Volume 55, Number 21   February 11, 2008         

Applications available for California Pre-Doctoral Program
Faculty are encouraged to invite students to apply for the California Pre-Doctoral Program.

The California Pre-Doctoral Program supports the doctoral aspirations of CSU students, particularly those who have had educational and economic disadvantages, and aims to increase the diversity of the pool from which the CSU draws its faculty. Each selected applicant works with a faculty sponsor to develop a plan to prepare for and enroll in, a doctoral program and receives funds for furthering their education.

The deadline for filing completed applications is 4 p.m. Friday, March 21, in the English Department Office, HUM 289. For more information, contact Professor William Christmas, campus coordinator for the California Pre-Doctoral Program at ext. 8-7463 or xmas@sfsu.edu

New B.A. in American Indian Studies
SF State has added a bachelor's degree in American Indian Studies this semester. The number of students to declare a minor in this field has tripled at the University since 2002 and the Department estimates that as many as 70 students will declare the major within the next five years. Previously, students could only minor in American Indian Studies. SF State is only one of three universities in the CSU system to offer a B.A. in American Indian Studies. For more information: www.sfsu.edu/~news/2008/spring/10.htm

Faculty grant opportunities
The Office of International Programs is offering two grant opportunities for faculty who wish to introduce an international perspective into traditionally "non-international courses," and help promote international awareness on campus. Applications may be obtained from the OIP, ADM 458A. The application deadline is March 14. For more information, visit www.sfsu.edu/~oip/

University seeks director for Institute for Civic and Community Engagement
A campus-based search is under way for the director of the Institute for Civic and Community Engagement. Review of application materials will begin in mid-February. For more information, contact Anh Tran, staff liaison to the search committee, at ext. 8-7165. The position description is available on the Academic Affairs Web site at http://academic.sfsu.edu/positions.php

Innovative artists' work on display
Artists Aimee and Steve Dent will have their contemporary art on display in The Art Gallery on the terrace level of the Cesar Chavez Student Center through March 5. Aimee Dent transforms discarded objects, challenging viewers' perceptions of the objects. Steve Dent uses various media to create a composite of his childhood. For more information, visit http://www.sfsustudentcenter.com/entertainment/artgallery.php

News from the Academic Senate
The Academic Senate will hold its first meeting of the spring semester Tuesday from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Nob Hill Room of the Seven Hills Conference Center. The agenda will include:

• Open-floor period from 2 to 2:10 p.m.
• A budget update from President Corrigan and Vice President Morishita
• Recommendations from the Academic Policies Committee on proposed policies on graduate continuous enrollment
• A proposed Academic Senate Reapportionment from the Executive Committee
• A proposed revision to the Academic Senate Bylaws, Section IIC
• Recommendations from the Curriculum Review and Approval Committee on proposed revisions to the B.A. degree requirements for Creative Writing
• Recommendations from the Executive Committee about the proposed Academic Senate 2008-09 meeting schedule
• Recommendations from the Faculty Affairs Committee regarding proposed revisions to the syllabus policy

This week's insiders include Dee Spencer, professor of jazz studies who will perform at the Jazz Heritage Center Community Celebration; Aida Gomez, art lecturer, whose work is on display in Sacramento; Sarah Soh, professor of anthropology, who was appointed to serve on a board that studies gendered citizenship; and Nona Caspers, associate professor of creative writing, who received a National Endowment for the Arts grant.

Read Insiders: www.sfsu.edu/~news/cmemo/spring08/Feb11insiders.htm

Assistant Professor of Management Mitchell Marks gives advice on trusting a business mentor; Professor Emerita Ludmila Ershov talks about the future of the San Francisco Russian Festival; and Professor of Secondary Education Mark Phillips addresses some myths about teaching and education.

Read Newsmakers: www.sfsu.edu/~news/cmemo/spring08/feb11news.htm

Tuesday
World in the classroom
Jillian Sandell, assistant professor of women studies, will present a workshop for faculty interested in applying for the World in the Classroom Award from 4 to 5 p.m. Feb. 12 in ADM 460. The session will address pedagogical and philosophical issues to consider when internationalizing an existing course syllabus.

Thursday
Effective syllabus workshop
John Blando, associate professor of counseling, and Kitty Millet, assistant professor of Jewish studies, will lead a workshop on syllabus development and effective usage from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday in HSS 233. To register, call ext. 8-6456, e-mail ctfdreg@sfsu.edu or visit http://power.sfsu.edu

Saturday
'Criminal: Art and Criminal Justice in America'
The second professional show of the academic year comes to the Fine Arts Gallery. The two-week exhibit opens Saturday and focuses on aspects of criminal justice, including incarceration, the death penalty and prison labor -- with works of painting, sculpture, photography, video, sound and installation. Featured artists include Sandow Birk, Jonathan Borofsky, Boym Partners, Alex Donis, Kota Ezawa, Julie Green, Dread Scott and Jackie Sumell. An opening reception with artist William Pope.L will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday in the Fine Arts Gallery, FA 238. For details, call ext. 8-6535 or visit http://gallery.sfsu.edu

Coming Up
Morrison Artists Series presents Formosa Quartet
The Formosa Quartet will perform at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 17, in McKenna Theatre, as part of the Morrison Artists Series. Admission is free. The Formosa Quartet will perform String Quartet in F Major, K. 590 by Wolfgang Mozart, Quartet No. 3 by Richard Wilson and String Quartet in B Major, Op. 67 by Johannes Brahms. Led by Artistic Director Saul Gropman, the Morrison Artists Series presents six free Sunday afternoon performances each year by acclaimed chamber music ensembles. For details, visit www.morrisonseries.org or call ext. 8-1431.

Chamber Singers at Grace Cathedral
The San Francisco State Chamber Singers, an advanced choral group in the School of Music and Dance, will perform an a cappella concert at Grace Cathedral at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19. Admission is free. Special guests The Australian Voices, San Ramon Valley High School Chamber Singers and San Jose State University Concert Choir will join them. The concert will feature works by Australian composers and traditional folk-song arrangements from Cuba and the Philippines. The SF State Chamber Singers -- conducted by Professor of Music and Dance Joshua Habermann -- are one of three college-based choral groups selected to perform at the 2008 American Choral Directors Association Western convention, to be held later this month in Anaheim. For details, visit http://creativearts.sfsu.edu or call ext. 8-1431.

Music and Dance Showcase
Students and faculty in the School of Music and Dance will gather at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22, to showcase talent and raise funds for scholarships and academic programs. The second annual School of Music and Dance Showcase, to be held in Knuth Hall, will feature performances by the Alexander String Quartet, SF State’s quartet-in-residence, with pianist and faculty member Roger Woodward; Afiara String Quartet, SF State’s Morrison fellowship quartet-in-residence; and the SF State Chamber Singers.

Percussion festival
The debut performance of the SF State percussion ensemble will highlight a percussion festival, Saturday Feb. 23, at 11 a.m., Knuth Hall, Creative Arts building. The event will feature Steel Bands from Marin City and other professional percussionists and young performers from the Bay Area. The event is open to the public. General admission tickets are $10 and free to students and staff. For more information, contact Allen Biggs at bigdrums@sfsu.edu

Professor to give speech on Filipino migratory labor
Alumna Dawn Mabalon, assistant professor of history, will be the featured speaker at the Labor Archives and Research Center's 22nd anniversary evening program Friday, February 29 at 7 p.m. The event takes place at ILWU, Local 34, 4 Berry St. Refreshments will be served at 6 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Talking torture
The Philosophy Department is sponsoring a talk by Lecturer Kirk Nutting titled"Torture as Mental Pain: The Torture Convention, the U.S. Reservations, and the Problem of Other Minds" Friday, Feb. 29 in HUM 587 at 4 p.m.

Law, culture and humanities conference
SF State will co-sponsor the 11th annual conference for the Association of Law, Culture and the Humanities March 28 and 29 in Boalt Hall on the UC Berkeley campus. For more information, visit www.law.syr.edu/academics/centers/lch/conference.html

For more upcoming events, see the University Calendar

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Last modified Feb. 11, 2008 by University Communications.