Tag: CSU Channel Islands

Campus and community welcome to audition for CSUCI’s first Virtual Choir

Few can forget the Italians perched on windowsills serenading one another while quarantined with the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is with that same spirit of resilience that the CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Chorus is inviting the campus and the community to audition for its first ever virtual chorus. 

“Our voices must sing and the song must endure and no pandemic can stop that,” said Dean Butler, CSUCI alumnus, choir member and Channel Islands Choral Association (CICA) president. “Music throughout history has been the universal expression of healing, love, hope and peace.”

National Science Foundation grant will enable CSUCI anthropologist to research more than 10,000 years of human history on the Channel Islands

CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Professor of Anthropology Jennifer Perry, Ph.D., has been awarded $57,806 from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to expand her research into those who lived on California’s Channel Islands for the last 10,000+ years.

“We’re looking at human-environment interactions through time, trying to understand how people lived on the Channel Islands,” Perry explained. “What we are looking at are archaeological sites along the channel that have evidence of human occupation over the past 10,000 years or more. From plants and animals and artifacts, we can look at change through time, such as changes in climate, and how people responded to that change.”

CSUCI graduate heads to Ireland as a Fulbright Scholar

CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Applied Physics and Mathematics double major Carmen Stepek will be pursing her doctorate in neuro-physics on the Emerald Isle as a Fulbright scholar.

The Class of 2020 graduate will attend the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) under the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.

CSUCI awarded Bee Campus USA designation for the second time in a row

While most of the campus operates in cyberspace, the roughly 24 colonies at CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI)’s bee yard are thriving, thanks in part to two 2019 graduates who suit up and show up to care for the bees.

CSUCI’s pollinator-friendly campus, bee education, outreach and student involvement along with a number of other factors have earned CSUCI a Bee Campus USA designation for a second year in a row. CSUCI is one of 103 Bee Campus USAs across the nation.

CSUCI History students record personal stories during a pandemic in “plague journals”

“Neither the life of an individual nor the history of a society can be understood without understanding both” —C. Wright Mills, American Sociologist CAMARILLO — “During that first two weeks I walked around in circles uncertain of what to do…

CSUCI student’s letter to Lin-Manuel Miranda will be shared on Apple TV’s “Dear…” series

A letter she wrote to “Hamilton” and “In The Heights” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda landed CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Performing Arts major Melina Ortega a place in Apple TV’s “Dear…,” which premieres Friday, June 5.

Emmy Award-winning filmmaker R.J. Cutler created the 10-part docu-series to tell the stories of some of America’s pop culture icons through the eyes of those inspired by them.

CSUCI Nursing program’s virtual labs awarded $10,000 Minigrant

When CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) went virtual in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Nursing program had one of the biggest challenges on campus. The faculty needed to create virtual clinical labs for its students.

“Nursing programs require a certain number of hours of clinical experience in order to meet state requirements,” said Associate Professor of Nursing Jaime Hannans, Ph.D., R.N., C.N.E. “We have clinical courses in which students engage in patient-to-student experiences at a hospital, or other healthcare facility. We had to rethink how to deliver hand-on educational experiences virtually.”

California State Student Association honors CSUCI faculty for helping to save $3.8 million in textbook costs for students

The Cal State Student Association (CSSA) has awarded CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Associate Professor of Communication Jacob Jenkins, Ph.D., the 2020 California State University Faculty Innovation & Leadership Award.

CSUCI prepares for pandemic’s disproportionate impact on Latinx community

Lessons from the Great Recession suggest that as we emerge from the COVID-19 crisis, the rules of the marketplace will have changed, and the impact will fall disproportionately on the Latinx community.

Circumstances many Latinx students faced when the pandemic hit may discourage them from staying in school when in fact, getting that college degree has never been more important.

Philanthropists with deep roots in Ventura County to be recognized with honorary doctorates by CSUCI

Philanthropy is a multi-generational tradition for Esther Wachtell of Ojai and Irene Pinkard, Ed.D., of Oxnard.

In recognition of their commitment to enhancing the culture, environment and educational opportunities in the Ventura/Santa Barbara County region, CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) will recognize Pinkard and Wachtell with honorary doctorates during CSUCI’s virtual commencement celebration to be held on Saturday, May 23 at 11 a.m.

CSUCI Chemistry and Nursing students get more opportunity for hands-on experience with two separate grants

Selected Nursing students and two outstanding CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Chemistry students will benefit from grants awarded to Associate Professor of Chemistry Ahmed Awad, Ph.D. and Assistant Professor of Nursing Charlene Niemi, R.N., Ph.D.

CSUCI to honor Class of 2020 with virtual celebration

CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) will salute the Class of 2020 with a livestream celebration beginning at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 23.

The celebration is being held on the same day the students were to graduate and President Erika D. Beck, Ph.D. stressed that this will not replace the in-person graduation, which had to be postponed because of the COVID-19 crisis.

CSUCI study seeks surfer input on beach closures

State and local efforts to stem the tide of the COVID-19 pandemic have left many American coast dwellers without beach access and surfers landlocked.

CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Assistant Professor of Environmental Science & Resource Management Dan Reineman, Ph.D., is investigating the social ramifications of beach and ocean access restrictions across the state of California and the nation by launching a nationwide survey aimed at the surfing community.

Reineman is asking surfers across the nation to participate in a survey: www.coastography.org/SADsurvey and share it with their surfing friends.

CSU Channel Islands OLLI Classes Go Virtual

CAMARILLO — When the COVID-19 pandemic forced CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) to implement distance learning, staff running the University’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) had to rethink how to offer programming through the rest of the spring semester. Aimed at adults 50…

CSUCI named Tree Campus for 8th year in a row

CAMARILLO — The Arbor Day Foundation has given CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) 2019 Tree Campus USA recognition for the 8th year in a row. The designation as a Tree Campus is in honor of the University’s commitment to managing and maintaining…

Working remotely CSUCI pulls together to print 3-D protective face shields

CSU Channel Islands may be operating in a virtual environment right now, but CSUCI faculty, staff and students from several different academic programs have mobilized and fired up 3-D printers to print badly-needed protective face shields.

So far, 51 printers are humming away in University members’ garages, kitchens, bedrooms and dens across the region in an effort to help medical personnel protect themselves as they treat patients diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus.

CSUCI Nursing students assist VCPH during COVID-19 crisis

CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Nursing senior Lilian Kozma remembers walking into the call center at Ventura County Public Health (VCPH) on March 16, as more and more citizens were beginning to react to the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic.…

CSU Channel Islands — Observing Cesar Chavez Day virtually

CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands’ (CSUCI) Center for Community Engagement (CCE) has a tradition of sending volunteers to do meaningful community service on Cesar Chavez Day, which this year falls on March 31. In this period of social distancing, Director of…

CSUCI will postpone 2020 Commencement

CAMARILLO — With the health and well-being of students and employees as the University’s highest priority, CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) will postpone the May 23rd Commencement ceremony to another date later in the calendar year. “I am sorely disappointed that we…

CSUCI takes further steps toward social distancing on campus

CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) is accelerating efforts to keep students, staff, and faculty safe from coronavirus (COVID-19) by taking further steps to create social distance. Although there have been zero presumptive or confirmed cases of COVID-19 within the CSUCI…

CSUCI to transition to virtual instruction

CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) has announced that it will begin to transition to virtual instruction following its spring break. The campus continues to remain safe and there are zero presumptive and no confirmed cases of COVID-19 on or related…

Diplomacy earns CSUCI students awards at a Model United Nations competition

CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) students have once again distinguished themselves with their diplomacy at the regional Model United Nations (MUN) conference. The 16 CSUCI students who traveled to Portland last month to compete in the Northwest Model United Nations…

CSUCI alumna and former mentor’s sand crab research raise more red flags on microplastics

CAMARILLO — Research conducted by CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) 2016 graduate Dorothy Horn and her mentor, Assistant Professor of Environmental Science & Resource Management (ESRM) Clare Steele, Ph.D. showed microplastics in sand crabs on the California coast. The next phase of…

CSUCI Nursing program gets high marks again in two separate rankings

CAMARILLO— CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI)’s Nursing program is once again making a strong showing in state and nationwide rankings. RegisteredNursing.Org ranked CSUCI’s Nursing program 11th for registered nursing students out of the 126 programs in the state. On a national…

CSUCI seeks volunteers willing to surf for science

CAMARILLO — Will surf for science. If that describes you, CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) has just the project for you and your surfboard (bodysurfers also welcome). Assistant Professor of Environmental Science & Resource Management, Dan Reineman, Ph.D., and two of his…

Feb. 11 — CSUCI welcomes Lunar New Year with a celebration of cultures from the other side of the world

CAMARILLO — The Chinese Year of the Rat should be a year of success and abundance, according to CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) History Lecturer P. Scott Corbett, Ph.D., who has taught in China and teaches Chinese history. “It’s supposed to be…

March 5 — State of the University address will detail major campus construction projects

CAMARILLO — Construction is already underway at CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) and several more major projects are planned as the campus looks toward its largest capital improvement projects to date. President Erika D. Beck, Ph.D., will discuss the multi-million dollar…

March 7 — CSUCI Science Carnival trots out spooky science for its Halloween in March theme

CAMARILLO — Halloween is coming—in March! There will be plenty of “spooky science” at the 11th Annual CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Science Carnival set for Saturday, March 7 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Rio Vista Middle School at 3050…

Through March 14 — Young woman gets to know her dead sister as they battle dragons together in CSUCI’s ‘She Kills Monsters’

CAMARILLO — “Dungeons and Dragons” plays a starring role in the CSU Channel Islands’ (CSUCI) spring production: “She Kills Monsters.” Through March 14, “She Kills Monsters” is the story of sisters Agnes and Tilly and how Agnes gets to know her…

CSUCI to offer cloud computing course

CAMARILLO — The next generation of computer careers is riding on a cloud. Workers skilled at cloud computing are increasingly in demand at industry giants like Netflix, Amazon and Google. Fourteen percent of all jobs in all areas require cloud skills,…

National Weather Service recognizes CSUCI as ‘StormReady’

CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands’ (CSUCI) efforts to prepare the campus for fire, flood or windstorms have earned the University a “StormReady” designation from the National Weather Service (NWS). CSUCI is one of just three campuses in the CSU system to…

CSUCI Science Carnival postponed until 2020

CAMARILLO  — The annual CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Science Carnival scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 2 has been postponed until 2020 due to the fires and air quality.   “With the safety of our local community, students and volunteers in mind and those…

CSUCI Student earns prestigious Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Scholarship

CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Assistant Professor of Political Science Matthew Mendez, Ph.D., was so impressed with Political Science major Izamar Narvaez’s first research paper, he assumed she had done this sort of assignment before. She had not. Her parents…

CSUCI Chemistry and Psychology double major receives CSU Trustees’ Award

CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Chemistry and Psychology double major Tanay Pattani has been awarded the prestigious CSU Trustee’s Award for Outstanding Achievement. Pattani and his family migrated to the United States from India when he was 13 years old.…

CSUCI Receives NSF Grant to Study Ethics in Research

CAMARILLO — Who do engineering and physics researchers turn to when they have an on-the-job ethical dilemma and why? CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Assistant Professor of Communication Megan Kenny Feister, Ph.D., was recently awarded a $398,510 National Science Foundation Grant…

CSUCI Economics Professor Miguel Delgado Helleseter Appointed to Housing Board

CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Assistant Professor of Economics Miguel Delgado Helleseter, Ph.D. has been appointed to the board of Housing Opportunities Made Easier (HOME). HOME addresses the need for balance between jobs and housing in Ventura County and works…

Excelencia in Education names two CSUCI initiatives as Examples of Excelencia Programs to Watch

CAMARILLO — After becoming the only university in California to receive the 2019 Seal of Excelencia from Washington D.C.-based Excelencia in Education, CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) has also had two of its initiatives named as “Examples of Excelencia Programs to Watch.”…

CSUCI Rises in U.S. News Rankings

CAMARILLO — US News & World Report has once again named CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) among the best undergraduate universities in the western United States. In the U.S. News annual Best Colleges report, CSUCI was 18th among Top Public Schools in…

Washington Monthly ranks CSUCI among top 25 “Best Bang for Your Buck” Colleges in the West

CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) has been named in the Top 25 “Best Bang for Your Buck” Colleges in the West in the annual college guide published by Washington Monthly. Washington Monthly ranked CSUCI No. 22 on the 2019 list,…

Oct. 23 — Local businesses and entrepreneurs can learn more about the B Corp certification at CSUCI Roundtable

CAMARILLO — With millennials populating the work force in greater numbers, corporate America is realizing that the “maximize profits” business model may need an overhaul. Values held by the next generation of workers may be part of why there is…

Nov. 2 — Slime, goo, flames and screaming Gummi bears bring out the silly side of science at CSUCI’s Science Carnival

CAMARILLO — Children in pre-K through 8th grade can don white scientist coats and get behind the scenes at the CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) annual Science Carnival set for Saturday, Nov. 2 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Rio Vista Middle…

Nov. 9 — CSUCI to honor International Women’s Entrepreneurship Day with on campus panel

CAMARILLO — Local female entrepreneurs who have shaped a career as a zero-waste pioneer, a business guru and a lemonade virtuoso will give a panel discussion from 12 to 1:30 p.m. in CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI)’s Petit Salon on Tuesday November…

Dec. 2 — CSUCI’s Choir will perform ‘A Light in the Darkness’ winter concert

CAMARILLO — The CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Choir will usher in the holiday season for the public on Monday, Dec.2 with this year’s winter concert, “A Light in the Darkness: Voices of Hope, Peace, Love and Comfort.” The collection of sacred…

California State University recognizes CSUCI English professor for innovative practices

CAMARILLO — “Am I giving too many As? Too many Cs?” “Stress is a four-letter word” and “How I learned to stop worrying and love student writing,” were among the subjects covered by a unique faculty project created by CSU Channel…