2008
Green Core team is formed
The Institute for Sustainability is established
2009
Styrofoam is removed from all CSUN dining facilities
The Institute hosts the first Campus Sustainability Day and Water Day
2010
The Institute establishes Food Garden and Composting Program
CSUN begins offering Minor in Sustainability
The Institute hosts first annual Orange Pick with Food Forward
2011
AS Recycling recycle 13,097 lbs of e-waste
Orange Pick yields 17,000 lbs of oranges for donation
The Institute works with students to charter CSUN Bicycle Collective
2012
CSUN students map over 3,800 trees on campus for carbon sequestration project
Sustainable Office Program is established
Orange Pick yields 18,000 lbs of oranges for donation
2013
President Harrison signs The American College & University President’s Climate Commitment
CSUN develops a 10-year Sustainability Plan
The Institute expands compost program to all CSUN Dining locations
2014
Composting program converts 38,000 lbs of kitchen scraps into 10,000 lbs of soil at the CSUN Food Garden
Orange Pick yields 18,554 lbs of oranges for donation
2015
CSUN receives the U.S. EPA Food Recovery Challenge Certificate of Achievement for the compost program
CSUN is designated a Tree Campus USA by the Arbor Day Foundation
Institute receives the Innovative Waste Reduction Award for composting program at the California Higher Education Sustainability Conference (CHESC)
2016
CSUN receives a Gold Rating for STARS; the highest rating in the CSU system at the time
CSUN is named Sierra Club Cool School
CSUN receives Climate Leadership Award from Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU)
Orange Pick yields 12,758 lbs of oranges for donation
Composting program converts 50,000 lbs of kitchen scraps into 12,000 lbs of soil at the CSUN Food Garden
President Harrison signs Second Nature Climate Commitment, vowing to be carbon neutral by 2040
The Institute plants 55 trees at Vaughn Elementary
2017
CSUN receives Best Practice Award for Water Efficiency projects, saving 55 million gallons of water on campus
CSUN receives Best Practice Award for the Metro U-Pass Program
The Net Zero Energy Sustainability Center opened
Annual Orange Pick yields 5,000 lbs of oranges for donation and another 600 lbs is donated during Matador Day of Service
The Institute collaborates with Physical Plant Management (PPM) and Engineering Students to build 8 Solar Charging Trees
PPM begins composting all landscape and lawn clippings on campus
2018
The Institute celebrates 10 years!
CSUN receives 4 Best Practice Awards for the Sustainability Center, Sustainability Center Composting Toilets, Sustainable Food Systems and LimeBike Bikeshare Program
Institute for Sustainability receives recognition from Unified We Serve for campus partnership
The Institute receives Award of Merit from Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG)
Institute receives Food Forward Fruitantrophist Award for donating over 148,000 lbs of oranges over the past 8 years
