To:  SSU Faculty
From: Ben Ford, 2011-12 Chair of the Faculty

Dear colleagues:

Lunch at the Faculty Center Monday 4/23 (Schulz 1125. Noon-1, drop-in, brown-bag):  Building on the theme of collaboration that emerged in Fall faculty discussions, we'll have a lunch discussion about motivation in education.  A recent article in the Chronicle of Higher Ed (http://0-chronicle.com.iii.sonoma.edu/article/Can-Colleges-Manufacture/131564/ ) highlights studies about the crucial role a college experience - and individual faculty members - can play in students' discovery of the motivation that drives their success. We'll look briefly at the article and talk about its implications for our teaching and other aspects of how we build this collaborative university.
Provost Rogerson and I host these lunches; President Armiñana will join us for this lunch.  We have one lunch remaining this semester, on Monday, May 7  (topic: budgeting principles).

Updates:  1) Budget; 2) Diversity events; 3) Disability Awareness Week April 23-27;

1) Budget
There is little more clarity in the statewide budget situation (the legislature will take up the budget in earnest in early May, I am told), but campus plans are becoming a bit clearer. The administration is planning next year based on a state appropriation at the same level as this year.  Since we are using some one-time funds this year, and those aren't available next year, significant cuts have to be made in the plans for next year (administrators refer to this as our "structural deficit").  The President has indicated that these cuts will not come from classroom instruction.
If the governor's budget is enacted and the governor's tax plan either fails to get on the ballot or fails at the ballot in November, then next year's CSU budget will be cut by another $200 million.  SSU's plan for this eventuality is apparently to identify sources of funds that could be used to bet through 2012-13 ("bridge") without huge cuts, using 2012-13 to figure out how to permanently implement the cuts beginning in 2013-14.  The President feels, and most seem to agree, that the level of cuts represented by the $200m would drastically reshape how SSU operates and what an SSU education would look like.

2) Diversity
The Senate Diversity Subcommittee is co-sponsoring three upcoming events:
April 25, Wednesday:  Diversity Dialogue: Envisioning the Future of Diversity at SSU
The "Diversity Dialogue: Envisioning the Future of Diversity at SSU" planning committee** is very happy to invite you to this event with the purpose of joining a collective effort to identify the future of diversity at SSU. President Armiñana has authorized staff to attend this event during working hours as professional development. Please disseminate this information widely. Thank you!
What: Diversity Dialogue @ SSU
When: Wednesday April 25, 2012, 2:00-3:30 PM
Where: Schulz 3001
Who: Students, faculty, staff, administrators
For more information please contact:  Elisa Velasquez, Director of Diversity and Inclusive Excellence velasqel@sonoma.edu (707) 664-2401
** Planning Committee: Sharon Cabannis, Elaine Leeder, Giselle Perry, Mark Fabionar, Erma Jean Sims, Margie Purser, Jake Tumas, Elisa Velasquez

April 28-- "Embracing & Celebrating Diversity:  an Asian American Forum" 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Cooperage Join us and share in this important day as we celebrate Asian History month at Sonoma State University! Peter Jamero will be the keynote speaker. Mr. Jamero is the author of "Growing up Brown: Memoirs of a Filipino American" and "Vanishing Filipino Americans: The Bridge Generation." He will speak about his book "Vanishing Filipino Americans" at the symposium.  There will be an intergenerational diverse panel, group discussions, and entertainment. Families are welcome, so bring your children! There will be a "children's section" with traditional Filipino games. FREE ADMISSION!  SPONSORED by FAASSU (The Filipino American Association @ Sonoma State University; FANHS Sonoma County (The Filipino American National Historical Society); FACSCI (The Filpino American Community of Sonoma County Inc) and Elisa Velasquez-Andrade, SSU Director of Diversity, and the Senate Diversity Subcommittee.  For more information, Karen Pennrich <karen.pennrich@sonoma.edu>.

May 2--Screening of the Documentary "Precious Knowledge" followed by discussion, 6:00-8:30pm, Napa Valley Unified School District Auditorium  We are a voluntary community group (high school/college students, parents and educators) committed to the implementation of Ethnic Studies courses (particularly Mexican-American Studies in Napa) at our middle school, high school and college level. In light of the passage of HB 2281 in Arizona which banned Ethnic Studies (specifically the highly acclaimed and successful Mexican-American Studies Program at Tucson Unified School District) we are hosting the screening of a documentary about this issue. In addition we are hosting a former student from the program, teacher and director. Purpose of Event: 1) To raise awareness about the challenges in AZ regarding HB 2281 and 2) To raise awareness about the importance of Ethnic Studies courses and how to provide all students with opportunities to access such classes.  Co-sponsored by Napa Valley Unified School District & Napa County Hispanic Network.  Endorsed by the SSU Senate Diversity Subcommittee.

3) Disability Awareness Week April 23-27
The Office of Disability Services for Students has put together an amazing-looking list of events for this week.  Please check out the ones that you can.  See http://sonoma.edu/dss/daw.shtml; events also listed below.

We will be celebrating Disability Awareness Week Monday, April 23 through Friday, April 27
 
 
Disability and Diversity Workshop and Conversation
Monday, April 23 at 3:00PM at Student Union - MCC
 
Matt Glowacki was born in 1973 in Janesville, Wisconsin.
His birth drew attention because even though he was healthy,
he was born without legs. Matt will be coming to Sonoma State
University to speak about his struggles and achievements.
He and Anthony Tusler will be holding a workshop on disability
 and diversity issues in the Multicultural Center at the
Student Union.
 
 
Diversity According to Family Guy and South Park
Monday, April 23 at 7:30PM at The Cooperage
 
Matt Glowacki was born in 1973 in Janesville, Wisconsin.
His birth drew attention because even though he was healthy,
he was born without legs. Matt will be coming to Sonoma State
University to speak about his struggles and achievements. 
Click here to view Matt's website! 
 
 
Jack's Apps
Tuesday, April 24 at 12:30pmin Salazar 1061
 
A look at available free and low-cost mobile device applications
and how built-in accessibility features have increased efficiency for all users.
Examples might include apps such as: text-to-speech, screen reader, note-taking and organization tools.

 
Making Physical Activities Inclusive
Tuesday, April 24 at 1:30pmat the SSU Recreation Center
 
Making Physical Activities Inclusive - Adapting,
Teambuilding and Climbing Experiences at the Rec Center.
SSU Rec Center staff offer an hour long interactive adaptive ropes and climbing wall experience.
R.S.V.P. to ropes@sonoma.edu to reserve your spot. 25 person limit.
 
After registering, join us at the SSU Recreation Center
 
 
Using All Your Smarts to Learn
Wednesday, April 25 at 2:00pmin Salazar 1061
 
Dr. Leslie Shelton will provide a workshop on how we use our
8-10 intelligences to maximize our learning potential.
This event will be put on by the Learning Center.
Feel free to contact us for more information.
 
 
Come Away With Me!
Wednesday, April 25 at 3:00pm in Salazar 1061
Study Abroad & National Student Exchange Opportunities.
 
Have you been interested in studying abroad or away domestically
on National Student Exchange, but you're not sure how disability support
services might apply in another country? Please join us for this informative
presentation about your program opportunities!

 
Beyond Etiquette: Disability & Cultural Competence
Thursday, April 26 at 11:00amin Schulz 1121
 
Anthony Tusler will be speaking about disability and cultural competence.
There will be time slots from 11:00am-12:00pm and 12:00-1:00pm for questions and dialogue.
Contact DSS for more information.
 

Do I or Don't I: Disclosing a Disability in the Job Search Process
Thursday, April 26 at 12:00pm in Salazar 1061
 
Anya Bergman (Career Services) and Valerie McKamey (Department of Rehabilitation)
will lead a discussion on disclosing one's disability in employment and how the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) covers employees with disabilities.
 

Disability Awareness Week Reception
Thursday, April 26 at 3:00PM at Student Union - MCC
 
We will be celebrating Disability Awareness Week Monday, April 23 through Friday, April 27.
Join us at this fun event to recognize seniors and announce winners of the
"Spirit of Vitality and Distinction Scholarship" as well as the DSS Faculty Appreciation Award.
 
 
 
This message is also available in alternate formats.  Please contact DSS for more information.
If you need a disability-related accommodation or wheelchair access information, please contact
the Disability Services for Students office at: (707) 664-2677, TTY/TTD (707) 664-2958, e-mail:disability.services@sonoma.edu.

Please visit http://sonoma.edu/dss/daw.shtml for more information

Dear colleagues:

Two opportunities tomorrow (Tuesday, 10 April):

1) Lunch conversation (drop-in, bring your own lunch, noon-1) in the Faculty Center (Library first floor, behind info desk)  

As part of on-going "what kind of University do we want SSU to be?" conversations, this week's topic is accessibility and affordability of learning materials.  We'll have a brief intro to the issues, then a conversation about how we can best meet our (faculty) responsibility to support our students' learning.  Hosted by Provost Rogerson and me, together with special guests Richard Senghas, Emiliano Ayala, and Paula Hammett.

Lunch schedule for the rest of the semester:  All drop-in, bring-your-own-food, noon-1 p.m., in the Faculty Center, Schulz first floor; hosted by Provost Rogerson and me (* indicates that the President plans to attend):
Monday, April 23*
Monday, May 7 (topic: budget guided by SSU's mission - see below)
2) Sixth Annual Graduate Student Research Showcase

SSU's sixth annual Graduate Student Research Showcase will be held on Tuesday, April 10, from 4:30 - 7:00 p.m. in the Commons. Following on the success of previous events, the showcase will feature live presentations and poster sessions by master's degree candidates and recent alumni from SSU's outstanding graduate programs. This free event is open the entire campus community as well as our community partners. All students, faculty and staff are welcome and encouraged to attend.

The doors will open at 4:30 p.m., and Dr. Andrew Rogerson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, will deliver the opening remarks at 4:45. Posters and multimedia presentations will be on display in the main Commons area throughout the event, and students will be on hand to discuss their research endeavors. Concurrent with the poster session, students will also be making live presentations in both the Terrace Room and University Club.

For more information and the complete event schedule, please visit http://www.sonoma.edu/aa/gs/showcase.shtml .