A report on Topic 8 of the Help Make CSUN Shine Bright initiative, posed in Fall 2016 on the topic of diversity, is now available here.

The summary report of your input to Topic 8 of the Help Make CSUN Shine Bright initiative on diversity is now available at http://www.csun.edu/MakeCSUNShineBrighter/help-make-csun-shine-bright-topic-8-results-diversity. 

Diversity is one of CSUN’s core values and central to our identity as an institution.  To more fully utilize the strength of being such a multifaceted community, earlier this semester, we invited CSUN students, faculty and staff members to share their thoughts on the topic of diversity by responding to the following question:

Strongly anchored in our shared commitment to access and opportunity, CSUN is one of the most diverse campuses in the nation. Last year, to shine a light on the importance of diversity to the academy and learning, and on the potential of our student diversity to serve as a powerful catalyst for educational excellence, President Dianne F. Harrison announced the position of Chief Diversity Officer and the creation of a Commission on Diversity and Diversity Initiatives.

These efforts draw strength and energy from the campus community’s varied points of view. Please assist us to fully capitalize on this diversity and graduate Matadors known for possessing the leadership skills that are needed in an increasingly interconnected, culturally complex, global community.

What are promising campus practices for using diversity to equip our students for 21st century success [e.g., enhancing critical thinking, creativity, and boundary-spanning leadership skills]? How can we create learning environments that take full advantage of CSUN’s unique diversity-related strengths? How can we better celebrate, support and facilitate inclusivity and diversity? 

A report summarizing the responses to this topic are available at the above link. Many thanks to those who responded to our call for comments. You provided compelling insights that will aid us as we work to achieve our diversity goals. 

In spring 2016, Help Make CSUN Shine Bright turned its focus on campus dining and the CSUN community responded in its typically generous fashion. A report summarizing the feedback was summarized here last spring and we are now pleased to provide this update to the topic, available here.

Again, thanks to all of you who contributed to this topic and continue to make this initiative a success.

This semester we seek your input on a topic of importance to higher education – and to society in general: diversity. 

Strongly anchored in our shared commitment to access and opportunity, CSUN is one of the most diverse campuses in the nation. Last year, to shine a light on the importance of diversity to the academy and learning, and on the potential of our student diversity to serve as a powerful catalyst for educational excellence, I announced the position of Chief Diversity Officer and the creation of a Commission on Diversity and Diversity Initiatives.

These efforts draw strength and energy from the campus community’s varied points of view. Please assist us to fully capitalize on this diversity to graduate Matadors known for possessing the leadership skills that are needed in an increasingly interconnected, culturally complex, global community.  

What are promising campus practices for using diversity to equip our students for 21st century success [e.g., enhancing critical thinking, creativity, and boundary-spanning leadership skills]? How can we create learning environments that take full advantage of CSUN’s unique diversity-related strengths? How we can better celebrate, support, and facilitate inclusivity and diversity?

All students, faculty and staff are invited to respond. Click here to submit your thoughts on the webform. (Webform now closed.)

A report on the responses will be posted on this website soon.

The results to Topic 7 of Help Make CSUN Shine Bright is now available here. The report summarizes the feedback received, as well as actions already underway to address some of the comments submitted. 

We are grateful that so many in the CSUN community continue to take the time to share insights and suggestions. 

An update is now available on CSUN’s efforts to address issues raised by the campus community in response to the fall 2015 semester question on parking. 

Since its inception in 2012, the Help Make CSUN Shine Bright program has been a valuable vehicle through which the university administration has heard from the CSUN community on an array of topics important to the campus. This semester, we turn our attention to dining.

CSUN Dining strives to offer a variety of cuisines and healthy options to meet the various dietary needs and preferences of CSUN’s diverse population. CSUN’s dining locations, convenience stores, and Freudian Sip coffee houses provide vegan, vegetarian, organic, nutritious and affordable options in all areas of campus. To make the food purchasing process as convenient as possible, CSUN Dining introduced Tapingo, a mobile app that allows one to place and pay for an order in advance.

Tastes and dietary needs evolve, and CSUN Dining must keep current. (NOTE: This survey is now closed.)

The results to Topic 6 of the Help Make CSUN Shine Bright initiative is now available here. Below is President Dianne F. Harrison's email to the campus community sharing the report:

The Help Make CSUN Shine Bright program continues to serve as a valuable conduit for sharing ideas, opinions and perspectives. Your willingness to provide your thoughts and perspectives reflects your commitment to CSUN. This semester, we asked:

What additional steps can the university take to encourage more students, faculty, and staff to take advantage of mass transit, ridesharing, and alternative forms of transportation?

What can the university do to ensure that students, faculty, staff and campus guests, whose only option is to drive to CSUN, park on campus?

Would you be in favor of a modest increase in parking fees to fund construction of additional parking facilities?

This topic elicited the most responses of any question posed to date. A synopsis of the input is now available on the Help Make CSUN Shine Brighter webpage.

In the spring, we will share information on programs already in place that address your feedback, as well as new initiatives and actions  under consideration to address identified needs.

To the hundreds of students, faculty, staff and neighbors who responded – thank you. As always, you have given us much to consider.

In an email to the campus community, President Harrison invited comments and feedback for a new topic of the Help Make CSUN Shine Bright initiative:

On almost any university campus, parking is a persistent issue and, at times, a source of frustration. Over the past decade, CSUN built the B3, B5 and G3 parking structures, adding 5,000 spaces to support increasing student enrollment. In addition, the university implemented a number of programs and initiatives to keep parking rates as low as possible and to increase transit options for students, faculty and staff. These include 50% permit cost reduction and shuttle service from Lot F10, short term hourly permits in the eastern campus lots, and a variety of alternative travel options, including a transit station with increased MTA bus service and Metrolink shuttle connections, ride share and van pool programs, and increased bike lanes and secure bike compounds.

As the number of commuters coming to campus continues to rise, CSUN strives to provide ample parking capacity and affordable rates, as well as enhance mass transit options for students, faculty, and staff. Equally importantly, CSUN wishes to maintain good relations with our neighbors, who have raised concerns regarding increased CSUN parking on residential streets. It is important to note that CSUN’s parking and transportation programs receive no state funding—all operations, maintenance, and facility construction are funded through campus parking fees.

To balance affordability with the need to provide effective transportation options for the campus community, we invite feedback on the following topics, using the survey form posted here. (NOTE: Survey concluded on Oct. 23, 2015.)

We thank everyone for taking the time to provide valuable feedback.

Following feedback received from the campus community in Fall 2013 on becoming a smoke-free campus, and the subsequent appointment of the Task Force on Becoming a Smoke-Free Campus in 2013-14 which was asked to study your input and explore the issue, President Dianne Harrison announced that CSUN would become smoke-free and tobacco-free beginning Fall 2015. Click here for the full message.

The results for Topic 5 of the Help Make CSUN Shine Bright initiative, on the issue of student success, is now available here.

In Fall 2014, we also sought the advice and counsel of CSUN students, faculty and staff on this issue:

Of CSUN's seven planning priorities, none is more critical than our unrelenting focus on student success. Student success encompasses not only academic excellence, but also student engagement in university life, retention, and persistence to graduation. To assist students in achieving success, the university strives to provide pertinent classes and to deliver an array of support programs and services.

As always, the input has been, and continues to be disseminated to the appropriate administrators and staff for consideration and possible implementation. To those who responded, your frank comments and thoughtful suggestions are appreciated and we thank you.

Of CSUN’s planning priorities, none is more critical than our unrelenting focus on student success. Student success encompasses not only academic excellence, but also student engagement in university life, retention, and persistence to graduation. To assist students in achieving success, the university strives to provide pertinent classes and to deliver an array of support programs and services.  
 
Students – help us to help you. Please give us your suggestions for how we can better support you in your academic careers. What services might help you toward a timely graduation?  How can we better communicate about the resources that are available on campus? How can the university improve processes or services to better facilitate your path to graduation, and make your CSUN years memorable and satisfying? We want to hear all ideas – small to big – addressing all issues – minor to substantive. Please share your experiences, your solutions, and your suggested strategies for making the CSUN experience the best it can be.
 
Faculty and staff – you interact with students in a multitude of ways and you each bring your unique perspective. Let us know about students who have come to you for help in dealing with challenges. How were you able to assist them? What are your suggestions for ensuring the best possible outcomes for CSUN students, and facilitating their progress to timely graduation?

NOTE: This item was closed to comments after October 17, 2014. A report on the results will be posted soon.

A message to the campus community from President Harrison has just been released announcing that the summary of responses to Topic 4: Sustainability is now available. 

As a reminder, Topic 4 posed the following question to the campus community earlier this semester:

As green initiatives multiply, managing those efforts with limited resources becomes increasingly important. What efforts should take priority and what creative ideas do you have for making CSUN shine greener?

The thoughtful feedback received demonstrated a high level of interest and commitment to this issue. Your ideas and suggestions will help to further flesh out our initiatives and shape how we move forward. We’re pleased that you also shared many examples of projects underway affirming the numerous efforts towards a sustainable campus. Suggestions for improving campus sustainability not part of the plan will be considered for inclusion as next year’s action items are prioritized.

Last November, we reported on the feedback results of Topic 3 on whether CSUN should be a smoke-free campus. This feedback included a summary report of the responses and the appointment of the Task Force on Becoming a Smoke-Free Campus, which was charged with considering this important issue (see also the President’s message about the results of the survey and the appointment of the Task Force.)

As a further update on this issue, the Task Force reported that it has begun its work and will meet at least twice a month from February to April 2014 and provide its recommendations to the President's Cabinet in early May. An email address has been created for Task Force, and members of the university community are invited to share their input with the members at .

Input and feedback from the university community, which includes smokers and non-smokers, remains critical—the Task Force is considering the survey results, as well as other forms of input such as emails sent to the above e-mail address from students, faculty, and staff, as it works on developing recommendations, so the continued interest and feedback of the campus community are welcome.