Campus Kaleidoscope

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Sonoma State University

A series of lakes, lush green lawns, scores of birds and visiting Canada geese join the almost 8,000 students who occupy the 269 acres of Sonoma State University in the beautiful wine country (http://www.sonomacounty.com/). A strong academic reputation, relatively small class sizes and close interactions between faculty, staff and students has made Sonoma a sought-after campus. A robust emphasis on technology keeps the campus community in tune with emerging electronic trends.

Located at the foot of the Sonoma hills, the campus is just an hour's drive north of San Francisco and 40 minutes from the Pacific Ocean. On weekends, visitors wander through a butterfly garden and native plant sanctuary, take the trails for bike riding and enjoy picnicking.

This liberal arts campus is made up of approximately 80% undergraduate students, many of whom live on campus. The 65% / 35% distribution of women to men is typical of liberal arts campuses. The average age of undergraduate students is 23; graduate students 37. Currently, campus housing (http://www.sonoma.edu/housing/) accommodates 2,400 students in both apartment and residential suites clustered in villages. At Sonoma State there are no concrete buildings with long hallways and community bathrooms. Instead exterior entrances from residential courtyards lead to spacious living and sleeping rooms. Private bathrooms in newer suites mean students enjoy a lifestyle many have been used to at home.

Approximately 50% of students receive some type of financial aid (http://www.sonoma.edu/finaid/), grants or scholarships (http://www.sonoma.edu/scholarship/). The three most popular majors are Business Administration (http://www.sonoma.edu/busadmin/), Liberal Studies/Hutchins (http://www.sonoma.edu/hutchins/), and Psychology (http://www.sonoma.edu/psychology/).

SSU has positioned itself for the 21st century with a wide array of new facilities, programs and future projects. One of these is the innovative Jean and Charles Schulz Information Center which contains the University Library (http://libweb.sonoma.edu/) and Information Technology (http://www.sonoma.edu/it/) with state-of-the-art services in computing, media and telecommunications. Endowed by the creator of the Peanuts cartoon strip and his wife Jean, the Schulz Information Center is also the repository of a major collection of original manuscripts, letters and first editions of Jack London's writings and related materials (http://libweb.sonoma.edu/regional/special.html).

In summer 2004, a new 59,000 sq. ft. recreation center (http://www.sonoma.edu/campusrec/home.html) opened at Sonoma State, conceived and funded entirely by students. The facility has three gymnasium courts for basketball, volleyball and indoor soccer. A climbing wall is located in the front of the facility and is accented by a glass enclosure. More than 7,400 square feet is devoted to fitness and weight training equipment. A game room, two multi-purpose studios, suspended jogging track, locker rooms and hot tub provide additional activity areas.

The project was constructed with sustainable building practices such as energy efficient lighting systems, hydronic heating in the floors, grey water usage in the toilets, and building materials and furniture using earth-friendly components such as recycled glass, paper, plastic, and even seatbelts.

The Hutchins School of Liberal Studies
(http://www.sonoma.edu/hutchins/) offers integrated subject matter and a thematic approach in which students form learning communities dedicated to the exploration of ideas. Classes are small, usually about 13 students, and each student plays an integral part in a classroom team.

Since it is located in one of the premier wine grape growing regions in the world, the University also offers a unique Wine Business Program (http://www.sonoma.edu/winebiz/) that has received broad support from the wine industry. For the current wine industry professional and those seeking to join it, the university offers professional development courses. Currently employed wine professionals have taken more than 1,700 classes in the "Wine Biz" professional development program.

In response to the needs of the North Bay high tech industry, Sonoma State University established a new Department of Engineering Science (http://www.sonoma.edu/engineering/). The new department includes graduate and undergraduate programs with emphasis in electronics, computer hardware and software systems, photonics, and telecommunications. With the support of the local industries and community, the department's new laboratories located in the Cerent Engineering Science Complex are equipped with state-of-the-art instruments.

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
(http://www.sonoma.edu/exed/lifelong/) at SSU is an experience in adult education for those over 50 with an offering of eight-week long courses in art, history, music, literature and science with no homework and no grades. The program is phenomenally popular and has been used as a model for similar programs across the country.

The Donald and Maureen Green Music Center
(http://www.greenmusiccenter.org/) at Sonoma State University is projected to open its doors in fall 2007 to students, world-class musicians and thousands of guests. The focal point of the Green Music Center is a 1,400-seat concert hall featuring superb acoustics. The entire rear wall of the hall will open to lawn seating for 3,000 with a direct view of the stage. The expansive lawn will accommodate seating for an additional 7,000 guests.

Complementing the concert hall will be the music center's academic wing where students can learn, create and experience music with master artists. The wing will be comprised of a 300-seat recital hall, large rehearsal hall, practice rooms, studios, departmental and faculty offices, meeting rooms to support the educational programs of the university and its regional partners, as well as a conference center and restaurant.

SSU is a member of the NCAA Division II and competes in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. Athletics (http://www.sonoma.edu/athletics/) has experienced a great deal of success since joining the CCAA in 1998. In 2002, the men's soccer team won the NCAA Division II Men's Soccer National Championship with two student-athletes earning All-American honors. Women's soccer was runner-up for the 1998 national championship and won the school's first national championship in 1990. Additionally, Student and community support for men's and women's soccer is tremendous with both teams placing in the top five in the NCAA Division II in total attendance every year.

Seawolf Gym is the home of the women's volleyball and men's and women's basketball teams. Since 1998, women's basketball has earned four NCAA West Regional berth and men's basketball has earned two. Seven sports compete during the spring including baseball, softball, women's track & field, men's and women's tennis, women's water polo, and men's golf. SSU baseball has won three CCAA championships and is nationally ranked just about every season. Men's and women's tennis have earned several NCAA post-season regional berths since 1997.

Through all of its academic, athletic and co-curricular programs, Sonoma State University has a commitment to graduating students who have the ability to think critically and ethically and use information technology effectively. To learn more about Sonoma State University visit them at www.sonoma.edu.