News from the Office of the Provost
March 2024
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Dear Faculty and Staff Colleagues,
As we survey the current state of higher education, it’s easy to get discouraged. Pandemic learning loss, shrinking budgets, and the public’s unsteady confidence in the benefit of a college education are realities that each of us face every day. But, if the world is giving us a thousand reasons to give up hope in our chosen profession, there are more reasons–29,000 more--reasons to believe in the future: our students.
All across our campus, our students are having the kind of educational experiences that will define their life and careers. For example, I just learned that a number of our students from the Department of Design were regionally recognized for their hard work and brilliant designs. You can read more about them and other faculty and student successes in the highlights below. I love learning about the accomplishments of all our students, especially those in the creative disciplines who don’t always get the attention they deserve.
I truly believe that a Sac State education can take you anywhere. But for students to embark on that journey to fulfilling lives, we must give them the support, safety and encouragement to pursue their dreams. With recent data has illuminating concerning trends, including a nearly doubled prevalence of anxiety and depression among college students over the last decade, we must ensure we support the holistic well-being of our students, not just academically, but emotionally and mentally as well.
Two ways to provide that support (described in more detail below) are to encourage them to participate in the National College Health Assessment III (NCHA), happening from March 25 to April 12, and to participate ourselves in the Sac State’s 13th annual Out of the Darkness Campus Walk for suicide prevention, happening Thursday, April 11.
Lastly, I’d like to announce that the Office of the Provost is saying a bittersweet goodbye to our Communications Strategist, Cherie Parker, who is leaving to take a position with the University of Maryland System. During her time here, Cherie was able to help us identify critical communications needs in Academic Affairs and the practices we will adopt to address them. I am looking forward to working with whomever we hire to fill her position to bring those practices to scale. Please join me in wishing her the best in her new endeavor.
As we enter the final stretch of this academic year, I want to thank you for your unwavering dedication to our students. Your passion and commitment are the driving forces that make our mission of transformative education possible.
Carlos Nevarez
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs (Interim)
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Textbook adoptions are due Friday, April 19 - The bookstore needs to hear from faculty about all courses and sections, even if they are not assigning a textbook. Be sure to identify course sections for which ZCCM (zero cost) and LCCM (low-cost, i.e., $40 and under) materials have been adopted so that Administrative Support Coordinators can enter the appropriate code in CMS. There is a “free coffee” incentive for early adopters who notify the Bookstore of their adoptions by Friday, April 12 (via a “Follett Discover” link in Canvas or by emailing danielle.nodine@csus.edu or textbooks@csus.edu). In addition, departments with the highest percentage of on-time adoptions will be entered into a drawing for $250 in bookstore merchandise.
Two New AI Opportunities for Faculty -
The Summer of AI Project provides up to $12,000 in Summer 2024 salary to faculty member, plus up to $6,000 for student assistant support. Deadline is April 15, 2024.
AI Champions Program will provide 3 units of reassigned time to TT faculty in Fall 2024 to assist one’s colleagues in the integration of effective and equitable use of artificial intelligence within their respective colleges/library. Deadline is April 15 as well.
National College Health Assessment III - In collaboration with the CSU Chancellors office, Sac State Student, Health, Counseling, & Wellness Services will be administering the National College Health Assessment III (NCHA) to Sac State students from March 25 to April 12 . The NCHA III is a nationally recognized research survey developed by the American College Health Association. This survey is voluntary and confidential, and it provides students with an opportunity to help make a positive impact on the campus community as their input is used to improve and create health and wellness programs on campus. We are aiming to get 5,000 completed surveys. A random sample of 10,000 students will receive an email in their CSUS account with an invitation to complete the survey. Please share this information with your students and encourage them to participate if they receive an email. For more information on the NCHA III administration contact the SHCWS Health Communications Specialist at 916-278-5422 or beth.maestretti@csus.edu.
Discounted Childcare for CSU employees - If you have a child ages 6 weeks to 12 years old, the California State University provides a 10% savings on full-time, part-time, and drop-in tuition at either KinderCare centers near you, or with Champions extended-day learning programs at participating elementary schools. Present this voucher and proof of employment at a CSU to the Center Director at the time of enrollment This offer is available to new families as well as those already enrolled in a participating center. KinderCare and Champions facilities offer you the routine, stability, and peace of mind that you need. Learn more about accessing your benefit and view frequently asked questions.
AI Fridays with Sasha - Sac State’s Artificial Intelligence “czar” Sasha Sidorkin is offering informal tutorials on specific uses of AI-powered chatbots. Tutorials include a brief demo, practice, and chat with others. Topics chosen are those that may be of interest to staff, faculty with any administrative responsibilities, and administrators.
Tentative topics, subject to change:
March 29: Memos, letters, formal emails
April 5: Customized chatbots for student advising, policy advice
April 12: Meeting minutes, transcript analysis, feedback on own performance
April 19: Analyzing surveys, questionnaires
April 26: Developing training sessions/classes
May 10: Creating illustrations/images
May 17: Project planning
May 24: Grant applications, reports
Save the Date: Hornet Community Bus Tour - The Community Engagement Center and Anchor University Advisory Council encourage you to mark your calendars now for our exciting, third annual Hornet Community Bus Tour on May 22-23, 2024. The bus tour is an opportunity for faculty, staff, and administrators to gain a deeper appreciation for Sacramento, culturally, geographically, and historically. Through visits with community and governmental organizations, elected officials and other community members, you will learn about the Sacramento community. This tour aims to foster mutually beneficial partnerships between the campus and community partners and promote engagement across teaching, research, and service. Applications open on March 25 and close on April 15. Apply HERE. Applicants can expect confirmation by the end of April.
Network Café - The Community Engagement Center will be hosting Network Café in-person on April 18 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a focus on “Creative Space: A New Chapter for the Prison Arts Collective”. Featured presentations this month will be from Stephen Blumberg, Director, School of Music at Sac State, and Rachel Clarke, Chair, Art Department at Sac State. This in-person Network Café will take place in The Terrace Suite at The Well. Lunch will be catered by Epicure, and a free event parking code will be provided to those who RSVP. Please register HERE.
6th Annual Community Engagement Showcase - Community Engagement Center will be hosting the 6th annual Community Engagement Showcase, which will be held from 9:30 - 11 a.m. in The Well’sShoreline Room. Faculty, staff, students and community partners will share the campus-community work focusing on the theme “Cultivating Authentic Community Partnerships”. Please join to recognize and celebrate the diverse projects and activities that link campus and community. Refreshments will be served, no registration required.
Sac State Design Students and Faculty Making Their Mark - In the past few months a number of students and a faculty member from Department of Design were regionally recognized for their hard work and brilliant designs.These achievements are recognized through our professional partners at the AIA (American Institute of Architects), IIDA (International Interior Design Association), and MBMA (Metal Building Manufacturers Association) Alumni Shelbi Leni (F23) won a Career Award and Alumni Madelyn Aguilar (F23) won a Merit Award from the Regional IIDA for their student design work. Both students were celebrated at the IIDA MERGE event in Fall 2023. This Spring 2024, Maya Westbrock (S24) won second place and Michelle Brown (S24) won an honorable mention in the International MBMA Student Competition. They received cash prizes and recognition along with their Faculty Advisor, Mark Roddy, FAIA. Joselyn Garcia (S24) was selected to be the 2024 Student Liaison to the AIA Central Valley Board and is currently serving her term there and Assistant Professor Emily Potts, AIA was awarded a Chapter Commendation by the AIA Central Valley in recognition for her work in elevating architectural education in our region.
Multicultural Education Conference - Sac State's College of Education is hosting the 30th Annual Multicultural Education (MCE) Conference, Living Legacies and Freedom Dreaming of Multicultural Education, which will be held Friday April 5 (in person at the Student Union Ballroom) and Saturday April 6th (virtual). Register HERE. Classroom teachers can earn 1 CCE credit unit by attending both days of the conference and submitting a reflection on how they plan to implement their learnings from the conference into their classrooms/communities. The Multicultural Education Conference is a completely free event.
COE Team visits NACADA - The Student Success Center team in the College of Education attended the NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising regional conference in San Jose, CA on March 17-19. NACADA is the premier organization supporting academic advising. The team was joined by advisors from Sac State’s other colleges and Student Affairs and their presentation: “Utilizing Culturally Engaging Advising and Innovative Practices to Build a Student Success Center” was well-received.
COE Social Justice Exhibit at University Library - The College of Education is hosting an exhibit titled, "Learning to Liberate: The College of Education Social Justice Library Exhibition" on the second floor of the University Library. This is an exhibit featuring COE faculty research, scholarship, and community-engaged collaborations from March 19 to April 30, 2024. The exhibit was curated by Dr. Aaminah Norris, Kenya Burton, and Dr. Sheeva Sabati as well as Student Assistants Daniella Rubio and Abdelnasser Jaradat.
2024 Engineering and Computer Science Exposition - The Engineering and Computer Science Joint Council, with sponsorship from the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) and the Carlsen Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, is hosting the 2024 Engineering and Computer Science Exposition April 6 at 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m in the University Union Ballroom. The Expo provides an excellent opportunity for ECS students to present their latest innovations to prospective students, University and community members. The aim is to enhance community enthusiasm for science by offering immersive hands-on activities, games, and demonstrations during the event. Find more info HERE.
ECS Achieves Recognition for Diversity Efforts - The College of Engineering and Computer Science recently received notice from the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE) Diversity Recognition Program (ADRP) that the College has been recognized at the Bronze Level. The Diversity Recognition Program was created by the American Society of Engineering Education to publicly recognize those engineering and engineering technology colleges that make significant, measurable progress in increasing diversity, inclusion, and degree attainment outcomes of their programs. Awardees will be recognized at the 2024 ASEE Annual Conference which will take place on June 23-26, 2024, in Portland
Library Events & Workshops - Did you know that the University Library offers instructional workshop for students and faculty? Throughout the semester, our librarians teach workshops for EndNote, Open Educational Resources (OER) and more. Sign up for one of these workshops, or browse our upcoming events on our website.
Author Lecture: Allison Gilbert on Tuesday, April 4 - The Friends of the Sacramento State University Library invite the campus community to their final author lecture of the year with Allison Gilbert, co-author of Listen World!, a biography of a trailblazing journalist who used her platform to draw attention to social problems of her day, including women’s rights, racism, immigration, capital punishment, and antisemitism. The lecture will be via Zoom (with subtitles) on Tuesday, April 2 from 1 to 2 p.m. Register HERE.
Stress Relief Weeks May 6 through May 17 - Students are invited to take a break at the University Library during Dead Week and Finals Week of Spring Semester 2024. The library will offer stress-relief activities, including games and puzzles, in room 2022 and coloring posters throughout the building. More information will be available later on the library website.
Environmental Studies Prof Secures $742,240 EPA Award - Julian Fulton, Environmental Studies, received his third EPA award of $742,240. His project, Participatory Science for a Trash-Free SF Bay, focuses on trash management in urban stormwater systems. This project involves Sac State students, faculty, and staff, and serves our local community directly. The project will also provide internship opportunities for high school students. EPA’s Regional Administrator, Martha Guzman, announced the awards on March 12 at a conference in Oakland. Fulton’s grant is one of the eight Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) awards.
Happiness Professor Meets with State Leaders - Dr. Meliksah Demir, Psychology and the Rekhi Singh Endowed Professor in Happiness, was invited as an expert to the first convening of the Select Committee on Happiness and Public Policy, chaired by Speaker Emeritus Anthony Rendon. Dr. Demir was among the contributors who met on March 12 to discuss the importance of happiness, the current state of happiness in California, the societal and personal consequences of unhappiness, and potential for solutions.
SSIS Leaders Recognized at APIDA luncheon - Associate Dean Marya Endriga and Sociology Chair Amy Liu were among the awardees recognized at the 2024 Lunar New Year Awards Luncheon honoring APIDA women leaders on campus and in the community and hosted by the APIDA Center and SASEEP.
FACS undergos re-accreditation review - In January, the Didactic Program in Dietetics and Dietetic Internship programs at the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) underwent their re-accreditation review from the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). A team of four ACEND reviewers visited the department for onsite evaluation and meetings with stakeholders. The Nutrition, Food & Dietetics program faculty and FACS department chair, current students, alums, and Nutrition Advisory Committee members met with the review teams. Several campus stakeholders also participated in the site visit, including the Provost, College of Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies' Deans, and other staff from Academic Excellence, Information Resources & Technology, Center of Teaching and Learning, and Student Health, Counseling, & Wellness Services. The site visit yielded very favorable outcomes for the two programs.
SSIS Leaders Take Campuswide Positions - Dr. Boatamo “Ati” Mosupyoe, current Associate Dean for Resource & Program Management has been named Inaugural Dean of Students and Chief Administration Officer of the new Black Honors College. Dr. Rebecca Cameron, former Chair of the Department of Psychology, has been named Interim Vice Provost for Faculty Success.
History Faculty Member on ABC 10 - Dr. Amelia Ying Qin, Assistant Professor in the History department, was interviewed along with Sacramento state students for ABC10 Local News about the traditions of the Lion Dance as part of the Lunar New Year celebrations. Watch the video of her interview and incredibly talented lion dancers HERE.
English Department Faculty Members Publish Short Stories - Dr. Torsa Ghosal, English, was selected one of the three winners in The Brooklyn Review's 2023 short story contest judged by novelist Ernesto Mestre from among 80+ eligible entries. Read “Heartwood” by Torsa Ghosal HERE. Jamil Kochai, English, published a new short story, “On the Night of the Khatam,” in the February 19 edition of The New Yorker. Read it HERE.
English Prof Wins Queer Scholarship Award - Ruby Mendoza is the winner of the 2024 Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCCs) Lavender Rhetorics Award for Excellence in Queer Scholarship’s Dissertation Award for their dissertation, “A Rhetorical, Decolonial, and Cultural Critique on Cistematic Academic Scholarly Practices: Mobilizing Queer and Trans* Formative BIPOC Resistance for Institutional Critique.” Mendoza will be awarded in person on April 5, 2024 in Spokane, Washington.
Sac State Comms Department Represents in Reno - Communication Studies graduate students, alums and faculty showed up in force at the Western States Communication Association convention in Reno, Nevada. Grad students, recent alums, and faculty presented 14 research papers and discussion talks across eight different interest groups. Among them, Morgan Morley, assistant professor, won a top paper, as did graduate students Alayna Short, Sharon Rodriguez, and Declan Hilliard.
13th annual Out of the Darkness Campus Walk - Sac State’s 13th annual Out of the Darkness Campus Walk for suicide prevention is Thursday, April 11, in front of The WELL. The event will kick off with a Mental Health Resource Fair starting at 4. p.m. with the Opening Ceremony starting at 5:30 p.m. This year’s theme is “Hornets for Hope.” Registration includes parking at Parking Structure 3 (top floor only) starting at 3 p.m. Register for the walk HERE. By registering, you are showing support for survivors, students, staff, and faculty at risk, and those who have been affected by suicide. To volunteer, fill out this brief survey. For questions or to request ADA reasonable accommodations that would allow you to participate in this event, contact Ali Hopkins no later than five business days before the event: orlando@csus.edu.
Cultural Competency Students Attend Homelessness Symposium - Students in the Homelessness module for the Cultural Competency certificate program at Sacramento State’s College of Continuing Education (CCE) were recently invited by their instructor to attend the Transitional Housing Communities: Strategies for Recovery from Homelessness symposium. Held on December 12, the symposium was a one-day interactive event dedicated to exploring innovative ways of designing safe and supportive transitional spaces (e.g., interim housing communities) for individuals experiencing homelessness in Sacramento County. The symposium featured faculty and student research as well as professionals working to support our unhoused neighbors. The event was co-sponsored by Sacramento State’s Department of Design (College of Arts & Letters) and the Center for Health Practice, Policy & Research (College of Health & Human Services).
“It has been such a joy to have the opportunity to watch students’ understanding the complex issue of homelessness expand throughout the course,” says Susanna Curry, Associate Professor of Social Work at Sacramento State. “The discussions we had in class were some of the most nuanced and in-depth that I’ve had in my teaching career.”
“I really enjoyed attending the lecture on homelessness in Sacramento,” says student Julie Donohue. “It definitely enhanced the learning experience by allowing a stronger connection with staff and students, but it was also very exciting hearing two speakers from Camp Resolution speak and take questions. Being in the same room adds a dimension to the conversation.”
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