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Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
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Chico, CA 95929–0110

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Announcements and News

Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) Chair
October 13, 2021
Debra S. Larson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Mary Sidney, CEO, Chico State Enterprises
Under the direction of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, the University’s Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) for research utilizing recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules is searching for faculty interested in serving as the IBC Chair. It is expected that the candidate will begin their full appointment as Chair effective immediately. This appointment is for a term not to exceed three years. The successful candidate will receive one AWTU for their service for each semester during the academic year and will be compensated at their hourly rate as a Chico State Enterprises (CSE) employee during the summer term.
Read more about Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) Chair ...
Call for Faculty Assessment Fellow Applications
September 23, 2021
Daniel Grassian, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs
Sharon Barrios, Dean of Graduate Studies
The Provost’s Office and the Office of Graduate Studies is seeking a faculty assessment fellow for spring 2022 and possibly summer or fall 2022.
Background:
In order to help the annual assessment process become more meaningful and substantial for faculty, as recommended in our last WSCUC review, we need to have a clearer sense of what each college and department is doing with its annual assessments, as well as faculty perceptions of such assessments. Then we can make more substantial determinations of what more we may want to streamline and/or incorporate at the program, department, college, or Academic Affairs level. Ideally, this work should be done by a faculty member with experience in and knowledge of programmatic assessment., as well as someone who can inspire trust and confidence across the colleges.
Read more about Call for Faculty Assessment Fellow Applications ...
Call for Applications: Course-based Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Program (CUReCAP)
September 20, 2021
Kate McCarthy, Dean of Undergraduate Education
Please note: This program is different from the Faculty-Mentored Research opportunity announced last week (though both are HEERF-funded). Faculty interested in mentoring individual students in a research project should apply for that program. The CUReCAP program supports the development of course-based research and creative activities.
Faculty are invited to apply to one of two funded cohorts to transform an existing course to embed a high-impact authentic research or creative activity. Cohort One will develop the project this semester and implement in Spring 2022; Cohort Two will develop projects in Spring 2022 for implementation in Fall 2022. Support is also available to Cohort 1 for peer research mentors to support students in the course (additional funding will be sought for Cohort 2 peer mentors).
These experiences are shown to have a positive impact on student learning and retention, and embedding them in coursework makes them accessible to students who might not otherwise have research opportunities.
All faculty (lecturers and tenured/tenure track) are eligible and all disciplines are welcome. Please see the detailed program description and application for specifics on meeting times, deliverables, and compensation.
The deadline for applications is October 1.
For questions, please contact Kate McCarthy (kmccarthy@csuchico.edu) or Brandi Aranguren (BAranguren@csuchico.edu).
Read more about Call for Applications: Course-based Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Program (CUReCAP) ...
Alternative Activity Options for Quarantined Students
August 31, 2021
Daniel Grassian, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs
Holly Nevarez, Executive Chair, and Department Chair in Public Health & Health Services Administration
Brian Oppy, Associate Vice President for Academic Personnel
Dear faculty colleagues,
We hope that the first week of class has been going smoothly. As we continue to navigate our return to campus this semester, there will likely be occasions where students cannot attend in-person classes as they follow COVID-19 safety mitigation directives to quarantine. To lessen the negative impact of missing valuable class time and to encourage continued student success, there may be a time when you wish to provide alternative activities for quarantined students. We are writing to recommend different ideas about how you might do this.
Read more about Alternative Activity Options for Quarantined Students ...
Update on the Institutional Review Board’s (IRB) Transition to Cayuse
August 30, 2021
Chico State Enterprises
Over the summer, the IRB began transitioning to the Cayuse Research Suite for online protocol submission and management. Effective immediately, all human subjects research applications are required to be submitted through Cayuse. New applications submitted using the PDF form will not be accepted. Please visit the IRB website for additional information.
Please note that protocols approved by the IRB prior to today’s date will not be integrated into Cayuse. Principal Investigators conducting research under these “legacy” protocols are asked to continue to submit requests for amendments or extensions using the PDF forms available on the IRB website.
If you have any questions, please contact Sharon Ruggirello at irb@csuchico.edu.
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Provost Larson's Welcome Message for Fall 2021
August 26, 2021
Debra Larson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Colleagues,

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the wildfires, the rebuilding of the fall schedule (five times!), and other unanticipated surprises over the past year, our campus has persisted and remained resilient as we successfully worked to fulfil our mission of helping our students succeed! We did it! You did it! I am forever grateful to each and every one of you for getting us through 2020-2021, and welcome you to the 2021-2022 academic year. I look forward as we continue to adapt the delivery of our mission while living in the time of COVID.

I would like to thank several units that, over the past eighteen months, have been providing an astonishing amount of support and trainings. The tremendous efforts by the Office of Academic Personnel (OAPL), the Teaching and Learning Program (TLP), Faculty Development (FDEV), and Information Technology Support Services (ITSS) were phenomenal. Their work (and more) allowed the Division of Academic Affairs to make important shifts, important not only to last year’s virtual pivot, but also for moving forward. We are now utilizing technology more fully to simplify processes and enhance teaching and learning.
Read more about Provost Larson's Welcome Message for Fall 2021 ...
Required Ethics Training
August 26, 2021
Debra Larson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Good morning,
Please see the below memos from Provost Larson regarding required ethics training related to research. Please note these are both effective immediately.
Required Ethics Training for Human Subjects Research (PDF)
Required Ethics in Vertebrate Animal Research Training (PDF)
Best wishes for a great semester!
Read more about Required Ethics Training ...
Chico State COIL Faculty Learning Community - Fall 2021
August 24, 2021
Jennifer Gruber, Interim Associate Vice President of International Education & Global Engagement
Dear Faculty,
International Education and Global Engagement (IEGE) is offering an opportunity to participate in a faculty learning community (FLC) this fall to assist professors with the implementation of (COIL) (Collaborative Online International Education) as a course component on our campus. COIL engages your classes with students across the world in discussion, group projects, and/or problem solving, and professors have the opportunity to collaborate in teaching with their colleagues across the world. This project is supported through Chico State's strategic priority initiative.
Compensation
IEGE is offering compensation ($500 taxable payment) to faculty who attend a SUNY COIL Foundations or Elements Workshop, complete all of the deliverables (Google Doc) for COIL implementation at Chico State, and report on success. If interested, please complete this brief application form for the Fall 2021 FLC. The COIL FLC will meet once a month for one hour.
Workshops and FLC
Additionally, IEGE will pay for each member of the FLC to attend a SUNY Workshop in Foundations, Elements, or Design offered in October.
Contact COIL Coordinators, Drs. Sara Trechter strechter@csuchico.edu or Jennifer Gruber jlgruber@csuchico.edu for questions, or registration information if you wish to take a workshop beginning October 4.
Read more about Chico State COIL Faculty Learning Community - Fall 2021 ...
EOC Talking Points
August 19, 2021
Debra Larson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Please review this document provided by the EOC (PDF) for you to share with your faculty and staff. It is intended to provide timely information on the start of the school year in the time of living with COVID.
Read more about EOC Talking Points ...
Student to Student COVID Messaging
August 19, 2021
Debra Larson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Dear colleagues,
Members of the EOC recently met with Duncan and Taryn from AS Government to discuss their assistance in Student to Student COVID messaging at the beginning of the semester. They are working together to generate some talking points to serve as a prompt as a part of their classroom visits.
We would like to share this opportunity with the Deans/Chairs/faculty to schedule a visit. They have created a Google Sheet sign-up for faculty here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfnJZN6gK2QoI7uXSwhuzel5MnsZvxhYx59TY-L5i2chw2CVw/viewform(opens in new window)
The EOC are hoping to get the AS Officers in as many classrooms as possible in the first few weeks of the semester, so we would like to urge you to share this with your faculty as soon as possible.
Thank you.
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On-Campus Spaces for Attending Online Classes
August 18, 2021
Debra Larson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
The following message was sent to students yesterday.
When classes start next week, a majority of you will be taking a mix of in-person and online classes. This may cause some challenges, such as multiple roommates needing to attend online classes simultaneously, your schedule having an online class immediately after an in-person class on campus, commuter students who can't quickly go home for class, or issues with internet access and connectivity.
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Chico State Has Selected the Book in Common for 2021–22
June 8, 2021
Book in Common Committee
We are pleased to announce Tommy Orange’s debut novel There There as our Book in Common for 2021–22. Through the connected stories of 12 characters, the book tells of the plight of the urban Native American and grapples with a complex and painful history.
“The selection of There There will build on the antiracist discussions created by the 2020–21 Book in Common selection How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi,” said President Gayle Hutchinson. “Focusing on the often-overlooked struggles and experiences of Native communities will, I believe, be a powerful experience for many on our campus and within our community.”
Read more about Chico State Has Selected the Book in Common for 2021–22 ...
HEERF III Proposals Due by June 10
June 7, 2021
Debra S. Larson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
As many of you are aware, Chico State received $27,514,807 in Higher Education Emergency Relief Funding (HEERF III) in May. To help our campus determine the best use of these funds, please feel free to submit a proposal for consideration. All Academic Affairs’ proposals must:
1. Be submitted using the HEERF Funding Request Form (PDF)
2. Be reviewed and signed off on by your unit leader (dean, AVP, etc.)
3. Be forwarded to the Provost’s Office (academicaffairs@csuchico.edu) by June 10. Since are expecting a large number of proposals, earlier submissions are encouraged.
If you have already submitted a proposal to the Provost, you do NOT need to resubmit.
The Provost looks forward to reviewing your proposals and forwarding them to the HEERF III Review Committee.
If you have any questions, please contact your dean, AVP, or unit leader.
Read more about HEERF III Proposals Due by June 10 ...
Return to Campus Technology Needs
May 19, 2021
Debra S. Larson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Ann Sherman, Vice President for Business & Finance
Andy Miller, Acting Vice Provost for Information Resources
Colleagues,
Beginning June 7, 2021, Chico State will start increasing the number of employees who are working on campus. Every employee will not return to campus at once, and we will continue to follow Federal, State, and county health and safety guidelines. However, the goal is that for every unit that normally provides in-person services in the summer, those units begin shall be doing so on June 7. Please bookmark the following links to the current guidance. These pages will be updated as campus plans evolve:
- Employee Phased Return to Campus Plan
- Return to Campus Guidelines and Expectations
As faculty and staff return to campus, we recognize there are unique technology support needs. This notice provides information and guidance to help as you plan to meet the goal of on-campus services during normal operating hours in concert with the soon to be released telework policy.
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Curriculum Redesign Call for Proposals
May 5, 2021
Kate McCarthy, Dean of Undergraduate Education
Dear Department Chairs,
The deadline for applying to this program has fallen at an extraordinarily busy time. I’m pleased to announce that we are able to extend the application period to next Friday, May 14. If your program is considering or in the midst of significant curriculum updates, I hope you’ll consider taking advantage of this opportunity for funding and collegial support.
Read more about Curriculum Redesign Call for Proposals ...
Call for Middle Leadership Academy - Cohort 4
April 29, 2021
Kate McCarthy, Dean of Undergraduate Education & Graduation Initiative Advisory Team Co-Chair
Kaitlyn Baumgartner Lee, Assistant Vice President for University Advisement & Graduation Initiative Advisory Team Co-Chair
The Graduation Initiative 2025 Advisory Team is looking for members of a cohort that will participate in the CSU Student Success Network’s 2021-2022 Middle Leadership Academy(opens in new window) (MLA) efforts. The cohort will include 6 members who ideally represent various roles and different divisions on campus (administrators, students, staff, and faculty).
The Middle Leadership Academy is a year-long professional development opportunity that brings together campus-based teams of CSU faculty, staff, researchers, and students in a collaborative and supportive environment to work on common issues related to student learning, engagement, progression and completion. Grounded in a problem-based learning model, the Academy motivates participants to “lead from the middle” as they explore and apply strategies that focus on closing opportunity and outcomes gaps.
Read more about Call for Middle Leadership Academy - Cohort 4 ...
Process for Resuming or Initiating In-Person Human Subjects Research Suspended Due to COVID-19
April 28, 2021
Debra S. Larson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Colleagues,

On March 20, 2020, precautionary measures were implemented to suspend all human subjects research involving in-person interactions. Researchers were – and still are – encouraged to explore alternative methods for conducting their studies (e.g., online interviews or surveys). As a reminder, study modifications aimed at mitigating COVID-19-related risks (e.g., transitioning from in-person to online interviews) do not require HSRC review or approval prior to implementation. All other study modifications, including those to approved online or remote studies, require HSRC review and approval.
Although the general suspension of in-person human subjects research remains in effect, the Human Subjects in Research Committee (HSRC) will adopt the following process for reviewing and approving human subjects research that cannot feasibly be conducted remotely or by other means. Effective today, April 27, 2021, researchers seeking to resume or initiate in-person research of this nature must complete the following steps prior to beginning their research:
Read more about Process for Resuming or Initiating In-Person Human Subjects Research Suspended Due to COVID-19 ...
MLIB Leadership Transition and Next Steps
April 21, 2021
Debra S. Larson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Colleagues,
Dean Patrick Newell has notified me of his intent to retreat to a faculty role in Meriam Library (MLIB), effective at the end of this academic year. We are fortunate to have had Patrick serving as dean for the past five years and wish him the best in his new role here at Chico State. Patrick’s passion for our students and Chico State was reflected through many of the initiatives he was involved with and often leading. Some of those efforts included: creating a Library Strategic Plan (PDF); improving the administration of the Lantis Award; bringing to life the Inspired celebration of faculty publications and creativity; facilitating Makerspace (including a student VR lab space in fall 2021); partnering with Butte County Public Library to provide OneCard to allow Chico State ID cards to access electronic resources at county libraries; and creating GLAMR to promote cooperation among the galleries, libraries, archives, museums, and reserves.
Due to the importance of the Library to our students and beyond, I have already contacted Library faculty and staff to request they form a committee to complete a campus-only search for an interim dean. The interim dean will serve until we complete a national search, which should be initiated over the summer following EMEDC processes (EM 18-022) and completed by December 2021.
Please join me in wishing Dean Newell the best as he transitions into his faculty role.
Read more about MLIB Leadership Transition and Next Steps ...
Call for GE Pathway Coordinators
April 9, 2021
Kate McCarthy, Dean of Undergraduate Education
Sent on behalf of the Curriculum Advisory Board (CAB)
2021-22 is the final year of the current General Education Pathways Program, to be replaced in 2022-23 by a revised Pathways Program(opens in new window). In this transitional period in which completely new Pathways and minors will be launched, others modified, and retiring Pathways will need to serve continuing students, the normal process of Pathway Coordinator elections is necessarily more complex. Please see below for the range of opportunities to serve in this role in the next 1-2 years.
The Curriculum Advisory Board (CAB) invites nominations for three different categories of Pathway Coordinators, beginning in Fall 2021.
Read more about Call for GE Pathway Coordinators ...
2021 Glenn Kendall Public Service Award Nominations
February 11, 2021
Debra S. Larson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
The deadline has passed for this year's award.
Faculty, chairs, directors, and deans are invited to nominate candidates for the 2020-2021 Glenn Kendall Public Service Award. This prestigious award recognizes an outstanding graduating senior with exemplary scholarship and public service. This award is available to candidates from all fields of study who graduated fall 2020 or will graduate spring 2021.
Award
This is a $600 award. The recipient must have a record which indicates promising public service after completing studies at the University.
Read more about 2021 Glenn Kendall Public Service Award Nominations ...
Book in Common Selection for 2021-22
February 5, 2020
Laura Nice, Lecturer, Comparative Religion and Humanities
The Book in Common Selection Committee is pleased to announce the shortlisted books for the 2021-2022 Book in Common:
- Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson (2020)
- See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love by Valarie Kaur (2020)
- There There by Tommy Orange (2018)
- What the Eyes Don’t See: A Story of Crisis, Resistance and Hope in an American City by Mona Hanna-Attisha (2018)
Please visit the Book in Common website(opens in new window) for more information about the shortlisted books, and to provide feedback(opens in new window). You can also learn more about the committee structure and process(opens in new window), as well as ways to get involved. And, we would love to hear your ideas(opens in new window) for future Book in Common choices.
On March 1, the Book in Common Selection Committee will begin its final review of the books and campus/community feedback on the shortlist to provide a recommendation to President Hutchinson.
Read more about Book in Common Selection for 2021-22 ...
STEM-Net Opportunities
February 2, 2021
Julie Jessen, Manager of Grant Development and Pre-Award Services, Chico State Enterprises
STEM-NET is a CSU system affinity group with a vision to make the CSU a world-wide leader in the preparation,
graduation and employment of outstanding, diverse STEM students. The STEM-NET mission is to enable CSU STEM
leaders to share expertise and leverage system-wide opportunities to foster the implementation of global best practices in research, pedagogy, and learning as related to the STEM fields within the CSU.
Please see the two PDFs below for more information regarding the STEM-Net Faculty Education Seed Grant and the STEM-Net Faculty Fellow application process.
STEM-Net Faculty Education Seed Grant (PDF)
STEM-Net Faculty Fellow (PDF)
Read more about STEM-Net Opportunities ...
Josie Otwell Award
February 2, 2021
Debra S. Larson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
The deadline has passed for this year's award.
We are pleased to send out a call for the Josie Otwell Student Assistant Award for the 2021-2022 academic year. One award for approximately $5,000 will be provided.
The criteria are:
• Students must be California residents
• Students must be enrolled full-time at Chico State
• The funding may only be used to “pay for student assistants who perform jobs for professors when other funds are not available from another source. Each college dean may submit one application describing the greatest need within her or his college for funding to a professor for student assistant funding.”
Please see the following pdf for more information: Josie Otwell Student Assistant Fund Award Procedures(opens in new window)
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Book in Common Webinar on April 21: Save the Date
January 27, 2021
Debra Larson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Please see the following request from Laura Nice, Book in Common Coordinator:
As we begin the spring semester, we want to share exciting news regarding the 2020-21 Book in Common How to Be an Antiracist: the author, Ibram X. Kendi, will participate in a Chico State webinar on April 21 from 5:30-6:30pm. Be sure to save the date!
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3rd Annual Tipping Point Student Success Summit
January 12, 2021
Kate McCarthy, Dean of Undergraduate Education
Thanks for being part of Tipping Point 2021, Virtual Realities. It was a good day. The sessions allowed us to learn with and from each other across departmental and divisional lines, and Provost’s Larson’s closing session helped us to plan together for our post-pandemic future.
Materials from the Summit—slides and other resources—are now available on the Tipping Point website(opens in new window). I encourage you to explore topics of interest, from teaching innovations to new strategies for “caulking the cracks” in student support.
Many thanks to our outstanding presenters and all participants for a great Summit!
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Book in Common Selection Process and Committee
December 17, 2020
Debra Larson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Please see the following request from Laura Nice, Book in Common Coordinator:
Thank you for participating in the first half of this year's Book in Common programming for Ibram X. Kendi's How to Be an Antiracist. The critical and robust conversations surrounding How to Be an Antiracist have provided a powerful example of the impact of a shared reading experience.
I am writing to alert you to opportunities for involvement in the selection of future Books in Common.
Read more about Book in Common Selection Process and Committee ...
Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 Grading Policy Communication
December 8, 2020
Debra Larson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Please see the following memo from President Hutchinson regarding grading policy changes for Fall 2020 and Spring 2021: Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 Grading Policy Communication (PDF)
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New Ethnic Studies Memo
November 30, 2020
Debra Larson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Daniel Grassian, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs
Kate McCarthy, Dean of Undergraduate Education
Jason Nice, Chair, Curriculum Advisory Board
Please see the following memo regarding the new ethnic studies: Area F General Education Offerings for Fall 2021 (PDF)
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Call for Proposals and Save the Date - January 20, 2021 - 3rd Annual Tipping Point Student Success Summit 2021:  Virtual Realities
November 16, 2020
Debra S. Larson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
It has been a year of sudden disruptions, real-time adaptations, and wildly imaginative innovations. Under the broad theme of “Virtual Realities,” the 2021 Tipping Point Summit will provide an opportunity for all of us—faculty, staff, students, and administrators—to learn from each other in a stress-free day of mini presentations and discussion. Multiple short student video reflections throughout the day will teach us, hold us accountable, and inspire us. A free curbside boxed lunch pick-up will be available to the first 300 registrants.
Read more about Call for Proposals and Save the Date - January 20, 2021 - 3rd Annual Tipping Point Student Success Summit 2021:  Virtual Realities ...
Updated Faculty Office and Classroom Use Guidelines
October 26, 2020
Debra S. Larson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Dear Faculty,
I hope that your semester is going well and you have settled into a manageable teaching flow as our campus continues educating the majority of our students virtually. Your creativity, perseverance, and dedication to providing the best possible teaching environment for our students is recognized and much appreciated.
We continue to try to improve the various processes that were put into place during the last seven months. In order to improve access to your office and teaching spaces, reduce the administrative footprint, centralize campus-use tracking, and make practices across the colleges and the Meriam Library more consistent, we have updated the access request process for faculty.
Read more about Updated Faculty Office and Classroom Use Guidelines ...
Curricular Design Opportunity
October 26, 2020
Kate McCarthy, Dean of Undergraduate Education
Chiara Ferrari, Faculty Development Director
Dear Colleagues,
Several programs have requested extensions on applications for this opportunity. In fairness, we are extending the deadline for all until this Friday, November 13 at 5 PM.
Read more about Curricular Design Opportunity ...
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Campus Research Survey Request
October 23, 2020
Dr. Rebecca Lytle & Dr. Josephine Blagrave, Adapted Physical Education Program & Autism Clinic in the Department of Kinesiology
Hello Faculty and Staff,
We have received funding from a campus student success grant to assist with our GI 2025 focus to;
- support and track effective interventions;
- use campus data to understand and improve student retention; and,
- maximize advising practices to ensure meaningful “touch points” at critical milestones.
Read more about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Campus Research Survey Request ...
Entering Spring 2021 Course Materials by Oct. 23
October 21, 2020
Kathy Fernandes, Academic Technology Officer
Robert Bowman, Course Materials Manager, Chico State Wildcat Store
Dear Colleagues,
On Monday, October 26, our students will begin registering for spring 2021 courses using a new interface that gives them the ability to preview the cost of their spring course materials. This not only supports our students but also aids us in complying with the Dept of Education’s Higher Education Opportunities Act (HEOA) requirement for disclosure of course material information at the time of registration. The HEOA requirement directly affects students receiving financial aid from the federal government. Please help our campus comply by entering the course material information into the new Follett Discover system as soon as possible. Now, more than ever, we must work to reduce any administrative barriers that could impede student success.
Read more about Entering Spring 2021 Course Materials by Oct. 23 ...
Dean of HFA and IAVP for IEGE Job Postings
October 13, 2020
Debra S. Larson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
The Division of Academic Affairs has two internal active executive job postings we would like to bring to your attention:
- Dean of the Humanities and Fine Arts (Review begins 10/23)
- Interim Associate Vice President for International Education and Global Engagement. (Review begins 10/20)
Both searches are posted on the campus online employment page under Staff and Management Employment Opportunities. Applications and nominations are now being accepted for both positions.
Any questions may be forwarded to academicaffairs@csuchico.edu.
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Book in Common Events
October 13, 2020
Debra S. Larson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Over 550 faculty, staff, students, and community members participated in Professor Nandi Crosby's webinar "Walking the Talk: Anti-Racist Work in Our Everyday Lives" on September 24th! The webinar, available to view on our website, was a highly engaging launch for the 2020-2021 Book in Common, Ibram X. Kendi's How to Be an Antiracist.
There are many ways to get involved! Consider signing up to discuss Ibram X. Kendi's Ted Talk, "The difference between being 'not racist' and antiracist" on October 22, 10:00-11:00 am. Register here to sign up.
Discussions of specific chapters are scheduled from 3:00-4:00 on Mondays. Let us know which chapters you would be interested in discussing, and join the conversation.
Read more about Book in Common Events ...
Spring 2021 Scheduling
October 9, 2020
Debra S. Larson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Sandy Parsons, Interim Vice President for Student Affairs
Dear Department Chairs:

Thank you working diligently to deliver a spring 2021 schedule. We recognize that creating a schedule in any semester is challenging, but in our virtual, COVID-19 context additional challenges undoubtedly arise. Thank you for keeping our students front and center as you build a schedule that responds to their needs as well as the Chancellor's directive for a primarily virtual spring 2021.

Toward that end, we have set the deadline for your spring 2021 schedule build by the close of business on October 14. We have set the deadline for the schedule lock-out for October 21. We do this to ensure that our students can make good decisions as they begin enrolling in courses on October 26. To do so, they need good data about the courses that are available to them, at what times, and in what modality. The more clarity we can provide our students in these uncertain times, the more successful they will be. The Office of the Registrar will send class lists to departments and colleges on October 15 for confirmation that the class schedule correctly reflects delivery mode and time and location when appropriate.
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A Message From the Provost
October 7, 2020
Debra S. Larson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Colleagues,
The fall 2020 semester is well underway and I am hopeful that each one of you are healthy and managing well through this truly unique time.
Even though 2020 has brought us unprecedented events that have affected each and every one of us, Chico State faculty and staff continue to provide outstanding service and educational opportunities for our students. Our annual divisional report (PDF) highlights many of these amazing efforts and I hope you will take a moment to take a look at what your colleagues have been doing over the past year. We realize this report does not highlight all the great work going on at Chico State. But it does demonstrate we are all united in continuing to achieve our University’s vision of being known as a preeminent university that is solving the unprecedented challenges of the 21st century.
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EDXCHICO 2020
October 2, 2020
Debra S. Larson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
We're one week away from the third annual EDXCHICO event! We are going virtual for 2020!
We are pleased to announce that we are a part of Alumni and Family Weekend(opens in new window) this year, and will livestream EDXCHICO 2020 on Friday, October 9 beginning at 9am. The event will be livestreamed from the Chico State livestream page(opens in new window) and the videos page on Chico State’s Facebook(opens in new window)! Feel free to forward this invitation to your colleagues and students!
Read more about EDXCHICO 2020 ...
Preparing for the November 3 Election
October 1, 2020
Debra S. Larson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Ann Schulte, Director, Civic Engagement
Elizabeth “Betsy” Boyd, Chair, Academic Senate
Colleagues,
Please assist our eligible students in registering to vote and help Chico State get the most voter registrations in the College Ballot Bowl as part of the California Students Vote Project. Share this video about how to vote by mail and then track your ballot to make sure it gets to where it needs to be. Learn more at the California Voter Bill of Rights (in Spanish) and the California Election 2020 site.
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Talk by Professor Nandi Crosby, "Walking the Talk: Anti-Racist Work in Our Everyday Lives"
September 22, 2020
Debra S. Larson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Dear Chico State staff and faculty,
As our campus reads and reflects upon this year's Book in Common, Ibram X. Kendi's How to Be an Antiracist, we are pleased to announce that Chico State Professor Nandi Sojourner Crosby will present "Walking the Talk: Anti-Racist Work in Our Everyday Lives" on Zoom this Thursday, September 24, at 4:30PM. This event is public, and all students, faculty, staff, and community members are welcome. Register for Professor Crosby's Zoom webinar.
For instructors, the following day, on September 25 at noon, the Book in Common is partnering with the Office of Faculty Development to host a workshop "How to Be An Antiracist: A Pedagogy Discussion," led by Professor Crosby, as part of the Office of Faculty Development's Teaching Racial and Social Justice Series. Link for Professor Crosby's Zoom workshop.
It's also not too late to sign up for focused chapter discussions of the Book in Common for this semester. Next week (September 28) from 3:00 to 4:00 we will discuss Chapter 8, "Behavior." Register here. Additional chapters will be discussed on Mondays at 3:00 for the remainder of the semester.
Please continue to check the website for additional events as they become available. Due to the success of our discussion, we have scheduled a second discussion of Ibram X. Kendi's Ted Talk on Thursday, October 22, from 10-11.
To suggest an event, resource, or to join the planning effort, email bic@csuchico.edu.
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Getting Prepared for the November 3 Election
September 21, 2020
Debra S. Larson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Ann Schulte, Director, Civic Engagement
Elizabeth “Betsy” Boyd, Chair, Academic Senate
Colleagues,
This announcement is intended to better prepare you and your students for the November 3 election!
The Student Civic and Voter Empowerment Act outlines expectations for voter outreach and education and below are several links to support these efforts. Please share the important dates and links below with your students.
Use this link to register to vote: https://registertovote.ca.gov/?t=s because Chico State is competing to get the most voter registrations in the College Ballot Bowl, as part of the California Students Vote Project. The California Election 2020 site has useful information like vote by mail FAQ (PDF), how to be a poll worker, and some election myths.
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Preparing for 2021-22
September 16, 2020
Debra S. Larson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Please review the linked PDF for information and a charge for Academic Affairs to prep for 2021-22 (PDF).
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AASHE Global Conference October 20-22
September 15, 2020
Debra S. Larson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Colleagues,
I am writing to remind you about an excellent opportunity for intellectual and social engagement. The theme for this year’s October 20-22 Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s Global Conferenceis “Mobilizing for a Just Transition.” This virtual conference encompasses Chico State’s three strategic priorities of Resilient & Sustainable Systems; Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion; and Civic & Global Engagement. Chico State is a host campus for the conference—everyone with an @mail.csuchico.edu or @csuchico.edu address will have free access. Typically, registration is $300/attendee and $125/student.
The conference theme focuses on justice and regenerative transformation to ensure that no one is left behind and encourages higher education sustainability leaders to reflect and act on the Just Transition Principles. Such a focus will be an excellent complement to the spring This Way to Sustainability conference, curricular internationalization, and this year’s Book in Common—How to be an Anti-Racist. It is an excellent resource for fall course planning, and one way to unite our campus in a mutual endeavor toward social justice.
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Fall 2020 Experiential Learning Programs and Activities
September 2, 2020
Daniel Grassian, Vice Provost for Academic Programs
Hi all,
During the summer, in response to the Chancellor’s Office guidelines, we sent you a memo (dated July 28) summarizing the additional requirements for experiential learning programs (PDF). These requirements are for programs that involve the University collaborating with host agencies to provide experiential learning opportunities such as internships, service learning placements, Nursing preceptorships, and student teaching placements. A process was also established to permit certain on-campus research-related activities beyond those approved as part of unit-bearing courses (see Appendix C of the Return to Campus Guidelines). We are writing to confirm that, even after our move towards a completely virtual fall 2020 semester, our July 28 memo and the Return to Campus Guidelines are still applicable with a few clarifications:
1. Any on- and off-campus experiential activities should be converted to remote delivery, if at all possible.
2. Credit-bearing courses with any on- or off-campus experiential activity (e.g., internships and independent studies/supervision courses) already approved for in-person delivery by the college, the university, and the Chancellor’s Office can continue to be offered, as long as they adhere to all of the requirements in the memo and the activity has been vetted. Per the Chancellor’s Office,we will need a list of these sections you plan to continue to offer in-person by Wednesday, September 9. Please send your list of sections to Daniel at dsgrassian@csuchico.edu.
3. Beyond courses described in item 2, off-campus field excursions, trips, and/or other research activities will be extremely limited and subject to dean and Risk Management approval. They are also covered by separate guidelines (https://www.csuchico.edu/risk/activities/off-campus.shtml).
We appreciate all that you are doing during this challenging semester. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please reach out to your dean or Mike Thorpe.
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Transition to Virtual-Only Instruction for Fall 2020: FDEV and TLP support
August 31, 2020
Chiara Ferrari, Faculty Development Director
Kathy Fernandes, Academic Technology Officer
Dear faculty,
In light of President Hutchinson's announcement about all classes moving online for Fall 2020, the Office of Faculty Development and the Technology & Learning Program want to reach out to provide a list of resources for any needs you might have while transitioning your face to face classes to online learning.
Here is a link to the Keep Teaching webpage, where you can find a list of immediate resources (Zoom, Kaltura, Blackboard, etc.).
TLP Live Zoom Support Room is open for faculty drop-in help Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Here you will find a list of upcoming TLP workshops, and you can set up a consultation with Instructional technology consultants if you need one-on-one help.
In addition, we encourage you to review these Best Practices in Online Learning & Teaching (PDF), which offer ideas (and corresponding resources) in relation to course design, the delivery of instruction, and the effective use of technology.
Lastly, we want to make sure that everyone is informed about the weekly Go Virtual Community meetings held in Zoom, every Wednesday 11-12. This is a community where you can share your questions and needs, so we can work on how to address them more efficiently. You can also join our Go Virtual Community in Google Currents.
Both of us would like to remind you that TLP and FDEV are here to support you, and we encourage you to reach out to us!
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Fall 2020 Grading Policy Communication
August 26, 2020
Debra S. Larson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Please review the following communication from President Hutchinson regarding Fall 2020 grading:
Upon the recommendation of the Academic Senate Executive Committee, President Gayle Hutchinson has approved the following grading policy change effective for the fall 2020 semester.
Students will be permitted to drop courses without chair or dean signatures and without “serious and compelling reasons” until December 11, 2020. The change extends the drop date by 11 weeks from week 4 to week 15. (Note: this differs from spring 2020 adjustment in requiring instructor signature.)
None of the other grading changes, effective in spring 2020, will be enacted for the fall.
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Fall 2020 COVID-19 Syllabus Language
August 20, 2020
Debra S. Larson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Good afternoon,
Please see the Fall 2020 In-Person COVID-19 Syllabus Language memo (PDF) from the Academic Affairs Fall 2020 Planning Group regarding COVID-19 syllabus language.
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Return to Campus Guidance
August 20, 2020
Debra S. Larson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Good afternoon colleagues,
As we look forward to the start of the academic year, the following two documents -- the College/Department Return to Campus Guidelines (PDF) and Faculty Return to Campus Guidelines (PDF) -- will provide guidance for faculty who are teaching face-to-face courses and for those staff members who may occasionally need to come to campus to perform specific departmental or college tasks; including supporting students and faculty in face-to-face courses. These documents are designed to support and extend the broader campus COVID-19 plans and directives, not to replace them. In addition, this guidance may change and be improved upon as the semester rolls out.
If you have any questions, please reach out to your Dean who can help to provide additional support and information.

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October ASHE Global Conference
July 20, 2020
Debra S. Larson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Colleagues,
I am writing to you about an excellent opportunity for intellectual and social engagement. The theme for this year’s October 20-22 Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s Global Conference is “Mobilizing for a Just Transition.” This virtual conference encompasses Chico State’s three strategic priorities of Resilient & Sustainable Systems; Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion; and Civic & Global Engagement. Chico State is a host campus (PDF) for the conference—everyone with an @mail.csuchico.edu or @csuchico.edu address will have free access. Typically, registration is $300/attendee and $125/student.
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Jefferson Science Fellows Program
July 20, 2020
Debra S. Larson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Colleagues,
Please consider reviewing and applying for the Jefferson Science Fellows Program; details can be found below.
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Meriam Library Materials Circulation
June 30, 2020
Patrick Newell, Dean, Meriam Library
Chancellor White announced that all CSU campuses will deliver the vast majority of instruction virtually for the fall 2020 semester. Following the Chancellor’s directive, Chico State is planning for the majority of its fall course offerings and most student support services to be online or offered through alternative modalities in order to maintain low population density on campus. In order to accommodate Chancellor White's directive, Meriam Library will be modifying how it circulates materials from the library collections (and materials from other libraries) to allow patrons to pick up requested materials from the breezeway doors of Meriam Library.
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Course Materials and HEOA Compliancy
April 30, 2020
Debra S. Larson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Dear Faculty Colleagues,
I know this semester has been challenging in ways none of us anticipated, and please know how much I appreciate all that you have done and continue to do for our students. I am writing now with one more request that can benefit our students.
I hope you will agree that student success is our most important priority. As I am sure you know, our students struggle with many ongoing issues, not the least of which is financial insecurity, which may be exacerbated by COVID-19. One way we can help our students is by providing them with advance notice of their required course materials as well as the specific costs before they register for courses. In fact, this is actually a campus requirement, per the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA). If you are interested, you can read more fully about HEOA at http://www2.ed.gov/policy/highered/leg/hea08/index.html(opens in new window).
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Chico State Online MBA Program
February 3, 2020
Debra S. Larson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Terence Lau, Dean, College of Business
Clare Van Ness, Interim Dean, Regional & Continuing Education
April 29, 2020 Update
The College of Business and Regional & Continuing Education have launched the Online MBA website. Applications for Fall 2020 are now accessible for interested applicants!
Original Post
We are pleased to announce that the College of Business (COB), in partnership with Regional & Continuing Education, is launching a fully online version of the Chico State MBA. The first students are expected to start classes in fall 2020. The Online MBA(opens in new window) expands access to Chico’s AACSB-accredited MBA program with the flexibility adult learners need to pursue their education while balancing career and family obligations. The College is committed to the ongoing success of the campus-based MBA program, which will continue to serve students who prefer to have a face-to-face learning experience.
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