This is an archive of the 2014-2015 University Catalog.
To access the most recent version, please visit catalog.csun.edu.

This is an archive of the 2014-2015 University Catalog.
To access the most recent version, please visit catalog.csun.edu.

Student Outreach and Recruitment Services (SOARS)

Student Outreach and Recruitment Services provides outreach, recruitment and informational services to high school and community college students. Services include the provision of general campus information, recruitment visits to schools, classroom presentations, campus tours, admissions and pre-enrollment advisement aimed at prospective undergraduate students. Units involved in the coordination and implementation of these student services include: Outreach/Application Generation Services, Yield and Special Programs, Student Services Center Information Desk, the University Testing Center, Educational Talent Search, Upward Bound and Student Marketing and Communications. Moreover, Student Outreach and Recruitment administers pre-collegiate programs for middle and high school students, elementary school children and parents. Community Services are offered to agencies, business and industry enterprises. Outreach and Recruitment coordinates Universitywide admissions and pre-enrollment activities to include: CSUN Days at selected community colleges, Explore Northridge, College: Making It Happen family conference and Honors Day for Juniors.

Campus Tours

  • Coordinator: Sasha Martinez
  • Phone: (818) 677-2879
  • Tour reservations email: tours@csun.edu

Guided tours of the campus are provided by University Ambassadors to individuals and groups on Monday through Friday at various times. Saturday tours are offered on selected Saturdays at 11 a.m. All tours require a reservation, except self-guided tours. For tour reservations, please call or email us.

Admissions and Records

The Office of Admissions and Records, an operational support unit in the Division of Academic Affairs, promotes student success through services that begin with the application to Cal State Northridge and culminate with graduation. Our services encompass domestic and international coursework evaluation and eligible student admission. During their studies, we help students interpret university policies pertaining to enrollment, answer questions, provide degree planning tools, maintain student records, and verify enrollment and GPA. As graduation nears, we assist students with applying for their bachelor’s degree, offer guidance to meet all degree requirements, and verify completion of those requirements. We use technology-based processes and quality control to implement CSU and campus policies that impact students’ educational experiences, including articulation and accreditation. In this role, Admissions and Records acts as a catalyst between instruction and students, preserving established academic standards while assisting students in the pursuit of their degree goals.

Financial Aid and Scholarship Department

Office Hours:

  • 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday & Thursday
  • 10 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
  • 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Friday

The Financial Aid and Scholarship Department provides financial assistance and guidance to support student access and success. Financial aid awards and services are not based on race, color, national origin, age, gender, marital status, religion, sexual orientation or disability.

CSUN has four major types of financial aid available to students and their families: grants, work-study, loans and scholarships. Most financial aid is funded by the federal government, with the state government, the institution and private donors providing the balance.

  1. Federal and State Grants are need-based funds that do not need to be repaid.
  2. Federal Work-Study funds are need-based and must be earned through authorized work experience.
  3. Federal Loans are need-based and non-need-based and must be repaid upon leaving the University or dropping below half-time enrollment. An online loan entrance counseling session and a Master Promissory Note are required for all new borrowers. Loan exit counseling is required for all students who are graduating or leave school (including withdrawing from all classes).
  4. State aid and Institutional aid are need-based and students apply through the FAFSA or California Dream (AB540 students) application process. Cal Grants and State University Grants assist students with tuition/fee payment. The Middle Class Scholarship can be used to pay tuition fees, or other educationally related expenses.
  5. Most scholarships are need-based, although a limited number of merit-based scholarships are available. Scholarships require separate application and are awarded competitively. In most cases they do not require repayment. Scholarship information and applications can be found at: www.csun.edu/financialaid/scholarships.

To apply for Financial Aid, complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) online at: www.fafsa.gov or a California Dream application at www.csac.ca.gov/dream_act.asp. The Title IV school code for CSU-Northridge is 001153. Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the CA Dream application no earlier than January 1 and no later than March 2 for priority consideration to receive aid in the following academic year. These applications are used to determine your eligibility for all federal, state, and institutional funds. Submit all additional forms requested by the Financial Aid and Scholarship Department as soon as possible. Many funds are all awarded before the school year begins. More information is available at www.csun.edu/financialaid.

If you are unsure whether your file is complete, use the MyNorthridge Portal to check to see if additional documents are being requested. Please keep your contact information updated on the portal to ensure receipt of important notices. Please check your CSUN email regularly for any important communications. You must inform our office of any changes in housing plans or enrollment status.

Financial aid applicants are expected to: know application deadlines and to apply early; respond immediately to requests for documents; read all financial aid correspondence and emails carefully and promptly; keep copies of all forms submitted and create a special file for Financial Aid documents.

Cal State Northridge offers Bookstore Debit Card Loans for purchasing books and supplies in the Matador Bookstore. Applications are available at the Financial Aid and Scholarship Department window in Bayramian Hall or online at www.csun.edu/financialaid/bookstore-debit-card-loan. The application period typically begins two weeks prior to the start of the semester. Refer to the financial aid website for exact application dates and deadlines.

Most students are eligible for some financial funding. For more information about financing your education, refer to the Financial Aid website.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

An annual review of progress toward an eligible degree or certificate is required by federal, state and institutional rules as one condition for determining student financial aid eligibility. Your academic progress will be reviewed in several areas: units attempted versus units earned, academic disqualification and maximum units to complete a degree. If you fail to meet satisfactory academic progress in any of these areas, you will be ineligible for financial aid funding and your aid will be canceled. You may be able to restore your aid if there are qualified extenuating circumstances for an appeal. The Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy is available online at www.csun.edu/sites/default/files/425-40.pdf.

Enrollment Adjustments for Financial Aid Recipient

Financial Aid awards are based on full-time enrollment at 12 units for undergraduates and 8 units for graduates. Most adjustments for less than full-time are made after the semester begins. If you are enrolled less than full-time, your disbursement will be reduced or canceled. You must stay enrolled to maintain eligibility. In some cases, you may be required to repay Financial Aid if you drop or withdraw from classes.

Withdrawing from the University

Students who receive financial aid funds must consult with the Financial Aid and Scholarship Department prior to withdrawing from the University regarding any required return or repayment of grant or loan assistance received for that academic term. If a recipient of financial assistance under federal Title IV financial aid programs withdraws from the institution during a payment period, the amount of grant or loan assistance received is subject to return and repayment provisions governed by Federal law. The policy on Withdrawals and Return of Title IV Funds is available online at www.csun.edu/sites/default/files/425-40.pdf.

Undergraduate Studies Office

  • University Hall (UN) 215
  • Associate Vice President: Elizabeth T. Adams
  • Phone: (818) 677-2969
  • Fax: (818) 677-3977

This office is responsible for the support of undergraduate success at CSUN. The Associate Vice President for Undergraduate Studies coordinates and supports the activities of Academic Advisement, Developmental Mathematics and Writing, the Honors Program in General Education, Special Majors, the Learning Resource Center, the publication of the University Catalog and the Center for Innovative and Engaged Learning Opportunities (CIELO), the latter of which includes the activities of Academic First Year Experience, Faculty Development and Community Engagement.

Educational Opportunity Programs (EOP)

The Educational Opportunity Programs (EOP) at California State University, Northridge, is a learning centered and student-centered program. EOP designs, administers and supports programs to deliver access and retention services to CSUN students. Established by legislative mandate over 40 years ago, EOP focuses on highly motivated low-income, first-generation and historically underrepresented college students, a population that not only reflects the diversity of CSUN’s feeder communities, but also the diversity of the University itself. For those who qualify, EOP provides students with a modest EOP grant and participation in one of EOP’s Transitional Programs, including but not limited to: Bridge Commuter; Bridge Residential; Transfer Bridge and FreshStart.

EOP also houses: the Faculty Mentor Program, providing mentoring services, training and resources for faculty, staff and students; the Resilient Scholars Program, designed to provide access and support to former foster youth; EOP is also a safe zone for undocumented students; EOP delivers holistic support services which are provided to all students through the Student Services Centers/EOP Satellites located in each academic college (and for undecided students, through the Advising Resource Center/EOP).

EOP programs help to:

  1. Create a stronger pipeline from the community to the University
  2. Transition students to CSUN
  3. Build community