Three hallmarks of our new campus here in southern California are interdisciplinary approaches to education, a dedication to multicultural perspectives, and a commitment to Service Learning.  Typically our Service Learning courses and activities take place in our neighboring communities here in Ventura and Los Angeles Counties.  Our commitment to a formal course on the Gulf Coast represents a departure from the norm, but has been well worth the logistic hassles of bringing students halfway across the country.

    Every Spring Semester a select group of 16 undergraduates immerse themselves in the history, culture, politics, and environment of the Gulf Coast.  Following several weeks of preparatory lectures, readings, and training, students spend nearly two weeks in southern Louisiana.  While there, we meet with a wide spectrum of folks including politicians, jazz musicians, record industry executives, lawyers, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists, religious leaders, engineers, ecologists, small business owners, retirees, visual artists, and chefs.  We celebrate Louisiana culture from food to music to art all while examining the drivers behind the tragedy that was and is Hurricane Katrina.  We divide most of our daylight hours between assisting with the restoration of bottomland hardwood forests and rebuilding homes and community centers.

    Always looking to expand and improve upon the experience for our students and bring more folks to Louisiana to assist with the recovery, 2008 saw us expand our participant umbrella to our CSU Channel Islands staff.  In addition, we brought our first inter-campus colleague with us.  Oregon State University’s Dr. John Lambrinos was an essential member our crew who’s vast expertise with invasive species, wetland ecology, and home demolishing greatly deepened and improved our trip.

    2009 marks the third year of our course and the third year of generous support from the CSU Channel Islands Instructionally Related Activities Fund.  Without this funding which covers roughly two-thirds of the cost each student’s travel, many if not most of our students would be unable to attend.  We are continuing to formalize our collaboration with Oregon State University and looking to partner more closely with colleagues at Louisiana Universities and NGOs.