About Us
The University Student Union (USU) at California State University, Northridge is a student centered non-profit organization that works to expand the college experience through various programs, services, employment, and involvement opportunities.
The USU first opened its doors in 1973 and is located on East University Drive. The facility was designed to enhance the total university experience through volunteer and job opportunities, events, and various services such as food, study areas, computer labs, and TV lounges.
The USU is committed to providing inclusion, diversity and personal growth to students, as well as food, study areas, computer labs, TV lounges, events and entertainment.
Completed in Fall 2006, the USU underwent a $15 million renovation that included the new Sol Center and various upgrades throughout the facilities. In Spring 2012, the USU opened the 138,000 square foot Student Recreation Center facility for exercise and leisure activity that promotes lifelong health and wellness.
Mission
The University Student Union, as the heart of campus, uplifts and empowers students to achieve educational, personal and professional goals by providing leadership development, meaningful employment, and innovative programs, services and facilities. We promote equity, inclusion and well-being, while encouraging social justice advocacy to help Matadors feel heard, respected and connected to CSUN.
Values
- Accountability
- Collaboration
- Communication
- Creativity
- Fun
- Integrity
- Learning
- Respect
- Service
Land Acknowledgement
California State University, Northridge (CSUN) and the University Student Union (USU) recognize and acknowledge the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians, the First People of this ancestral and unceded land base of the village of Sesevenga that is occupied by our institution. We honor their Elders, past, present, and future. We recognize that the Fernandeño Tataviam are still here, and are committed to uplifting their stories, culture, and community. Upholding CSUN’s value to respect all people and by our alliances with local communities, we have a responsibility to acknowledge and make visible the University’s relationship with the Tribe. By offering this Land Acknowledgement, we affirm their sovereignty and will work to hold the campus community accountable to the needs of American Indian peoples in the region.
Business, Operational Practices and Facilities
Support the design, development and remodel of the USU facilities to develop a wellness center that uses an integrated holistic approach to developing students’ commitment to well-being that positively impacts impediments to academic success.
Support and develop additional usable programmatic spaces and services in the USU that assist students in connection to the campus community.
Examine the feasibility of and need to renovate the interior of Building C to add meeting space, offices, more effective storage and to maximize available usable space. Adding meeting rooms will effectively increase the total inventory of programmable rooms allowing the USU to increase revenues needed to offset future fee increases, and to be able to create a sustainable, state-of-the-art conference and meeting center.
Enrollment Management, Retention and Advocacy
Examine, plan and publish corporate-wide assessments as part of the creation of a culture of evidence that strategically plans assessments, establishes transparency for stakeholders, and produces evidence that specific USU programs, services, and/or facilities enhance students’ capacity for personal achievement.
Conduct the Student Affairs Program review process for the USU in order to assess compliance with the Council for the Advancement of Standards (CAS) and continually improve USU operations, services and programs.
Develop a comprehensive campus recreation program that contributes to the increase of fitness levels, health and overall wellness of the campus community and contributes to student persistence to graduation.
Maximize Financial Resources
Review the long-term financial plan to determine whether there are sufficient net assets to provide funding for current operations and future initiatives.
Determine the best uses of the Satellite Student Union in order to maximize use of organizational financial resources.
Staff Development and Well-Being
Implement an ongoing employee training and development program for supervisors that enhances skills and increases positive performance.
Support the Board of Directors student representatives and the USU student employees in discovering, strengthening and using their natural talents via the StrengthsQuest® program in order to help them achieve their educational goals.
Technology Advancement
Examine the need for an Innovative Technology Lounge in the former Computer Lab space to assist students in achieving their educational goals by providing the appropriate environment and technology.
Create an efficient recruitment and application tracking system that will streamline the manual-based recruitment process to an electronic-based recruitment process.
Auxiliary Organizations Association (AOA)
The members that make up the Auxiliary Organizations Association (AOA) are the auxiliaries of the 23 campuses in the California State University (CSU) system. Typically these organizations include foundations that manage contracts and grants or gifts to the university, enterprise corporations that run bookstores and food services, associated student organizations and student unions, and sometimes athletic or housing corporations.
The mission of the AOA is to facilitate the role of individual auxiliaries on their respective campuses by providing the auxiliaries with the resources and services that enable them to be more effective.
Association of College Unions International (ACUI)
The Association of College Unions International (ACUI) brings together college union and activities professionals from nearly 1,000 schools worldwide. It is a not-for-profit educational organization that is dedicated to enhancing campus life through programs, services and publications. ACUI members work at and attend urban and rural campuses, in two-year and four-year institutions, in large universities and small colleges. Members include students and administrators whose mission is to build campus community. ACUI enriches them all through education, advocacy, and the delivery of services.
National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA)
National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) is made up of and supports leaders in collegiate recreation. As college and university students develop into future leaders, NIRSA members support their learning and growth by fostering lifelong habits of wellbeing. Leadership, teamwork, dedication and respect are among the many skills exercised by inclusive competition, fitness and recreation.
NASPA
NASPA is the leading association for the advancement, health, and sustainability of the student affairs profession. NASPA serves a full range of professionals who provide programs, experiences, and services that cultivate student learning and success in concert with the mission of our colleges and universities. Established in 1918 and founded in 1919, NASPA is comprised of 13,000 members in all 50 states, 25 countries, and 8 U.S. Territories.
The mission of NASPA is to be the principal source of leadership, scholarship, professional development, and advocacy for student affairs.
American College Personnel Association (ACPA)
American College Personnel Association (ACPA) — headquartered in Washington, D.C. at the National Center for Higher Education, is the leading comprehensive student affairs association that advances student affairs and engages students for a lifetime of learning and discovery.
ACPA supports and fosters college student learning through the generation and dissemination of knowledge, which informs policies, practices and programs for student affairs professionals and the higher education community.