CSU/CI’s Santa Cruz Village Named Dorm Of Distinction In National Publication

Camarillo, CA - Santa Cruz Village, a student housing complex at California State University Channel Islands, has been awarded as one of University Business Magazine’s “Dorms of Distinction,” and is featured in the August edition of the magazine.

CSU/CI’s Santa Cruz Village, a 460-bed student housing complex, received the top honor in the Public Institution category for its ability to meet the needs of today’s students by making students feel at home; fostering a sense of community through interior and/or exterior spaces; helping keep students and their belongings safe; and incorporating green elements in an aesthetically pleasing way.

Earning recognition for Santa Cruz Village in a national publication is an honor. The design team worked hard to deliver an outstanding student housing facility, and seeing how positively the students have responded to the Village—accepting it as their home and using it to its fullest—is gratifying,” said Sarah Hawkins, Assistant Director of Housing and Residential Education at CSU/CI.

Nominations for the “Dorms of Distinction” were accepted for on-campus and off-campus student residences for two- and four-year colleges and institutions. Runners up to CSU/CI’s Santa Cruz Village were Indiana University South Bend River Crossing Apartments and University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazer Hall.

University Business Magazine noted Santa Cruz Village’s community areas as one its most outstanding attributes. The community areas function as a way to draw students out of their rooms and into shared spaces. Hawkins said these spaces were created to assist in the expression of different aspects of a student’s personality. CSU/CI staff organizes events specifically tailored for these areas. For example, residents can participate in yoga and Pilates classes in the dance studio; they can practice speeches for classes in the communication lab, record their presentation, and receive feedback from professors and peers.

These spaces are integral to the housing staff’s interaction with students and the support of the student’s academic success,” Hawkins said.

Santa Cruz Village opened to students in fall 2007.

For an in-depth look at all “Dorms of Distinction” winners and runner-ups, check out the August issue of University Business Magazine or visit www.universitybusiness.com. The online version of the feature includes additional highlights from other entries, as well.

For media inquiries about Santa Cruz Village contact Ceal Potts, Communication Specialist at CSU/CI, 805-437-8940 or cecilia.potts@csuci.edu.