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California State University, Chico

February 3, 2026 - Continued Progress on Being a Great College to Work For

Dear Campus Community,

For the past year, Chico State has been actively engaged in a series of initiatives to make our University an even greater place to work — building on the strong foundation we've had for decades.

I want to thank the Employee Engagement Committee, the division-level working groups, and the many individuals who have led or contributed to this work. Employee Engagement is a term that doesn’t really capture the energy and enthusiasm of those who are working to do what is most important—create an exciting and welcoming University culture.

Throughout 2025, teams across campus developed and formalized strategies to support our shared goals. They brought forward ideas, moved them into action, and have already made an incredible impact. This work reflects who we are at Chico State—and why this is such a special place to be.

I want to take a moment to celebrate just a few of the programs and practices that have been implemented across the areas of focus. You can find more details and future updates at the Employee Engagement webpage.

Confidence in Senior Leadership

  • Hosting University and division-level town halls to provide updates and answer questions 
  • Holding regular President’s and Provost’s Office Hours, along with bring-your-own-lunch discussions 
  • Launched the new University Budget website, expanded budget forums, and opened meetings of the University Budget Committee 
  • Inviting Faculty and Staff Associations to Cabinet meetings to strengthen communication and elevate diverse perspectives 
  • Introduced division-specific newsletters to highlight successes and share timely updates 

Mission and Pride

  • Expanded Wildcat Wednesdays, Spirit Fridays, Fanatics games, and Wildcat Tailgate events to build community and pride 
  • Launched a new fall welcome reception to kick off each academic year 
  • Reinforced institutional commitment to equity through efforts toward the Seal of Excelencia and designations including Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI) 

Performance Management

  • Held conflict resolution training at multiple levels across campus 
  • Increased campuswide training opportunities and launched a performance evaluation dashboard 
  • Updated the MPP evaluation form and transitioned RTP and lecturer evaluations to a new platform, supported by more than 20 trainings and labs 

Onboarding

  • Launched the Foundations and Futures Mentorship Program and a new Faculty Mentorship Program 
  • Implemented a University-wide onboarding module and a Lecturer FAQ 
  • Developed bilingual forms for benefits enrollment 
  • Introduced check-in emails at 30-day, 3-month, 6-month, and 1-year marks for new employees 

Supervisor/Chair Effectiveness

  • Expanded MPP training on topics like managing accommodations and classification/compensation 
  • Enhanced campus trainings, including Principles of Supervision training 
  • Hosted a comprehensive chair orientation for new department chairs 

Division-Level Initiatives

  • Recognizing work anniversaries and celebrating personal/team achievements 
  • Rethinking meetings while also finding recurring events to come together and celebrate what we do 
  • Investing intentionally in professional development and team learning 

These accomplishments are impressive — and many more initiatives are still underway. The Employee Engagement Committee is currently seeking new ideas for both university-wide and division-level initiatives to consider for the spring semester and beyond. If you have suggestions or want to get involved, please reach out to engagement@csuchico.edu.

With support from the Executive Committee of the Academic Senate, we’ve decided to shift the next administration of the ModernThink survey to spring 2027. This timing will provide the Employee Climate Survey Committee with time to explore supplementary questions that better align the survey with Chico State’s ongoing climate and engagement priorities. Academic Senate will be working in the coming weeks to refresh that committee. The shift in timing will also allow us to build on the progress we’ve made, give our current efforts more time to take root, and ensure the survey more meaningfully reflects our evolving campus culture.

At the heart of all we do, it’s the people who make Chico State what it is. Thank you for bringing your talent, care, and passion to work every day. No matter your role, you are helping us make a difference in the lives of our students and the communities we serve.

Thank you,
Steve Perez
President