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 97^th in the nation 
  • 2020:  Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS):  Gold Rating 
  • 2019:  Sierra Club Cool Schools Ranking:  CSUSM Ranks 211^th 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