December 2023
The Sacramento State Placer Center | Newsletter
Dear Community,
Wow! I can hardly believe that fall semester is complete. When it comes to the Placer Center, we hosted a launch in September and a plethora of activities that felt non-stop. I’m extremely grateful to everyone I met throughout this process. Placer has pushed me outside of my disciplinary silo and provided me with a unique opportunity to engage with deans and faculty across campus.
I am in awe of our collective brilliance.
Please find below a few key updates regarding the Sacramento State Placer Innovation Hub.
- Our goal was to establish the Phase 1 Academic Clusters by June. I’m happy to report that this was completed ahead of schedule (in December)! This is in large part because of the engagement level at all of our faculty mixers. Everyone’s expertise and input moved us forward.
- Here’s a quick summary: Throughout the fall (August-November), we held 5 sessions to gather feedback on the emerging academic clusters. We engaged over 250 stakeholders and typed-up thousands of sticky notes. All feedback was compiled and analyzed for themes.
Major Themes/Wants for the Placer Center:
- Interdisciplinary Focus
- Design Pathways from Community College to Doctoral Degrees
- Industry Partnerships, Paid Internships, and Experiential Learning Labs
- Vision for an R1 Innovation Hub that leads to Solutions to Complex Social Problems
- Centralize Wellness, Equity, Access, and Belonging
Our Major Themes relate to the original Master Plan Goals:
- Realize Diversity, Inclusion, & Access
- Be a Model for Resiliency & Sustainability
- Promote Community Building & Placemaking
- Serve as an Economic Anchor for the Region
- Support Academic and Student Success
As of today, our Academic Plan is emerging. You can read more about our progress on emerging academic clusters here.
Phase 1 will launch in the spring with six workgroups and opportunities for further engagement.
Academic Focus Areas:
- Interdisciplinary Forensic Science
- Environmental Health, Sustainability, & Circular Economies
- Public Health, Public Safety, & Gerontology
- Urban Planning, Hospitality, & Community Development
- Ethnic Studies (P20), Educational Equity, & Global Education
- Cross-Institutional Pilot: This group will focus on developing concurrent enrollment structures (microsites) at Sierra College. Launching a pilot (short-term) and building a long-term plan for seamless academic pathways and guaranteed admissions that will eventually “land” at the Placer Center (2024-2028).
Next Steps:
- Share the application for people to participate in a spring workgroup (faculty will be compensated). A complete application will include a Letter of Interest, CV, and answering a few key questions. Further details about the process will be shared when we return from winter break. Please be on the look-out for it!
- Each workgroup will be co-chaired by a representative from Sac State and/or Sierra College.
- Groups will develop plans related to program scope, curriculum, and accreditation needs.
Some Initial Guiding Questions for the Workgroups:
- How can interdisciplinary studies solve complex problems by focusing on creative innovations and emerging technologies?
- What kinds of undergraduate and graduate degrees and certifications can we offer along the pathway from community college to/through doctoral degrees?
- How can we further leverage industry partnerships in Placer County to provide paid academic internships to our students that connect directly to workforce needs and career paths?
- What kinds of experiential learning labs will advance our teaching and research needs?
- What happens to our curriculum and pedagogy when wellness and equity are centralized?
In the coming months, I look forward to working alongside you to further bring our #PlacerPossibilities to life! In the meantime, may your winter holiday season be filled with joy and justice.
Warmly,
Vajra Watson
Senior Associate Vice President, Placer Center
