Provost Message - November 9, 2016

Thoughts on the Presidential Election

Some within our campus community may be experiencing anxiety, fear and anger while others may feel hopeful and excited following yesterday’s election results. Our values are rooted in respect and collegiality and I believe it is important to be sensitive to one another, especially when emotions are running high.

Student Affairs and Associated Students, Inc. have established an area near the University Bookstore where students can express their feelings related to the election. If you have students in your classes who look like they may need assistance in the days to come, please refer them to Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) on the second floor of Brotman Hall or (562) 985-4001.

CSULB remains a diverse university, and we will continue to work together for our students and this community.

Remembering Nohemi Gonzalez

It is remarkable that it has already been a year since Nohemi Gonzalez’ life was cut short during the terrorist attacks in and around Paris on November 13. We can find comfort in the fact that her spirit lives on among her family and friends, including those on campus. The Nohemi Gonzalez Scholarship for International Study, which supports internationally related activity for design students, has topped $100,000.

On Sunday, from 12:30-2:30 p.m., there will be an informal gathering in the Department of Design gallery to remember Nohemi. The event will include a tree planting ceremony, an idea initiated by campus’ French Club, which will take place at CSULB’s south entrance, just across from the Foundation Building.

In addition, I would like to share with you a touching article in the New York Times titled “Remembering Nohemi Gonzalez, A Year Later,” written by Barbara Murphy, President Emerita of Johnson State in Vermont, with contributions from Jeet Joshee, our Associate Vice President and Dean of International, Continuing and Professional Education.

University to Receive Economic Development Award

Tomorrow President Conoley will accept an Eddy Award from the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation on behalf of the university. CSULB has been selected to receive the 2016 Education Honoree award for our role in the nationally recognized Long Beach College Promise, among other achievements.

The Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) is a private, non-profit organization that aims to improve the skills and knowledge base of the L.A. workforce, address issues affecting business growth, and set the greater L.A. region on a sustainable path of job creation, as a force in the world economy. The Eddy Awards annual dinner gala and awards ceremony celebrates exceptional public and private leadership in L.A. County economic development, with recognition of honorees that demonstrate outstanding contributions to economic development in the region.

Seeking Faculty Advocates for Accessible Technology

The Accessible Technology Initiative (ATI) Steering Committee seeks faculty who are interested in helping colleagues learn to develop and prepare accessible instructional materials for use by students with disabilities.

Faculty who participate in the ATI Faculty Advocates Incentive Program will be equipped with training, tools, resources, and best practices to improve awareness and communication of Accessible Technology guidelines and resources on campus. Faculty Advocates will be required to make at least one of their courses completely accessible to demonstrate to their colleagues how to use accessible instructional materials and resources effectively, and how to make their courses accessible to promote student success.

Faculty Advocates will receive $1,000 for participating in the program. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, November 30. Learn more.

International Education Week November 14-18

CSULB is celebrating International Education Week next week with international performances, an African Cultural Extravaganza, global discussions, a student poster session and more. As an international student myself, I know the benefits of studying abroad. I encourage students to learn more about study abroad opportunities and I hope that the campus community will participate in the week’s activities.

The opening ceremony, from 11 a.m. – 1p.m. on Tuesday, November 15, offers opportunities to meet with international students and enjoy snacks and activities from their home countries; learn about internationally themed services and programs on campus; and watch multicultural dance performances.

Additional events include:

  • African Cultural Extravaganza
  • American Language Institute poster session by students
  • East Asia Subcommittee discussions on Global Math Education and a Study Abroad report
  • International Careers Panel

For a complete list of activities, visit the International Education Week website.

New Scholarship System Available

BeachScholarships, the new CSULB scholarship system, launched November 1 for the Colleges of Education, Engineering, Health & Human Services, Business, and the Arts.

I am delighted that students in these colleges can now apply online using a single campus website with access to hundreds of campus scholarships. Faculty will be able to review and score applications online, as well as sort, compile, and analyze data provided by the student or the student record system. General university scholarships and those offered by individual colleges are included in BeachScholarships.

The Colleges of Liberal Arts, Natural Sciences & Mathematics and Continuing and Professional Education are scheduled for implementation in Fall 2017. This academic year their scholarships will continue to be administered through the Center for Scholarship Information and the colleges directly.

For questions, contact Valerie Kelsey, Assistant Director of Center for Scholarship Information at (562) 985-2549 or scholarships@csulb.edu.

Promoting Graduate Student Research

About 126 students presented their research and approximately 300 people attended the inaugural Graduate Research Conference on Monday. The event provided a forum for graduate students from across campus to showcase their scholarly work and research as well as attend panel presentations and roundtable discussions.

Dr. Tyrone Howard, Professor of Education at UCLA and the Faculty Director of UCLA Center X, gave the keynote address on "Race, Research, Rigor & Relevance: Scholarly Inquiry in the Current Context." The keynote was followed by panel presentations, poster sessions, and roundtable discussions. Congratulations to the Graduate Studies Resource Center on a successful event.

Lunch with the College of Engineering

Thank you to Dean Golshani and the many faculty and staff in the College of Engineering who attended our lunch meeting on November 3. I shared a high level view of the CSU budget and opportunities for public reinvestment in higher education. I invited faculty and staff to join together to promote this view with key groups in the state such as the legislature and the media. Several issues were raised by the faculty including staff levels and tenure track density, resource needs, and issues related to the Graduation Initiative 2025. I will be glad to meet with other faculty groups if invited.

Beach Pride

I enjoyed my first homecoming at The Beach on Saturday. Thousands of people, including numerous staff and families, attended the tailgate party and open house and about 4,600 people attended the game. The outpouring of pride for our university was impressive and I enjoyed watching the Men’s Basketball team beat Caltech 115-58. Thanks to everyone who attended.

How Did You Get to Campus Last Week?

Each year, the Air Quality Management District (AQMD) requires employees in the South Coast Air Basin to complete a brief survey to help measure transportation emissions as well as the effectiveness of our employee commute reduction program. If you have not already done so, please complete the mandatory AQMD Survey which asks how you traveled to campus the week of Oct. 31 – Nov. 4, 2016. The survey should take no more than five minutes to complete.

If you prefer to complete the survey by phone or for additional information, contact the Sustainable Transportation Coordinator at ext. 5-7433 or ride@csulb.edu.