Updates on Campus Conversations and Free Speech Initiatives
Community Conversations Update
You all may remember a communication that went out earlier in the semester identifying a Campus Well-Being and Stewardship Group. As a reminder, the purpose of this group is to begin community conversations and reflections on the events of April. These reflections will involve broad information sharing of after-action reviews, conversations about lessons learned, and action planning for supporting future efforts.
The Stewardship Group has been meeting regularly and most recently sought feedback from the University Senate on December 3, 2024 and reported back on a tentative plan for campus engagement in the Spring 2025 semester during the December 17, 2024 meeting of the Senate yesterday. That tentative schedule is as follows:
- January 28, 2025—University Senate (Extended meeting): 2 – 5 p.m., Goodwin Forum (Hybrid)
- January 28, 2025—Athletics: 6:30 – 7:30 p.m., KA 102 (In-person)
- January 29, 2025—Staff Council: Noon – 1 p.m., Great Hall (Hybrid)
- February 4, 2025—Associated Students: 1:30 – 2:30 p.m., Location TBD (Hybrid)
- February 7, 2025—Campus Open forum: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., Location TBD (Hybrid)
A campus communication will go out on January 21, 2025 to all employees and students sharing the schedule as well as more details with regard to the structure and scope of the meetings as well as additional campus companion activities designed to offer different ways to engage.
The membership in the group includes:
- Eduardo Cruz (formerly Wysdem Singleton)—Associated Students President
- Megan Janikowski—Student Athlete Advisory Committee President
- Jim Woglom—University Senate Chair
- Kathy Hudson—Staff Council Chair
- Jenn Capps—Administrative Representative
Free Speech Updates
Free Speech Support & Resource Team (FSSRT)
This fall, we have been working closely with faculty members—Julie Alderson, Joice Chang, John Meyer, Suzanne Pasztor—to form a Faculty/Staff Advisory Team that will work directly with the Free Speech Support & Resource Team (FSSRT). This advisory group will help leadership and the FSSRT shape policies, practices, and educational programming to support free expression and civil dialogue on campus.
Membership for the advisory team will be determined through a combination of an election and ex-officio appointments in January 2025.
Educational Programming Funds
Cal Poly Humboldt received $75,000 from the Chancellor's Office to support educational programming on campus that supports enhanced understanding of the TPM policy, civil discourse/collegiality, elections and voter engagement, and effective organizing. Some funds were set aside for a special grant program focused on civil discourse and engagement, which is currently open for applications. The administration of the system funds is being overseen by the Free Speech Support & Resource Team, with planned assistance from the advisory group.
About half of the funds have been expended (see Educational Programming page), with the remainder to be spent before the end of the fiscal year.
Jenn Capps
Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs
Chrissy Holliday
Vice President for Enrollment Management & Student Affairs
Latest PMC All Campus
- Know Your Rights Symposium, Plus Support ServicesDear Campus Community, Scholars Without Borders, the Women's Resource Center, Centro del Pueblo, and CHIRLA are hosting events that offer valuable resources and information on rights and support services. Events are FREE and open to Cal Poly Humboldt students, staff, faculty, and their immediate family members. Schedule:
- Benefits Team—New Office Location in SBS 353Dear Campus Community, With Open Enrollment launching this week, we wanted to remind our campus partners that the Benefits Team has relocated to a new office space. You can find us in Student Business Services (SBS 353). Our previous location in Human Resources, Siemens Hall 212, is now closed. What this means for you Walk-in visits: Please stop by SBS 353 during our normal hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m - 5:00 p.m. *closed for lunch) for benefits & retirement counseling, enrollment questions, or paperwork drop-off.
- Behavioral & Social Sciences building Water Shutdown, September 22Facilities Management has scheduled a temporary water shut off for the Behavioral & Social Sciences building on Monday, September 22nd beginning at 7:00 a.m. with an estimated completion time of 8:00 a.m. Facilities plumbers will be repairing leaking water lines in various locations. Due to the temporary water shut off, water to all sinks and showers will be unavailable. Water to toilets is on a separate system and will remain in service.
- Transition to Next Gen Scholarship Portal – Launching November 15, 2025Dear Faculty and Staff, We are excited to share that the scholarship application system is transitioning from Academic Works to the Next Gen Scholarship Manager. The new portal is scheduled to go live on November 15, 2025, in time for the 2026–2027 scholarship application cycle. Faculty and staff most affected by this change include those who review scholarship applications, departments that provide scholarships, and staff who work directly with students on completing their applications or letters of recommendation.
- Annual Open Enrollment Is Now Live! Sept. 15 – Oct. 10, 2025The CSU Benefits Open Enrollment Period is September 15 to October 10, 2025. The health and well-being of our employees is important, and we encourage you to take this time to ensure your benefits are aligned with your individual and family’s health needs. Open Enrollment is your opportunity each year to review your current benefit plan selections to ensure they continue to meet your personal and family needs. The effective date for selections made during the Open Enrollment period will be January 1, 2026.
- Join the Sustainability Employee Educators Team for AY 25-26Greetings Cal Poly Humboldt staff and faculty, We’re excited to invite you to be part of the FOURTH annual SEEDS program (Sustainability Employee Educators Developing Solutions). This is a unique opportunity open to all current staff and faculty who want to help shape a more sustainable campus community.