California State University, Northridge
EN-14: Participation in Public Policy

CSUN has ongoing relationships and involvement with several local organizations including the Valley Economic Alliance, United Chambers of Commerce, LA Chamber of Commerce, Northridge East Neighborhood Council, VICA and LAEDC. Some of the most recent advocacy work is related to alternative transportation including improving local public transit via the San Fernando Valley corridor and the U-Pass program with Metro. CSUN also is working with our local neighborhoods and city representatives in the development and execution of a campus and community resiliency plan.

In addition to our commitments CSUN also leads by example in all of our new construction being certified a LEED Gold as a minimum and building one of the first Net Zero Energy buildings in the region.

The California State University (CSU) participates in public policy through open dialogue with the State Relations & Advocacy Office which advocates through lobbying efforts on behalf of the CSU system. The CSU’s Advocacy and State Relations (ASR) team monitors all sustainability legislation that impacts the CSU specifically. It also participates in state-wide advocacy on issues, such as climate change policy, energy efficiency, water resources and other utility issues that impact the operation and physical facilities. ASR and the Chancellor’s Office also work with the Governor’s Offices and are members of the Direct Access Customer Coalition (DACC) and the Alliance for Retail Markets advocacy groups to advocate for the best interest of the CSU on energy and sustainability efforts. 

The CSU provides public comment, meets with legislative staff, and testifies at budget subcommittee hearings in order to express CSU support for regulatory initiatives and activities related to carbon emission reductions and climate resiliency. 

The CSU’s advocacy, in collaboration with the Board of Trustees, work to ensure diverse stakeholders are represented and considered in decision-making processes.

In 2022, CSU engaged with the legislature on SB 155: The public resources trailer bill, contains historic infusions of funding for public resource projects, including wildfire & forest resilience, water & drought, climate resilience, sustainable agriculture, and energy.

In fall 2023, in partnership with Assemblywoman and Chair Pilar Schiavo, CSUN hosted an informational hearing for the State Assembly Select Committee on Electric Vehicles and Charging Infrastructure. The campus community was invited to attend and faculty experts testified on equity gaps related to electric vehicles and charging infrastructure. 

The CSU has support positions on two bills related to food security, AB 2150 (Arambula) Public Social Services: Higher Education, and AB 2033 (Reyes) Public Postsecondary Education: electronic benefits transfer cards: basic needs services and resources.

CSUN has been a signatory of the Second Nature Climate Commitment, which commits the campus to climate neutrality by 2040. Second Nature works to leverage the power of its network to lobby for climate policy at the national level. By signing this commitment, the University has committed to moving toward Climate Neutrality and is part of a larger, ongoing effort to advocate for national climate policy.

https://secondnature.org/wp-content/uploads/Carbon-Commitment_Charter-Signatories.pdf 

In July 2021, President Beck signed a letter with other University Presidents urging U.S.Senators to pass DREAM Legislation: https://www.presidentsalliance.org/dream-act-signatories/ 

The California State University system has taken a clear and public position to support and lobby for the protection of DACA students (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). The CSU offers free legal support services (https://www2.calstate.edu/attend/student-services/resources-for-undocumented-students/Pages/legal-support-services.aspx) throughout the system, and additionally, all 23 CSU campuses offer resources to support undocumented students. https://www2.calstate.edu/attend/student-services/resources-for-undocumented-students/Pages/campus-support.aspx 

CSU's national advocacy is focused on various areas including funding for Educating Students for Tomorrow’s Workforce and Solving Societal Problems through Applied Research- of which a focus on climate change research is a part of this. In addition, other advocacy at the national level includes promoting federal funding and policies that support students’ well-being and basic needs, including housing, food security, and mental health.

https://www.calstate.edu/impact-of-the-csu/government/federal-relations/Pages/csu-priorities.aspx 

CSUN was the first in the state to receive state funds to create an affordable student housing project. This building will be LEED Gold as the campus is working on energy and water efficiency. 
Related to sustainability, the CSU system has taken a position on the following legislation:
- SB 350 (De Leon) which established targets to increase renewable electricity to 50% by 2030…the Governor signed SB 350. CSU had a WATCH position.

- SB 286 (Hertzberg) increases direct access services across the state, including the CSU…we have a SUPPORT position on SB 286, but the measure has been slowed down in the legislative process. SB 286 is a 2-year measure that we continue to support. 

- AB 1150 (Levine) authorized public owned utilities to expands Energy Efficiency Partnership Programs to include the CSU and UC…the Governor signed AB 1150. The CSU had a SUPPORT position and ASR worked with UC to advocate for this expansion.

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