LONG BEACH >> Jazz station KKJZ (88.1 FM), which has broadcast out of Cal State Long Beach for several years, appears to be headed to Westwood.

“Nothing has been formalized or finalized,” said Stephanie Levine, station manager. “We’re working with the foundation at Cal State Long Beach, as well as the university, but the plan is to move the operation.”

The CSULB Foundation, which owns the license, has reportedly voted to approve the move, but there isn’t yet a time frame for the transition. Officials with CSULB were not available for comment Friday.

The move will make radio operations more efficient, Levine said, as KKJZ would relocate into the same space as Go Country (105.1 FM) and KMZT (1260 AM, 105.1 HD2). It will also keep the station financially stable by reducing costs, as well as ensure the jazz format remains intact, she said.

Helen Borgers, an on-air personality who has been with the station since 1979, said she and other personnel will be meeting Monday with station officials to determine whether they will be working in Westwood, or remain at the studio at CSULB, which Levine said KKJZ plans to keep.

Radio has a long history on the 49er campus. The student-run KSUL went off the air in 1981 and was followed shortly after by the nonstudent run KLON, now KKJZ. KBeach Radio is a student-run station that broadcasts on the Internet and Hybrid Digital radio.

“It certainly makes them [the students] sad,” said Danny Lemos, student adviser for KBeach.

One thing worrying CSULB radio students and alums, many of whom stay active with the students by devoting time and resources, is that the move to Westwood could spell an eventual sale of the station.

“That’s the general trend around the U.S.,” said Michael Stark, an alumnus of CSULB’s KSUL who now runs the LA Radio Studio in San Pedro and donates studio time to CSULB students. “A lot of colleges are selling their broadcast entities. It’s some quick cash for the schools, but in the long term, it cripples the radio programs at school.”

Levine said the notion of an impending sale is inaccurate.

“It’s not as dramatic as one would believe,” Levine said of the move.

Stark said KSUL, KLON and KKJZ have been showcases for the university and the city of Long Beach.

“KKJZ has always been questionable in terms of student involvement, but at least having it on campus, they could mask it by having students do some work in the studio,” he said. “But having it off campus altogether pretty much makes it totally nonstudent.”

According to the station’s website, KKJZ increased its transmitting power from 6,500 watts to 30,000 in December 2004.

The CSULB Foundation has contracted with Global Jazz Inc. to program and provide supporting services for KKJZ, which conducts fundraising activities on behalf of the foundation, for the benefit of the station, according to the website.

KKJZ will still have the ability to program and transmit through its Signal Hill tower, and the same radio professionals will continue to operate the station, Levine said.

“Unfortunately, there are people with their own agenda who make it sound like the sky is falling,” she said.

Staff writer Greg Yee contributed to this report. Contact Josh Dulaney at 562-714-2150.