News and Announcements
The Open Enrollment deadline to change any of your employee benefits is Friday, Oct. 9. The Human Resources Benefits team encourages you to review your benefits to determine if any changes will be made before Open Enrollment ends. All employees can now make their changes directly through HR Self-Service via the Gateway.
Please visit the Human Resources website for full information.
For questions, please send a ticket to the HR service desk.
Photo by Juan Montes
Over 400 SFSU alumni and friends came together on Sept. 19 to cheer on the Golden State Valkyries in their final home game of the season, a win over the Seattle Storm at the Chase Center in San Francisco.
The first 200 early-bird registrants enjoyed exclusive courtside access to watch the Valkyries warm up before the game.
“It was a fantastic night filled with Gator pride and Valkyries spirit, bringing our community together for an unforgettable experience,” said Marciana Flores, associate director of Alumni Relations.
Please visit the Alumni Association’s Flickr to view photos from the event.
Photo courtesy of the Alumni Association
Whether you use artificial intelligence every day or avoid it altogether, the CSU wants to hear from you.
The CSU AI Survey is open to students, faculty and staff through Monday, Oct. 19. The anonymous survey takes less than 10 minutes (any question can be skipped) asking how the CSU community is using generative AI, what they think about the technology and where they may need more support. Participants can also enter a drawing to win a $25 gift card or an iPad.
“AI is changing quickly, and campuses need to understand how our students, faculty and staff are actually experiencing it,” said Andrew Roderick, SFSU assistant vice president of Academic Technology. “You don’t need to be an expert or even an AI user. You don’t have to like AI. We want to hear from everyone.”
More than 94,000 students, faculty and staff across the CSU participated in last year’s survey. Their responses provided a snapshot of how AI was being used across the system and identified concerns ranging from accuracy and academic integrity to ethics, job security and the need for additional training.
“The previous study indicated that overall students have multiple concerns with AI; however, there are differences between groups of students how that angst is impacting their behavior. It is important that we understand if the similarities and differences in attitudes and behaviors are similar over time to inform AI policy decision making on our campus,” said Professor and Chair of the Academic Senate Jackson Wilson, who conducted a study using last year’s CSU AI Survey dataset.
This year’s responses will help the CSU better understand how attitudes and uses are changing as AI becomes more common in higher education and the workplace.
Students interested in doing more than taking a survey had another opportunity to explore AI on Friday, Oct. 2, when SFSU hosted the SF Hacks x GDG AI Hackathon. The free event brought together students from SFSU and other Bay Area colleges and universities to spend the day building projects, working with mentors and putting new AI tools to the test.
The search for a new University president will include the involvement of a campus search advisory committee that provides advice and consultation regarding the position and campus descriptions and any advertisement of the position.
The committee will review and comment on all candidate applications and participate in candidate interviews and the deliberations that lead to the selection of the final candidate(s). The committee membership includes two faculty members elected by SFSU faculty, whose names must be submitted to the Chancellor’s Office.
“The CSU will soon launch a national search for Mahoney’s successor,” CSU Chancellor Mildred García stated this month. A timeline for the formation of the advisory committee is unknown. Therefore, if this committee is not formed during the current academic year, these positions will be re-elected during spring elections.
To self-nominate for the campus search advisory committee, you must be a full-time faculty member at SFSU. The schedule for meeting has not been determined.
The nomination period will close at 5 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 16. Voting will close Monday, Nov. 6.
Please complete the Qualtrics form to self-nominate for the committee.
For questions, please email the Academic Senate office at senate@sfsu.edu.
The Institute for Civic and Community Engagement (ICCE) is accepting nominations for the 2027 Civic and Community Engagement Awards. These awards recognize the students, faculty, staff and community partners whose leadership, service and collaboration strengthen connections between SFSU and our communities.
Nominate someone for:
- Faculty Award for Excellence in Community Engaged Learning
- Student Award for Excellence in Community Engaged Learning
- Community Partnership Award for Campus Collaboration
- Russell Staff Award for Excellence in Community Engagement
Tell ICCE who you nominate; share specific examples of their work and impact on students or communities. Review the award criteria to choose the appropriate category.
The nomination deadline is Friday, Dec. 18. For questions, please email ICCE at icce@sfsu.edu.
The Vista Room, the sit-down service training restaurant, is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays for lunch at 11:45 a.m. On Thursday, Oct. 8, and other select dates, The Vista Room offers a buffet for $23 per person.
To make a reservation, please email the Vista Room at vista@sfsu.edu.
The SFSU Academic Senate met on Tuesday, Sept. 29, via Zoom.
The Senate:
- Presented an informational item:
- Merger of Museum Studies and the History Department
- Passed the following items in second reading:
- Bylaw Amendment: Student Affairs Committee membership
- Grade Appeal Practices and Procedures, No. F24-230
- Certificate in Entertainment Design and Production: new certificate
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, concentration in Decision Sciences: name change and curricular changes
- Heard in first reading:
- Revision to Athletic Advisory Board, No. S92-175
- Minor in Forensic Investigations: new program
- Minor in Operations and Supply Chain Management: new program
- Bachelor of Arts in Child and Adolescent Development, concentration in Elementary Education Integrated Teacher Education Program: new program
- Bachelor of Arts in Applied World Languages
- Certificate in Exercise Physiology
- Minor in German Studies
- Minor in Italian Studies
October is Intimate Partner and Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Throughout this month, The SAFE Place will host a variety of educational trainings, community events and student groups to honor survivors of violence as well as promote campus safety and wellness.
Featured events include a Transformative Justice Empowerment Group, SAFE Place book club, consent and boundaries workshop, stalking awareness workshop and gentle yoga. Purple ribbons are available for pick up in the SAFE Place office in room 308 of the Gator Health Center to wear in solidarity for survivors of domestic and intimate partner violence.
Welcome to Cybersecurity Awareness Month! At SFSU, cybersecurity is not just an information technology issue; it is everyone’s responsibility. Small actions, such as using strong passwords, enabling multi-factor authentication, keeping software updated and recognizing scams, make a big difference in protecting classwork, personal accounts and campus data. By taking part, you help protect not only SFSU, but your own personal information as well.
SFSU’s Charles F. Hagar Planetarium (Thornton Hall 422) will soon close temporarily for renovation. Now is your last chance to see its remarkable vintage star projector in action! Come witness the Milky Way in all its glory as it appears far from city lights. Bring your friends and family; bring your questions about space and astronomy. Shows are free and open to the public.
Schedule:
- Monday, Oct. 5, 1 p.m.: “Tracing Humanity Through the Stars” by Gillis Lowry
- Friday, Oct. 9, 5:30 p.m.: “A Few of My Favorite Things About the Hagar Planetarium” by Adrienne Cool
- Tuesday, Oct. 13, 1 p.m.: “Undead Stars and Spooky Constellation Stories” by Gillis Lowry
Last entry is five minutes after the start time. Shows last about 45 minutes.
Weather permitting, viewing through telescopes is available at the SFSU Observatory on Fridays at 7 p.m.
For questions, please email Jim Gibson at jimg@sfsu.edu or Adrienne Cool at cool@sfsu.edu.
Strategic Learning and Organizational Excellence (SLOE), part of the San Francisco Bay Region Network, supports employees, teams and leaders across Cal State East Bay, SFSU and Sonoma State. Through learning and professional development, leadership development and organizational development, SLOE helps build individual and organizational capabilities, strengthen effectiveness and support our universities as they evolve and pursue their strategic priorities.
Schedule:
- Tuesday, Oct. 6, 10 – 11 a.m.: “The Power of the 1:1: Turning Routine Check-Ins into Meaningful Conversations”
- Tuesday, Oct. 6, and other dates, 11 – 11:30 a.m.: “Breath and Health”
- Wednesday, Oct. 7, 10 – 11 a.m.: “Increase Productivity with MS OneNote”
- Thursday, Oct. 8, 10 – 11 a.m.: “Foundations of Psychological Safety”
- Friday, Oct. 9, 11 a.m. – noon: “Neurodiversity in the Workplace”
- Wednesday, Oct. 14, 10 – 11 a.m.: “Mental Health Awareness in Action: Recognizing Distress and Responding with Support — CSU’s Got Talent”
- Tuesday, Oct. 20, 10 – 11 a.m.: “Unmasking Imposter Syndrome: Feeling Unsure Doesn’t Mean You Don’t Belong”
- Tuesday, Oct. 20, 10 – 11 a.m.: “Neurodiversity in the Workplace”
- Wednesday, Oct. 21, 10 – 11:15 a.m.: “Supervising Hybrid and Teleworking Teams” (available only to Management Personnel Plan employees)
- Wednesday, Oct. 21, 10 – 11:30 a.m.: “Design Studio: Visual Design and PowerPoint for Non-Designers”
- Wednesday, Oct. 21, 10:30 a.m. – noon: “AI Playtime: Get Curious, Experiment and Build Confidence”
- Wednesday, Oct. 28, 10-11:30 a.m.: “Virtual Stepping Beyond – Customer Service”
- Wednesday, Oct. 28, 11 a.m. – noon: “Work Smarter, Not Harder: Using AI to Elevate Employee Learning Programs”
- Friday, Oct. 30, 11 a.m. – noon: “Conflict Management Styles”
“Jazz and Tacos” brings a jazz-club experience to SFSU on Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 1:30 p.m., in Studio One, Creative Arts building. Step into an underground, speakeasy-inspired setting for free live jazz and free tacos, featuring local jazz artists accompanied by SFSU student musicians.
Associated Students invites the campus community to participate in Student Center Renaming Town Halls on Tuesday, Oct. 6, and Wednesday, Oct. 7, on the Student Center plaza level or via Zoom. Sessions will be held 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. both days.
The Student Center Renaming Ad Hoc Committee will share an update on the renaming process, answer questions and gather additional feedback as it works toward a recommendation. Those unable to attend may also submit written comments.
The SFSU Police Department is excited to hold the next “Coffee with a Cop” event on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., just outside the upper Library entrance. This event provides an opportunity for the campus community to ask questions and share ideas over a free cup of coffee.
The “AI Literacy Essentials: Introduction to Generative AI” course introduces generative artificial intelligence (AI) to those with little or no prior experience engaging with this emerging technology. It will be held Wednesday, Oct. 7, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m., via Zoom. Registration is required.
Participants obtain a foundational understanding of generative AI, its associated opportunities and implications, and basic strategies for composing and iterating prompts. Participants will engage in hands-on interaction with the Microsoft Copilot chatbot to begin generating practical outputs for personal and professional use cases.
This course is an elective that counts toward receiving a digital badge for the AI Literacy Education Program.
The SFSU community is invited to come together for a memorial honoring our students, staff and faculty members who have passed away. It will take place Wednesday, Oct. 7, noon – 1 p.m., in the Garden of Remembrance.
This gathering will offer a space for remembrance and reflection as we recognize their lives, contributions and lasting impact on our University community. All are welcome to join as we honor their memories and support one another in community.
The Digital Media Studio and MakerSpace will host an open house event on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2 – 6 p.m., in Library 260. It is open to all SFSU students, faculty and staff.
Learn about 3D printing, virtual reality, podcasting, audio mixing, internet-of-things/micro-controllers/robotics and video/audio equipment checkout. The open house will also feature special presentations of student projects with edge computing, artificial intelligence and more.
Go behind the scenes with the Kronos Quartet as it rehearses new works and shares a look at its creative process on Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 7 p.m. in Studio One, Creative Arts building.
Please visit the LCA Live website to reserve your free tickets.
The Center for Equity and Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CEETL) invites faculty and staff to an experiential workshop, “Everyday Mindfulness: Culturally Responsive and Inclusive Practices for Educators,” on Friday, Oct. 9, noon – 1 p.m., in Library 242. Zoom is available on request.
Maiya Evans, an SFSU lecturer faculty and a health educator who holds a Master of Public Health degree, will lead the workshop. Participants will explore culturally responsive mindfulness practices for cultivating presence, connection and awareness in the classroom, while considering how mindfulness can be adapted thoughtfully to honor students’ diverse identities, cultures and experiences.
Campus Safety Week 2026 returns Monday, Oct. 12 – Friday, Oct. 16, with a variety of informative and hands-on programs to support personal well-being, workplace safety, emergency readiness and community resilience. This campus-wide initiative invites faculty, staff and students to explore valuable resources, develop practical skills and strengthen your ability to respond to every-day and emergency situations.
Participants can take part in a range of events, including the Campus Safety Fair, “Stop the Bleed” training, first-aid/CPR/automated external defibrillator certification courses, cybersecurity awareness workshops, personal defense instruction, pet emergency preparedness sessions, fire extinguisher training and much more.
SFSU faculty and staff alumni are invited to join a guided tour of the Mashouf Wellness Center and Gator Health Center on Wednesday, Oct. 14, noon – 1 p.m., followed by lunch at the Yerba Buena Dining Center. Participants will learn about the programs, services and resources these departments offer to support the well-being of SFSU employees.
The event will also include information about the SFSU FitPlus Program, which helps employees stay active, connect with the campus community and receive personalized health and fitness coaching from Kinesiology student interns. Participants will enjoy a quick FitPlus stretch and movement demonstration to experience the program firsthand. It’s also an opportunity to reconnect with fellow Gator alumni who now work at SFSU.
SFSU Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) is an IRS-sponsored program that provides free tax preparation services while giving students hands-on experience in tax, client service and professional development.
Join the 2027 SFSU VITA open house on Thursday, Oct. 15, 4–5:30 p.m., in Business 202. An office tour in Creative Arts 134 will follow. Light refreshments will be provided.
Apply for VITA in spring 2027 via Microsoft Forms.
For questions, please email the VITA program at sfsuvita@sfsu.edu.
Join the Center for Equity and Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CEETL) on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 1 – 2 p.m., via Zoom for an interactive workshop exploring how educators can move beyond compliance-based accommodations toward learning environments grounded in disability justice.
Participants will examine barriers to access and belonging and leave with practical strategies for creating more inclusive course policies, classroom practices and everyday interactions. Maisoon Alghethy and Christina Passmore of the Disability Programs and Resource Center will facilitate the workshop.
CEETL states that it is committed to creating an accessible and welcoming workshop and recognizes that access needs vary. For accommodations, access needs or other adjustments—please email CEETL at ceetl@sfsu.edu.
The Center for Equity and Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CEETL), in collaboration with the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, invites faculty to a seminar on “Teaching with AI in Large Lecture Courses” on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2.30 – 4.30 p.m., in Library 121.
Led by Melanie Cooper, Lappan-Phillips Professor of Science Education at Michigan State University, this seminar will explore evidence-based approaches to using generative artificial intelligence (AI) in teaching and learning, including strategies that promote student engagement, self-regulated learning and equitable AI practices. Refreshments will be served.
A collaboration of organizations on campus hosts a free public screening of “Earth’s Greatest Enemy,” a documentary on the environmental costs of militarism, on Thursday, Oct. 15, 5 – 8 p.m., in Humanities 133. Following the screening, investigative journalist and filmmaker Abby Martin will join live via Zoom for a Q&A with the audience. Refreshments will be served after.
Doors open at 4:30 p.m. Please register for “Earth’s Greatest Enemy” via Qualtrics.
This event is sponsored by Climate HQ, the Department of Communication Studies, Department of Race and Resistance Studies and School of Cinema Marcus Chair, as well as student groups Resist U.S.-Led War, SFSU Student Union, the General Union of Palestine Students and the SFSU chapter of Young Democratic Socialists of America.
Writer, translator and scholar Jhumpa Lahiri will be in conversation with Women and Gender Studies students on Monday, Oct. 19, in honor of the department’s 50th anniversary.
For admission information and other details, please email Chair Kasturi Ray at kasturi@sfsu.edu.
The Department of Economics will host the Third Betty Blecha Memorial Distinguished Lecture in Economics on Thursday, Oct. 22, in the Nob Hill Room, Seven Hills Conference Center. Tea and coffee will be served 3:30 – 4 p.m., followed by the lecture 4 – 5:30 p.m. A reception with refreshments will follow from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. The lecture is free and open to the SFSU community and affiliates.
Annamaria Lusardi, senior fellow at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research and director of the Initiative for Financial Decision-Making at Stanford University, will present “The Importance of Financial Literacy: Evidence from Many Years of Data.” Professor Lusardi will discuss how financial literacy has changed over time and across demographic groups, highlight the relationship between financial knowledge and financial behavior and consider the implications of these findings for teaching, policy and programs.
For questions, please email Venoo Kakar at vkakar@sfsu.edu.
Back by popular demand, Staff Council will host its annual craft faire on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., in Burk Hall 168 and 170.
If you are interested in participating, please fill out the Qualtrics form, and the Staff Council will contact you. The deadline to sign up is Friday, Oct. 16.
For general questions, please email the Staff Council at askstaffcouncil@sfsu.edu.
SFSU Spotlight
A comics exhibition co-curated by Associate Professor and Comics Studies Coordinator Nick Sousanis is getting a second life this fall. “Comics Beyond Sight!,” created with San Francisco Disability Cultural Center Co-Director Emily Beitiks for the Graphic Medicine Conference in Ireland two years ago, opened Oct. 2 at the University of Michigan. The exhibition explores accessible approaches to comics. Sousanis and Beitiks will join Silvana Rainey virtually for a hybrid opening program that day. The show is on view through December.
Sousanis is also continuing a longtime practice of making his course syllabi as comics. He has been drawing his syllabi for a decade and has produced them as mini-comics the past three semesters. His latest, created for a new course this fall, is available online.
Associate Professors Zubaida Qamar (Family, Interiors, Nutrition and Apparel) and Supriya Misra (Public Health), along with their graduate student, Holly Lehr, presented at the CalFresh Forum, “We Imagine, We Thrive!,” hosted by Nourish California. The interactive session on Sept. 24 in Oakland highlighted interdisciplinary collaboration across CalFresh, food justice, mental health and sustainable food systems as an extension of their current research study.
Associate Professor of Child and Adolescent Development Rachel Flynn is a co-author of a new research brief examining how policymakers can support young people’s well-being in an increasingly digital world. Developed in partnership with Fund IRL and the Society for Research in Child Development, “Helping Young People Thrive in Real Life and Online: Evidence-Based Investments States Can Make Now” brings together research from developmental science, youth development and mental health.
The brief argues that reducing young people’s social media is only one part of supporting healthy development. Children also need meaningful opportunities to build relationships, play, learn, develop independence and connect with trusted adults. Research shows that high-quality out-of-school time programs, sports and other community-based programs can promote social skills, academic success and a sense of belonging. At the same time, young people will continue to connect and communicate online. The authors highlight media literacy as an important tool for helping youth recognize problematic patterns of social media use and develop healthier, more purposeful ways of engaging online. The brief calls for sustained investments in youth development programs, accessible public spaces, school and community mental health services, and resources that help families, educators and youth-serving professionals support healthy social media use. It also emphasizes equitable access: about 22.6 million U.S. youth lack access to out-of-school-time programs.
Flynn brings both research and practical experience to this work. Her research examines how media and technology shape children’s development, and she previously spent more than a decade directing and running out-of-school-time programs.
Labor and Employment Studies Lecturer Faculty Jaz Brisack participated in a panel discussion on Sept. 23 at the UC Berkeley Labor Center. The discussion followed a screening of the documentary “Partners: How Starbucks Baristas Started a Labor Revolution.”
On Sept. 24, Brisack spoke at “The Trial of Mark Zuckerberg,” an event in San Francisco presented by Gray Area.