Breadcrumb
About Us
What is SHIFT (formerly HEIF)?
The Sustainable Humboldt Innovative Futures Trust (SHIFT) is a student-funded sustainability program at Cal Poly Humboldt. Supported by student IRA fees, SHIFT funds innovative projects that improve campus sustainability, natural resources, social equity, and student engagement.
Since its launch in 2007, SHIFT has invested in projects such as solar energy installations, lighting upgrades, water bottle refill stations, composting infrastructure, drought-tolerant landscaping, food sovereignty initiatives, and other sustainability-focused improvements. The program also provides students with hands-on experience in project development, research, implementation, and governance.
How is SHIFT funded?
SHIFT is funded through Instructionally Related Activities (IRA) fees, currently $13.41 per semester for students enrolled in 6 or more units. Annual revenue is approximately $150,000, which supports project funding, student employment, and program administration.
Learn more about student fees: https://www.humboldt.edu/student-financial-services
A Brief History
- 2001: The concept for HEIF was first proposed by then student Michael Winkler as way to fund renewable energy infrastructure on campus.
- 2004: Students approved the Humboldt Energy Independence Fund (HEIF) with 86% support through an Associated Students referendum. Then CSU Chancellor Reed declined to implement the fund as no new student fees were being accepted.
- 2007: HEIF was officially implemented by then President Rollin Richmond.
- 2008: The first projects were funded and implemented.
- 2010–2021: The program expanded opportunities for student participation through project development and feasibility-study processes.
- 2023: The Student Fee Advisory Committee approved changing the name from HEIF to SHIFT and updating purpose, vision, and values statements to formally broaden the scope of what SHIFT could pay for.
- 2024: The new name was formally adopted and shared widely across campus.
Why Did HEIF Become SHIFT?
Originally focused on energy independence and renewable energy projects, the fund gradually expanded to support a broader range of sustainability, environmental, social justice, and food sovereignty initiatives. The name SHIFT better reflects the program's modern mission and the evolving priorities of Cal Poly Humboldt students.
Governance & Administration
SHIFT is administered by the University's Division of Administrative Affairs under the direction of the Vice President. Funding recommendations are made by a governance committee composed primarily of students, ensuring student leadership remains central to decision-making.
Read more about governance on our SHIFT Committee page.
SHIFT Purpose Statement
With funds made up of student fee money, SHIFT supports, coordinates, and implements innovative campus sustainability projects.
Goals of SHIFT
To create a more sustainable campus by promoting energy independence
The six primary goals of SHIFT
- Student Involvement: SHIFT will incorporate students heavily in the governance of decision making by ensuring a majority of Committee voting seats are held by students and by utilizing strong student involvement in projects. SHIFT should encourage projects that originate from and align with curricular and academic projects.
- Innovation: Projects funded and implemented by SHIFT should advance beyond the current standards, codes, permitting requirements, and safety conditions mandated by the state, the CSU, the campus, or other regulatory agencies.
- Sustainability: SHIFT will rely on the Cal Poly Humboldt definition of sustainability established by the Humboldt Advisory Committee on Sustainability (HACS) in 2018 as follows “Sustainability is the recognition that humanity is a part of the natural world, not separate from it, and that healthy social and economic systems depend on the health and resilience of ecological systems.”
- Accountability & Transparency: SHIFT will publish and disseminate information regarding opportunities for student involvement, budget, and aspects of project success and failure through a variety of media.
- Assessment & Measuring Success: SHIFT will utilize consistent methods and protocols at routine milestones for measuring and reporting quantitative and qualitative results from projects and publish these findings on the website.
- Justice: SHIFT aims to promote projects that address social, environmental, and food justice issues on campus and to be equitable in recruiting diverse involvement at all levels of project management.