Provost's Message - April 18, 2018

April 18, 2018

A Message From Provost Jersky

Thought Exchange

A couple of weeks ago I sent out an email to faculty asking for their participation in a new communication tool we have available called ‘Thought Exchange’. This particular ‘exchange’ enabled participants to contribute their thoughts and rate these and others’ thoughts about important issues they face as faculty members. Since this first round of beta testing has concluded, my hope is to expand the use of this resource in the future so we can hear widely from our campus. I do believe this may have the potential to open up a new communication channel to address some of our challenges. Please be looking out for this new way to share your voice.

Tenure Track Density Report

Money and graduation
Last month the Chancellor’s office released a task force analysis on tenure density in the CSU and how this decline has affected key areas in education. This topic is particularly timely since we are adjusting to a proposed decrease in statewide funding, while the need and demand for higher education has increased. 

If you read the memo and report here (PDF), the chancellor is asking for all of us to creatively implement the task force recommendations. Since our flagship campus is amongst the top CSU, I know our faculty and community leaders have invaluable thoughts and insights to share as we seek opportunities for hiring tenure-track faculty. As usual, we need to look for alternative ways to accommodate our ongoing lack of state-provided resources. We hope to create another Thought Exchange forum to hear your thoughts and insights. 

CSULB Commencement Stage

As the end of the academic year draws near, with only four weeks left in the semester, I want to personally invite you to attend one of our commencement ceremonies. This time-honored tradition provides us an opportunity to show off our remarkable faculty and campus while welcoming and celebrating our graduating students and their families. It is always a special time watching our students as they leave our campus and transition to the next stage of life. Commencement time always reaffirms my passion for our educational mission, as well as the purpose of our work in higher education.

For more information on commencement and ceremony times, please visit csulb.edu/commencement.

As the year starts to wind down, I want to express my appreciation and gratitude for all you do for us. I value the work you do, and believe our academic community is the best in the CSU.

Thank you for your partnership.

Brian

News

Faculty News

In Memoriam

Dr. Ching Tsao passed away on January 19, 2016. He was a mechanical engineering professor at Cal State Long Beach for 21 years. He joined The Beach family in 1965 and retired in 1986.

On March 12, Dr. Tom Frazier of the Geography department passed away. He joined The Beach in 2002, and became a part of the International Studies Department in 2007.

Mechanical Engineering Professor Dr. Bahram Shahian passed away on March 18. In 2009, he earned a $8,500 grant from the Alumni Grants Program.

Grants

Shailesh Chandra, Encasement Research Effective Utility Encasement Criteria and Methods. California Department of Transportation. COE. CECEM. Total Award: $70,320. (February 2018 - May 2019)

Tracy Maples, MEP Program 2017-2018. UCOP. COE. Dean's Office. Total Award: $10,000. (July 2017 - June 2020)

Michiko Takeuchi, Trans-Pacific Left Feminism: Japanese and American Old Left Women, from World War I to the US Occupation of Japan. Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission & NEH. CLA. History. Total Award: $50,400. (September 2018 - August 2019)

Mimi Kim, Strengthening Social Network Responses to Domestic Violence. Training and Organizing Resources for Community Health TORCH. CHHS. Social Work. Total Award: $63,989. (January 2017 - December 2018)

Bob Minaie, Integrated System for Repair of Composites. Office of Naval Research. COE. Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Total Award: $361,039. (March 2018 - March 2019)

Joy Goebel, Quality Improvement Resource Center II. Palo Alto Veterans Administration Healthcare System. CHHS. Nursing. Total Award: $15,710. (August 2017 - July 2018)

Judy Brusslan, Epigenetic marks and Leaf Aging in Arabidopsis. NIH-NIGMS. CNSM. Biological Sciences. (April 2015 - January 2019)

Bruno Pernet, RUI:Effects of large inedible particles on larval feeding, planktonic larval duration, and juvenile quality in marine invertebrates. National Science Foundation. CNSM. Biological Sciences. Total Award: $347,639. (August 2018 - July 2021)

Thomas O'Brien, Developing Markets for ZEV's in Goods Movement. University of Southern California via SCAQMD. CCPE. CITT. Total Award: $106,500. (November 2017 - November 2019)

Amanda Fisher, Collaborative Research: New World Justicia s.l.: A microcosm for understanding covariation of floral traits and pollinators in a phylogenetic context. National Science Foundation. CNSM. Biological Sciences. Total Award: $222,850. (April 2018 - March 2022)

Paul Buonora & Judy Brusslan, CSULB Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement 2015-2020. National Institute of Health. CNSM. Chemistry and Biochemistry. Total Award: $882,578. (April 2015 - January 2020)

2018 Alumni Grants Recipients

The next Provost’s Message will be published on Wednesday, May 16. Items for the upcoming message should be submitted by Friday, May 11, to aa-communication@csulb.edu.