About Us

CSUN Institute for Sustainability

At California State University, Northridge (CSUN), sustainability is more than a goal—it's a shared commitment that unites our entire campus. From innovative research to campus-wide engagement, we’re shaping a sustainable future for both our university community and the broader San Fernando Valley. Guided by our 2023 Road Map to Sustainability, CSUN’s bold initiatives cover ten key areas, bringing together students, faculty, and staff to lead in education, outreach, and operational changes. At CSUN, sustainability means action, innovation, and community impact. In 2025 recently received a gold rating in the AASHE STARS Sustainable Campus Index (SCI) with an impressive score of 80.73, making it the top-ranked campus in the entire California State University system.  The university ranked #1 in Buildings and Grounds, tied for #6 in Research, and #4 among Master’s Institutions, reflecting the collective efforts of students, faculty, and staff to integrate sustainability into every aspect of campus life. CSUN was recently listed on Princeton Review’s 2026 Green Guide to Colleges. We have recently launched a new initiative called “Creating a Sustainable San Fernando Valley” focused on workforce development, local knowledge and empowering communities with data.

Our Mission

Through our platform of education, research, programming, and community integration, the Institute for Sustainability seeks to address our local, regional, and global ecological challenges. Our approach incorporates a broad range of knowledge systems including traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), local ecological knowledge (LEK), and western science to educate the CSUN community and the community it serves. Our mission and staff are committed to advancing environmental and food justice. Without environmental equity, there can be no sustainability.

Our Purpose - Is this accurate?

Consistent with the mission and vision of the university, the purposes of the Institute are to:

  • Promote and support curriculum development and curriculum innovation related to sustainability;
  • Promote and support the educational and professional growth and development of faculty, students, staff and the community in the field of sustainability and serve as an educational resource for them;
  • Support the pursuit of scholarly projects, creative activities, and research in the field of sustainability;
  • Promote and support community-based projects and initiatives in the field of sustainability;
  • Serve as the umbrella organization for university activities focused on sustainability and increase interdisciplinary and cross-functional communication to improve collaboration in this area.
  • Serve as a resource and consultant to the university administration to facilitate campus improvements and obtain funding in areas related to sustainability.
  • Support and aid in the application of sustainability practices in university operations and in coordinating sustainability efforts across campus to reduce resource use.
  • Work with the faculty to seek and obtain funding from private and public agencies in support of sustainability-related projects.
  • Support and aid in university planning in sustainability.
  • Aid in the collection, analysis, and reporting of data related to sustainability including resource use, energy use, carbon emissions, and waste.
  • Aid in the development of a Climate Action Plan for the university and participate in coordination and monitoring of related activities.
  • Aid in reporting and liaison activities associated with the university’s pledge through the Second Nature (formerly American College and University Presidents’ Commitment on Climate Change - ACUPCC).