EMSS Team Members:

Happy 2024 to you all – while I know we are more than halfway through the month, this is our first division communication of 2024, and my first opportunity to wish you all well. I hope everyone has thrived during this first week of class and has been able to come into the new semester rested and re-invigorated.

As your time allows, please take a few moments to read some of the current highlights from our division below:

Division Spring Welcome

I look forward to welcoming all of you who can attend our EMSS Spring Welcome next Monday, Jan. 22, from 11 am to 1 pm in Goodwin Forum. We’ll hear updates from throughout the division, unveil the division Purpose, Vision and Values that we discussed at the Fall Welcome, and spend some time imagining the future of our division and campus, before enjoying lunch together.

FAFSA Update

The FAFSA for 2024-25 had a "soft launch" on December 31, and is open intermittently at this time, while Federal Student Aid works through various issues.  The Financial Aid Office is recommending that students wait until later in January or February to file. The California State priority deadline has been pushed to April 2 for this year, so students have time to wait until the glitches are worked out of the new form. We are communicating with students and prospective students about the FAFSA changes and next steps and encourage team members with questions about how they can best support students to reach out to their Financial Aid colleagues for support.

Special Deals – Dining and Campus Store

Don’t miss your opportunity to receive an extra 20% in J swipes with the purchase of a staff meal plan through February 2. Visit https://dineoncampus.com/calpolyhumboldt/purchase-a-meal-plan to learn more and purchase your plan today! In addition, if you can’t find time to make it down to the Plaza to visit our Campus Store Arcata, check out our sales online at https://www.bkstr.com/calpolyhumboldtstore/home

Outstanding Student of the Year Awards

Nominations are now open for the Outstanding Student of the Year Awards! Submit your nominations online at https://osa.humboldt.edu/nomination-process

New Additions, Position Changes & Searches

We are excited to welcome Aolany Navas as our new Interim Admissions Director.  Aolany started on December 4th and comes to us from Colorado State University, Pueblo, where she gained experience in Admissions, Advising and Student Success initiatives.

Accolades

Kudos to Children's Center Director, Betsy Wilson, who just filled 3 Teacher positions, ensuring we can meet the needs of families in our campus community. She is also working on the National Association for the Education of Young Children accreditation renewal that happens every 5 years, giving our center an edge over other children centers, along with additional grant funding.

Congrats to the MLK Day Volunteer event organizing committee, especially Melea Smith, for organizing a very successful event that placed a number of campus volunteers at sites on campus and throughout the community.

Thank you to all team members who contributed to a successful Spring 2024 Orientation that allowed us to welcome new students this semester and set them on a path to success.

As always, if you have items for inclusion in this division communication, share them with me via e-mail, or with the EMSS Leadership Team member in your area.

Take care of yourselves and each other,

Chrissy Holliday

Vice President, EMSS

Cal Poly Humboldt