California State University, Channel Islands
PA-8: Affordability and Access

Z Majors
In fall 2018, CI launched the CSU’s first two zero-textbook-cost majors (e.g., “Z-Majors”) in Communication and Early Childhood Studies, launching a third Z-Major in Health Science during fall 2019. With the “Z” referring to “zero textbook costs,” Z-Majors offer students a pathway through all of their major’s required courses without the need to purchase a textbook. This is accomplished by replacing traditional textbooks with open education resources (OER), e-textbooks, library materials, government reports, online courseware, open access journals, etc. While CI’s Communication, Early Childhood Studies, and Health Science programs continue to work on keeping low/no-cost options available for their students, the Special Education Credential program (“Z-Cred”) and Nursing Track II RN-BSN program (“Z-Track”) have also developed no-textbook-cost pathways. More recent still, the Martin V. Smith School of Business and Economics has taken program-level efforts to introduce more low/no-cost courses as well. Through each of these efforts, CSUCI’s openCI initiative has emerged as a national leader in textbook affordability for the entire CSU system and beyond.

Migrant Summer Leadership Institute (MSLI)
The objective of the CI Migrant Summer Leadership Institute (MSLI) is to expose current high school students to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education through intensive curricular and co-curricular experiences in a 4-year university setting. Students also participate in a University Success and Leadership course introducing them to university life, structure and policies of the University and development of strategies and skills to help ensure success in college. In addition, participating students will be exposed to experiential learning through excursions to the California Science Center Museum and a boat trip to the Channel Islands. This 2-week residential program is fully funded by the California Department of Education, Migrant Education Program.

The Dolphin Pantry
The CSU Channel Islands Dolphin Pantry exists to provide immediate food, toiletries and basic necessities at no cost to students in need. The goal of the Dolphin Pantry is to decrease the impact that food and hygiene insecurities have on the academic success of students and to alleviate hunger within our student community.

CalFresh
CalFresh (federally known as the Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program or SNAP) can provide you on-going healthy and nutritional food assistance that puts money in your pocket to use at participating grocery stores and farmers’ markets.
Find out if you are eligible by visiting the Dolphin Pantry, located in Arroyo Hall: Room 114 or emailing basicneeds@csuci.edu.

Hot Meals Program
The Basic Needs Program has dining cards loaded with two meals for Islands Café. These cards are available for students to provide access to hot meals. If you would like a dining card or if you encounter a student that may be in need of a meal, please send them to the Dean of Students office or to the Dolphin Pantry (Arroyo Hall, 1st Floor) so we may provide a card and get them connected to available food resources (CalFresh, Pantry etc.) and/or other services available within the Basic Needs Program.

Emergency Housing
The Basic Needs Program seeks to provide support to students experiencing housing insecurity on a short-term basis as they identify long-term housing solutions. CSUCI is able to provide emergency transitional housing accommodations based on space availability and eligibility for up to 10 – 15 days.

Emergency Funds
An Emergency Funds Grant, awarded through the Basic Needs Program, seeks to provide immediate financial assistance of up to $750 (lifetime maximum) for students who encounter temporary financial hardship due to unforeseen and catastrophic life events.

Additionally, as part of the California State University (CSU) system, low-income students are eligible for an application fee waiver, the State University Grant (SUG) and Cal Grant programs. The SUG and Cal Grant programs offer state-based financial aid which are targeted specifically to low-income students for the purpose of offsetting the cost of tuition. Additionally, students enrolled in the EOP and Student Support Services programs are eligible to receive an EOP Grant and Student Support Services grant. The CSU’s Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) provides admission, academic and financial support services to historically underserved students throughout California.

In accordance with the guidelines set by the California State University (CSU) System, the Student Academic Services Outreach Program's (SASOP) mission is to increase college enrollment of students who are disadvantaged due to economic, educational and/or environmental backgrounds

CSU campuses have the Federal Work-Study Program, which provides jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay for expenses related to their education. The program encourages community service work and work related to your course of study.

Most CSU campuses have dedicated CalFresh Outreach programs to help students with the application process to find out if they qualify for this benefit.

The State University Grant (SUG) program provides need-based awards to eligible undergraduate and graduate/post baccalaureate students who are California residents or otherwise determined as eligible, such as AB 540-eligible students. When you apply for financial aid via the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act application (CADA) you are considered for a SUG by your campus.

Disability Accommodations and Support Services (DASS)
DASS recognizes the valuable diversity students with disabilities bring to our University. We accept the disability, and focus on individual ability, strength and self-advocacy. DASS assists students with disabilities by providing a wide range of support including the Promoting Independence and Educational Resources (PIER) Program. The PIER program aims to provide first time freshmen and transfer students a smooth transition to CI. DASS wants to ensure that incoming students feel connected and supported by peer mentors who are available to share their knowledge and experience as college students of CI. Mentors focus on welcoming, supporting, and encouraging incoming students as they navigate through a new university.

Veterans Affairs
CSU Channel Islands’ Veterans Affairs Program assists prospective and enrolled student veterans and dependents in transitioning and engaging with the campus community to ensure successful progress towards degree completion and on to their career goals.

Foster Youth
The PATH Program supports and empowers students who are foster youth, adopted, in guardianship or kinship care, and/or have experienced homelessness. PATH provides services aimed to meet the unique needs of displaced students to improve access, retention and graduation rates. PATH services include academic assistance, career exploration, coaching and student leadership development, graduate school preparation, guidance with housing, scholarships and community resources, and mentoring.

Intercultural Services
The purpose of Intercultural Services is to educate the campus community, specifically students, on issues of diversity and equity, while advocating for those who are historically underrepresented, underserved and undocumented. Intercultural Services is committed to affirming and celebrating the unique heritage of our students through promoting awareness, understanding, and appreciation for all peoples and cultures.

Underrepresented Student Initiatives
Underrepresented Student Initiatives was established fall 2016 in the area of Retention, Outreach & Inclusive Student Services. Housed within the Multicultural Dream Center at CSU Channel Islands, Underrepresented Student Initiatives supports the retention and persistence of marginalized populations including, but not limited to, those who identify as Latino, African American/Black, Asian American & Pacific Islanders, LGBTQ+, Assembly Bill (AB) 540, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA), or undocumented. Our services seek to provide resources and foster a student-centered campus community dedicated to the holistic success of our students.

Transfer Students
In 2021, CSUCI launched a pilot program to support transfer students. The project is designed to increase transfer student success by exploring the impact of academic and financial interventions on transfer students across our diverse student body. The academic part of the pilot program launched in July and involved supercharging a class called “Business Discourse for the 21st Century Professional” by embedding it with instruction tailored specifically for transfer students. The instruction goes far beyond a typical orientation transfer students might ordinarily get. The academic intervention will focus on oral and written communication and other topics that lay the foundation for the students to succeed in all their future projects. The five-week class will include introducing students to a faculty mentor, familiarizing them with services offered through Disability Accommodations and Support Services (DASS) and linking them up with business-themed clubs and other opportunities.

Then, in the Fall, some students will receive a $1,950 scholarship. When the full experiment is rolled out next year, every Business major in the program in Fall of 2022 and 2023 will be randomly assigned to receive just the five-week academic intervention; just the scholarship; both the academic intervention and the scholarship or neither. Learn more about this program at https://www.csuci.edu/news/releases/2021-transfer-student-pilot-program.htm.

Educational Opportunity Program
The Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) serves as a primary vehicle for the CSU in increasing the access, academic excellence and retention of California’s historically underserved students. The program provides admission, academic, and financial assistance to EOP-eligible undergraduate students. The CSU’s Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) provides admission, academic and financial support services to historically underserved students throughout California.

https://www.csuci.edu/openci/z-major.htm
https://www.csuci.edu/idea/msli.htm
https://www.csuci.edu/basicneeds/housing-assistance.htm
https://www.csuci.edu/basicneeds/path.htm
http://www.csuci.edu/eap/