Reporter

CSU Bakersfield held the grand opening and ribbon ceremony on Wednesday, Sept. 5 for the School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering’s new Student Advising and Success Center (SASC). At the ceremony there were students, faculty, and leaders whom attended.

This new facility is located on the south side of the campus within the engineering complex behind the Fab Lab.

The total cost of the building was $6 million, but was paid through a grant from the California Department of Education.

Dr. Charles Lam, a math professor, applied for a grant which helped fund the cost of this new facility.

Some of the services that will be provided in the new building are group advising, individual advising as well as transfer advising for students. There is also a study room inside and a study area outside.

Students and faculty are very excited to have a new facility and space where they can study at.

Mikaela Becina, a biochemistry major, who also works as a student assistant at the facility said, “I think this is a great place to study for students. I used to be a Pathways student and it’s very nice to see students use the space and I love being able to provide assistance to the students as well.”.

The ceremony began with the dean of the school, Dr. Kathleen Madden and closed of the ceremony with a few comments from CSUB President Lynnette Zelezny.

“What a great joy it is to be a president where, right out of the shoe, we get great news like a better accreditation. I’m so excited about this accreditation. This school is rising and I’m very happy that you have owned and embraced the colt here at CSUB which is to rise together,” said Zelezny.

In August, NSME received an accreditation for a new bachelor’s degrees in electrical engineering, computer engineering and engineering sciences by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

With the new accreditation and the grand opening the advising center, NSME is growing, which has students and faculty very excited.

Analeyi-Gomes Navarro, who is an academic advisor in the school of NSME, stated she is very excited for this facility as well.

“The way this new facility was brought together was the fact that a lot of the professors and chairs of the department had a vision of putting this together to help out students. The place is to support students and so students can have a place to study. Some of the things I like about this are the study areas and bean bags, they also have gamer chairs. It’s great because it has more space, more privacy, windows which bring more natural light, and nice study areas,” said Navarro.

Dakota Smith, a mathematics major, is also very excited about the new building.

“I think this new facility is great, I’m really excited. One of my favorite things of the new facility is the great natural light it has. It’s very spacious and the chairs are very comfy as well,” said Smith.

The facility is open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. from  and is open to all students.