EMSS Team Members:

Happy Friday, EMSS team –  and Happy Valentine’s Day to those who celebrate – I personally just love an excuse to eat conversation hearts every year – I know many people hate them, but I love them!

As your time allows, please take a look at the below updates and exciting news related to campus and division efforts.

Pilot Course Materials Program Saved Students Money

Students saved over $22,000 this spring with our new Cal Poly Humboldt Immediate Access program for course materials. We launched three courses this semester to automatically deliver digital courseware to students up to 5 days prior to classes. It's easy, automatic, and automatically bills to their Student Account. Students saved over $151 a person on average, and we only had one opt-out out of 148 eligible students. We are looking to expand this program, which helps ensure our students’ success by having materials on the first day of class, with more faculty this fall.

Forest of Caring

Forest of Caring is a Cal Poly Humboldt campaign to spread joy, hope and sources of strength across campus. Students, staff and faculty are invited to create spaces that highlight solidarity, resilience and sense of community. We encourage all areas across campus to engage in letting students know that we are here to support them through offering art, meditation, stressless activities, therapy dogs, and so much more. One example was hosting an event on the quad the first day of school.  Students were invited to write on leaves that would be added to our tree.  The prompts were: I believe…, I hope…, and I support others by…or anything they wanted to share. 

Here are words from our students: 

“I can support others by listening and offering empathy”

“I believe in the power of community”

“I am hopeful for a world where students are safe”

“Our country will survive with love and community”

“You make a difference”

“You are stronger than you know”

“I believe in my ability to persevere”

“You matter”

Another example is the Library Forest of Caring Pop-up. The Library Forest of Caring popup included two weeks of apples and oranges, de-stress smiling face balls and stars, coloring, origami, puzzles, and an I am Grateful tree. Moving the plants into the space next to the Library cafe was so welcomed by students, that we have decided to keep that configuration due to increased seating. We also have therapy dogs visiting every other week for the months of February and March. 

If you are interested in joining these efforts and hosting a Forest of Caring within your campus space, email Forest of Caring at forest-of-caring@humboldt.edu

Housing Application Now Open

The Housing Application for 2025-2026 is now open! Students can go in and complete most of the application in preparation for submission. For more information and important dates visit https://www.humboldt.edu/housing-reslife/apply

Nominate an Outstanding Student

The nominations for Outstanding Student of the Year are open and due Feb. 28.  The ceremony in April incorporates multiple awards from Academic Excellence to Co-Curricular Achievements. These awards are one of the ways in which Humboldt recognizes the incredible contributions that our students make every year Learn more and submit your nomination here. Any questions, email osl@humboldt.edu.

Recap: Budget Open Forum

Thanks to everyone who attended the University Resources and Planning Committee (URPC) Open Forum last Thursday, which many of you did, resulting in not only filling the primary space, but use of an overflow room as well. Campus engagement is essential so that the URPC may continue its commitment to shared governance, transparency, and communication. If you missed the presentation, you can review it here. 

URPC Divisional Budget Reports

The next opportunity for engagement with the URPC will be the divisional presentations. As you may remember from last Spring, the URPC asks the Vice Presidents or a designee from each of the seven divisions to present about their priorities, plans for budget reductions as well as projected implications. This is your invitation to join us via zoom to learn and engage. These divisional reports help inform the forthcoming budget recommendation from the URPC to the President. Please feel free to join us for all of the divisional updates or just the ones that you are interested in. They will all be recorded and posted on the URPC webpage following the presentations. Presenters will be asked to spend 50% of their time providing information and 50% of the allocated time is reserved for questions and answers (Q&A). The schedule is as follows:

Friday, Feb. 21, 2025, from 1pm to 3pm: ZOOM link

Divisional presentations:

University Wide: 1:10pm-1:40pm; President’s Office: 1:40pm-2:00pm; Advancement: 2:00pm-2:30pm; Administrative Affairs: 2:30pm-3:00pm

 Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, from 12:30pm to 3pm: ZOOM link

Divisional presentations:

Academic Affairs: 12:40pm- 1:20pm; Enrollment Management and Student Success: 1:20pm-1:50pm; Athletics: 1:50pm-2:20pm

Dining and Bookstore Sales and Deals

Check out the updates at the College Creek Marketplace!  Personal pizzas to custom order, boneless wings & sauces, along with fries are now easy to order on the front kiosk. Don’t miss the Valentine’s Day sweets at both College Creek Marketplace and the Depot.

Bose sale at The Campus Store: Feb. 7-17 QuietComfort Earbuds & Headphones & Flex Portable Speakers up to $100 off. Feb. 10-23 Ultra Ear Buds $70 off. Available in store and online.

I’ve Been Admitted to College (IBAC) Programming

On Feb. 28, we are excited to welcome 135 students and chaperones from Sunny Brae, Alder Grove and Miranda.

New Hires/Position Changes

Eli Montana has joined the Housing Room Assignments team. Please welcome him!

Accolades

Cal Poly Humboldt was recently awarded a Rapid Rehousing and Housing Security Program grant from the CSU. These funds to support students with housing insecurities. Associate Dean of Students Heather Honig was the leader in developing the proposal and serves as PI for the grant.

Thanks to everyone who made this year’s Career Expo and Volunteer Fair a rousing success, from the Career Center team who planned the event to all the volunteers from across campus who came out to provide support throughout the day. Thursday’s event saw a 31% year over year growth in student attendance, with 577 students visiting with employers yesterday!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend – I will be spending much of mine at a basketball tournament – my son’s 5th grade school team has gone their entire season undefeated and is hoping for a third tournament championship this weekend! Whatever your weekend has in store, I hope you enjoy it to the fullest.

Take care of yourselves and each other,

Chrissy Holliday

Vice President, EMSS

Cal Poly Humboldt