EMSS Team Members:

Happy Friday, EMSS team. I hope everyone has had a great week, and I cannot believe we are already in early October – the semester has been flying! I want to share with you a few important updates from our division and the campus at large:

Fall Enrollment Growth

If you have not taken a few minutes to read through Wednesday’s campus communication about enrollment, I urge you to do so. I was proud to share that we enrolled 231 more students than we did last year, for a total enrollment of 6,276, with strong gains in transfer and continuing populations, as well as growth in local students, Pell-eligible students, and first generation students, just to name a few. Growth like this is well beyond that of many institutions like ours, and it has not been easy – a special thanks to all of you, as each person has played an important role in bringing in new students, or supporting the success and continued enrollment of our current students. We are on track to continue our upward trajectory, and I am grateful for all that you, and all of our campus and community partners, have done and continue to do to support those strategic efforts.

Kick Axe Awardees

At our EMSS Fall Welcome, we announced the launch of two division awards, the Kick Axe Achievement and Kick Axe Attitude awards.

The Kick Axe Achievement recipient is recognized for hard work or achievement that has contributed to the success of their department, the division, and Cal Poly Humboldt campus, and has made the lives of our students, or their campus colleagues, better in some way. This can be completion of a major project, their direct contribution to the achievement of a larger goal, or some other example of stellar performance. Our inaugural recipient was Ash Hansen, Orientation & New Student Programs Coordinator. She was honored for cultivating an inspiring welcome to all our new Lumberjacks and their families. This year's Orientation was a significant undertaking that required Ash to build relationships across campus and in the community. We saw the largest Transfer Orientation Class in recent memory, with 496 new transfer students participating in in-person orientation. First-time Freshman Orientation had a whopping 799 students attend, requiring collaboration with The Place-Based Learning Communities and EOP to run the week smoothly. During Welcome Week, Ash was responsible for up to 32 sessions a day with two freshman orientation tracks and one group of transfers. An event the size of Orientation never goes exactly perfectly; however, Ash is poised and decisive under pressure and an excellent creative problem solver.

The Kick Axe Attitude recipient is recognized for their contribution to the team and division, as well as the broader success of the Cal Poly Humboldt campus because of their consistent positive attitude and ongoing support of broader efforts. While this can be related to a significant achievement or event, it is more about a broad, consistent contribution that showcases a team mentality and understanding that every contribution builds our path to success. Our inaugural recipient was Valerie Sinco from Financial Aid. Valerie wears many hats in Financial Aid, as a counselor, as the coordinator of the Federal Work Study Program, and coordinator of off-campus programs, as well as many other duties.  Valerie is highly regarded by her peers and across campus. She maintains strong working relationships across departments and is known for her willingness to assist others, share knowledge, and contribute positively to team morale. She recently was the recipient of the National Student Employment Association Scholarship to attend their annual conference - a first for Financial Aid!  Her leadership of the Work-Study and off-campus programs is exemplary, and her initiative, insight, and collegiality make her an indispensable asset to the team and to the EMSS Division.

The Inaugural awards were determined by the EMSS Lead Team. The intent moving forward is to recognize new recipients at every division-wide gathering during the academic year, such as the Fall Welcome, Winter Sweater party, and Division End-of-the-Year Celebration. From this point forward, the current recipient will choose the next awardee. To qualify, recipients must:

• Work as a professional employee (part-time or full-time, faculty or staff) within EMSS but outside the department of the current recipient who is selecting them
• Not be members of the EMSS Lead Team
• Receive the approval of their immediate supervisor and the VP (who will verify good employee standing)

As future winners are added, departments will receive plaques that honor individual recipients, while the distinctive wooden axe trophies travel to new recipients. If you missed the Fall Welcome and didn’t see the trophies in person, stop by to congratulate Valerie and Ash, and ask to take a peek!

Let’s Talk

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is bringing back "Let's Talk" sessions, which are a confidential, informal, and easy-to-access session with a counselor who is especially committed to supporting individuals from diverse backgrounds. Check out the flier to find out more!  

College Colors Day

College Colors Day was a wonderful success, and we’re so grateful for the enthusiasm and spirit everyone brought to the celebration. While we didn’t win the kickball tournament, the President’s Office created a new Spirit Award and awarded it to our division because of the incredible turnout, signs, and support from EMSS. Way to go!

To make next year’s event even better, the President’s Office is seeking feedback from across campus. Please complete this form and encourage your teams to as well—we’d love to hear your ideas and suggestions.

Seal of Excelencia

Did you hear that we have yet another reason to celebrate? Cal Poly Humboldt earned the Seal of Excelencia, a national designation recognizing the incredible support and opportunities we provide to our students. I want to acknowledge the level of collaboration and work that went into this honor as well, much of which has been supported by EMSS team members who live and breathe student success efforts.

Dining and Bookstore News

Ramen & Boba: Have you tried our new Ramen & Boba station in The Depot? Ran by Wild Blue Sushi, this station is delicious and gives a wider variety in lunch options on campus!

Text 2 Chat Feedback: Tell us about your dining experience! Message us at 707.633.2338, and we will get back to you shortly. Feedback helps us improve your experience, so we thank you for sharing!

Lunch Options on Campus: Check out the variety of delicious and convenient lunch spots right here on campus No matter what you're in the mood for, there's something for everyone right here on campus:

• The J – Enjoy an all-you-care-to-eat buffet for just $11 featuring tasty options for special diets and allergen-friendly meals.

• The Depot – Now serving Boba & Ramen, Sushi, Sandwiches, Smoothies, Mexican Cuisine, Los Bagels, and Obento!

• College Creek Marketplace – Grab a hot lunch at Urban Revolution, build your own salad, order custom personal pizzas, boneless wings, fresh sandwiches, sushi, and more.

• Bigfoot Burgers – Craving comfort food? Try classic burgers & fries, sweet potato fries, chicken sandwiches, tenders, mozzarella sticks, and more!

Flexible Meal Plans: Meal plans are truly for everyone, from students to faculty and staff. Humboldt Dining offers flexible options that fit your schedule and lifestyle. Find the plan that works for you at https://new.dineoncampus.com/calpolyhumboldt/purchase-a-meal-plan  

Campus Store Promotions: Oct 9-16 Champion Sale, offering 25% off all Champion Items (online and in store); Oct. 10  Alumni & Fan Appreciation Sale, offering 20% off gifts (online & in store); first 12 in-store customers to purchase $75+ will receive a school branded luggage tag.

Events

Power of the Pen: Crafting Persuasive Personal Statements: Oct. 8, Library 114, 3-4 p.m. presented by the Career Development Center’s Sasha Wallace.

Engineering Internship & Job Fair: Oct. 23, Goodwin Forum, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Engineering students are invited to meet employers to learn about internships and job opportunities.

I hope all of you have a wonderful weekend and start to the fall season.

Take care of yourselves and each other,