Collaboration has long been a cornerstone of our identity within the California State University (CSU) system, enabling us to leverage university strengths for the benefit of the entire system. As illustrated by the highlighted examples, these collaborative efforts manifest in various forms, including resource-sharing within a single university, partnerships between two universities, shared responsibilities among multiple universities, or systemwide collaborations involving all 23 universities and the Chancellor’s Office.
The Multi-University Collaboration Initiative builds on these existing successes, adopting a more intentional and structured approach to collaboration. This initiative represents a long-term vision for the CSU system, aiming to enhance our collective impact and efficiency.
Instructional and Student Services Initiative
(Systemwide Collaboration)
The CSU’s instructional and student service initiatives, designed to help students achieve their educational goals, have saved millions through coordinated purchases of electronic library resources, academic software, and accessibility solutions.
One notable example is Canvas, a Learning Management System implemented systemwide to provide a secure online teaching and learning environment. By leveraging the CSU’s combined buying power, the system procured library resources at discounts exceeding 70% below list price, resulting in millions of dollars in annual savings for the universities.
Common Network Initiative
(Systemwide Collaboration)
For over 20 years, the CSU has provided students, faculty, and staff with reliable, robust, secure, and modern networks, enabling equitable access to online resources for everyone across the CSU system. The Chancellor’s Office (CO) has been leading a network infrastructure upgrade program known as the Common Network Initiative (CNI) to support all twenty-three (23) CSU campuses, official campus off-site centers, and the CO. The program provides a standardized network technology infrastructure and includes a systemwide Standard Operating Environment (SOE) for network switching, routing, wireless, firewall security, and provides maintenance and support, and training for all CSUs.
In 2020, CSU selected Deloitte as the new system integrator and value-added reseller for CNI to engage with the CO and each individual campus in continuing the standardization and collaboration of the network infrastructure, and the enhancement of the systemwide experience for students, faculty and staff.
Through the CNI program, the CO and the 23 campuses have effectively collaborated to keep the CSU’s standardized network technology infrastructure current with central funding provided by the CO. This collaborative effort over the last 20 years has led to:
- Enhanced Network Connectivity: Improved overall network connectivity for CSU students, faculty and staff, fostering a better educational and working environment.
- Increased Standardization: Greater network standardization across all 23 campuses, enhancing collaboration, and improving efficiency across the system for network management, maintenance and troubleshooting.
- Cost Efficiency: Significantly reduced costs for procuring hardware, software, and maintenance from economies of scale, along with improved and more efficient procurement and customer service processes.
- Streamlined Operation: Greatly reduced duplication and redundancy due to more efficient procurement, order tracking, customer service, and project management processes, along with increased transparency by leveraging automation for better management and accountability.
Energy Procurement Strategy for 15 Universities
(Inter-University Collaboration)
The Direct Access marketplace is a wholesale energy purchasing strategy in which the CSU purchases electricity for 15 universities in the system. The majority of remaining universities are either ineligible due to their location being served by a municipal utility or have elected to remain on bundled service due to the financial analysis that favors the local utility. Direct electricity commodity purchasing allows the CSU to take advantage of favorable market conditions. The program also provides a level of budget certainty to universities as purchases can be made in multi-year portfolios.
The CSU’s Energy Contracts Oversight Board is responsible for advising on these strategies and works to reduce price risk by reviewing the market conditions and recommending purchase prices and terms. In the 2024-25 fiscal year, energy prices favored the direct access market marginally and long-term purchases resulted in an estimated, average cost savings of approximately 5-10% systemwide when compared to the traditional utility services.
Payroll and Benefits Administration Support
(University Partnership)
As part of a strategic move to enhance administrative efficiency, CSU Long Beach, one of the largest universities in the CSU system, began managing payroll and benefits administration for employees of the Chancellor’s Office. Notably, Long Beach’s existing capacity and infrastructure allowed for the team to take on the Chancellor’s Office’s payroll and benefits needs. This collaborative approach leverages shared expertise, streamlines operations, and enhances the overall effectiveness of administrative functions.
Information Systems (PeopleSoft) Technical Support
(Inter-University Collaboration)
The Managed Services Partnership between East Bay and the Chancellor’s Office Information Systems began during a period of significant IT staff changes at East Bay. With many key IT staff announcing their retirements amid preparations for major IT projects, the Chancellor’s Office stepped in to support East Bay’s PeopleSoft technology needs. This collaboration started with a pilot phase involving extensive leadership engagement and stakeholder discussions, allowing East Bay to streamline IT operations, resulting in substantial cost savings and operational efficiencies.
What started as a campus-centered initiative evolved into a model of operational efficiency, standardization, and resource optimization, effectively distributing workload and addressing the challenges of filling demanding positions in competitive markets like the Bay Area. The program has been recognized for achievements in efficiency and collaboration, receiving two awards: the 2019 Cal State Tech Conference Gold Award for Organizational Growth, Change and Leadership and the 2023 California Higher Education Conference Efficiency Award for Enhancing Efficiency and Collaboration.
Since beginning in 2019 and with a continued focus on cost savings and standardization, the Managed Services program has expanded to include additional universities within the CSU system, including Cal Maritime, Monterey Bay, San Bernardino and San Marcos.
Financing and Treasury
(Systemwide Collaboration)
At the CSU Chancellor’s Office, the Financing and Treasury department has handled all of the CSU’s debt issuance, investments, and cash management for many years. Rather than duplicate financing and treasury teams at each campus, the CSU has been able to leverage its size and opportunities for efficiencies to generate tremendous cost savings in the amount of interest we pay on our Systemwide Revenue Bond debt, by lowering fees on our investment portfolios, by saving on personnel expenses, and through lower banking fees.
Risk Management
(Systemwide Collaboration)
At the CSU, insurance coverages and risk mitigation programs are centrally managed through the California State University Risk Management Authority (CSURMA), a joint powers authority created by the CSU to provide such services for the system. Through CSURMA, the CSU can leverage its size to self-insure or procure coverage in the insurance markets at considerably reduced costs. Furthermore, by providing funding for and serving as a communication clearinghouse for strong risk mitigation practices across the system, CSURMA can lower the frequency and size of insurance claims, thus helping to preserve CSU resources for other priorities.
Procurement: Systemwide Law Enforcement Equipment Contract
(Systemwide Collaboration)
In November 2024, the CSU implemented a systemwide contract for law enforcement cameras and equipment for all 23 universities. The initiative consolidates over forty separate university contracts into a single agreement with Axon for standardized body and vehicle cameras, tasers, and related software and training that is mandatory for all CSU law enforcement agencies.
The 23-university Council of Chiefs developed the proposal for the Systemwide Law Enforcement Equipment Contract that supports key principles of the Multi-University Collaboration Initiative for the CSU to 1) save or avoid costs and increase economies of scale, 2) enhance the quality and efficiency of services, and 3) streamline and simplify processes.