Seal of Excelencia watch party, Sept. 29
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News from the Office of the Provost
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Dear Faculty and Staff Colleagues,
Happy Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month! As our campus celebrates the contributions, culture, and heritage of the more than one third of our student body who identify as Latinx, I am proud to announce that Sac State has once again received the prestigious Seal of Excelencia certification from Excelencia in Education, a national organization that promotes Latinx student success. As one of only 39 colleges and universities across the United States to hold the Seal of Excelencia, including just seven of the CSU’s 23 campuses, our Seal of Excelencia recertification recognizes our unwavering commitment to empowering our Latinx students to succeed and follow their dreams and marks us as leaders in addressing educational disparities.
As a federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) since 2013, this recertification is not an excuse to rest on our laurels; it is a reminder of our imperative to continually innovate and improve our teaching and support practices to ensure that we are honoring the trust put in us by thousands of Latinx families every year. Accepting our recertification in Washington on behalf of our university and seeing the live feed of President Wood and other campus leaders cheering us on from the Global Lounge, I was filled, not only with pride, but also a renewed sense of responsibility. Our Latinx students are counting on us to continue—and exceed—our efforts on behalf of their success.
After becoming an HSI ten years ago, four-year graduation rates for Latinx students at Sac State rose from 9% to 28%. Building on that success, we will soon be adding a faculty HSI director to our campus. And Sac State was just awarded $3 million for a U. S. Department of Education Developing Hispanic Serving Institutions grant. Our project, TECH4Equity, aims to expand flexible online course options that align with customized online wraparound student support services. It will build our technological capacity to address student demand in an evolving higher education landscape that threatens our enrollment and fiscal stability.
Truly, our Seal of Excelencia recertification is the beginning, not the end, of our journey to exemplify the full measure of what an HSI can be. As we continue celebrating Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month with an exciting variety of campus events and activities, let us also reflect on new ways we can uplift our Latinx students—as well as our Latinx faculty and staff. With the work that earned us the Seal of Excelencia as a blueprint for our future, we must always strive to ensure our campus is fulfilling our promise to be a welcoming and inclusive home to our Latinx community for generations to come.
Please scroll below to learn about more great things happening in Academic Affairs. Thank you for your unwavering dedication to the success of all our students, and for being part of the journey as we shape a brighter future for our university and the communities we serve.
Carlos Nevarez
Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
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Arts and Letters
National Arts & Humanities Month - October is National Arts & Humanities Month, and Sac State's College of Arts & Letters is celebrating with a diverse array of events. Throughout the month, visitors can immerse themselves in the creative spirit, from weekly student shows at the R.W. & Joyce Witt Gallery, providing a platform for budding artists to showcase their talents, to the Festival of New American Music, a lively celebration of contemporary compositions. Check out all the A & L October events here.
NEA grant supports new play by faculty member - Nicole C. Limón, Theater & Dance, received a grant from The National Endowment for theArts and the City of Sacramento Office of Arts and Culture to create an original devised play called "Just A Pinch," focusing on the treatment of women and people with uteruses during outpatient gynecological care. It was performed to sold out houses on the weekend of September 8-10. Follow her work on Instagram @matriarchytheatre.
State Hornet named finalist for top honor - The State Hornet, Sac State’s student-run newspaper that is overseen by the Communications Department, has been nominated for a second Pacemaker Award from the Associated Collegiate Press (ACP). The State Hornet is among 27 finalists the ACP has named in the second year of its Multiplatform Pacemaker competition. The winners will be announced at the ACP Pacemaker and Individual Awards ceremony at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 30, at the Fall National College Media Convention in Atlanta. The Hornet won the Online Pacemaker Award in 2022-23.
Interdisciplinary Conference in the Humanities - The Department of World Languages and Literatures is renewing its tradition of an annual Interdisciplinary conference. The Sixth Interdisciplinary Conference in the Humanities will be held Saturday, October 21 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the University Union and will bring together scholars, researchers, practitioners, and students for a series of panel discussions and a keynote presentation. The event will publicize research in language and literature, as well as deepen public engagement with the humanities in Sacramento and beyond. The theme of this year’s conference is “Language Justice” and will examine unexpected connections across linguistic, geographical, and disciplinary borders and explore language as a vehicle for justice.
Upcoming faculty presentations in Ukraine and Mexico - Andrew Connelly and Summer Ventis from Sac State’s Art Department will be exhibiting artworks with the artist collective ARTNAUTS in Ukraine. The exhibit will travel and be seen in schools, hospitals and military units in and around Lutsk in northwest Ukraine in December. Brenda Romero, World Languages & Literatures, will present "The Concentration of Japanese Immigrants in Mexico: Exploration of a Silenced Past Through the Lens of Literature" at the International Congress of Mexican Literature to take place in UNAM, Mexico City Oct. 23-27.
College of Business
Enhanced BHON Support - The College of Business is thrilled to announce that Five Star Banks has not only renewed its commitment to the Business Honors (BHON) program but has also doubled its annual sponsorship from $10,000 to a generous $20,000. This significant increase will now cover both BHON cohorts, ensuring an even brighter future for the college’s talented students.
Empowering Change: Strategic Planning & Cultural Evolution - The College of Business is embarking on an exciting journey of transformation. We have partnered with The Grove Consulting Group to craft a dynamic new strategic plan that will shape the future of our College. Additionally, we are dedicated to fostering a culture that thrives on collaboration and innovation. Stay tuned as we work together to bring positive change to our academic community.
Carlsen Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Carlsen Center director wins international entrepreneurship award - Cameron Law, Executive Director of the Carlsen Center, received the Ecosystem Champion Award at the 2023 Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC) in Melbourne, Australia, in September. Law was among 18 individuals and organizations receiving awards at the event that recognizes excellence in entrepreneurship, policymaking, investor support programs, and research. The award announcement noted that Law is a “mindful and engaged leader across local, national and global entrepreneurial communities” who is “always ready to support his community.” This was the second time Law was nominated for an award from the GEC.
Startup Challenge October 13-15 - The Startup Challenge gathers entrepreneurs, business mentors, and industry experts to take brand-new ideas and turn them into a real business over one weekend. The event starts with networking Friday night, then moves into the next phase Saturday with 60-second pitches of new ideas. Teams are formed around the most popular ideas and the work begins to turn those ideas into businesses. Partners from the Sacramento region, including seasoned entrepreneurs, coaches, and subject matter experts will be on hand to guide the process and make sure participants are on the right track. Once again, to demonstrate Sac State’s Anchor University initiative, participants will include entrepreneurs, students, and interested individuals with diverse skill sets from throughout the Sacramento region. The event culminates with presentations of the new businesses to a panel of judges Sunday night, with the most developed businesses receiving prizes including cash and continued training opportunities. The event will be held at the Carlsen Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship. Register for the Startup Challenge here.
Save the date: Global Entrepreneurship Week is November 13-17 - The Carlsen Center invites the campus community to mark their calendars for Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW), an inspiring week of innovation, networking, and entrepreneurial exploration. GEW is a dynamic series of events and activities that celebrate the spirit of entrepreneurship in our community. GEW celebrates entrepreneurship, fosters collaboration, and propels our community's business ecosystem forward. Check out the events from last year’s GEW here.
Community Engagement Center
Civic Engagement Resource Fair - Information and inspiration will be available at the Civic Engagement Resource Fair on Tuesday, Oct. 10, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Library Quad. Community change makers will be presenting at tables during this event to discuss important topics of policy change, equity, and equality, and to provide valuable resources on opportunities for student involvement in civic affairs. This is a great opportunity for anyone who wants to learn from community and Sac State partners how to make a difference and be a part of affecting change.
Network Café: Immigration Support Services - Network Cafe is held on the 3rd Thursday of each month and brings together over 70 representatives from local human-services organizations to learn about services, collaborate on issues, and generate solutions to serve our community. Not-for-profit agencies are invited to join Network Café as we continue to support local communities as they navigate the path to security, health, and prosperity. This month’s Network Café will meet on Wednesday, Oct. 25, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and feature presentations from Anti-Human Trafficking Outreach & Training Specialist Rodger Freeman of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and Community Engagement Manager Julie Rietema of World Relief Sacramento. Register for the Oct. 25 Network Café here. Sign up for the Network Café mailing list here.
College of Continuing Education
Sac State’s CCE to Offer One-of-a-Kind Certificate Program - The College of Continuing Education at Sac State has added an exciting new certificate option in Cultural Competency, becoming the only Sacramento-area college to do so. The Cultural Competency Certificate Program is designed to build cultural competence among a wide range of service providers. The program focuses on a variety of vulnerable populations and their experiences with public service professionals, including law enforcement, courts, corrections, social workers and those working in the healthcare system. The curriculum will enhance critical thinking through an analysis of intersectionality (race, class, and gender) and various vulnerable populations, while increasing participant engagement through reading, discussion, role-plays, and active learning. Find out more about the Cultural Competency Certificate Program at Sac State here.
Master of Public Health degree life-changing for working parents - “Completing the Master of Public Health program at Sac State was a life-changing experience,” says Erica Davis. Today, Erica is an Environmental Health and Safety Professional and she credits the MPH program at Sac State’s College of Continuing Education with getting her there. “The faculty is amazing. It really is a safe space where you can share your thoughts, feelings, and see a change. I don’t think you will find that anywhere else. I couldn’t have asked for a better cohort, faculty, or advisor,” Erica says. “I believe that the program has provided me with an even greater network of amazing and talented individuals. Also, the curriculum is tailored to the work that is done in public health, which essentially gives you a hands-on educational experience.” The Master of Public Health program can be completed in two years, including one summer (five consecutive semesters). Classes are offered in hybrid format, with classes taking place in-person two evenings per week. With a practice-based approach to coursework, students learn the foundational material and apply it in a real-world setting. Read more about Erica’s story here.
College of Education
Girl Power Grant - Aaminah Norris, Interim Associate Dean, Research & Engagement, has been awarded a grant from The National Science Foundation in the amount of $108,325. This is in support of the project: “Collaboration Between Girl Power By Design and Managing Identities Projects.”
HSI education grant call for applications - The National Research Center on Hispanic Children & Families is accepting applications for our professional development grant program for early career faculty at Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) or Emerging Hispanic Serving Institutions (EHSIs). The $2,500 grant program is aimed at supporting professional development activities that will enhance the grantees professional growth as scholars and educators at HSIs and EHSIs. Applicants must be an early career investigator (up to 7 years post Ph. D) from an Hispanic Serving Institution or an Emerging Hispanic Serving Institution. Applications are due Oct. 20 at 5 p.m. PST and can be submitted here.
New faculty book on education experiences of Sacramento’s Black children - Vajra Watson, along with Professors Maisha Winn and Torry Winn of UC Davis, has edited a new book, Faith Made Flesh: The Black Child Legacy Campaign for Transformative Justice and Healthy Futures. Faith Made Flesh brings together the experience, insight, and stories of those actively addressing societal and educational disadvantages of Black children in Sacramento and seeks to offer viable solutions to racial injustice by centering the voices of organizers, policymakers, educators, scholars, and young people alike.
COE professor elected president of disability equity organization - Teaching Congratulations to Jean Gonsier-Gerdin, Teaching Credentials, who has been elected to a 2.5 year term as President of the Board of TASH! TASH is an international nonprofit organization that advances equity, opportunity and inclusion for people with disabilities, with a focus on those with the most significant support needs, in the areas of education, employment, and community living through advocacy, research and practice.
College of Engineering & Computer Science
Building classroom equity through active learning - The Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) department received a $595,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for their Project-ACE (Active-learning-based engineering Curriculum transformation for excellence in Equity). This innovative initiative seeks to enhance the educational experience for students by reimagining six key EEE courses. These courses will shift away from traditional lecture formats to embrace project-based learning with real-world applications and undergraduate research experiences. The three-year project, which will be led by EEE associate professor Praveen Meduri, aims to improve student engagement, reduce dropout rates, and promote equity.
Office of Graduate Studies
Graduate and Professional Information Day - Sac State is set to hold their annual Graduate and Professional Information Day on Tuesday, Oct. 24 from 11a.m. to 2 p.m. in the University Union Ballroom. The event will provide information to all students and alumni about graduate school opportunities. It’s a great opportunity to meet graduate and professional school recruiters and obtain valuable information about admissions policies and procedures, availability of financial aid, and other pertinent information. You can find out which schools are registered to attend or to find out more information here.
California Forum for Diversity in Graduate Education - The annual California Forum for Diversity in Graduate Education is being held on Saturday, Oct. 14 at the University of San Francisco. The forum has been designed particularly to meet the needs of advanced undergraduates and master's candidates who belong to groups that are currently underrepresented in doctoral-level programs. Each California Forum for Diversity in Graduate Education will bring together approximately 1,000 pre-selected, high-achieving students who will explore graduate opportunities and resources by participating in numerous workshops conducted throughout the day.
Probationary Faculty Development Grant - The Probationary Faculty Development Grant is open for applications until Monday, Oct. 9. Each year, all probationary faculty members are invited to submit applications for the Probationary Faculty Development grant. Seven faculty are selected to receive $500 in professional development funds and 3 units of release time to implement a project that is research related, a creative activity, or a pedagogical enhancement. You can find out more about applying or submission requirements here.
College of Health & Human Services
Criminal Justice faculty member receives teaching award - Nicole Fox, Criminal Justice, was recently awarded the 2023 National American Society of Criminology Excellence in Teaching Award. The award, established in 2008, recognizes excellence in undergraduate and/or graduate teaching over the span of an academic career. Dr. Fox, whose teaching covers global criminology, human rights, gender, law, and criminological theory, also serves on the United Nations Economic and Social Council and contributes to the UN Commission on the Status of Women.
Associate Dean invited to become board-certified - Robert Pieretti, HHS Associate Dean, was invited by the American Board of Child Language and Language Disorders. (ABCLLD) to become Board Certified in Child Language due to his recognition by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) for advanced knowledge, skills, and leadership in the area of child language. The invitation comes to individuals that the board independently recognizes for their expertise in child language and language disorders and for their significant contributions to the field of speech-language pathology.
New faculty bus tour - HHS held its New Faculty Mentoring Bus Tour in September as part of its New Faculty Mentoring Program. The group explored HHS-specific clinics and departments in Folsom Hall. Then new faculty and their mentors took a bus that traveled through Sacramento where they explored the Downtown Sac State building and saw sites like the Sacramento Capitol, Old Sacramento, and the Crocker Art Museum.
Faculty work on Parkinson’s highlighted - Matt Brown and Gwen Begue from the Kinesiology department were featured in a Sac State article that highlighted their work on whether exercise can improve the lives of Parkinson’s patients. You can read it here.
International Programs & Global Engagement
IPGE launches Terra Dotta ISSS Portal - The Office of International Programs and Global Engagement (IPGE) announces the launch of the Terra Dotta ISSS Portal. The new portal, which went live on Sept. 25, is the result of a monthslong collaboration between IPGE and IRT. The platform is a centralized location for international students and visiting scholars to seek immigration and other services through IPGE and manage their profile. Students will also be able to electronically request recommendations from academic advisors and faculty via the portal. It also serves as a paperless record-keeping system for students’ immigration documents and facilitates compliance-related reporting to the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Access the portal here.
University Library
Banned Books Week - Banned Books Week is held every October as a celebration of our freedom to read and a time when we reckon with and push back on the record number of attacks on one of our most basic liberties: the right to read and write about any topic. Join the Sac State Library in celebrating our core values of diversity, intellectual freedom, social responsibility, and the public good–and push back on censorship–by hanging a limited-edition poster found at the User Services desk of your favorite university library.
Library Research Workshop - EndNote 21 creates, stores, and manages your references while seamlessly integrating with MS Word allowing you to create and format bibliographies in thousands of citation styles. Join us for this 50-minute workshop to see how EndNote 21 will work for you. EndNote 21 creates, stores, and manages your references while seamlessly integrating with MS Word allowing you to create and format bibliographies in thousands of citation styles. Join us for this 50-minute workshop to see how EndNote 21 will work for you. Register here.
Media Viewing with the Library - The University Library offers several ways for you and your students to view media either in the library or at home. Schedule a visit to the Media Viewing Room, watch DVDs or listen to CDs at any PC workstation, or borrow a portable DVD player from the 1st Floor Service Desk for a 24-hour loan. More information on our website.
College of Natural Sciences & Mathematics
Solar eclipse viewing party - On Oct. 14 from 8 to 11 a.m. the Astronomy & Physics Department will host a solar eclipse viewing party to celebrate the partial solar eclipse. There will be a viewing area set up in the garden area behind the Planetarium and eclipse viewing glasses and telescopes with solar filters will be available for safe viewing. Maximum coverage will be at 9:20 a.m. Planetarium Coordinator Kyle Watters will be hosting free planetarium shows from 8 to 10 a.m. on a first come/first serve basis. For more information contact the department at physics@csus.edu.
Chemistry professors secure $420,000 NSF grant - Stephan Paula and James Miranda of the Chemistry Department received a large and prestigious grant in September. The goal of the new NSF/RUI grant is the development of small molecules that are capable of stimulating the activity onan enzyme that moves calcium ions across cellular membranes. These molecules will find use as novel experimental research tools for the study calcium levels inside cells. They also hold promise as new therapeutic agents against heart disease. The project will provide research opportunities for undergraduate students interested in careers in biotechnology and involves collaborators at Sacramento State, in industry, and at the University of Newcastle in Australia.
Fall 2023 Student Research Symposium - The Annual Fall Student Research Symposium will be held Oct. 23 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the University Union Ballroom. The symposium reception celebrates the research and scholarly achievements of NSM students and allows them to display their research, which is done alone or with multiple students and always with guidance of faculty mentors. During the reception, research posters are displayed with students standing near-by. Students can be approached to answer questions and discuss their theories and research. The event had over 200 attendees last year and organizers anticipate having a large turnout again this year.
Offices of Research, Innovation, and Economic Development (ORIED)
Research Enhanced Support Grant program - President Wood and Provost Nevarez are excited to extend an invitation to faculty to participate in the inaugural Research Enhanced Support Grant program. This grant is an opportunity for faculty to secure funding that will empower them to contribute new knowledge and innovative scholarship to their respective disciplines as well as provide transformational educational experiences for their students. This program is funded by the President’s Office and is administered by Academic Affairs with support from the Offices of Research, Innovation, and Economic Development (ORIED). This inaugural competition will support campus scholarship activities during the Spring 2024 and/or Fall 2024 semesters. Applications are due Oct. 30 by 5 p.m. You can find the grant guidelines here.
ORIED now accepting applications to Fall 2023 IDEA program - ORIED is inviting applications for the next cycle of the Incentive for Developing External Awards (IDEA) program. IDEA provides up to $2,500 in additional employment or professional development funds as an incentive for faculty to write a competitive grant proposal for external funding to further their research, scholarly and/or creative activity. IDEA is open to all tenured and tenure-track faculty, and lecturers with multi-year appointments of at least 0.5 time base. Applicants must identify one specific grant solicitation or a formal request for proposals to which they are interested in submitting a proposal. For this cycle, the grant proposal submission deadline must be between Feb 1, 2024 and July 31, 2024. Find more information here. Questions? Email research@csus.edu. IDEA applications due Oct. 23 by 5 p.m.
Protected Writing Time back for Fall 2023 - ORIED is pleased to announce Protected Writing Time is back for Fall 2023. Protected Writing Time provides a supportive, structured environment for scholarly writing. Faculty and staff are invited to use Protected Writing Time to focus on research, manuscript development, grant proposals, or other scholarly activities. It may be used for whatever your research and creative activity agenda requires. We are holding this time in the University Library, Room 4026F (Faculty Study) from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Reserve a seat now. Benefits include a quiet place on campus away from day-to-day distractions; snacks, water and a printer; and ORIED staff are nearby to answer questions and provide assistance.
College of Social Sciences & Interdisciplinary Studies
Dr. David Covin Memorial Service - Sac State Professor Emeritus David Covin passed away on June 3, and the campus community is honored him with a celebration of his life, accomplishments, and legacy on Saturday, Oct. 7, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Capistrano Concert Hall. Well-known for his brilliance, wisdom, and wit, Dr. Covin helped found Sac State’s Cooper Woodson College Enhancement Program to guide African American students to success. He was also active in equity-based initiatives in the larger Sacramento community including founding the Sacramento Area Black Caucus and starting a local publishing company, Blue Nile Press, to highlight Black authors.
Annual Psychology Research Conference - The Psychology Department invites the campus community to celebrate the outstanding research accomplishments of Psychology students and faculty on October 31 from noon to 3 p.m. in the University Union Redwood Room. The Annual Research Conference has always been a popular showcase with hundreds of attendees including the president, provost, and SSIS dean. You can find more information here. To request ADA reasonable accommodations that would allow you to participate in this event, please contact Alex Bornino at abornino@csus.edu no later than five business days before the event.
CHLFSA Panel on Intersectional and Evolving Chicanx/Latinx Identities - Join the Chicanx/Latinx Faculty and Staff Association on Monday, Oct. 9, from noon to 1:15 p.m. as Chicanx/Latinx Faculty at Sac State discuss how race, class, gender, and colonialism have shaped, and continue to shape, Chicanx/Latinx identities. Join virtually at https://csus.zoom.us/j/87033908530
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