Camarillo, Calif., March 27, 2012 – For the third consecutive year, CSU Channel Islands (CI) has earned a place on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll.

The annual list recognizes the nation’s leading universities that show a commitment to bettering their local communities through community service and service learning. The Honor Roll is compiled by the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal government agency that encourages volunteerism and public service, in collaboration with the U.S. Departments of Education and Housing and Urban Development, Campus Compact, and the American Council on Education. 
CI was one of 642 institutions earning the Honor Roll distinction in 2012.

“This recognition validates the exemplary work and effectiveness of CI faculty, staff and students in bettering their community,” said Dawn Neuman, CI’s Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.  “We’re proud to have CI graduates who are not only well-educated in their academic disciplines, but also understand that civic engagement and social responsibility are part of having a fulfilling academic and professional life.”

Honorees are chosen based on a series of selection factors, including the scope and innovation of service projects, the extent to which service learning is embedded in the curriculum, the school's commitment to long-term campus-community partnerships, and measurable community outcomes as a result of the service.

Service learning and community engagement have been a focus of CI’s curriculum and student life since the University’s inception in 2002. During the 2010-2011 academic year, CI tallied more than 26,500 hours of community service from approximately 1,300 students.

In addition to participating in community service events such as United Way's Day of Caring, E-Waste Day, Oxfam Hunger Banquet and Relay for Life, CI students and faculty collaborated with community-based organizations on a variety of service-learning programs.  Examples of some of their efforts include:

  • Developing mentoring programs to encourage low-income students and children of migrant farm workers to pursue higher education.
  • Working with local K-12 schools to foster students’ interest in science, math, engineering and technology.
  • Conducting vital research for local nonprofit organizations, including the annual homeless count and interviews of the homeless for Ventura County Homeless & Housing Coalition.
  • Volunteering their time at various Boys & Girls Clubs, Casa Pacifica, Community Roots Garden, Join the Farm, El Centrito Family Learning Centers, FOOD Share and the California Conservation Corps, to tackle issues ranging from mentoring and anti-bullying to habitat restoration, community garden building and workforce development.
  • Developing health communication campaigns for several Ventura County nonprofits that targeted audiences ranging from elementary school children to the county's hungry and promoted topics ranging from nutrition and exercise to sober driving.

“Partnering with the community makes CI a much stronger and more successful institution in educating students who are citizen-scholars,” said Pilar Pacheco, Associate Director of CI’s Center for Community Engagement. “We look forward to creating even more service learning opportunities for our students and a long and productive relationship with our community partners.”

For more information on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, visit www.NationalService.gov/HonorRoll.

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About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands
(CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI’s strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master’s degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more by visiting CI's Social Media.

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