“Higher education is a vital economic engine for us all. Our colleges and universities not only fuel science and innovation, they build prosperity in rural, urban and suburban communities nationwide,” said Timothy F.C. Knowles, president of the Carnegie Foundation. “We celebrate each of these institutions, particularly their dedication to partnering with their neighbors —fostering civic engagement, building useable knowledge, and catalyzing real world learning experiences for students.”
CAMARILLO — California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI) is launching a fully online Bachelor of Science in Computer Science Degree Completion Program, expanding access to a high-demand, high-growth field. The new program is designed for working adults and transfer students seeking a flexible path to a four-year degree. Applications are open with the first cohort beginning in Fall 2026.
The online program complements CSUCI’s on-campus Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and offers the same academic rigor, faculty expertise, and industry relevance. As a degree-completion program, it is intended for students who have already completed lower-division coursework—typically 60 or more transferable units or an associate degree.
CAMARILLO — The California State University (CSU) system released its Economic Impact Report highlighting the significant role the CSU and Cal State Channel Islands (CSUCI) play in driving regional economic vitality, strengthening California’s key industries and preparing a skilled workforce essential to California’s economy.
The report, Moving California Forward: The Economic Power of the CSU, highlights the lasting return on investment for the people of California at every level:
CAMARILLO — When Geraldine Montoya earns her master’s degree in School Counseling from California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI), she will become the first in her family to earn a graduate degree — a milestone that represents years of perseverance and determination.
A first-generation immigrant from Colombia, Montoya faced significant challenges growing up, including homelessness and the loss of her father at a young age. Yet through resilience and an unwavering belief in education, she turned those obstacles into motivation to help others succeed.
Today, Montoya maintains a 4.0 GPA in CSUCI’s School Counseling program while also serving as Coordinator for the California Student Opportunity and Access Program (Cal-SOAP). In that role, she leads more than 50 Cash4College workshops each year to help students and families access financial aid and pursue higher education.
“This collaboration with CSU Channel Islands is another example of how Hancock is working to remove barriers and create seamless pathways for students to pursue higher education and meaningful careers,” said Hancock Superintendent/President Kevin G. Walthers, Ph.D. “Nurses are in high demand across the state, and this program will help our students advance their careers while serving their communities.”
A first-generation college graduate and former community college transfer student, Lavariega Monforti exemplifies the mission and values of CSUCI. Her extensive leadership experience includes previous roles as Vice Provost and Accreditation Liaison Officer at CSUCI, Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences at California Lutheran University, Chair of Political Science at Pace University, and Associate Dean for the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Texas–Pan American.
CAMARILLO — California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI) and the Brain Injury Center of Ventura County have formed a collaborative partnership to enhance support and care for individuals affected by brain injuries. The unique collaboration has enabled the expansion of services and mission of the Brain Injury Center and has shaped the career trajectories of numerous students.
At the core of the partnership lies a shared vision of providing comprehensive and personalized care for brain injury survivors, with a strong focus on education, rehabilitation, and seamless integration into the community. Through a collaborative approach that combines the expertise of CSUCI faculty and students with the specialized services of the Brain Injury Center, individuals impacted by brain injuries receive tailored support to address their unique needs and circumstances.
CAMARILLO — California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI) has chosen to become a leadership partner with Excelencia in Education, the nation’s premier authority on efforts to accelerate Latino student success in higher education, to release a compilation of evidence-based programs that are at the forefront of improving higher educational achievement for Latino, and other, students.
Titled “Advancing What Works to Intentionally Serve Latino Students: Opportunities for Action – 2024,” the compilation focuses on cultural responsiveness and asset-based approaches to support Latino and post-traditional students in five key areas:
Engagement to Prepare Students and Families for College
First-Year Experiences Building Strong Foundations for Success
Bilingualism Enhancing Academic and Career Connections
Experiences and Partnerships Building Career Pathways
Gender-Based Learning Communities to Support Success
California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI) and the Santa Barbara Zoo are pleased to announce a partnership that will enrich academic opportunities for students and enhance wildlife conservation, research, and outreach throughout the region.
On Friday, April 14, at 10 a.m., at the Santa Barbara Zoo, CSUCI President Richard Yao and Zoo President and CEO Richard Block will sign a memorandum of understanding formalizing the relationship. The agreement paves the way for future collaboration and outlines plans for a zoo-owned and managed conservation center on the CSUCI campus.
“By partnering with a world-class zoo right here in our backyard, we are strengthening our commitment to be a ‘conservation campus’ on the Central Coast,” said Yao. “We are excited about the opportunities for our students to work side by side with Zoo personnel and CSUCI faculty to protect and reestablish threatened species in our region and to develop vital skills in conservation education and management. It is our hope that students and faculty from all disciplines and programs of study will have a chance to benefit from and contribute to our partnership with the Zoo. It will present rich opportunities for interdisciplinary collaborations.”
The California State University (CSU) Board of Trustees has appointed Richard Yao, Ph.D., to serve as the fourth president of California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI). Yao, who identifies as a Chinese Filipino American,currently serves as interim president of CSUCI, a role he has held since January 2021.
“This is such an exciting time at CSUCI, especially as we approach our 20th year. Our university is primed for growth as we continue to increase graduation rates and confer more high-quality degrees that enrich the lives of the residents and the communities throughout Ventura and Santa Barbara counties” said Yao. “I am so thankful for the dedication and expertise of our faculty and staff, who are continually striving to improve the success of our talented students. I look forward to working collaboratively with our faculty, staff, students, and community partners in leading CSUCI into our third decade.”
The California State University (CSU) Board of Trustees is beginning the search for a new president of California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI) to succeed Erika D. Beck, Ph.D., who became president of California State University, Northridge in January 2021.
The first meeting of the Trustees’ Committee for the Selection of the President will be held in a virtual open forum from noon to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 12. During this time, the committee will outline the search process and the community will be invited to share their preferred attributes of the next president of CSUCI. Please note that campus and community members wishing to speak during the virtual open forum and address the committee are required to register in advance, and the deadline to register is Monday, Oct. 11 at 5 p.m. Confirmed speakers will receive details about how to participate.
California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI) has received a $15 million gift from MacKenzie Scott and her husband Dan Jewett in recognition of the University’s commitment to equity and inclusion, the social mobility of its students, and its overall contribution to the greater good of communities, the region and nation.
“This gift represents the largest one-time gift in the history of our institution, and it could not have come at a more critical time in our history,” said CSUCI Interim President Richard Yao, Ph.D. “The generosity of MacKenzie Scott and Dan Jewett is a testament to the data that reflects the incredible work that our faculty, staff, and administration are doing every day to eliminate equity gaps and increase the social mobility of our students by creating powerful academic and co-curricular programs that support student retention and success. We could not be more grateful for their generosity as we recognize the transformative power that this level of support has for our students and campus.”
California State University (CSU) Chancellor Timothy P. White has appointed Richard Yao, Ph.D., to serve as interim president of California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI). Yao currently serves as CSUCI’s vice president for student affairs. Yao will assume the leadership of the university on January 11, 2021 with the departure of current CSUCI president Dr. Erika D. Beck, who will begin her new role as president of California State University, Northridge. Yao, who identifies as a Chinese Filipino American, becomes the first person of color to lead the campus.
The California State University (CSU) Board of Trustees has appointed Erika D. Beck, Ph.D., to serve as president of California State University, Northridge (CSUN). Beck currently serves as president of California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI).
“From the robust academic programs to inspirational athletic competition to the expansive opportunities for arts and culture, I am inspired by the impact that CSUN has in shaping the face of the San Fernando Valley and beyond,” said Beck. “While it is bittersweet to leave CSU Channel Islands where working together with faculty, staff, students and community we have made significant progress, I am thankful for this opportunity to join the talented CSUN faculty, staff and students to ensure that all Matadors rise.”
Beginning Aug. 1, all California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI) students will have access to a popular campus chatbot named Ekhobot, after the University’s mascot, Ekho the Dolphin.
Ekhobot is a text platform that was designed for new freshmen and transfer students, but the chatbot is now coming to every student’s mobile digital device thanks to a $36,625 grant from CSU Northridge and the Irvine Foundation in support of the “CSU AI Consortium.”
