California State University, Channel Islands
PRE-2: Points of Distinction

California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI) is committed to serving the diverse educational needs of the people of the State of California and the world’s diverse population. This commitment extends to the pledge to create an educational and work environment in which diversity is viewed as a desirable and valuable asset to the University itself and the community it serves. CSUCI is proud to be recognized as a Hispanic Serving Institution and continues to deepen the array of programs available to support all students from diverse and traditionally underrepresented backgrounds.

CSUCI is committed to ensuring underrepresented students have the support they need to help them succeed during their time on campus. The university invests in several programs to support these students such as the Underrepresented Student Initiatives, the Multicultural Dream Center, the African American Outreach and Transitions Academy, the Promoting Independence and Educational Resources program, the PATH program, and the Center for Multicultural Engagement. Additionally, the university offers training for faculty and staff to become undocumented student allies, so they can better understand the challenges of and provide support for undocumented students.

CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) first opened its doors as a university in 2002 and is growing the faculty, staff and student population, as well as physical building space, each year. While the campus continues to grow, we have also taken keen focus on conserving resources, improving efficiency, and reducing the university's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Through these conservation and efficiency measures, the university has successfully reduced GHG emissions per weighted campus user by 66% from the 2008-2009 baseline. This was accomplished entirely through efficiency and conservation strategies such as lighting retrofits, HVAC and equipment upgrades, managing building control systems, and extensive campus outreach and engagement to encourage sustainable behaviors. We are highlighting this as a Point of Distinction because while the university does have plans for a large solar photovoltaic project in the coming years that will supply approximately 67% of the university's electricity needs, the GHG reductions to date have been achieved solely through energy management, efficiency measures and engagement initiatives.

Placing students at the center of the educational experience, California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI) provides undergraduate and graduate education that facilitates learning within and across disciplines through integrative approaches, emphasizes experiential and service learning, and graduates students with multicultural and international perspectives. We achieve this by providing opportunities to apply their learning to address existing challenges and experiment with sustainable solutions on campus. Facilities Services and faculty from a variety of disciplines work together to identify opportunities for students to engage in experiential learning on campus through class projects, capstone research, service learning hours, and guided internships. The university engages students in active learning that integrates sustainability across a broad range of topics, including air quality, grounds management, plastic pollution, communication dashboards, agriculture, Indigenous culture, event planning, and more.