The Spring semester is well underway and our campus is becoming more vibrant with students attending class, studying in the library, socializing in the Student Activities Center and engaging in other activities. It's good to see both new and familiar faces throughout the campus.

While we are rapidly moving in the Spring semester, I would like to take a moment to reflect on hosting our first ever Fall Commencement, which was a resounding success and reminder that we're here for our students first. It was a great way to end 2021 and the new year has brought some exciting news for the University.

As you're now well aware, we've been designated California's third polytechnic University, Cal Poly Humboldt. It's more than a historic moment—it's a huge opportunity for all of our students, staff and faculty, our communities on the North Coast, and California. Learn more about what it means to be a polytechnic university here.

I'm immensely grateful to everyone for your contributions to this effort. Our self-study and prospectus were conducted quickly under challenging circumstances, and they spotlighted our incredible strengths and areas for growth. Students, staff, faculty, alumni, donors, and community members were all integral to our success, and we will continue to seek input from and participation as we transition into a full polytechnic university.

Read coverage of our polytechnic transition:

• Inside Higher Ed
• Sacramento Bee
• Los Angeles Times
• Chronicle of Higher Education

Alongside our campus' hard polytech work, we've made great strides in sustainability efforts. Sustainability at Cal Poly Humboldt is not just an initiative, but a culture. The definition of sustainability touches on a wide variety of programs and populations, with the intent of achieving the university's sustainability goals and educating our students to be ambassadors of sustainability.

• Climate Action Plan: We are updating the ClimateAction Plan (CAP 2.0) and we want your input! The CAP 2.0 is a roadmap to guide the University toward achieving carbon neutrality by 2045, and to build resilience to climate change impacts.
• STARS: The campus has completed a plan to pursue a platinum rating in a large and well-adopted sustainability assessment called STARS. This ambitious goal will position the campus to become the best performing CSU in the system by 2026, and one of very few campuses worldwide to secure the elusive Platinum rating. Read the Path to Platinum Plan here. A few examples of current programming underway that supports this effort includes professional development for faculty on sustainability topics, refining our process for designating courses as sustainability focused or related, better documenting landscape management and integrated pest management protocols, and incorporating sustainability criteria more formally into contracts and procurement policy. Read more about STARS as a general assessment tool here.
• Microgrid: The University has partnered with the Schatz Energy Research Center to develop a campus microgrid. A microgrid is a system of energy generation, storage, and controls that will provide electricity to campus in the event the grid goes down and to lower the university's electricity demand. Components will include solar PV, large battery, backup generator, and associated controls. Local microgrids developed by the Schatz Center are at the Blue Lake Rancheria and the Redwood Coast airport
• Social Justice in Sustainability: The Sustainability Office continues to work toward implementing a sustainability movement that elevates justice and liberation along with the environmental and economic dimensions of sustainability. A few programs underway for Spring 2022 include various book circles and speaker series, supporting Umoja Center for Pan African Student Excellence’s Black to the Land farming initiative at the Bayside Park Farm, and supporting a campus-wide food summit led by El Centro Académico Cultural (and supported by the Humboldt Energy Independence Fund) in April 2022.

Library Reopens its Doors

Welcome back to the Cal Poly Humboldt Library! The $34 million seismic retrofit project began in 2018 and improved the safety and integrity of the Library, added new LED lights and ceiling tiles in the north side of the building, modernized the central elevator, upgraded ADA parking and accessibility and added many other enhancements. You're invited back to utilize the Library's many programs and services, students can access scholarly research, relax in the Brain Booth, or learn something new in a SkillShop.

'A Day On' for the Community in Honor of Martin Luther King Jr.

Twenty-two students and 18 faculty and staff members spent the day at multiple community and campus sites, working together to beautify the community while honoring the legacy of Dr. King.

Contactless Digital Payment for Parking through New App

Partnering with transportation software and payments company Passport, Humboldt recently began utilizing a digital parking payment system for the first time. The app, Passport Parking, allows for a contactless experience where motorists pay for and manage their parking sessions with their smartphones. Those who prefer to pay via traditional meters or purchase passes from the parking kiosk can still do so.