Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 69.28
Liaison Austin Eriksson
Submission Date Feb. 29, 2016
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

California State University, Northridge
EN-3: Student Life

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Austin Eriksson
Sustainability Program Manager
FPDC
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have one or more co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives that fall into the following categories?:
Yes or No
Active student groups focused on sustainability Yes
Gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, or urban agriculture projects where students are able to gain experience in organic agriculture and sustainable food systems Yes
Student-run enterprises that include sustainability as part of their mission statements or stated purposes Yes
Sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives through which students can develop socially, environmentally and fiscally responsible investment and financial skills No
Conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience Yes
Cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience Yes
Wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles Yes
Sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences Yes
Programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills Yes
Sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution Yes
Graduation pledges through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions ---
Other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives ---

The name and a brief description of each student group focused on sustainability:

Sustainability Club

The Sustainability Club is a student led organization that serves as liaisons' to the Institute for Sustainability. As a club we advocate for the development, research and promotion of sustainability within the student body of the university and its serving community.


The website URL where information about student groups is available:
A brief description of gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and urban agriculture projects where students are able to gain experience in organic agriculture and sustainable food systems:

CSUN has a campus compost site as well as a garden. These two facilitates are primary ran by students employed through the Institute for Sustainability. Not only do these facilities serve the university to help reduce our organic waste, but they also serve as education opportunities for both internal and external community members to learn how to compost and garden.

CSUN offers a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Program to all faculty, staff and students! CSA boxes from Underwood Farms in Moorpark will be delivered to CSUN every Tuesday. Participants will be required to pick up their boxes between 3:00PM and 6:00PM on the east side of the Matador Bookstore, located on Lindley Ave. and have the option to sign up for monthly, quarterly, or annual memberships!

CSUN Food Garden
The CSUN food garden was established to educate students about sustainable food gardening techniques and healthy food choices, to promote direct community involvement and provide service-learning opportunities. A food garden working group, chaired by Dr. Erica Wohldmann and Jean Porter, was started in July 2009. The group met with campus leaders and students to develop the CSUN food garden. The garden is currently managed by Dr. Mario Giraldo and the food garden working group. A student assistant helps to maintain the garden together with dedicated volunteer students. With over 400 square feet of raised beds, more than a dozen fruit trees, and low-water irrigation, all built and planted by dedicated student, faculty, and staff volunteers the garden has grown tremendously and continues to thrive.

CSUN Composting
CSUN has an on campus composting program that is ran through the Institute for Sustainability and sponsored by The University Corporation. This program handles all of the pre-consumer food waste from the main eateries, Juice It Up, and all of our campus coffee shops.


The website URL where information about the organic agriculture and/or sustainable food systems projects and initiatives is available:
A brief description of student-run enterprises that include sustainability as part of their mission statements or stated purposes:

CSUN's Associated Students is a student ran enterprise with funding from student fees. Associated Students (AS) is the primary advocate for students at California State University, Northridge and provides excellent, meaningful programs and services designed to enhance and create a spirited learning-focused campus environment.

AS is also the official seat of student governance for the campus. The Student Government division represents the student body, advocates its needs and defends its interests in dealings with faculty, campus administrators and government officials. One of their 7 committees in Student Government is the AS Sustainability Committee.The Committee discusses pressing environmental issues at CSUN, institutes change and spreads awareness. The committee welcomes all CSUN students, faculty and staff to help create a sustainable CSUN campus. The Sustainability Committee has patterned with the CSUN Institute for Sustainability and looks forward to planning many exciting events and engaging projects.


The website URL where information about the student-run enterprise(s) is available:
A brief description of the sustainable investment or finance initiatives:
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The website URL where information about the sustainable investment or finance initiatives is available:
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A brief description of conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience:

CSUN hosts several events annually that are focused around sustainability. Some of these include water Day, Earth Week, Solar Workshops, Energy and water Conservation sessions, etc.


The website URL where information about the event(s) is available:
A brief description of cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience:

CSUN's Art Department, through their Art Education program, has done several projects and pieces related to sustainability. More recently they have done projects on GMO's, fossil fuels, plastics in the ocean and on toxic waste.


The website URL where information about the cultural arts event(s) is available:
A brief description of wilderness or outdoors programs for students that follow Leave No Trace principles:

Since 2008, CSUN Outdoor Adventures (OA) has been providing unique recreational opportunities to the CSUN community. Through our Wilderness Outings, RIDGE Rockwall, rental center, team building program, workshops and clinics, Outdoor Leadership Program, and most recently Camp Matador, we provide awe-inspiring, transformative experiences to more than 6,000 students each year. The outdoor adventure programs follow the Leave No Trace principles and there are even workshops to teach students, staff and faculty about the concepts.


The website URL where information about the wilderness or outdoors program(s) is available:
A brief description of sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:

The Common Reading Program invites everyone on campus to think, talk, and learn together across and beyond the boundaries of the classroom by using the book as a starting point. As a new freshman, they are invited to read a book and to discuss it as part of a campus-wide community of readers.

These books tend to relate to one aspect of sustainability, one of the most notable ones that have been on the list over the last couple of years was Garbology.


The website URL where information about the theme is available:
A brief description of program(s) through which students can learn sustainable life skills:

The Matasphere Themed Living Community brings together students who are interested in sustainability and environmental conservation to plan and implement efforts to reduce waste and consumption in Student Housing. Residents will be on the front lines of sustainability efforts in the residence halls and engage with community partners on new practices and programs to conserve resources.

Residents who live in the Matasphere will pave the way for reduced energy consumption in Student Housing and role model responsible behaviors and practices to limit excess waste.


The website URL where information about the sustainable life skills program(s) is available:
A brief description of sustainability-focused student employment opportunities:

CSUN's Associated Students employs several students for 2 sustainability focused programs. The first program is the Associated Students Recycling, which has been around for over 20 years. This program uses students to help promote and collect recyclables on campus. The second program is the Sustainable Office Program. This program gives students the opportunity to work as consultants as they evaluate and give feedback on office sustainability practices.

The Institute For Sustainability also hires students to help promote on campus sustainability, outreach and various sustainability related campaigns. These students also participate in sustainability and climate related research.


The website URL where information about the student employment opportuntities is available:
A brief description of graduation pledges through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions:
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The website URL where information about the graduation pledge program is available:
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A brief description of other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives:
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The website URL where information about other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives is available:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.