers and adaptable and productive citizens. The profile was adopted about a year ago. The Education Business Advisory, which includes representatives from LBUSD, LBCC and Cal State Long (Please Continue To The Next Page)
1_LBBJ_Sept16_SectionB_LBBJ MASTER LAYOUT 9/16/14 9:57 AM Page 6
BUSINESS & EDUCATION 6-B Long Beach Business Journal
Beach as well as business leaders, meets a few times a year to identify growing areas of employment for consideration when the schools update and develop career pathway curriculum, Steinhauser explained. Oakley said LBCC has been working with LBUSD and other nearby school districts to “create curriculum and to design pathways that lead students into career fields and . . . allow them to get out of high school, move directly to community college and have a pathway directly into a workforce area where there is demand.” He added, “We are also working with the employer groups and workforce investment boards to ensure we are aligning these pathways with what employers are saying are in the biggest demand either now or in the next five to 10 years.” For example, with many growing
September 16-29, 2014
Browning High School, one of Long Beach Unified School District’s (LBUSD) new high schools being built with Measure K bond funds, is slated for completion in 2016. Located at 2180 Obispo Ave., the campus is meant to serve 800 students with academic career pathway programs in hospitality and tourism, one of Long Beach’s largest industries, according to school district partners. The design includes twostory classrooms, labs, a cafeteria, multi-purpose rooms, a covered amphitheater and an open courtyard. (Rendering provided by LBUSD)
health care organizations employing thousands of workers in Long Beach, Oakley said LBCC is focused on working with representatives in health care. “We are continuing to work with
our health care partners. We recently met with St. Mary Medical Center to discuss trends in nursing and other medical careers so that we can better align our programs to meet their
needs,” he said. LBUSD is also focused on developing its seven health science and medical technology career pathways by partnering with local health care
New Transportation Trade School Green-Lighted For Douglas Park Scottsdale-Based University Technical Institute To Open In June 2015 ■ By SAMANTHA MEHLINGER Senior Writer
he Long Beach Planning Commission approved plans for a 138,299-square-foot transportation trade school at Douglas Park on September 4, the first educational institution to locate in the office and light industrial business park north of the Long Beach Airport on for- This rendering illustrates the future 138,299-square-foot campus of Universal Technical Institute, Inc., at Douglas Park. The Scottsdale, Arizona-based trade school specializes in technical training for automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine technicians, and mer Boeing property. has graduated more than 180,000 students across the country. Construction of the building, located north of Conant Street between Instruction at University Technical Worsham and Bayer Avenues, is expected to be complete by June 2015. (Rendering provided by the City of Long Beach) Institute (UTI), Inc.’s new Long Beach campus – expected to begin in A city staff report recommending the project for motive industry business, a distributor of after-marthe fall of 2015 – is to include technical training for approval noted the school “adds diversity to Douglas ket classic auto parts and truck accessories called automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and Park” as the first educational institution to be located United Pacific, relocated its headquarters from marine technicians, according to a city staff report. there. Douglas Park, a 261-acre business and light Carson to Douglas Park this year. About 800 students and 85 staff and faculty are industrial park formerly used by McDonnell UTI’s website notes that “one of every seven jobs expected on campus on a daily basis. Douglas to manufacture aircraft, was planned for in the nation is in the transportation industry. UTI, a 49-year-old national trade school with more office, hotel, light industrial and aviation uses. Specifically, by the year 2020, the U.S. Department than 180,000 graduates to its credit, according to its Sares-Regis, a real estate investment firm, was the of Labor projects there will be more than 1.4 million website, is based in Scottsdale, Arizona. The firm developer of the pre-planned Pacific Pointe North jobs in the collision, automotive, motorcycle and decided to build a campus in Long Beach after demo- and South projects at the business park, and is prop- marine industries.” graphic research revealed the majority of the students erty manager of the site, as well as of a planned Now that the Planning Commission approved the attending its Rancho Cucamonga campus were based Pacific Pointe East project at the southeast corner of trade school’s site plans, construction may begin. in the South Bay, according to Amy Bodek, director Conant Street and Lakewood Boulevard and a 1.1 “Sares-Regis is expected to start grading the site for of Long Beach Development Services. million-square-foot property leased by Mercedes- development within the next two weeks,” Bodek “UTI selected this site to complement their grow- Benz at the northeast corner of the same intersection. said. “They are responsible for delivering the building Southern California base,” Bodek said. “Douglas “The school will add a bit of diversity to Douglas ing shell and UTI is responsible for building out the Park met their needs due to its freeway-accessible Park, and provide some synergy to the Mercedes- interior improvements to their own specifications,” location and the other amenities around the site,” she Benz facility across Lakewood Boulevard,” Bodek she explained. “The project is expected to be comsaid, referring to nearby hotel accommodations, said, referring to Mercedes’ new Western Regional pleted by June 2015, so UTI can start planning their restaurants and Long Beach City College. offices currently under construction. Another auto- first year of curriculum.” ■
T
1_LBBJ_Sept16_SectionB_LBBJ MASTER LAYOUT 9/16/14 9:57 AM Page 7
BUSINESS & EDUCATION September 16-29, 2014
Pacific Gateway Workforce Investment Network Youth Development 3447 Atlantic Ave. 562/570-3700 youth@pacific-gateway.org Long Beach Unified School District Cindy Bater, administrative assistant, Linked Learning project coordinator 1515 Hughes Way 562/997-8315 cbater@lbschools.net Long Beach City College Sheneui Weber, executive director, Economic Development Department Liberal Arts Campus: 4901 E. Carson St. Pacific Coast Campus: 1305 E. Pacific Coast Hwy. 562/938-4111 geninfo@lbcc.edu
organizations. On September 9, the school district and Long Beach Memorial Medical Center announced a new partnership for a health care simulation program. “This program develops a high school course curriculum and teacher training guide that integrates academic and technical skills to be used in real-life medical scenarios at Long Beach Memorial’s simulation lab,” a statement from the hospital explained. The program is funded by an $180,000 grant awarded by the Memorial Medical Center Foundation with backing from The James Irvine Foundation. Another focus for both the school district and city college is engineering and manufacturing. Thanks to a $14.9 million grant from the California Pathways Trust program, LBCC is now the lead organization for the Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Technology Linked Learning Consortium, of which LBUSD is a part. The consortium includes regional school districts, community colleges and universities, and aims to create manufacturing and engineering pathways to address workforce needs in those industries. In August, California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson toured LBCC with Oakley and Steinhauser following the grant award. “What has happened here is an incredible partnership,” he said in a statement. “When we reviewed the applications [for the grant], Long Beach City College was off the charts in terms of how it was going to coordinate with higher education, with
Long Beach Business Journal 7-B
workforce preparation, to ensure that students get the skills they need for well-paying private sector jobs and connecting with our K-12 education system,” he stated. Another way LBUSD and LBCC have been working with each other and the business community to develop career pathways is in planning several new high schools. These high schools, such as the recently completed Ernest McBride High, are all being built around specific career pathways based on local workforce opportunities. McBride, for example, has pathways in health care and engineering. Browning High, planned for 2180 Obispo Ave., is going to feature career pathways in tourism and hospitality, a growing industry as identified by the district’s business partners. Long Beach City College staff and educators have been working directly with colleagues in Long Beach Unified to plan career pathways at these new high schools, Oakley said. One new, unnamed high school, planned for completion in 2017, is to be built on the campus of the former Mary Butler School, located directly behind LBCC’s Pacific Coast Campus. Building a high school so close to LBCC presents an “exciting opportunity” for the school district and the college to coordinate curriculum and career pathways between the campuses. “We really want to make it one big learning community and give those students an opportunity to be involved in college from the very beginning and make that transition seamless,” Oakley said. “We’re beginning to go beyond having the general conversations and we are going to begin actually planning how that is going to look.”
Developing Internship Opportunities
S
teinhauser and Oakley agree that internship opportunities – which provide youth with hands-on work experience preparing them for college and career – have not been readily available in recent years. “It has been fairly limited,” Steinhauser said. “I would say we probably offer 1,200 to 1,500 internships (Please Continue To The Next Page)
1_LBBJ_Sept16_SectionB_LBBJ MASTER LAYOUT 9/16/14 9:57 AM Page 8
BUSINESS & EDUCATION 8-B Long Beach Business Journal
every year for our kids.” To put this figure in perspective, there are currently 25,194 students enrolled at Long Beach high schools, which means at the most, only six percent of them are placed in internships. To illustrate the competitiveness for internships, Steinhauser referenced a decade-long internship program with The Boeing Company, in which every year “hundreds of kids apply” but only 12 students are chosen. LBUSD high schools often compete against each other for internship oppor-
September 16-29, 2014
tunities for their students because many high schools have similar career pathways, such as health care and engineering, Steinhauser said. “In some cases, businesses are getting asked by five of the same pathways from five different schools [for internship opportunities],” Steinhauser said. Oakley said LBCC has not been able to “gain huge traction” developing internship opportunities for students in recent years. “Internships during the recession took a big hit because employers were obviously hit hard, so
they weren’t as willing to take on extra help they had to cover through workers’ comp insurance or other types of expenses,” he said. Both Steinhauser and Oakley are optimistic about future opportunities for youth internships among Long Beach students, partially thanks to Mayor Robert Garcia’s enthusiasm for increasing student internships. In a recent interview with the Business Journal, Garcia said one of his goals is to double current student internships from about 1,500 per year to 3,000. California Appliance Tech, a local appliance repair business, employs local youth for clerical work and technician training through the Pacific Gateway Workforce Investment Network, a public agency connecting job seekers with employers. Irene Hernandez (left) and Mayola Leal, youths employed through Pacific Gateway’s Youth Jobs Program, are seated doing clerical work at the business as owner Margaret Phillips (standing, left) and Veronica Wesson oversee them. (Photograph by the Business Journal’s Thomas McConville)
Margaret Phillips, owner of California Appliance Tech in Bixby Knolls, supervises Ramilla Gayle, a youth she has employed through Pacific Gateway Workforce Investment Network’s Youth Jobs Program, as she disassembles a washing machine motor. The program enables youths to earn 100 hours of paid work experience at local organizations, schools and businesses. (Photograph by the Business Journal’s Thomas McConville)
The school district has a direct solution to the internship dilemma thanks to a recent $6 million grant from the California Career Pathways Trust, created by California Assembly Bill 86 in 2013 to establish career pathways from kindergarten though city college. With that money, LBUSD is creating a division called Long Beach Collaborative to Advance Linked Learning (CALL), which “will work with business leaders to identify areas of potential apprenticeships and internships,” Steinhauser said. Background on the program provided by the district called the collaborative “the connection between education and workforce.” Long Beach CALL is “responsible for brokering internships, employment opportunities, mentoring, classes on alternative sites, faculty professional development and externships, field trips, guest speakers, job-shadowing opportunities and volunteer opportunities,” according to LBUSD. “This is really about developing the workforce,” Steinhauser said, adding the program is also meant to help students prepare for college. Long Beach CALL is beginning this year, and is being temporarily housed in school district offices at Hughes Way until the program gets off the ground. When the division is fully staffed with eight workers, Steinhauser said the goal is to move it into its own offices closer to businesses. “The whole idea is Long Beach CALL will become self sufficient through its own funding outreach to businesses,” he explained. Between Garcia’s support and improvement in the economy, Oakley is hopeful the city college’s efforts to identify more internship opportunities for students will pay off. “There are a lot of federal resources now to fund career training, especially in the K-12 area and in the community college sector,” he said. “We have an opportunity now with the support of the mayor’s office of bringing together workforce investment, school boards in the region, and employers to really double our efforts to increase the number of internships, because this kind of on-the-job work experience is going to be critical for our students to get the experience they need to be successful in the job market.” (Please Continue To The Next Page)
1_LBBJ_Sept16_SectionB_LBBJ MASTER LAYOUT 9/16/14 9:57 AM Page 9
BUSINESS & EDUCATION September 16-29, 2014
Long Beach Business Journal 9-B
Long Beach City College’s new Math and Technology Center at its Liberal Arts Campus is nearing the end stages of construction. The 76,886 square-foot center, located at the southwest corner of Clark Avenue and Carson Street, will house the mathematics and culinary arts departments. Facilities at the site include 25 classrooms, a kitchen and two math labs. The building is set to open in fall of next year. (Photograph by the Business Journal’s Thomas McConville)
Youth Work Experience Via The Pacific Gateway Workforce Investment Network
I
n addition to these academic programs, local youth have an important resource for work training and jobs through the Pacific Gateway Workforce Investment Network. Pacific Gateway is a public agency that connects adults and youth with businesses for employment and work training opportunities. Pacific Gateway has a variety of programs to prepare youth for the workforce. One of the largest programs is called Hire-A-Youth, which enables young people to receive work readiness training and earn a nationally recognized work readiness certificate, and then places them into specialized internships and jobs. “We pair them up with different organizations, businesses, nonprofits and schools within the community,” Rebecca VanceFreeland, youth opportunity center coordinator at Pacific Gateway, told the Business Journal. About 275 students participate in the program each year, she estimated. The agency’s Youth Jobs Program enables youths to earn about 100 hours of paid work experience at local organizations, schools and businesses during the spring and summer. About 500 young people have been placed in that program this year, VanceFreeland said. In this program, youth “go through personal enrichment training” focused on “life skills, a
good work ethic, career exploration and financial literacy,” she explained. “Upon completion of that [training] we place them into work.” Pacific Gateway pays for the youths’ wages and workers’ compensation insurance. Also offered by Pacific Gateway are youth academies, which are “more intense training programs where we work with community partners to provide occupational skills training to students ages 16 to 21,” VanceFreeland said. Made possible through the Workforce Investment Act, “[these programs] provide them with training so they can earn an industry-recognized certificate.” Vance-Freeland said Pacific Gateway has recently placed youth in specialized internships at the Port of Long Beach and the water department. Businesses participating in Pacific Gateway’s youth programs include pet day care centers, nonprofits, retailers, service companies, schools and more. “We actually have a business assistance team that goes out and recruits local businesses to sign up and participate,” Vance-Freeland said. California Appliance Tech., Inc., located in Bixby Knolls, is one such business – the appliance repair company currently employs two youths through Pacific Gateway’s Youth Job Programs and recently hired another after his work hours through the program were complete. Darryl Wesson, supervisor at California Appliance Tech, said he likes working with Pacific Gateway
because the youth are prescreened and well prepared for work before coming to the job site. The two youth currently employed at his business through Pacific Gateway mostly perform clerical work. Isaiah, the 19-year-old California Appliance Tech hired permanently after he completed the Youth Jobs Program, also began working at
the business doing clerical work. When he expressed an interest in staying on to learn technical skills, the company hired him, Wesson said. “If the budget was right . . . I would be happy to bring them all aboard. We sort of rely on them,” Wesson said. “These youths are ready to go, and that’s what I like.” ■
1_LBBJ_Sept16_SectionB_LBBJ MASTER LAYOUT 9/16/14 9:57 AM Page 10
BUSINESS & EDUCATION 10-B Long Beach Business Journal
September 16-29, 2014
CSU Trustees Award For Outstanding Achievement Twenty-three students were honored September 9 by the California State University (CSU) system with the CSU Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement. The recognition, according to CSU, is “given each year to those students who demonstrate superior academic performance, personal accomplishments, community service and financial need.” CSU has honored 296 students since the award’s inception in 1984. “The compelling life stories of these extraordinary student scholars are a testament to the transformative power of public higher education,” said CSU Chancellor Timothy P. White in a statement. “Through the generous support of our donors, many of whom are first-time contributors to the Trustees’ Award program, we are able to help these scholars create a bright and successful future.” Pictured standing, left to right are: Shayle Matsuda, San Francisco State University; David Elliott, San José State University; Lita Melissa Cahuana, CSU Long Beach; Gregory Wortsell, California Maritime Academy; Natalie Rivera, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona; Patrick Landrum, CSU Sacramento; Jesus Ochoa Perez, CSU Monterey Bay; Gena Alltizer, CSU San Bernardino; Sergio Juarez, San Diego State University; Pamela Hernandez; CSU Dominguez Hills; Bryan L.L. Wood, CSU Fresno; Giovanni Lamanna, Sonoma State University; Michael Chacon, CSU Fullerton; Eliza Matley, CSU Stanislaus; and Justin D’Agostino, CSU Los Angeles. Seated, left to right are: Natalie Holmberg-Douglas, CSU Chico; Mayra Roxi Diaz, CSU Northridge; Monica R. Correale, Humboldt State University; Faith Ihem, CSU Bakersfield; Carlos Betancourt, CSU San Marcos; Teresa Castillo, CSU Channel Islands; Jessica Mery, CSU East Bay; and Michelle Lam, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. (Photograph by the Business Journal’s Thomas McConville)
Education News In Brief ■ By SAMANTHA MEHLINGER Senior Writer
New City College Trustee – Irma Archuleta was appointed to the Long Beach City College District Board of Trustees on September 11 to take the place of former trustee Roberto Uranga, who recently departed the board to serve the 7th District on the Long Beach City Council. She will retain the position until the 2016 board election, when she may choose to run for her seat. The board of trustees selected Archuleta, an 11-year Long Beach resident, from a pool of 11 applicants. “After going through the application process and two rounds of interviews, Irma demonstrated leadership and experience that made her the best possible choice for the board of trustees,” Board President Jeff Kellogg said in a statement. Archuleta currently serves as vice president of student affairs for Evergreen Valley College in San Jose. She holds a master’s degree in public administration and a bachelor’s degree in human studies with an
emphasis on bilingual education. Her previous work experience was at California State University, Long Beach, El Camino College and Compton College. “I will bring to this board the needs of our community and I will represent Area 2 in the best way possible,” Archuleta said in a statement. CSU Dominguez Hills Named Among Top 10 For Contributions To The Public Good – Washington Monthly, a Washington, D.C.-based magazine, recently named California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) as one of the top 10 universities in the nation for its contributions to public good for the third year running. The school was selected from more than 650 universities nationwide, all of which have master’s degree programs. The rankings were based on three criteria, which are “social mobility toward helping low-income students earn degrees, research production, and . . . commitment to civic engagement and community service,” according to CSUDH. More than 50 percent of CSUDH students are the recipients of need-based Pell grants. “We are extremely proud to be among the nation’s top universities
that are opening the doors of higher education wide and giving students a comprehensive experience that engages them both inside and outside the classroom,” CSUDH President Willie J. Hagan said in a statement. Cal State Long Beach Ranked 5th Best Public Regional University, Has 2nd Lowest Student Debt In The West – U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges 2015 Guidebook named California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) the 5th best public regional university in the west and identified the school as having the second lowest student debt among public universities in the Western United States. The university’s college of engineering was ranked among the top 12 percent of engineering programs nationwide. “We are always honored and proud to receive such recognition for our outstanding faculty, student and alumni achievement. Of particular importance is how well we do in keeping student debt as low as possible,” CSULB President Jane Close Conoley said in a statement. According to CSULB, the Best Colleges Guidebook
compares 1,600 four-year universities based upon 16 indicators of excellence, “including assessment by administrators at peer institutions, graduation and retention rates of students, student selectivity and alumni giving.” The guidebook is available for purchase on September 23 at http://www.usnews.com/products/features/education-products-best-colleges-2015. CSULB And Peace Corps Partner On Master’s Program – On September 5, Peace Corps Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet, CSULB President Jane Close Conoley and Congressman Alan Lowenthal held a public meeting at Cal State Long Beach to announce the university’s partnership with the Peace Corps on a new master’s degree program. The program includes two degrees that allow students to incorporate Peace Corps service into their degree coursework. At the public meeting, Hessler-Radelet, Conoley and Lowenthal signed a memorandum of understanding, making the partnership official. According to the university, 777 alumni have volunteered for the Peace Corps since 1961. ■
1_LBBJ_Sept16_SectionB_LBBJ MASTER LAYOUT 9/16/14 9:57 AM Page 11
1_LBBJ_Sept16_SectionB_LBBJ MASTER LAYOUT 9/16/14 9:58 AM Page 12
“Serious employers need employees who have the best skills for a particular profession. In order to acquire the best, one needs to go the extra mile with their education, as well as be able to demonstrate performance.” Michael Solt, Dean, College of Business Administration California State University, Long Beach
Photograph of the College of Business Administration at California State University, Long Beach by the Business Journal’s Thomas McConville