News and Announcements
Open Enrollment is your opportunity to review and change any employee benefits for your family. You can change health and dental plans, add and delete dependents, cancel coverage and sign up for new benefits such as a health-care reimbursement account for eligible expenses.
If nothing will change for you, no need to act! Please pay attention to the deadline — absolutely no changes accepted after 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9. Any changes made will take effect January 2027.
Please visit the CSU website for information about the virtual CSU Benefits Fair.
For questions in advance, please email the Benefits team at benefits@sfsu.edu.
Photo by Juan Montes
SFSU welcomed Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, former speaker of the House, to campus Aug. 28 for a discussion with University leaders and a tour highlighting SFSU’s growing enrollment, academic innovation and new facilities.
Pelosi met with President Lynn Mahoney, Vice President for Student Affairs Jamillah Moore and Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Amy Sueyoshi. During the roundtable discussion, Mahoney shared the University’s latest enrollment numbers, noting that SFSU’s incoming class increased for the first time in more than a decade. She also thanked Pelosi and her colleagues for their efforts to support San Francisco’s revitalization, noting that the city and the opportunities it offers are among the reasons students choose to become Gators.
Sueyoshi discussed academic innovations designed to prepare students for evolving workforce needs. Moore talked about how SFSU supports its students, more specifically those who are impacted by immigration issues.
College of Science & Engineering Dean Carmen Domingo then led Pelosi on a tour of the new Science & Engineering Innovation Center, which was funded through state support and private philanthropy. Domingo showed Pelosi a new Chemistry laboratory and discussed changes in how SFSU teaches chemistry to improve student learning and retention. Pelosi also met two graduate students studying Biochemistry.
The group visited the engineering structures and seismic laboratory for a brief demonstration before concluding the visit with a walk through West Grove Commons, the newest residence hall community on campus where she met more Gators.
Photo by Juan Montes
Classes may be underway, but the welcome to a new academic year is just getting started at SFSU.
GatorFest 2026 brings our students together for more than two months of activities that help new and returning Gators meet people, discover campus resources, get involved and make SFSU — and San Francisco — feel like home.
The annual celebration got underway the week before classes with SFSU traditions including the Fall Pinning Ceremony, where our new students marked the beginning of their University journey, and the yearly outdoor dance party Noise Complaint. An ice cream reception, Drag Queen Bingo and a block party kept the festivities going.
And GatorFest won’t end now that classes have begun. Events continue through Friday, Nov. 20, with something for just about every interest.
You can meet clubs and organizations during two weeks of Meet the Org events on Malcolm X Plaza. Sports Club Week includes a pep rally and field day, while those interested in fraternity and sorority life can attend Meet the Black Greeks, Meet LGC and Greek 101.
Other events are all about having fun and meeting fellow Gators. You can lace up for a glow-in-the-dark skating party, catch a movie while swimming at the Mashouf Wellness Center’s Dive-In Movie Night or test your detective skills during a murder-mystery game night.
By attending Gatorfest as a first-year student in 2025, Denia Rosales-Flores learned about student resources available to her. Now, she is director of finance for the SFSU Residential Housing Association (RHA), helping to organize Gatorfest events and tabling on the Quad.
“We just had a ‘Monsters University’ movie night outside of West Grove Commons with over 200 people there,” she said. “Gatorfest helped me get involved with RHA. It’s a great way to find good connections and the organizations on campus you might be interested in joining.”
GatorFest also extends beyond campus, with a September outing to cheer on the San Francisco Giants and experience another part of the city students call home.
Together, the events do more than entertain. GatorFest helps you become familiar with academic and wellness resources, discover ways to get involved and build relationships with your peers, faculty and staff — all while making the transition to SFSU and San Francisco a little easier.
See the full GatorFest 2026 schedule and find an event for you.
Photo by Juan Montes
The AI Literacy Education Program equips the SFSU community with essential knowledge and skills to effectively and responsibly engage with generative artificial intelligence (AI). Please join Academic Technology this fall to engage in guided inquiry of this emerging technology, catch up on your digital badging progress or level up your understanding of generative AI.
The Provost’s Office invites nominations and self-nominations for the position of interim dean of the Lam Family College of Business (LFCOB).
The interim dean will lead the college starting spring 2027, serving a one- to two-year term while a national search is conducted.
The Provost’s Office values a consultative process that will allow the Lam Family College of Business faculty, staff, and administrators to join in identifying an interim dean.
For details and documents, please access the LFCOB Interim Dean Search BOX folder.
University Advancement requests campus comment and feedback for the proposed update to Naming Valuations Policy and Guidelines, which establishes requirements and procedures for naming University facilities, programs and other entities and provides guidance for establishing appropriate gift levels for naming opportunities.
For questions or clarification regarding the proposed policy, please email the Policies team at policies@sfsu.edu.
The Center for Equity and Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CEETL) invites faculty to join a fall 2026 Universal Design for Learning (UDL) 3.0 Teaching Square. This is a collaborative learning community designed for faculty across disciplines to explore how UDL can support more accessible and inclusive teaching.
The UDL Teaching Square is the final component of CEETL’s Return of JEDI Certificate Series and is open to the first 20 participants. Faculty who complete Return of JEDI Slice 1, Slice 2 and the Teaching Square will earn the Return of JEDI Certificate. Participants may enroll in only one JEDI Teaching Square. A stipend is available for 10 hours of learning. Register by Tuesday, Sept. 15.
The UDL Teaching Square is a CEETL initiative in collaboration with the SFSU Inclusion Program and is supported by a grant from the California Center for Inclusive College.
It is often said that college students’ No. 1 regret is not studying abroad. Many students want to go, but fear that it is not possible. Please encourage your students to go and let them know that it is possible, especially financially and academically.
On SF State Abroad programs, students enjoy:
- Cheaper cost of living abroad
- Access to their financial aid abroad
- The same SFSU tuition rates
- SFSU resident credit
Programs are available in 36 countries! Explore the SF State Abroad database to see all programs. Students can go abroad for their:
- Major or minor
- Upper- and lower-division general education
- Language learning
Tuesday, Sept. 15, is the study abroad deadline for spring 2027/calendar year 2027. Applications are online and free.
You may direct students to:
- The Study Abroad Fair on Tuesday, Sept. 8 – Wednesday, Sept. 9, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., on the Quad/Malcolm X Plaza
- The Study Abroad Office in Building C of the Village at Centennial Square (between the Humanities and Student Services buildings)
- Email SF State Abroad at studyabroad@sfsu.edu
Faculty: Have you taken steps to reduce the cost of instructional materials for students in your courses? If so, you may be eligible for funding as part of the Affordable Instructional Materials (AIM) program.
AIM awards grants to individual faculty members and full departments to support the adoption of no- or low-cost instructional materials to make quality education accessible for all students.
Funding is $250 – $750 for individual faculty and increases for departmental initiatives, depending on the projected impact and savings for students.
The application to submit proposals is now open. Please visit the AIM page of the Academic Technology website to learn more about the program and apply for a grant. Please email Academic Technology at at@sfsu.edu to discuss potential cost-reduction projects.
SFSU’s exchange partner, Sciences Po in France, has two opportunities for faculty:
- Visiting faculty focusing on artificial intelligence and society
- Visiting fellowship in social sciences or humanities
Please apply by Sunday, Nov. 15.
Sciences Po is an international research university, both selective and open to the world, ranking among the finest institutions in the fields of humanities and social sciences. According to the 2026 QS rankings by subject, Sciences Po is among the top three international universities around the world for studying politics and has remained the leading university in the European Union in this discipline for the past 11 years.
Sciences Po stands out for combining approaches and confronting different worldviews. This tradition of diversity and multidisciplinary approach makes Sciences Po a reputed player in academic research through its scientific production, an internationally recognized teaching university and an active participant in public debate, a forum where thought meets action.
The SF State CREATE Federal Work-Study (FWS) Undergraduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity (RSCA) program is back for 2026 – 2027! The program seeks tenured/tenure-track faculty mentors across all colleges and disciplines to host paid undergraduate research and creative activity assistants.
The program connects faculty projects with undergraduate students who have Federal Work-Study eligibility, allowing students to gain meaningful faculty-mentored RSCA experience while being paid for their time.
Program highlights:
- No cost to faculty or departments – eligible students funded through FWS awards
- Up to 15 student positions available at $20 an hour.
- Students can work 100 – 200 hours between November 2026 and May 2027, dependent upon the level of their FWS award and financial aid package.
- Faculty receive a $500 honorarium.
- Students participate in a SF State CREATE cohort, meeting monthly for professional and research-development programming.
- The program culminates in a spring RSCA showcase where students share their work.
- Faculty from all disciplines and career stages are encouraged to participate; first-time undergraduate research mentors are especially welcome.
Faculty project proposals should include:
- A 150 – 250-word plain-language project description.
- The activities the student will undertake and skills they will develop.
- Skills that are required at the start versus skills that can be learned on the project.
- Project modality/location, approximate meeting schedule, and project timeline.
- A brief mentoring plan describing meetings, supervision, and feedback.
Please submit your project via Qualtrics by Wednesday, Sept. 23.
For questions, please email Kate Hamel, faculty director for research engagement and development, at hamelk@sfsu.edu.
SF State CREATE is pleased to launch the Richman Undergraduate Exploration Fellowship Program, supporting undergraduate research, scholarship and creative activity across all disciplines. Applications are due Monday, Oct. 12.
The Richman Fellowship is designed to give SFSU students protected, paid time to explore their curiosity and experience the wonderment and discovery at the heart of research and creative inquiry. Fellows will receive $2,000 to support approximately 100 hours of faculty-mentored work between November 2026 and May 2027. Participating faculty mentors will receive a $500 stipend.
Students from all majors and disciplines are encouraged to apply, including students who are new to research or creative inquiry. Faculty are encouraged to share this opportunity with undergraduate students and consider mentoring a Richman fellow.
Please visit the SF State CREATE website to learn more and apply.
For questions, please email Kate Hamel, faculty director for research engagement and development, at hamelk@sfsu.edu.
The Institute for Civic and Community Engagement (ICCE) is pleased to announce the 2027 Call to Service Grants, supporting community-engaged teaching, scholarship, projects and partnerships. ICCE invites faculty to explore these opportunities and welcomes proposals from across the University.
Funding opportunities for 2027:
- Service-Learning Course Development Grant: Rolling application through Jan. 29, 2027, or until funds are awarded; supports the development or redesign of courses with a community-engaged learning component.
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Civic and Community Engagement Support Grant: Rolling application through Jan. 29, 2027, or until funds are awarded; supports community-engaged projects, partnerships and co-curricular initiatives.
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Eisman Award for Engaged Scholarship: Application deadline: Monday, Nov. 30; recognizes faculty engaged scholarship and sustained community engagement.
Funding for the Call to Service Grants is provided by the CSU Chancellor’s Office and is contingent upon final allocation and continued support. Grant availability and award amounts may be adjusted based on final funding received.
Please visit the ICCE website for complete grant guidelines, eligibility and application information.
The SFSU Academic Senate met on Sept. 1 at Seven Hills Conference Center.
The Senate:
- Heard in first reading:
- Grade Appeal Practices and Procedures, No. F24-230
- Heard presentations from:
- Vice Chair Rick Harvey on “Robert’s Rules”
- Andrew Roderick, Jamie Lopez, Brandon York and Rebecca Eissler on “Academic Technology updates”
- Senator Maria Zavala on “Graduate College of Education Senate podcast”
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.
Upcoming learning opportunities:
- Through Saturday, Sept. 12: Mashouf Wellness Center Faculty/Staff Free Week. For more information, please email Edward Viray at eviray@sfsu.edu.
- Tuesday, Sept. 8, 10 – 11 a.m.: “Money Matters: Supporting Financial Wellness Across the CSU"
- Tuesday Sept. 8, and other dates, 11 – 11:30 a.m.: “Breath and Health”
- Wednesday, Sept. 9, and other dates, 11:30 a.m. – noon: “Weekly Dose of Mindfulness”
- Thursday, Sept. 10, 10 – 11 a.m.: “Creating Belonging in the Workplace”
- Thursday, Sept. 17, 10 – 11 a.m.: “Building Trust—SWIFTly”
- Friday, Sept. 18, 11 a.m. – noon: “Effective Meeting Planning”
- Tuesday, Sept. 22, 10 – 11:30 a.m.: “Excel Tips and Tricks”
- Wednesday, Sept. 23, noon – 1 p.m.: “Understanding Ableism”
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Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2 – 3:30 p.m.: “Atomic Habit: Becoming the Architect of Your Life”
- Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2 – 3 p.m.: “Constructive Discomfort: Building a Campus Culture Where Students, Staff and Faculty Feel Empowered to Engage Conflicts Early”
- Wednesday, Sept. 30, 11 a.m.-noon: “Ignite Employee Engagement: A Gamified Approach to Staff Development”
As we begin our fall semester, the Human Resources Information Team has scheduled Zoom drop-in sessions to assist our campus colleagues with any Common Human Resources System (CHRS) questions you may have.
You can find CHRS through the SFSU Gateway and then by selecting the HR Self-Service tile. This will take you directly to CHRS.
Here’s how to hit the ground running:
- Get in: Head to the SFSU Gateway and select the HR Self-Service title to get started.
- Personal details: Review your personal information (address, phone number, emergency contacts, etc.).
- Stay informed: Our CHRS section on the Human Resources website will be your go-to hub for news, updates and helpful resources as we grow into the system together.
- Build your skills: The CHRS training page has on-demand videos and quick-reference guides for all employee self-service and other Human Resources-related tasks.
- Get hands-on help: Drop-in Zoom lab sessions are happening in upcoming weeks. Dates and times are available on the main CHRS web page.
Join the Center for Equity and Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CEETL) for WE Wednesday, a collaborative mandala quilt-making activity that blends creativity, mindfulness and community building. This event will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 1 – 2 p.m., in Library 286.
Participants will design a unique quilt square that reflects their experiences, perspectives or aspirations, with all squares combined into a shared community quilt. No artistic or sewing experience is needed; just bring your creativity and enjoy connecting with colleagues.
Please visit CEETL’s WE Wednesday Mandala Quilt page to register.
Please help spread the word about the fall 2026 Service and Internship Fair, hosted by the Institute for Civic and Community Engagement (ICCE), on Thursday, Sept. 10, noon – 2 p.m., on the Quad, in front of the Student Center.
Students will have the opportunity to connect with 45-plus community and campus organizations offering paid and unpaid internships, volunteer opportunities, service-learning experiences and other ways to gain experience and make an impact.
Open to all majors, the fair can help students explore career interests, build professional skills, gain hands-on experience and connect with organizations working across education, health, arts, advocacy, public service and more.
ICCE would appreciate your help sharing the fair with students. You can:
- Announce the fair in your classes.
- Direct students to the Service and Internship Fair page for the list of participating organizations.
ICCE thanks you for helping connect SFSU students with opportunities that support their academic and career goals while contributing to our communities.
The Digital Media Studio and MakerSpace will host an open house event on Thursday, Sept. 10, 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.
The Office of Faculty Affairs and Professional Development invites tenure-track faculty and associate professors preparing for promotion to participate in one of its online Retention, Tenure and Promotion (RTP) workshops. Faculty who will be reviewed in the next few years are encouraged to attend.
Faculty Affairs and the University Tenure and Promotion and Committee (UTPC) will facilitate the workshops. The workshops are organized according to the phases of faculty professional development, but topics covered in each of the workshops will be similar, so feel free to attend the workshop that best fits your schedule.
Fall 2026 workshops for faculty:
- Friday, Sept. 11, noon – 1:30 p.m.: focus on probationary years one and two
- Tuesday, Sept. 15, 1:30 – 3 p.m.: focus on tenure and promotion (hosted with UTPC)
- Thursday, Sept. 17, noon – 1:30 p.m.: focus on promotion to full professor (hosted with UTPC)
- Friday, Sept. 18, 1:30 – 3 p.m.: focus on probationary years three, four, and five
Faculty Affairs will also host workshops for RTP reviewers, which include department RTP committee members, department chairs and deans. First-time reviewers and those needing a refresher are strongly encouraged to attend one of these sessions.
Fall 2026 workshops for reviewers:
- Tuesday, Sept. 22, 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, Sept. 23, 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Please RSVP for an RTP workshop via Qualtrics to receive a link for the workshop of your choice.
Associate Dean Sheldon Gen will host drop-in RTP office hours Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Sept. 15 – Oct. 21, noon – 1:30 p.m., in Administration 451B, to discuss RTP issues. All faculty and reviewers are welcome.
Planning your CalPERS retirement, whether sooner or later, will be presented on Friday, Sept. 11, 1 – 3:30 p.m., via Zoom. CalPERS-eligible faculty and staff are invited to attend this CalPERS education class to help understand retirement details and steps needed. Offered directly by CalPERS employees, this webinar will explain details such as retirement types, payment options, beneficiary and power of attorney, online resources and more.
Conversation: ‘Faculty Connect: Community, Collaboration, RSCA and Engaged Learning’ | Sept. 15 – 16
The Institute for Civic and Community Engagement (ICCE) invites SFSU faculty to “Faculty Connect: Community, Collaboration, RSCA and Engaged Learning,” a faculty social and idea exchange to welcome the new academic year. Two sessions are offered. Please choose the date that works best for you: Tuesday, Sept. 15, or Wednesday, Sept. 16, 10 – 11 a.m., in HSS 204.
Join colleagues over food and conversation to connect across disciplines, share ideas and explore opportunities related to community-engaged teaching; Research, Scholarship and Creative Activities (RSCA); student involvement; collaboration; and community partnerships.
ICCE will also share ways to support faculty, including community partner connections, community-engaged learning resources and Call to Service grant opportunities. Most of the time will be reserved for conversation, idea sharing and connecting with colleagues.
Drop-ins are welcome. Please register by Thursday, Sept. 10, to help plan for food and refreshments.
SFSU has a proud tradition of organizing conferences for Constitution and Citizenship Day, a national holiday that commemorates the signing of the U.S. Constitution in 1787. This year’s Constitution Day conference takes place on Wednesday, Sept. 16, and Thursday, Sept. 17.
The conference provides multiple opportunities to reflect critically on the past, present and future of constitutional rights, freedoms, citizenship, democracy, equality and justice. The conference will include a keynote by Lori Fogarty, director of the Oakland Library, speaking on “Museums and the Fullness of History.” It will also include panels featuring several SFSU faculty and students as well as pop-up exhibits from the Sutro Library.
For details, please visit the Constitution and Citizenship Day event web page.
The Center for Equity and Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CEETL), in collaboration with My Robot Teacher Podcast, invites faculty, staff and students to join a conversation where people can say what they actually think about generative artificial intelligence (AI) and discover how different the issue looks from other corners of higher education. This event will be held Thursday, Sept. 17, 4 – 5:30 p.m., in Humanities 133.
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. It’s a chance to meet SFSU colleagues and students you wouldn’t normally be in a room with and begin building a wider intellectual community across institutions. CEETL invites faculty to bring their class to learn about the various perspectives around AI in community with other campus members.
The Center for Equity and Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CEETL) invites you to its Fall 2026 GenAI Institute: Best Practices for Faculty on Friday, Sept. 18, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
CEETL will share what it has learned from SFSU faculty who participated in AI teaching squares and communities of practice over the last two years. You will have opportunities to learn from your colleagues’ classroom innovations, and to share your own ideas and perspectives.
A small stipend is available to attend. Light breakfast and lunch will be provided.
Use CEETL’s single registration link to register for the GenAI Institute.
The Office of Faculty Affairs and Professional Development invites faculty preparing applications for a leave with pay (LWP), including sabbaticals and difference in pay leaves (DIPs), to participate in an online workshop on Friday, Sept. 18, 11 a.m. – noon. Representatives from the University Sabbatical Committee and the Office Faculty Affairs and Professional Development will lead the workshop. The session will be recorded and made available for those who are unable to attend.
College students experience high levels of stress, anxiety and other mental health challenges that can affect their ability to engage, learn and succeed. How can faculty create classrooms that support student wellbeing and academic success while also attending to their own well-being as educators? This four-week Book Circle will meet on Mondays, Sept. 21 – Oct. 12, 11 a.m. – noon, via Zoom to discuss “Improving Learning and Mental Health in the College Classroom” by Eaton, Hunsaker and Moon.
Explore how mental health affects learning and discuss the roles of motivation, resilience, community and wellbeing in supporting student success. The circle will consider mental health disparities and the social and structural conditions that shape student mental health, discuss practical, evidence-based teaching strategies and make space to reflect on faculty wellbeing.
Faculty from all disciplines are welcome. The book is available free of charge online through the SFSU Library. Faculty who attend all four meetings will receive a badge of completion.
Use CEETL’s single registration link to register for the Book Circle.
CSU partner Savings Plus presents a webinar, “Planning for Life or Nearing Retirement with your 401(k),” on Friday, Oct. 16, at 11 a.m.
It will help you explore:
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options to think about your retirement goals
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where you might direct your CalPERS lump sum separation pay or unused vacation time
- consider your future goals with a 401(k) with options such as withdrawal for your first home loan and hardship withdrawals
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.
SFSU Spotlight
Wetlands play an important role in the global methane cycle, but scientists are still uncovering how wetland microorganisms process methane and related compounds.
In a newly published study, graduate student Sukhjit Kaur, working with Biology Assistant Professor Archana Anand, investigated an often-overlooked step in methane cycling: how microorganisms process methanol, a compound produced during methane metabolism.
By analyzing genetic information from wetland microbial communities in public databases, the researchers repeatedly found xoxF, a gene associated with an enzyme that allows microbes to process methanol. In a representative wetland sediment dataset, xoxF-associated genes were considerably more abundant than genes associated with the classical form of the same enzyme.
The findings suggest that this alternative pathway for methanol processing may be an underappreciated part of microbial carbon cycling in wetlands and provide a foundation for future studies examining how these microorganisms and genes influence methane cycling under changing environmental conditions.
The article, “xoxF-linked methanol oxidation signals recur across wetland metagenomes,” has been accepted for publication in Microbiology Spectrum. Kaur is supported by the College of Science & Engineering Student Enrichment Opportunities Office. Kaur and Anand gratefully acknowledge support from the National Science Foundation Centre for Cellular Construction for graduate student tuition support in addition to the Department of Energy Phage Pathways program and Joint Genome Institute for bioinformatics training.