Volume 56, Number 23    February 16, 2009         

Leech awarded prestigious CAREER grant
Assistant Professor of Geosciences Mary Leech has received a prestigious CAREER grant from the National Science Foundation. The Faculty Early Career Development grant, the foundation's most prestigious award for faculty at the beginning of their careers, recognizes excellence in teaching and the integration of research and education. This CAREER award was the ninth made to a San Francisco State faculty member and the seventh within the past five years.

The grant of $507,264 will support Leech's continuing lab and field research on formation of the Himalayas in India and Tibet. Leech's earlier study of rocks from the collision zone between India and Asia showed that the two, which were once separate continents, collided seven million years earlier than previously believed.

An educational component of the grant will focus on the development of a new geology curriculum for third through sixth grades in the San Francisco Unified School District. SF State undergraduate and graduate students will be involved in the lab and field research in the Himalayas as well as in public school classrooms.

Research and faculty retreat
Faculty are invited to the Research and Creative Activities Retreat at the Romberg Tiburon Center on March 6. The retreat will provide a venue for faculty to interact with colleagues and identify interdisciplinary areas of common interest. Following the retreat, new collaborative groups in research, scholarly or creative/performing arts areas are encouraged to develop internal proposals to support start-up activities. Funding timelines are available on the retreat Web site: www.sfsu.edu/~orspwww/retreat/

For more information or to register, contact retreat@sfsu.edu

ePortfolio Day of Dialogue
Faculty and staff are invited to the International ePortfolio Day of Dialogue Conference on Feb. 25 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. at the Downtown Campus. Sponsored by Academic Technology and the CSU Chancellor's Office, the event features three major themes: teaching and learning with ePortfolios (electronic portfolios), workforce/professional development, and assessment and accountability. This daylong event is designed to bring together K-20 and workforce organizations who use or who are interested in using ePortfolios. Attendees will have opportunities to hear students, faculty, employers and experts address issues of teaching, learning, assessment, bridging to careers, and ePortfolio tools. This day will focus on sharing successes, lessons learned, challenges and strategies for the future use of electronic portfolios. A complete schedule and registration information can be found at: http://conference.csuprojects.org/eportfolios

Financial Management System update
The campus Financial Management System (FMS) goes live in Release 9.0 on April 2. To prepare for the release, Fiscal Affairs will host an orientation March 16 from 2 to 3 p.m. or March 17 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. in the Sunset Room of the Towers Conference Center. The upgraded system features a new, enhanced requisition module that incorporates many improved user- friendly features. To register for the training, visit https://fiscaff.sfsu.edu/services/fms/training/

Call for Proposals: Faculty associate positions - Fall 2009
All tenured faculty are eligible to apply for one of two faculty associate positions for Fall 2009 in the Center for Teaching and Faculty Development (CTFD). Each position brings .20 assigned time to work on one of several possible projects related to teaching and scholarship, for example: universal design for learning; the scholarship of teaching and learning; modeling and teaching equity and social justice; modeling and teaching diversity, including international diversity; developing critical thinking, writing, reading and/or communication skills across the curriculum; fostering student engagement; and other projects faculty may propose. For more detailed information about the responsibilities of the position, please visit the CTFD Web site: http://ctfd.sfsu.edu/faculty-associates.htm

Applicants should submit a proposal not to exceed two 8 1/2 x 11 pages, single-spaced, and a current curriculum vitae, by noon, April 10 to Pamela Vaughn, associate dean for faculty development, BH 311. Applicants should consult in advance with their department chair or program director regarding their intent to apply for assigned time. Include a statement in the application verifying the chair or director's consent to proceed with a proposal. Successful applicants, their department chairs/directors and college deans will be notified by May 4 by e-mail, with a formal letter to follow.

Comments requested on new CSU information security policy
In a CSU system-wide effort to enhance information security, a new set of CSU information security policies is in the final phases of review by all CSU campuses. The policies and standards provide direction to campuses and CSU staff to protect information assets and ensure privacy protection to individuals. Since the policies have significant future implications for the management and control of IT assets at SF State and future IT policy, members of the campus community are invited to review and comment on the draft before it becomes final by visiting www.sfsu.edu/~secure/policyreview Comments will be aggregated for submission to the Chancellor's Office on Feb. 20. For more information, contact Mig Hofmann, information security officer, at mig@sfsu.edu

Academic Senate
The Academic Senate will meet Tuesday from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Nob Hill Room of the Seven Hills Conference Center. The agenda will include:

• Approval of the agenda for Feb. 17
• Approval of the minutes for the Feb. 3 meeting
• A presentation from Jaylan Turkkan, associate vice president of the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, to promote the research and creative activities retreat
• A recommendation from the Executive Committee regarding proposed revisions to the Academic Senate bylaws voting procedures, second reading
• A recommendation from the Academic Policies Committee regarding a proposed policy on concentrations and emphases, second reading
• A recommendation from the Faculty Affairs Committee regarding adding journal editing as professional achievement and growth, first reading
• A recommendation from the Executive Committee regarding the proposed reapportionment for Academic Senate representatives during the 2009-10 academic year, first reading

This week in Insiders: Professor Emeritus of Biology Jan Randall gives a presentation and Professor of Physics Zhigang Chen gains national recognition.

Read Insiders: www.sfsu.edu/~news/cmemo/spring09/feb16insiders.htm

This week in Newsmakers: Visiting Professor of Israel Studies Uri Bar-Joseph discusses Israeli elections and Assistant Professor of Psychology Ryan Howell discusses research on happiness.

Read Newsmakers: www.sfsu.edu/~news/cmemo/spring09/feb16news.htm

Monday
'Agatha Christie's Egypt: Life on the Nile in the 1930s'
"Agatha Christie's Egypt: Life on the Nile in the 1930s" has been extended through Feb. 23. The exhibit features photography, vintage décor and art and artifacts from 1930s Egypt. The exhibit is open Monday through Friday from noon to 4 p.m. in HUM 510.

Tuesday
Oscar Docs 2009
SF State's Documentary Film Institute and the San Francisco Film Society present "Oscar Docs 2009," the fourth annual exclusive three-day screening of the Academy Award-nominated short and feature documentaries, Tuesday through Thursday at the Sundance Kabuki Cinemas in San Francisco. This year's program includes films covering a diverse range of global and socio-political issues. Admission is $8 general and $4 for students. For details, call ext. 8-2066 or visit http://docfilm.sfsu.edu

Jewish Studies lectures
Samuel "Muli" Peleg, senior lecturer in the conflict resolution program at Tel Hai College and lecturer of communications at Netanya College in Israel, will deliver the lecture, "Framing the Other: An Experiment-Based model for Shaping Public Discourse during Peace-Building Processes," Monday at 3 p.m. in HUM 587. Peleg is a candidate for the Goldman Chair in Israel Studies.

Wednesday
Portable fellowships meeting
The Fellowships Office is sponsoring an information session on nationally competitive fellowships to fund graduate study Wednesday, from 1 to 2 p.m., in HUM 587. Learn about "portable" fellowships to fund doctoral and graduate-level research, creative projects and intensive language study abroad. Contact Joy Viveros, academic honors and fellowships advisor, at fellows1@sfsu.edu to schedule an appointment to discuss applying for a fellowship.

Computer Science graduate seminar
The Computer Science department will host its graduate seminar Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. in the Towers Conference Center. The guest speaker is Whitfield Diffie, chief security officer of Sun Microsystems, who is best known for his 1975 discovery of public key cryptography. For more information, visit www.cs.sfsu.edu

Thursday
Immigrant stories and collaborative action
The Community Engaged Scholarship/Community-Based Participatory Research 2009 spring series continues Thursday from 3:30 to 5 p.m. with "From Immigrant Stories to Collaborative Action: A Case Study in Community Wellness, Culture and Transnational Identity." Visiting Scholar Nina Wallerstein will discuss immigrant wellness with Professor of English Gail Weinstein, Assistant Professor of English Maricel Santos, Jeff McClelland of the Oakland Adult School, and University of California, San Francisco Professor Margaret Handley. 

Poetry as Music: an evening of art song
The School of Music and Dance presents "Poetry as Music," a concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday featuring art song and lieder by Wolf, Schumann, Berlioz, Wagner, Finzi and Brahms. Performers include faculty member and tenor Corey Head, soprano Virginia Pluth-Walker, mezzo-soprano Heidi Waterman, and bass Josh Henderson in recital with pianist Steve Bailey. The concert takes place in Knuth Hall, Creative Arts building. Admission is $10 general and $5 for students. For tickets, call ext. 8-2467 or visit http://creativearts.sfsu.edu/poetryasmusic

Jewish Studies Lecture
Oded Haklai, associate professor of political science at Queen's College in Canada, will deliver the lecture, "Theorizing Jewish Settlers' Political Activism Since Oslo," Thursday at 4 p.m. in HUM 587. Haklai is a candidate for the Goldman Chair in Israel Studies.         

'Train your Teaching Assistant to be Your Partner' workshop
John Elia, associate professor and associate chair of health education, will lead a workshop Thursday from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in BH 333 that will focus on a broad range of questions, concerns and opportunities when utilizing undergraduate and graduate teaching assistants. To register, call ext. 8-6456, e-mail ctfdreg@sfsu.edu or enroll online at http://power.sfsu.edu

Coming Up
'Promoting classroom civility and working with disruptive students'
The Center for Teaching and Faculty Development will host a Webinar led by Cynthia Desrochers, faculty director of the CSU Institute for Teaching and Learning, on Feb. 20 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in BH 229. The session will focus on the root of the erosion of classroom decorum and ways to promote student civility. To register, call ext. 8-6456, e-mail ctfdreg@sfsu.edu or enroll online at http://power.sfsu.edu
 
Alexander String Quartet: free concert
The Alexander String Quartet, SF State's world-renowned quartet-in-residence, will perform as part of the Morrison Artists Series at 3 p.m. Feb. 22, in McKenna Theatre, Creative Arts building. Admission is free. The quartet will perform a World War II commemorative program featuring Haydn: Emperor Quartet Op. 76, No. 3 (1796); Bartok: Quartet No. 6 (1939); and Shostakovich: Quartet No. 2 (1944). The Alexander String Quartet was founded in 1981 and has directed the Morrison Chamber Music Instructional Program since 1989. The quartet has performed in the music capitals of five continents and established itself as an important advocate of new music through more than 25 commissions and numerous premiere performances, securing its standing among the world's premier ensembles. For more information, visit http://musicdance.sfsu.edu/morrison

French government sponsored film festival
The International Film Club was selected by the French government to host a series of recent French films for a one-month film festival. SF State was one of 30 schools selected in a national competition and will kick off the schedule Feb. 23 at 7:30 p.m. with "L'Avocat de la Terreur" in the Coppola Theater, FA 101.

'Autistic Fictions' lecture
Ian Hacking, professor of philosophy and history of scientific concepts at the College de France, will deliver the lecture, "Autistic Fictions," Feb. 23 at 4 p.m. in HUM 587. The talk will examine accounts of autism in works of fiction. A reception will follow. The talk is presented by the Philosophy department. 

19th Annual Stillwell Student Show
The 19th Annual Stillwell Student Show, in the Fine Arts Gallery, Fine Arts building, holds its opening reception Feb. 24 from 4 to 6 p.m. The Stillwell is a juried exhibition of new student work in video, photography, textiles, metal arts, ceramics, sculpture, printmaking and more. The exhibition also includes the University’s collection of works by Leo D. Stillwell Jr., a watercolor and oil painter who died at age 22 in 1948. Admission is free. The gallery is open from noon to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturday, and Wednesday from noon to 5 p.m. The exhibition closes March 19. For details, call ext. 8-6535 or visit http://creativearts.sfsu.edu/stillwell

Problem-based learning in undergraduate and graduate education
The Center for Teaching and Faculty Development will host a session by Andrea Boyle, associate professor in the School of Nursing, on Feb. 26 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in BH 333. The workshop will describe problem-based learning, identify some of the current work in the area and identify advantages and limitations of this approach in both undergraduate and graduate settings. To register, call ext. 8-6456, e-mail ctfdreg@sfsu.edu or enroll online at http://power.sfsu.edu

Labor landmarks guidebook
On Feb. 27, at 6 p.m. the Labor Archives and Research Center will host its 23rd anniversary evening program to celebrate the Archives' new publication, "The San Francisco Labor Landmarks Guidebook." The event will be held at the ILWU Local 34, 4 Berry St. in San Francisco. The guest speaker will be Carl Nolte of the San Francisco Chronicle. The event is free and open to the public.

Stress management and rejuvenation techniques workshop
The Center for Teaching and Faculty Development will host a workshop on stress management led by Assistant Professor of Health Education Rick Harvey on March 4 from 2 to 4 p.m. in BH 333. The session will discuss stress reduction techniques for inside and outside the classroom. To register, call ext. 8-6456, e-mail ctfdreg@sfsu.edu or enroll online at http://power.sfsu.edu

Assessing Student Reading workshop
The Center for Teaching and Faculty Development will host a workshop on assessing student reading, led by Helen Gillotte-Tropp, professor of English and English Department reading coordinator, on March 5 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in BH 333. This workshop is the first of two, and will introduce faculty to successful techniques in assessing student reading comprehension as well as offer strategies to improve reading skills. Instruction samples are included. To register, call ext. 8-6456, e-mail ctfdreg@sfsu.edu or enroll online at http://power.sfsu.edu

For more upcoming events, see the University Calendar

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Last modified Feb. 16, 2009 by University Communications.