The first of three Cal State Bakersfield presidential candidates visited the campus Tuesday answering questions about his vision for growth, sports and new academic programs at the university.

Ephraim Smith, vice president for academic affairs at Cal State Fullerton, met with faculty and staff throughout the day.

Horace Mitchell, vice chancellor of business and administrative services at the University of California, Berkeley will visit today.

G. Timothy Haight, dean of the college of business and economics at Cal State University Los Angeles, will be on campus Thursday.

A new president will be chosen by California State University trustees next week.

Smith tackled questions from The Californian on the future of the school's academics, athletics and even the campus itself.

Smith said it was impossible to know for sure what new academic programs were coming, but said possibilities included growing existing nursing programs to meet local health care needs, expanding petroleum-related offerings and adding agriculture and engineering programs.

He said sports programs were critical to a university's public image and he supported looking into the financial feasibility of becoming a Division I school.

"If it's a top priority of the community, a top priority of the university and a top priority of the students, then it's something that should be worked on," Smith said.

While the university's growth has been stunted by recent statewide budget cuts to the Cal State system, Smith said it's important to keep the university in a position to serve more students.

"When the good years are here, you have to be primed to move," Smith said. "Expansion of the campus has to be a priority for the region."

If he got the job, Smith said he would be in Bakersfield for a long time.

"If you look at my resume, I tend to stay," Smith said. "I come with a sense of long-term goals."

Smith has a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois, a master's degree from the University of Massachusetts and bachelor's degree from Providence College, according to the CSU Chancellor's office.

A presidential search team with representatives from faculty, staff, the board of trustees and the community recommended the three candidates after reviewing applications. The full board of CSU trustees will interview the three finalists on Monday and announce the new president later next week.

Current CSUB President Tomás Arciniega will retire at the end of June after 21 years as president. He is earning $204,156 annually, a salary he'll keep for another year while doing special projects for Chancellor Charles Reed.

This school year he also received a $23,004 housing allowance and a $750 monthly car allowance.

The new president's salary will be set at or before the trustee's July board meeting.