Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
About California State University Channel Islands (CI)
Q: What undergraduate degrees are offered?
A: Our majors include Anthropology, Applied Physics, Art, Biology, Business, Chemistry,
Chicana/o Studies, Communication, Computer Science, Early Childhood Studies, Economics,
English, Environmental Science and Resource Management, History, Information Technology,
Liberal Studies, Mathematics, Nursing, Performing Arts, Political Science, Psychology,
Sociology, and Spanish.
Q: What teaching credentials are offered?
A: Administrative Services, Education Specialist Mild/Moderate Level I and II, Multiple-Subject
with BCLAD and Single-Subject - Mathematics, Science, English and History/Social studies.
Q: What graduate degrees are offered?
A: Graduate degree programs are offered through the University (MA Education) and through
Extended University. They include: MBA, MS Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, MS Biotechnology/MBA
Dual Degree, MS Mathematics, and MS Computer Science. For more details except for
the MA Education, visit Extended University.
Q. Is CSU Channel Islands (CI) an accredited university?
A: Yes, CI was granted accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges
(WASC). Every new college or university must graduate its first freshman class before
it can receive accreditation. On May 17, 2007, CI graduated its inaugural freshman
class and on the same day received its initial accreditation for seven years, the
maximum period allowed by the WASC.
Q: How many faculty members are there and what is their teaching style?
A: There are over 90 full-time faculty members and more than 200 lecturers (full and
part time). Faculty embraces student-centered cross-disciplinary learning, a University
philosophy that emphasizes meeting each student’s needs. Faculty mentors are available
to all students who seek course and career guidance.
Q: How many students attend the University?
A: Almost 5,000 students attend CI. For more details visit http://www.csuci.edu/ir/index.htm.
Q: Is student housing available?
A: Yes, student housing is offered in both Anacapa and Santa Cruz Villages. Santa Cruz
Village is home to 460 freshmen and offers two-bedroom, one-bath, furnished suites
shared by four students. Each furnished suite has cable TV and wireless Internet access.
A limited number of single and double occupancy suites are available.
Anacapa Village provides sophomore and upper-division students with all of the comforts of independent, on campus living, plus a few luxuries that make it an unbeatable home away from home. Each of the 87 apartments are shared by four students and offer a nicely appointed living room, dining room and kitchen in addition to the four private bedrooms and two shared bathrooms.
Student learning and development is a high priority for Housing & Residential Education. Both facilities offer wireless network access throughout and excellent space for all residents to use and enjoy, including: computer labs, study rooms, fitness center, game rooms, ballet studio, swimming pool and spa, art studio, music practice rooms, TV lounges, community kitchens, laundry rooms, and media rooms. Living on campus puts you right in the center of the very best CI has to offer. For more details, including application information, visit http://www.csuci.edu/housing/.
Faculty/Staff Housing: The University Glen Community contains 658 apartments, townhomes, and single family residences available for rental or purchase. The Town Center is a multi-use building with apartments on the two upper floors and 30,000 square feet of retail space on the first floor. Current tenants of the Town Center include The Cove Bookstore, Tortillas Grill and Cantina, Sammy’s Market with Subway and Juice-it-Up, and the University Glen Corporation offices. For more information please visit http://universityglencorp.csuci.edu/.
Q: What campus activities are available to students?
A: During the first several weeks of school, social activities take place to encourage
student involvement and active participation within the campus community. Throughout
the year students can enjoy participation in intramural sports, health and fitness
activities, join various student organizations, utilize our waterfront programs (sailing,
rowing and kayaking), participate in outdoor adventures, honor societies, leadership
retreats and workshops, multicultural programs, sports clubs, block parties, career
and graduate fairs.
Student Union
The new 23,000 square foot Student Union includes a large programmable area for student
events and live entertainment; a dining center including a coffee house, pizzeria,
sandwich deli and salad bar; lounges for informal gatherings; a game room with high-definition
TVs, pool tables and computer gaming systems; and Associated Students Incorporated
(ASI) offices for Student Government, Student Programming Board, The Nautical Yearbook,
and the CI View student newspaper. The Student Union also includes the Tree House
Courtyard for outdoor events and gatherings for the entire campus community.
Q: What are the on-campus dining opportunities?
A: Islands Café, CI’s residential dining facility, is also open to the public. Located
at 71 University Drive in the South Quad and operated by University Glen Corporation,
Islands Café serves a wide variety of contemporary menu offerings in a single price,
all-you-can to eat format, and is open seven days a week during school sessions and
limited hours for summer session and during breaks.
Student Union
Opened spring semester 2010, the Student Union provides the following food services
to the general campus:
Freudian Sip - The Freudian Sip coffee shop offers the perfect ambiance for studying, socializing, drinking a cup of coffee with a delicious pastry, or enjoying one of their blended drinks.
Lighthouse Café – Offering pizza, specialty salads, deli sandwiches, and hot dogs, the Lighthouse Café is the perfect destination for your campus dining needs. Meet your friends in the Student Union and enjoy your lunch or dinner in the vibrant dining area or on the beautiful patio.
Sea Store – Pick up your favorite snacks at the Sea Store convenience store, located in the Student Union adjacent to the game room.
Freudian Sip (Broome Library)
Nestled in the right hand corner as you approach the main entry to the John Spoor
Broome library, Freudian Sip’s second campus location offers organic coffees and teas,
blended specialty drinks, snacks, sandwiches, baked goods and salads.
University Glen Town Center
Currently open in the Town Center are Juice it Up, Pizza 3.14, Subway, and Tortillas
Grill.
Q: What are the University’s colors and mascot?
A: The University’s colors are red and silver. The red is consistent with the tradition
of the region, and the silver is for the dolphin, the University’s mascot. A petition was presented in 1998 to the University by local Chumash leaders that
the dolphin be the University’s official mascot. Simultaneously, the founding student
leadership of CSUN-CI petitioned to have the dolphin as CI’s mascot. The request was
warmly received by the students, faculty, and staff.
Q: What recreational opportunities are there?
A: Campus Recreation provides a variety of opportunities to meet the needs of our students
who are committed to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, wish to engage in fun competition
or just let off some steam.
The Recreation Center offers a fitness center and court area that is complemented with locker rooms and shower facilities. The fitness center offers a stretching area, free weights, weight-resistance machines, and cardiovascular equipment. The court area offers recreation opportunities to play basketball and volleyball.
Campus Recreation facilitates Intramural Sports competitions for students to participate in including basketball, volleyball, quickball, soccer and flag football leagues. Sports Clubs (such as Lacrosse) provide additional opportunities for students to keep up their competitive edge. The Outdoor Adventures Programs offers students the opportunity to participate in day hikes, camping trips and fishing trips.
Finally, we have taken advantage of our unique location and created a Waterfront Program that is the highlight of our program. Through the Waterfront Program, students can learn how to sail, kayak and windsurf at the Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard.
Q: What are the plans for intercollegiate athletics at CI?
A: Due to the severity of the state budget cuts, the CSU is required to further reduce
its budget. At CSU Channel Islands, these budget cuts have resulted in our postponing
of Intercollegiate Athletics which was planned for fall 2012. The campus will now
focus its energies on building and supporting our successful club sports program
so that when the time is right, we will be able to transition into Intercollegiate
Athletics.
Q: Why is “Channel Islands” in the University’s name when the campus is on the mainland?
A: The name, California State University Channel Islands, was the choice of a committee
of Ventura County educators, students, community leaders, and activists. The name
represents an entire region rather than a single city or county, and so the University
was named after the eight islands located off the southern California coastline, which
are a part of the Channel Islands National Park. On a clear day, you can see two of
the islands (Anacapa and Santa Cruz) from the University.
Q. How large is the campus?
A: The CI campus is 1,193 acres. In 2009, the campus grew by 360 acres through an addition
of land adjacent to Calleguas Creek and University Drive, previously owned and maintained
by the County of Ventura. The land is largely unimproved and has historically been
used by local organizations for limited community activities. Long term plans for
this area include utilization of the land for outdoor classroom/lab activities related
to environmental, biological and botanical studies. The campus hopes to utilize this
area to connect to a future bicycle and hiking trail network.
Q: What is a sustainable campus?
A: CI promotes using sustainable products, solid waste reduction, and the overarching
practice of adaptive reuse of buildings on the University’s campus. The University
actively pursues projects to improve the overall energy efficiency, and to implement
programs that reduce dependency on finite resources such as water and fossil fuels.
The responsibility of sustainability and “being green” rests on everyone’s shoulders
and the University encourages the entire campus community to recycle, use alternative
transportation options, and moderate energy use. Environmental Sustainability is one
of CI’s strategic initiatives. A Task Force focused on this issue and became a Charter
Participant of the AASHE STARS program and began documenting additional sustainable
measures. (http://www.aashe.org/stars/index.php). For more information, visit http://www.csuci.edu/sustainability/.
Q: How much does it cost to attend CI?
A: 2012-2013 estimated annual tuition fees* are (does not include campus fees):
Undergraduate Tuition fee (full-time)................. $2,736 per semester
Undergraduate Tuition fee (part-time)................$1,587 per semester
Graduate Tuition fee+ (full-time)........................$3,369 per semester
Graduate Tuition fee+ (part-time).......................$1,953 per semester
*The CSU makes every effort to keep student costs to a minimum. Fees listed in published schedules or student accounts may need to be increased when public funding is inadequate. Therefore, CSU must reserve the right, even after initial fee payments are made, to increase or modify any listed fees, without notice, until the date when instruction for a particular semester or quarter has begun. All CSU listed fees should be regarded as estimates that are subject to change upon approval by the Board of Trustrees.
+Graduate tuition fees listed above do not apply to special session/Extended University degree programs and courses. Please contact Extended University for further information at: http://ext.csuci.edu
Q: How does a student apply for financial aid?
A: The Financial Aid office helps students apply for grants, loans, federal work study
and scholarships. The office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday,
and 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays. Call (805) 437-8530 between the hours of 8:30
a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday or e-mail financial.aid@csuci.edu. To access additional financial information, visit www.csuci.edu/financialaid.
Q: What programs exist for students with learning disabilities?
A: Disability Resource Programs (DRP) provides resources and accommodations in compliance
with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation
Act. Reasonable academic accommodations and auxiliary aids are determined by the DRP
counselor based on verified documentation of need and in consultation with the student.
Resources and services include, but are not limited to: disability management counseling, alternative media services, alternate location and extended test time for exams, note-takers, computer lab with assistive technology, captioning and sign language interpreting services. Students must register for services each semester accommodations are needed. Please visit Disability Resource Programs, located in the Educational Access Center, Bell Tower Room 1541, or call (805) 437-3331 (V/TTY) for further information.
Q: Is alternate transportation to campus available?
A: The Vista bus shuttle service is located on Los Angeles Avenue in front of the Student
Union. Service is provided from 7 a.m. to 10:20 p.m., Monday through Friday, to and
from the Camarillo Metrolink Station on Lewis Road and from 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, to and from the ‘C’ Street Transfer Station in Oxnard. On Saturdays,
the service runs from the Camarillo Metrolink station on Lewis Road from 7:30 a.m.
to 5:20 p.m., and from the ‘C’ Street Transfer Center in Oxnard from 7 a.m. to 5:30
p.m. Cost is $1.25 each way. A Shuttle Card costs $25 per semester for students, faculty
and staff. Parking at the off-campus shuttle sites is free.
Q. How can I take a campus tour?
A: The Admissions & Recruitment office offers tours for individuals and families Monday
through Friday at 11:00 a.m. and on the first Saturday of every month at noon. For
large groups, high schools, community college or organizations, guided tours are provided
Wednesdays and Thursdays at 9:00 a.m. Tours are arranged by appointment. To make an
appointment or for more information you can visit our website at http://www.csuci.edu/students/studentrecruitment/tours or call (805) 437-8520.