California State University Channel Islands - Overview

California State University Channel Islands, located in Camarillo, California, is a student-centered, four-year, public university known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural, and international perspectives and its emphasis on experiential and service learning.

CSUCI Planning began in 1965 when then State Senator Robert J. Lagomarsino co-authored Senate Bill 288 calling for establishment of a four-year public college in Ventura County. Thirty-three years later, in 1998, an Initial Planning Team arrived on the property to build local support for the University and to start renovations to the existing buildings.

On Aug. 16, 2002, CSUCI opened to upper division transfer students and in fall 2003 accepted its first freshman class Channel Island's strong academic programs focus on liberal studies, sciences, business, teaching credentials and innovative master's degrees such as the M.S. in Bioinformatics. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by stellar faculty research.

The University promotes partnerships with the community and works to build pathways to college for Ventura County residents. Channel Islands is a responsible citizen of the region and actively pursues sustainable and energy efficient practices. CSUCI 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, CSUCI graduated its inaugural freshman class and on the same day received its initial accreditation for seven years, the maximum period allowed by the WASC.

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CSUCI Mission Statement

At CI, everything connects to our mission and our “Four Pillars: International, Integrative, Multicultural, Community engagement.

Placing students at the center of the educational experience, California State University Channel Islands provides undergraduate and graduate education that facilitates learning within and across disciplines through integrative approaches, emphasizes experiential and service learning, and graduates students with multicultural and international perspectives.

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Location & Facilities

CSUCI is located in Camarillo. Camarillo is midway between Santa Barbara and Los Angeles and just 25 miles from Malibu.. CSUCI is located at latitude 34.162N, longitude 119.043W. The campus is 833 acres. In 2007, the campus grew by 153 acres through a land exchange. The recently acquired land will be used for a new entry roadway for campus, which is estimated to be completed by summer 2010. The new entry roadway will be accessed from Lewis Road. Eventually there will be surface parking lots developed with the capacity of approximately 5,000 parking spaces that will be accessible from the new entry roadway. Bicycle lanes also will be part of the new roadway. Along with surface parking, the University plans to construct playing fields on the 153-acre parcel. The timeline for completion of the playing fields has not yet been determined.