Volume 56, Number 22    February 9, 2009         

Provost candidate campus visit dates announced
The Provost Search Committee has announced dates for the initial campus visits of candidates for University Provost. The dates on which this first group of candidates will visit are:

• Feb. 16, Nob Hill Room, Seven Hills Conference Center
• Feb. 17, Nob Hill Room, Seven Hills Conference Center
• Feb. 20, Knuth Hall, Creative Arts building

The campus community is invited to the candidates' campus presentations to be held each day from 3:45 to 4:30 p.m. The candidates will make a 15-minute presentation and answer written questions for 30 minutes. Candidates' profiles will be available at the venues for review. The names of the individual candidates and the dates of their visits will be distributed next week. Search Committee Chair Joel Kassiola noted that candidates are making initial visits to campus to meet selected faculty, staff and administrators in addition to making their campus-wide presentations. Because a rolling search is being conducted, more candidates may come to campus in the future.

Hausmann Quartet wins Morrison Fellowship Prize
The Hausmann Quartet won the Morrison Fellowship Prize for a Residency with the Alexander String Quartet at San Francisco State University on Jan. 25. One of two finalist groups chosen from an impressive field of competition entrants, the Hausmann Quartet won the fellowship on the basis of its performances, master classes and workshops at SF State's sixth annual Yehudi Menuhin Chamber Music Festival. The Hausmann Quartet bested the Cecilia String Quartet, which also performed at the festival.

Members of the Alexander String Quartet, SF State’s quartet-in-residence, announced the Hausmann Quartet’s fellowship prize during the grand-finale concert of the Menuhin Festival. In Fall 2009, the Hausmann Quartet will begin its fellowship at SF State. The fellowship includes teaching opportunities, studying and performing on its own and with the Alexander String Quartet and other artists, recording a full-length album to be released commercially, outreach into San Francisco schools and community-based organizations, and coaching on grant-writing.

Recyclemania poster competition winners announced
Zhen Tsai, a graduate student in industrial design won the Recyclemania '09 Poster Challenge and art major Rebecca Eichten placed second. They will receive awards Feb. 23 from the Sustainability Committee. Both posters will be printed and distributed on campus.

Faculty grant opportunities
Two grant opportunities from the Office of International Programs (OIP) are available to all tenured and tenure-track faculty, The World in the Classroom: Course Internationalization Incentive Awards help faculty from a variety of disciplines infuse an international perspective into courses. Awards between $1,000 and $3,000 will be granted for proposals developed by faculty members from any discipline who propose, either individually or collectively, to add international components to an existing non-internationally themed course. 

The 2009 Faculty International Development Grant provides $1,000 to $4,000 for faculty projects that have the potential to enhance international education and promote international awareness at SF State through research and scholarship and/or creative activities. Grants will be  awarded based on merits of proposals, financial need and availability of funds.

The application deadline is March 13. Applications and information may be found on the OIP Web site at www.sfsu.edu/~oip/faculty/facultygrants.htm#a

Sustainability proposals requested
The UC, CSU, CCC Sustainability Conference is requesting proposals for its upcoming conference on April 15. The conference is an opportunity to learn about campus sustainability and share innovative ideas and best practices. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to submit proposals, which are due Feb. 10. For more information or to submit a proposal, visit http://sustainability.ucsb.edu/conference/proposals.php

Comments requested on new CSU information security policy
The CSU system-wide effort to enhance information security is in the final phase 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 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

Human resources survey results available
Results from the 2008 Human Resources Online Customer Service Survey are now available. To view the highlights of the responses and the actions being taken to address concerns, improve services and drive positive and beneficial change in delivery of services to the campus community, visit https://inside.sfsu.edu/portal

Academic Senate
The following is a summary of action items from the Academic Senate's Feb. 3 meeting.

• Announced that a faculty vote on a proposed amendment to the faculty constitution will begin in mid-February
• Announced that the Education Budget Advocacy Committee has scheduled a teach-in on the budget crisis to be held Feb. 26 in Jack Adams Hall
• Announced that the Office of Research and Sponsored Projects will hold a research and creative activities retreat at the Romberg Tiburon Center on March 6. For more information, visit www.sfsu.edu/~orspwww/retreat/
• Elected Assistant Professor of Social Work Jocelyn Hermoso to the All-University Committee on International Programs
• Acknowledged SF State’s receipt of a California Digital Inclusion Award for its Web site
• Heard a report from the Strategic Initiatives Committee on the development of an online education policy
• Approved a proposal to change the University Tenure and Promotion Committee voting procedures in the retention, tenure and promotion policy
• Heard a proposal to revise the voting procedures in the Academic Senate bylaws. This item will return in second reading Feb. 17
• Approved a proposal to revise the youth and human services nonprofit agency administration certificate program
• Approved a resolution honoring President Robert A. Corrigan on his 20 years of service to SF State

This week in Insiders: Professor Emeritus of History Bill Issel published an article, Professor of Anthropology Sarah Soh published a new book, and Professor of Art Lewis deSoto opened an art exhibit.

Read Insiders: www.sfsu.edu/~news/cmemo/spring09/feb9insiders.htm

This week in Newsmakers: Professor of Management John Sullivan discusses furloughs, President Robert A. Corrigan formally announces SF Promise, and Assistant Professor of Management Mitchell Marks comments on the correct way to conduct downsizing.

Read Newsmakers: www.sfsu.edu/~news/cmemo/spring09/feb9news.htm

SF State received an additional $1,332,538 in January.

Read Grants and Contracts : www.sfsu.edu/~news/cmemo/spring09/feb9grants.htm

Sunday
'More Stories by Tobias Wolff'
Word for Word Performing Arts Company's acclaimed production of "More Stories by Tobias Wolff" will take place Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. in the McKenna Theatre, Creative Arts building. The performance features three of Wolff's short stories. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the Creative Arts Box Office and online at http://creativearts.sfsu.edu/tickets The Box Office will open at 5:45 pm on Sunday. The event is sponsored by the English Department.  

Wednesday
Research and Hewlett Packard lecture
Prith Banerjee, senior vice president of Hewlett Packard and Director of HP Labs, will deliver the lecture "High Impact Research Directions at HP Labs," Wednesday from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in HSS 154. The lecture is presented by the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences and the Economics Department.

Fulbright information session
The Fellowships Office is sponsoring a Fulbright information session on Wednesday from 1 to 2 p.m., in HUM 587. Graduating seniors or graduate students interested in pursuing a Fulbright grant to study, teach or pursue a creative project abroad are encouraged to attend.  Learn about the types of Fulbright grants, eligibility and how to apply.

Thursday
Amateurs
The Theatre Arts Department's Players Club presents "Amateurs" at 7 p.m. Feb. 12-14 and at 2 p.m. on Feb. 15 in the Studio Theatre, Creative Arts building. A chic after-party celebrating the opening of a musical becomes the setting where the dreams, loves, failures and successes of actors and friends are explored with bittersweet humor. Admission is $10. For tickets, call ext. 8-2467 or visit http://creativearts.sfsu.edu/amateurs

Coming Up
Portable fellowships meeting
The Fellowships Office is sponsoring an information session on nationally competitive fellowships to fund graduate study Feb. 18 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 fellowships.

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 Feb. 17 --19 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

Computer Science graduate seminar
The Computer Science department will host its graduate seminar Feb. 18 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

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. Feb. 19 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

French film festival
SF State was selected by the French government to host a series of recent French films for a one-month film festival. The University 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.   

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

CTFD February workshops
The Center for Teaching and Faculty Development will host two workshops in February. Associate Professor of Health Education John Elia will lead "Train Your Teaching Assistant to be Your Partner" Feb. 19 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in BH 333. Cynthia Desrochers, faculty director of the CSU Institute for Teaching and Learning, will present "Promoting Classroom Civility and Working with Disruptive Students," on Feb. 20 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in BH 229. Associate Professor of Nursing Andrea Boyle will lead "Problem based learning in Undergraduate and Graduate Education," Feb. 26 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in BH 333. To register, visit http://power.sfsu.edu or e-mail ctfdreg@sfsu.edu 

For more upcoming events, see the University Calendar

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Last modified Feb. 9, 2009 by University Communications.