
Awards, Grants, and Recognition
CSUSM continues to be a leader in sustainability in California and nationally! We have received awards and recognition for our academic programs, operations, co-curricular efforts, and overall sustainability work. These awards and recognition are a testament to the hard work and dedication our students, staff, and faculty contribute towards ensuring a more just and sustainable world.
- Awards
- 2021: CSUSM University Library Award Winner: Melissa Reyes (Environmental Justice Intern) wins CSUSM University Library Award for her research in “Social Justice Through Sustainability: Acknowledging Students of Environmentally Discriminated Areas Through Sustainable Efforts on Campus”
- 2020: California Higher Education Sustainability Conference Best Practice Award for Social Equity and Justice: Sustainable Menstruation: Making Periods Zero Waste and Accessible to All
- 2019-2020: CSUSM President’s Student Champion Award for Inclusive Excellence and Diversity: Megan Hammerschmidt (Graduated 2020), Environmental Justice Intern
- 2019: California Higher Education Sustainability Conference Best Practice Award for Social Equity and Justice: Environmental Justice Internship Program
- 2018-2019: CSUSM President’s Award for Inclusive Excellence and Diversity: Juliana Goodlaw-Morris, Sustainability Manager
- 2018: EMIES, San Diego Food System Alliance- Un Wasted Food Award
- 2016: National Campus Safety, Health and Environmental Management Association: Innovation of Merit: Implementation of our Ingenium Emerald Energy Sustainability Program
- 2016: California Higher Education Best Practice Award: Sustainability In Academics- Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences: Sustainability Experienced Through Interactive Design, Professor Lucy H.G. Solomon
- 2014: California Higher Education Sustainability Conference Best Practice Award: Energy Retrofit Project
- 2014: California Higher Education Sustainability Conference Best Practice Award: Water Conservation
- 2014: California Higher Education Sustainability Conference Best Practice Award: Waste Diversion
- 2014: California Higher Education Sustainability Conference Best Practice Award in Academics: Community Ethnobotany Garden, Professor Bonnie Bade
- 2013: Recyclemania: National Winner: Per Capita Classic
- 2011: Recyclemania: Grand Champion
- 2010: San Diego Excellence in Energy (SANDEE) Award: Achievement in Energy by a Government or Institutional Agency Award
- 2010: Recyclemania: Grand Champion
- 2009: Recyclemania: Grand Champion
- 2008: Flex Your Power Award: Demand Response Category: Reducing energy and decreasing carbon emissions in California
- 2007: Recyclemania: Grand Champion
- 2006: Recyclemania: Grand Champion
- 2005: Recyclemania: National Winner: Recycling Rate Category
- Grants and Donations
2021: $25,000 grant for our “Growing Future Change Makers: Restorative Pathways for Diverse Students and the Planet”- Collaborative grant between Professor Lucy H.G. Solomon, Ariel Stevenson (OIE) and Juliana Goodlaw-Morris (SHS)
2021: $1,015 for Giving Day Donations
2020: $1,455 for Giving Day Donations
2018: $3,000 grant for our Sustainable Food Project Garden fencing project through the CSU Basic Needs Grant- In collaboration with Professors Greig Guthey and Gabriel Valle
2018: $17,000 grant for Bringing the Stormwater Management Program to Live in a Classroom Environment – In collaboration with Dr. Karno Ng in the Chemistry Department
2016: $25,000 grant titled Data Visualization: Connecting Students to the Campus and Their Environment with Art and Technology – in collaboration with School of Arts, Professor Lucy H.G. Solomon
2015: $20,000 grant titled Raising a Mixed-Use Greenhouse: Connecting Students, Facilities, Courses and Research in collaboration with Dr. Tracey Brown in the Biology department.
2015: $10,000 grant titled Developing and Reporting Sustainable University Business Practices Course Redesign- in collaboration with College of Business Administration (COBA) faculty member, Dr. Catalin Ratiu
- Recognition
- 2021: Sierra Club Cool Schools Ranking: CSUSM Ranks 97th in the nation
- 2020: Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS): Gold Rating
- 2019: Sierra Club Cool Schools Ranking: CSUSM Ranks 211th in the nation
- 2017: Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS): Silver Rating
- United States Green Building Council: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
(LEED) Sustainable Buildings
LEED Gold Buildings:
- Public Safety Building
- University Student Union
- Student Health and Counseling
LEED Silver Buildings:
- Social and Behavioral Sciences Building
- Sports Center