President's Report

November
2021

On November 9, Provost Jenn Capps and I made the case for HSU to become a polytechnic to the CSU Board of Trustees, who will make their final decision in January 2022. During that presentation, we were able to share the exciting, world-class accomplishments of our community, and to show how much more can be accomplished should we become a polytechnic.

We also asked the Board to consider changing the University's name to California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt. If approved by the Trustees at the next meeting in January, the name change would be effective immediately. The University would be informally known as Cal Poly Humboldt.

Meanwhile, back on campus, the work continues with Polytech Implementation Working Groups formed and meeting to discuss next steps. These groups have wide membership from across campus and throughout the community, and they will work on Budget, Finance & Reporting; Curriculum & Academic Programs; Communications; Enrollment & Growth Management; Facilities; Technology & Infrastructure; and Inclusive Student Success.

Read more about these groups and their members on the Polytechnic website.

On October 26 and 27, staff representing state legislators, staff from the Governor's Office, and Chancellor's Office representatives participated in a two-day, virtual visit at HSU.

The purpose of the visit was to become more familiar with HSU in general and more specifically, with our plans to become a polytechnic university. HSU administrators, faculty, staff, and students shared information through presentations on enrollment, budgeting, academic programming, basic needs, infrastructure, and inclusive student success.

I have continued to meet with regional Native Tribes in an effort to strengthen our partnerships. Provost Capps and I had a site visit and gave a presentation on polytechnic planning at the Tolowa Dee-Ni' Nation Tribal Council Meeting last month, and met with the Tribe's senior staff to discuss education needs and economic development plans of the Tribes.

Our hope is to visit all 13 regional Tribes so we can learn how we support Tribal members, bring HSU's services to them, and ensure access to education.

Thank you again to the campus community for persevering through this semester. I hope everyone has an opportunity to rest during Fall Break and connect with friends and family.

Academics

HSU students Anisa Benamira-Dod, Katie Miller, and Samantha Mariscal

Telling the Story Behind 'Sugar Bear' and Six Rivers National Forest

An 84-foot white fir harvested from Six Rivers National Forest will light up the U.S. Capitol this holiday season after making the cross-country trek from Northern California to Washington D.C. In preparation, Humboldt State University students have helped create interpretative and educational materials to accompany the tree on its journey east.

Learn more about the students involved

Students are Helping Redwood Forests Rise Again

HSU and the College of the Redwoods students are working with Save the Redwoods League, the National Park Service, and California State Parks to restore the ecological diversity of the world's tallest forests while gaining practical research experience.

Watch a video about Redwoods Rising

Applications Sought for 36th Annual CSU Student Research Competition

The Humboldt State Office of Research and Sponsored Programs is encouraging students to participate in the 2022 CSU Student Research Competition.

Students must submit a written summary of their research or creative presentations through InfoReady (link below) to the Office of Research by Monday, January 31, 2022. If selected, students will compete at San Francisco State University on April 29 or 30, 2022. Sponsored Programs will pay approved travel costs for each student selected to represent HSU in the statewide competition.

HSU hopes to advance 10 students to the statewide competition, and is looking for competitive applications. If chosen, students will be able to represent HSU and compete for cash prizes.

Learn more and apply

Restoring Kelp in the Face of Climate Change

Researchers at UC Davis' Coastal and Marine Sciences Institute, in collaboration with Humboldt State University and UC Santa Cruz, will research how ecological restoration of kelp forests might incorporate future impacts of climate change.

Learn more about kelp forest research

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

HSU Backs Veteran Entrepreneurs Across California through New Outreach Center

Veteran small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs across California can access free business training and counseling thanks to Humboldt State University's Veterans Business Outreach Center (NorCal VBOC). With a $258,000 award from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the center will serve veterans in all 50 California counties north of Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino.

Learn more about the VBOC

Humboldt Recognized as Equity Champion

Humboldt State University has been named a 2021 Equity Champion for Higher Education for exemplary work in enrolling Latinx Associate Degree for Transfer earners on a guaranteed pathway to a bachelor's degree.

Learn more about the recognition

Alumni & Donor Support

Donors Give $9.4 Million to Support Students and Programs

In a year marked by incredible challenges, the Humboldt State University community rallied together to generously support students with scholarships and new opportunities. Over the course of the year, 3,360 donors gave $9.4 million.

A few highlights:

674 students supported
890 donors gave for the first time
1,800 donors were HSU alumni, and they gave more than $3 million
The average gift amount tripled from the previous year

Learn more about giving

North Coast Otters Art Project Raises $300,000

North Coast Otters Public Arts Initiative, which featured 108 life-sized sculptures of otters painted by local artists, raised more than $300,000 in grants, sponsorships, and generous donations. Final proceeds will support otter research and student internships at Humboldt State University.

Learn more about North Coast Otters

HSU Children's Center Receives $178,000 Department of Education Grant

Humboldt State University's Children Center has received a four-year, $178,365 grant from the U.S. Department of Education to support campus-based childcare services for low-income students. The award can be used to support before and after-school care for school-age children, as well as preschoolers, toddlers, and infants.

Learn more about the Children's Center

$30 Million in Grants Support Important Research for Faculty and Students

Humboldt State faculty, staff, and student researchers were awarded $30 million in new grant funding secured by HSU's Sponsored Programs Foundation (SPF) last year. SPF currently manages 630 active projects with a total award value of $113 million.

Learn more about SPF funding

Community Engagement & Impact

TRIO participants experiencing the kinetic topography sandbox in HSU's Library

30 Years of Making College a Reality for Local Youth

For three decades, a program at Humboldt State University has helped thousands of youth from disadvantaged backgrounds on the North Coast make college a reality. Today, the mission of HSU's TRIO Educational Talent Search continues thanks to more than $4 million in funding from two grants recently awarded by the U.S. Department of Education.

Learn more about TRIO Educational Talent Search

HSU Housing and IT Work to Stop Rental Scams

Since 2018, Humboldt State Information Technology Services has worked with Housing & Residence Life and other California State University campuses to identify fake rental listings and help students, faculty, staff, and alumni avoid housing scams.

Learn more about how HSU protects the campus community

Sustainability

HSU graduate students and a student intern work on the Blue Lake Rancheria Micro-Grid project. This

Helping Set the Gold Standard for Green Colleges

Once again, Humboldt State University has been named a "Green College" by The Princeton Review. The education services company included HSU in their 2022 edition of The Princeton Review Guide to Green Colleges, released this October.

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