EMSS Team Members:

Happy Friday, EMSS team – welcome (almost) to the spring semester! I hope you all had a wonderful break that left you at least somewhat rested and ready for classes to start again. As your time allows, please take a look at the below updates related to campus and division efforts:

Green & Gold Guarantee

I am very excited to announce the Green & Gold Guarantee, our university’s new program geared towards ensuring access and affordability for students. Learn more about the program here. In a nutshell, it provides a guarantee that tuition and mandatory fees will be covered for students who meet specific financial criteria, beginning with those who enter in Fall 2025. This program is all about reducing uncertainty about whether college is affordable for a prospective student – and, as long as they maintain full-time enrollment and earn at least a 2.0 GPA, they know they will have the funds available to them for four years as a first-time student, or two years as a transfer. Read more in our recent press release, and be sure to share information about this with prospective students – knowing their tuition and mandatory fees will be covered here at Humboldt may be exactly what a student needs to help them decide college is possible, and we are the right fit. I am so grateful for all the folx who made this possible, from the IRAR team members who helped us run the data to prove it was possible, to the EM team members across this division who made it operational and the Strategic Student Comms and MarComm folx who brought our communication efforts to life.

Spring Professional Development Day

Don’t forget that today is Spring Professional Development Day, focusing on Recruitment and Retention of Students: What Works! This is co-hosted by Academic Affairs and Enrollment Management and Student Success, from 8 am - 1 pm in Founders Hall. This event will explore what is working in recruitment and retention, focusing on practical strategies and creative approaches to enhance all academic programs. Various members of the EMSS team will be present throughout the sessions, so come support each other with whatever time you can make today, and learn how you might join in the recruitment and retention efforts!

Immediate Access Course Materials Program

Congratulations to our first three courses that are launching Cal Poly Humboldt's Immediate Access course materials program this spring. Faculty members Nate Swenson (SOIL 260), Li Qu (BA 250) and Maysan Mousaviraad (Engr 417) are our first adopters to help students have course material access by day one of class.  Check out the FAQs on Immediate access here.

New Fly-in Program

We are thrilled to introduce Humboldt’s first Fly-In Program, Rising Umoja Students of Humboldt (R.U.S.H), happening February 27–March 1. This initiative invites a group of Black-identified admitted students and their parents/guardians to experience our university firsthand, and recognizes the difficulty many families have making the trek to Humboldt. With R.U.S.H., they have an opportunity to visit our campus and see first-hand what life as a Lumberjack would be like for them, and allows them to bring their family along. The program includes academic sessions with Black-identified faculty, engagement with the Umoja Center for Pan African Student Excellence, and cultural events in collaboration with Black Humboldt. Leveraging funds from our Black Student Success Initiative, students’ flights will be partially covered, and accommodations will be provided, ensuring a seamless visit. Parents/guardians will participate in resource panels to support their student’s transition to university life. Together, we’ll showcase Humboldt as a welcoming and supportive community for future scholars. For more details, please reach out to the Admissions team.

Student for the Day Immersion Program

We are also excited to announce Student for the Day, an immersive program designed by Admissions for Fall 2025 applicants to experience life at Cal Poly Humboldt over President’s Week, which we know is a holiday week for many of our California high schools. Taking place on February 17 and 18, this initiative provides prospective students with a firsthand look at academics, campus culture and the Humboldt experience.

Applicants will attend real classes aligned with their declared majors or areas of interest, gaining valuable insight into our academic environment. They will also participate in personalized admissions sessions, guided tours, and independent exploration time between activities. While students engage in classroom sit-ins, parents/guardians will be guided separately, ensuring an authentic student experience.

This program strengthens our commitment to showcasing Humboldt as a supportive, inclusive, and dynamic community. Your support in welcoming participants and facilitating their experience will be invaluable in helping them envision their future as Lumberjacks.

Community Conversations Update

You may recall a communication that went out last fall identifying a Campus Well-Being and Stewardship Group whose purpose is to begin community conversations and reflections on the events of last April. The group, led by Provost Jenn Capps, includes leadership from Associated Students, the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, Staff Council, and Senate. The reflections will involve broad information sharing of after-action reviews; conversations about lessons learned; and action planning for supporting future efforts. Various community conversations have been scheduled:

Jan. 27, 2025- Athletics: 6:30pm-7:30pm in KA 102 (In-person)

Jan. 28, 2025- Senate (Extended meeting): 2pm-5pm NHE in 102 Goodwin Forum (hyflex)

Jan. 29, 2025- Staff Council: 12pm-1pm in the Scholar’s Lab (In-person)

Feb. 4, 2025- Associated Students: 12:30pm-1:30pm in NHE 106 (hyflex)

Feb. 7, 2025- Campus Open forum: 11am-1pm for campus in NHE 102 Goodwin Forum (hyflex)

A campus communication outlining the above dates and activities will go out to the campus community next Tuesday, with additional details as well as describing some companion activities to the community conversations that are being planned. I encourage everyone to take part in this healing process at whatever level you are comfortable.

Help Needed: Career Expo and Volunteer Fair

Don’t forget to volunteer for this signature campus event – the Career Development Center needs your help to ensure we are supporting our students towards job placement and a successful future. The fair is Feb. 13 in the West Gym from 11am to 3pm.

New Hires/Position Changes

Please join me in congratulating J.d. Garza on recently being selected as the new Director of Career Development at Cal Poly Humboldt. He has served in this position in an interim role for the last year, before which he served as a career advisor, and we are privileged to have him charting the course of our new career efforts.

If you are not aware already, Morgan McEvoy, our Catering Director for Dining, is leaving to move to SoCal on Feb. 6.  We will surely miss her!  Esteban Luna who has worked with Morgan closely will be taking over the Catering Director role with cross training starting today.  Please help welcome Esteban who will expand upon all the groundwork and great service that Morgan has given us.

Accolades

Todd Larsen, our Executive Director of Business and Enterprise Services, recently received his Certified Auxiliary Services Professional (CASP) designation. CASP is the only benchmark certification that measures the competencies needed by college and university executives who oversee multiple auxiliary services. It was created so universities can responsibly prepare for leadership succession planning, benefit from operational efficiencies, and stay current in auxiliary-related practices that must adapt to emerging technologies and trends.

Events

I’ve Been Admitted to College (IBAC) - IBAC is back! The second IBAC 8th grade event is taking place on Jan. 31 with Zane Middle School. This year, students will participate in a Library tour, a workshop about majors from our Academic Advising Center, and a tour of the Department of Anthropology's Cultural Resources Facility. Sarah Mundi and her team are looking forward to a great IBAC season!

Cal Poly Humboldt Presents – Check out these upcoming shows! Peking Acrobats: Tuesday, Jan. 21, 7pm at JVD; Daniela Mineva & Bin Huang: Sunday, Jan. 26, 7pm at Fulkerson Recital Hall; Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo: Monday, Jan. 27, 7pm at JVD. Get tickets for any Cal Poly Humboldt Presents show at https://tickets.humboldt.edu/

Nike sale - Tell your friends and family about the Nike sale at The Campus Store!  The sale runs from Jan. 15 through Jan. 20 with 20% off Select Nike Apparel in store or online.  Most of our Nike items are on display at the downtown plaza Campus Store.  The 20% discount is perfect for friends and family, as staff and faculty already receive a standard 20% discount at The Campus Store locations. (Discount can't be combined with the sale price.)

Meal Plan sale - Spring Meal Plans for Faculty / Staff are available with 20% Bonus Meal Swipes through Feb 7th! Win Apple AirPods or an INSTAX MINI Instant Camera (3 prize winners!!) https://dineoncampus.com/calpolyhumboldt/purchase-a-meal-plan

I hope you all have a fabulous holiday on Monday, either resting or serving in our community, and arrive back on campus Tuesday ready for a fabulous spring semester.

Take care of yourselves and each other,

Chrissy Holliday

Vice President, EMSS

Cal Poly Humboldt