Seven California State University campuses that have been recognized as Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) will receive more than $35 million from the U.S. Department of Education over the next five years to expand and enhance science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs. The campuses—Bakersfield, Channel Islands, Fullerton, Long Beach, Monterey Bay, Northridge, and Stanislaus—are among the CSU’s 14 HSIs, campuses with an undergraduate Hispanic student enrollment of at least 25 percent.

The federal government designated about $107.4 million this year for the grants—which are given through the Department of Education’s HSI STEM and Articulation Programs. The money is used to support the development of articulation between two and four year institutions and enhance STEM programs at the campuses. More.

Federal Funding Fuels Efficiency at Six CSUs

CSU campuses at Dominguez Hills, Fullerton, Long Beach, Pomona, San Diego and San Francisco are increasing their energy efficiency thanks to $400,000 in federal incentive funding through the Energy Technology Assistance Program (ETAP). The program, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, enabled the campuses to initiate projects such as smart lighting for parking lots and wireless air conditioning controls—many projects that were nearly cancelled due to cuts in state funding. The CSU expects to save more than $200,000 in annual utility costs, adding up to $2 million over the next ten years.

Community Service Kicks Off a New Year

During the first weeks of the fall semester or quarter at CSU, students are not just organizing their dorm rooms or reading the first chapters of their textbooks, they are also serving the community.

This fall, campuses encouraged new students to get involved. Along with the joy of helping others, volunteering provides them with the opportunity to be introduced to the communities they are going to be living in, and a chance to recognize ways to give back. More.

Apply Now for Fall 2012

Students looking to attend a California State University campus in fall 2012 are now able to complete the online application on CSU Mentor. High school seniors and community college transfer students are especially encouraged to apply no later than Nov. 30, 2011. After that date, most CSU campuses will stop accepting applications. In addition, this is the first time that applications are being accepted to CSU’s new doctor of nursing and doctor of physical therapy programs. More.

Google Helps CSU Create Tech-Savvy Teachers

This summer, 39 education faculty members from 19 CSU campuses spent three days at Google headquarters in Mountain View, Calif. for the company’s inaugural Faculty Institute. The purpose of the gathering was to ensure our teachers’ teachers have the support they need to help educators adjust to a changing K-12 landscape—and show them the most effective and useful digital tools for the classroom.

Google selected the participants via a rigorous nomination and application process. Nearly all were CSU faculty who teach future high school science and math teachers.

Google says the intent to focus on CSU faculty was due to the system’s substantial impact in teacher preparation. The CSU’s programs teach about 60 percent of California's teachers that are credentialed every year—or 10 percent of all U.S. K-12 teachers receiving credentials annually. More.