California State University, Channel Islands
AC-10: Support for Research

Chemistry faculty members are currently collaborating with Biology and Environmental Science and Resource Management programs. Two Chemistry faculty are engaging students in chemical analyses of aquatic life and environmental samples. Another Chemistry faculty member is currently working with students to collect environment samples and analyze them for pollutants. There are several students engaged in analysis whale protein samples in collaboration with Biology faculty. This particular Biology faculty member engages students in field evaluation of whales’ habitat and migration. The Environmental Science and Resource Management faculty members engage students in research dealing with land conservation and coastal preservation, and on-campus sustainability projects such as a sustainability literacy assessment, anaerobic digester, and solar power research.

-CI offers internal grant awards through Faculty Development Office for faculty research including sustainability. CI also supports faculty research through identifying external sustainability funding sources and helping faculty in research proposal submissions. Recently CI has also established two additional programs to support faculty research.
-All faculty members are invited to apply for a competitive grant through the Provost's Office for the purpose of securing equipment or material resources needed for teaching, research, and/or creative activities. Proposals from individual faculty can be for the purchase of equipment and/or material resources costing up to $2500.
-All tenured and probationary faculty members are invited to apply for a competitive grant for the purpose of supporting research or scholarly/creative activities during the summer. Proposals from individual faculty can be for funding up to $5000 to directly support their research or scholarly/creative activities.
-Chemistry professor Dr. Philip Hampton has developed so-called “Green Chemistry” laboratories for organic chemistry classes. This also may be included so that all three of the chemistry tenure-track faculty members are engaged in sustainability research.

-From Senate Policy 08-12 on Retention, Tenure and Promotion: A. RETENTION, TENURE, PROMOTION AND THE UNIVERSITY’S MISSION
California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI) is committed to providing high quality, student-centered instructional programs to all constituencies. Excellent faculty members, dedicated to continued intellectual and professional growth, are essential to fulfilling our commitment. All elements and standards of faculty performance evaluation recognize and reflect the University’s Mission, including:
o 1. Placing students at the center of the educational experience;
o 2. Providing undergraduate and graduate education that facilitates learning within and across disciplines through integrative approaches;
o 3. Emphasizing experiential and service learning;
o 4. And graduating students with multicultural and international perspectives.
-D. RESEARCH, SCHOLARSHIP, AND CREATIVE ACTIVITIES
The University values and supports the development of a range of research, scholarship and creative activities, including the following kinds of scholarship:
o 1. A scholarship of discovery - pursuing knowledge, covering all aspects of research and disciplinary discovery;
o 2. A scholarship of integration - bringing knowledge and discovery into larger patterns and contexts and working in and across disciplines;
o 3. A scholarship of teaching and learning - investigating and assessing teaching methods and practices and their impact on student learning outcomes;
o 4. A scholarship of engagement - using research and knowledge to engage in problems that affect individuals, institutions, and society.

The library gives students access to a robust collection of 235,000 bound and digital books, over 20,000 electronic journals and newspapers, numerous databases, a comprehensive digital image collection, DVD's/VHS's, CD's, best sellers, and children's books and K-8 curriculum materials. In addition, the library houses a number of interesting archival and special collections that can be used for original research. The Library offers classes and services that help students develop life-long information and computer skills. Librarians collaborate with faculty in all disciplines to provide information literacy sessions, resource specific instruction, reference service, and instruction on digital equipment.