News and Announcements
Friday, April 24, is the federal compliance deadline for the new 2026 Title II Update. All documents on SFSU websites need to be archived, remediated to be accessible or removed.
Please keep up the great work past the deadline. After April 24, the Accessible Technology Initiative will continue our efforts toward getting all SFSU websites to meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 Level AA standards.
If you need help making your documents accessible or have any questions, please email the Accessible Technology Initiative at access@sfsu.edu.
The College of Liberal & Creative Arts College Undergraduate Research Experience is accepting applications for its 2026 – 2027 student-faculty grant programs. The deadline for both programs has been extended to Wednesday, April 22.
Students are encouraged to apply for the Marcus Undergraduate Research Fellowship supporting research and creative activity in partnership with a faculty mentor. It awards $3,000 to the student and $1,000 to the faculty mentor.
Faculty are encouraged to apply for the Marcus Undergraduate Research Assistantship grant supporting student research assistance on a faculty project. It awards $1,000 to the faculty mentor and $2,000 to each student assistant (one or two students).
For more information, please email See-Won Byun at sbyun@sfsu.edu.
Join Campus Recreation for its annual “5K Walk, Run and Roll” event on Saturday, April 25, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. This inclusive celebration invites participants of all abilities to enjoy a scenic course while promoting fitness and community spirit on campus.
Please register for the “5K Walk, Run and Roll” via the Campus Recreation Member Portal.
For questions or assistance, please email Campus Recreation special events at spevents@sfsu.edu or Monolito Montego Twyman at monolito@sfsu.edu.
Students interested in food, climate and mental wellbeing are invited to join a new SFSU faculty study.
Zubaida Qamar from the Family, Interiors, Nutrition and Apparel Department (Nutrition/Dietetics) and Supriya Misra from the Public Health Department seek college students to participate in a research study exploring how sustainable food systems relate to mental health and experiences of climate change. Your insights will help us better understand how food, environment and wellbeing are connected.
Participation involves a brief survey and possible follow-up activities. Responses will remain confidential.
The SFSU Academic Senate will meet on Tuesday, April 21, 2 – 5 p.m., via Zoom for its 12th meeting of the academic year.
- Informational items:
- Global Business and Decision Intelligence: department merger
- Master of Arts in Comparative Literature: suspension
- Bachelor of Arts in Humanities: suspension
- Minor in Humanities: suspension
- Bachelor of Arts in American Studies: suspension
- Minor in American Studies: suspension
- Certificate in Information Technology Auditing: suspension
- Recommendation from the Student Affairs Committee as consent item:
- Policy on Withdrawal from Courses, No. S20-196
- Recommendation from Executive Committee in second reading:
- San Francisco State University Academic Senate Endorsement of the Current University Administration’s Exploration of Campus Pouring Rights
- Recommendation from the Academic Policies Committee in second reading:
- Policy on Requirement for Graduate Students, No. F25-295
- Graduate Curriculum and Programs Policy, No. S22-300
- Graduate Student Awards for Distinguished Achievement, No. S07-032
- Recommendation from the Faculty Affairs Committee in second reading:
- Retention, Tenure and Promotion Policy, No. S25-241
- Recommendation from the Student Affairs Committee in second reading:
- Affirmation of Support for Minority Serving Institutions
- Recommendation from the Faculty Affairs and Student Affairs Committees in second reading:
- Resolution on Institutional Oversight, Bias Mitigation and Administrative Practices for Student Course Feedback Processes at San Francisco State University
- Administration and Processing of Student Course Feedback Forms, No. S26-213
- Recommendation from the Educational Policies Council in first reading:
- Bachelor of Arts in Classics: discontinuation
- Master of Arts in Classics: discontinuation
- Recommendation from the Academic Policies Committee:
- Policy on restructuring academic units, No. S25-290
- Recommendation from the Faculty Affairs Committee
- Policy on Abrasive Behavior/Bullying
- Department Chairs and Equivalent Unit Director policy, No. F25-145
- Recommendation from the Student Affairs Committee:
- Policy on Student College Advisory Committees
- Grade Appeal Practices and Procedures, No. F24-230
- The Senate will hear a presentation from the following:
- Andrew Roderick, associate vice president of Academic Technology: “Canvas Accessibility” (time certain: 4 p.m.)
Research and Education on Gender and Sexuality and the Health Equity Institute host a symposium titled “The Show Goes On!” on Monday, April 20, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., in HSS 233.
The second “The Show Goes On!” symposium convenes graduate students and faculty to share ongoing research on gender and sexuality at SFSU. In times when these research areas are endangered at the national level, we celebrate and highlight the ongoing work of our community to push boundaries in scholarship and activism on gender and sexuality.
With topics ranging from queer ecology to housing, and trans health and self-narrative, the events will showcase the relevance and need of our scholarship. In a series of snap-presentations, the event will foster community and showcase the diversity of research being conducted at the University on topics of vital importance now. Hosted by the Health Equity Institute, attendees are invited to see wide-ranging presentations by our colleagues.
The Digital Media Studio and MakerSpace hosts a “Podcasting 101” event on Monday, April 20, noon – 1 p.m., in Library 260. It is open to all SFSU students, faculty and staff. Learn the basics of podcasting, including recording, editing and publishing.
An RSVP is required. Please RSVP for “3D Printing 101” via the Academic Technology website.
As the busy tax season continues, you are invited to the 2026 VITA Recognition Ceremony: “Advancing Ethical Leadership in Service,” co-hosted during Business Ethics Week with Tom Thomas. It takes place Tuesday, April 21, 4 – 5:30 p.m., in Library 121.
This event will bring together students, faculty and community partners to reflect on the 2026 tax season, celebrate achievements and explore ethical leadership. Light refreshments will be provided.
The Lam Family College of Business is honored to welcome Okorie Ramsey as the keynote speaker. Ramsey is vice president of Sarbanes/Oxley at Kaiser Permanente and was the 110th chairman of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants from 2023 to 2024.
The ceremony is hosted by the Lam Family College of Business as part of the Community Engagement Initiative, in collaboration with Business Ethics Week, led by the Center for Ethical and Sustainable Business.
Please RSVP via Google Forms for the VITA Recognition Ceremony.
The Office of Emergency Services and the DREAM Resource Center are partnering with LISTOS to host the “LISTOS en 90 Minutos” course at SFSU on Wednesday, April 22, 4 – 5:30 p.m., Student Services 206. Admission is free.
The course is taught by the San Francisco Fire Department entirely in Spanish. It teaches basic emergency and disaster skills to protect yourself and your community.
Ready to take control of your financial future? The San Francisco Federal Credit Union invites you to “Aim for Your Best Financial Life with a Plan,” a free seminar led by certified financial planner Kevin Enomoto, on April 22, 5:30 – 7 p.m., at the San Francisco Federal Credit Union Golden Gate branch on 770 Golden Gate Ave. (at Gough Street). Member parking lot is on Elm Street.
You will walk away with practical guidance on budgeting, credit, investing and making the most of your retirement plan. Bring your questions. Leave with a clearer path forward.
Refreshments will be provided.
The campus community is invited to join “Emergency Communications: Building Trust and Optimizing Digital Communications for Communities with Disabilities, Access or Functional Needs” on Thursday, April 23, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m., in the J. Paul Leonard Library.
You are invited to the All-University Committee on International Programs coffee hour on Thursday, April 23, noon – 1 p.m., in Science and Engineering Innovation Center 500.
Join for light refreshments and an engaging conversation about all things international with fellow faculty, administrators and staff. This is the last coffee hour of the semester, and one of our study-abroad students will share her experiences as a Gator abroad.
“Agentic AI: Opportunities and Implications for Higher Education” offers a foundational overview of agentic artificial intelligence (AI), an emerging evolution of generative AI that autonomously plans and completes complex, multi-step processes. This faculty-focused workshop will be held Thursday, April 23, noon – 1 p.m., via Zoom. Registration is required.
Participants will learn about agentic AI’s key opportunities and risks, experience its capabilities through demonstrations of AI agents completing real-world academic tasks, and discuss about this technology’s impact as it becomes more prevalent in higher education and society at large.
SF State Rep presents “Antigone” by Sophocles (translated by Ben Roy, Bliss Perry, Alejandro Quintana, Sam Puopolo, Benji Ho and Sasha Baris) on Monday, April 27, and Wednesday, April 29, at 4 p.m. in the Little Theatre (Creative Arts 107). “Antigone” is a Greek tragedy from the perspective of Oedipus’ daughter Antigone.
As Antigone struggles to fulfill her moral duty, she must also confront the authority, Creon, King of Thebes, who seeks to punish anyone who disobeys him and stands as a formidable obstacle between her and her beliefs. She fights to confer burial rights for her brother — who Creon deems a traitor — and she is confronted with the painful choice of obeying the laws of the state or honoring the moral laws of the gods. To Antigone, she is righteous in her acts against Creon. To Creon, she represents its ruination.
In a world grappling with questions of justice, loyalty and moral courage, “Antigone” remains as defiant and necessary as ever. This production invites audiences not only to witness a heartbreaking tragedy, but to confront the timeless question at its heart: When the law is unjust, do you dare to stand against it?
“Antigone” is part of the School of Theatre and Dance’s spring 2026 semester of shows. SF State Rep is a student-operated theatre company.
Join the Center for Equity and Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CEETL) for “AI in Higher Education: A CSU Insight Debate and Dialogue” on Tuesday, April 28, 4 – 7 p.m., in Science and Engineering Innovation Center 116. At this event, people can say what they actually think about artificial intelligence (AI) and discover how different the issue looks from other corners of higher ed. Students, staff and faculty are welcome.
An insight debate is not a traditional debate. It’s a facilitated conversation designed to draw out a wide range of perspectives and identify where unexpected overlap exists. No preparation is required.
Interested in a major in the College of Ethnic Studies? Stop by our “Matcha, Music and Majoring in the College Ethnic Studies” open house and learn more about our majors on Wednesday, April 29, 12:30 – 2 p.m., in Ethnic Studies and Psychology 116.
Discover how majoring in Ethnic Studies can give you a critical lens that’s valuable in any career. Meet and connect with majors in the college and hear firsthand about their experiences and why they chose Ethnic Studies. Pizza will be provided.
The webinar “AI and the Environment: Separating Myth from Measurable Impact” will be held on Wednesday, April 29, noon — 1 p.m., via Zoom. Open to faculty, students and staff, this webinar offers a balanced perspective on AI’s environmental tradeoffs and its broader impact. Registration is required.
Researcher Andy Masley will examine AI’s environmental impact using data, challenging common assumptions and exploring the full lifecycle of AI systems. He highlights both valid concerns and overlooked context. Artificial intelligence (AI) is often seen as a growing environmental threat due to its high energy and water use. At SFSU, concerns about AI and data centers are especially prominent.
In honor of Foster Care Awareness Month, please join the Guardian Scholars Program’s student ambassadors for the “Foster Care Awareness Lunch and Learn” event on Friday, May 1, noon – 1 p.m., in Library 286 and via Zoom. Learn about the foster care system and how to support foster youth educational goals. Lunch will be provided for in-person attendees.
For employees who have CalPERS or a SavingsPlus 457, two upcoming virtual presentations will help you make the most of your retirement planning. “CalPERS Planning your Retirement” is offered Friday, May 1, 1 – 3:30 p.m., for employees with CalPERS. “Nearing Retirement within Five years with a 401(k) or 457(b)” on Friday, May 8, 11 a.m. – noon, for employees with a SavingsPlus account or CalPERS or if you want to learn about why you need plans such as a 401(k), Individual Retirement Account (IRA) or Roth IRA. Even if you don’t have a retirement account yet, learn why you should have at least a 401(k).
For more information and to RSVP, please email Nancy Ganner at ganner@sfsu.edu.
The Center for Equity and Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CEETL) has acquired free tickets to take faculty and staff to the Exploratorium on Saturday, May 2, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Join us to experience science, art and human perception come together through engaging, hands-on exhibits. Connect with colleagues and spark fresh ideas for teaching and learning in a playful, creative environment.
The Exploratorium is located on Pier 15 in San Francisco.
Please RSVP via Qualtrics for the outing to the Exploratorium.
The College of Ethnic Studies Undergraduate Research Symposium celebrates undergraduates’ remarkable contributions to research and other creative work on various topics. This event will include poster presentations, “fast talks” and creative expressions. It takes place Wednesday, May 6, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., in Library 121.
Please join a faculty writing retreat on Friday, May 29, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., at Naturebridge Golden Gate Conference and Retreat Center in the Marin Headlands. The retreat is designed to provide faculty with a focused and supportive environment where they can make significant progress on their writing projects while connecting with colleagues. It is hosted by the Office of Faculty Affairs and Professional Development in partnership with the Center for Equity and Excellence in Teaching and Learning and Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP).
Retreat highlights include structured writing time, optional one-on-one consultations, goal setting for the summer, refreshments and lunch. It’s an opportunity to collaborate, share ideas and foster a supportive community with colleagues from across the University.
Please register for “Kickoff to Summer” via Qualtrics. Space is limited to 70 participants. Admission is free. The University incurs significant costs per attendee, so please only register if you are sure that you will be able to attend. The deadline to register is 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 28.
For questions, please email Kate Hamel, ORSP faculty director for research engagement and development, at hamelk@sfsu.edu.
Emeritus Professor of Geography and Human Environmental Studies Max Kirkeberg passed away earlier this month. Kirkeberg began his career at SFSU in 1965 and was appointed emeritus in 2002. After retiring, he continued teaching for some years with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.
Throughout his time at SFSU, Kirkeberg made many contributions to the campus community including the “San Francisco on Foot” course that he taught for over 30 years, founding and leading the St Francis Lutheran Church and SFSU Geography Department AIDS walk team from the 1980s to the 2000s and establishing with his husband Gabriel Kirkeberg-Proo (B.A., ’87; M.A., ’93; teaching credential, ’97), The Max Kirkeberg Scholarship, an endowed scholarship awarded to students in the School of the Environment.
While at SFSU, he took thousands of photographs documenting various places in the San Francisco Bay Area. These can be found in The Max Kirkeberg Collection.
He was remembered in an April 26 article by KQED.
Kirkeberg is survived by his husband; his cousins Jon Honnette, Susan Shuckhart and Nancy Bauer; and many SFSU colleagues, students and alums.
Donations in his memory can be made to the Max Kirkeberg Endowed Scholarship in SFSU’s School of the Environment or to the 2026 AIDS Walk SF, Team1127 – St. Francis Lutheran/SFSU Geography.
SFSU Spotlight
The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) congratulates these faculty members and others for their recent grant awards.
Jennifer Gasang, executive director of the Institute for Civic and Community Engagement: $18,598 supplement from the Governor’s Office of Service and Community Engagement/California Volunteers for “Californians for All College Fellowship 2024 – 2026.” The funding supports students for two years to join the statewide student service College Corps program working in K – 12 education, climate action and food insecurity.
Gasang: $20,000 supplement from Panorama Environmental for “Panorama Environmental Inc. Internship.” This internship program allows students to gain real-world experience and develop professional skills in environmental consulting through hands-on learning in planning, permitting and regulatory compliance.
Julie Paulson, professor of English Language and Literature: $74,883 from the Los Angeles County Office of Education for “SFSU Inclusion Pilot Proposal for California Inclusive College Programs Development and Expansion Grant.” This grant supports inclusive college programs that are in the process of establishing or expanding programs for students with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities.
Lena Yang, assistant professor of Accounting: $8,000 from United Way Bay Area/California Department of Community Services and Development for “Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) 2026.” The funding provides free tax filing assistance for qualifying community members.
Political Science Professor Ron Hayduk is the author of the new book “Untangling the Political Roots of Immigration and Inequality in the United States” (Routledge). He recently gave an interview to the New Books Network discussing the book.
Recreation, Parks and Tourism Professor Erik Peper gave the invited Zoom lecture, “Vital Aging: Breathe Better and Live Better,” to the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UC Berkeley on April 9.