Connections

Cal State LA leads expansion of bachelor’s degree programs in California prisons

In the years since Cal State LA became the first public university in the state to offer bachelor’s degrees to incarcerated people, eight of the state’s 34 adult prisons have started or will soon begin partnerships that award four-year degrees, according to a report by EdSource. The publication recently featured Cal State LA’s Prison Graduation Initiative and highlighted its transformational impact and trailblazing example in higher education. Read more about the prison education program.

Cal State LA interim president marks start of new academic year at Convocation

In his first major address to the University community, Cal State LA Interim President Leroy M. Morishita welcomed the start of the academic year, sharing his priorities, and praising faculty and staff for the extraordinary work they do to serve students. “For the next few months, I will be working alongside you, helping to move the University forward until your next president is selected and takes office,” Morishita said to a packed Luckman Theatre on Aug. 17 as part of University Convocation. “And I am happy to be here with you at a university that I have long admired.” Read more about Convocation.

Cal State LA honors outstanding faculty

Five Cal State LA faculty members were recognized for excellence in teaching and outstanding achievements during University Convocation 2023. Three Outstanding Professor Award recipients and an Outstanding Lecturer Award recipient were honored for significant achievements in scholarly inquiry or creativity, as well as professional activities and community service. A President’s Distinguished Professor Award was presented to a previous Outstanding Professor Award recipient. This award recognizes faculty members’ superlative teaching and exceptional commitment to students, as well as their professional accomplishments and services. Read about the outstanding faculty honorees.

Cal State LA welcomes students during festive move-in weekend

More than 1,700 students moved into campus housing during Cal State LA’s three-day move-in weekend. Golden Eagles and their families were greeted by Cal State LA students and staff members and took part in fun activities to welcome them to their new home away from home. Residence Life hosted a variety of events, including a DIY Night, Courtyard Trivia, and a Backyard BBQ. The application to live on campus is still open for students, and they can learn more about how to apply on the Housing website.

Cal State LA faculty ranked among most diverse

A recent study by the Chronicle of Higher Education ranked Cal State LA’s faculty as one of the most diverse in the nation. The diversity index, which was published in the Chronicle’s 2023 Almanac, ranked Cal State LA second among public colleges and universities in the U.S. for having the greatest racial and ethnic diversity among faculty members. The index evaluates the probability that any two full-time instructional faculty members at an institution are from different racial or ethnic groups.     

Cal State LA receives grant for clean energy research

Cal State LA has received a $750,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to provide more research and training opportunities in STEM fields for students while addressing important energy and climate challenges. The award is part of $37 million in grants from the DOE’s Funding for Accelerated, Inclusive Research initiative that aims to build research capacity, infrastructure and expertise at institutions historically underrepresented in the DOE’s Office of Science portfolio. Read more about the clean energy grant.

Cal State LA awarded $750,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture grant

Cal State LA has received a $750,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to offer experiential research opportunities for diverse undergraduate students to study urban agriculture. The grant, led by faculty members in the College of Natural and Social Sciences and the Rongxiang Xu College of Health and Human Services, will support a nine-week summer research program for nine underrepresented students each year for five years to investigate urban natural resources and urban agricultural problems. A goal of the project is to improve understanding of climate and anthropogenic-forced change in urban environments and systems that require additional study and long-term monitoring. It also aims to expand diversity representation in urban natural resources decision making, urban agriculture, and urban food production. Dr. Barry Hibbs, professor of geosciences, is serving as principal investigator alongside co-principal investigators Dr. Stephen LaDochy, emeritus professor of geosciences; Dr. Jingjing Li, associate professor of geosciences; Eric Wood, associate professor of biological sciences; Dr. Petr Vozka, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry; and Dr. Evelyn Alvarez, assistant professor of public health.

Give blood at upcoming American Red Cross blood drives

Students, faculty, staff, and community members can give blood on campus during upcoming American Red Cross blood drives on Sept. 14 and Sept. 27 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The drives are an opportunity to find out your blood type and save lives. The mobile blood drive bus will be in Lot 4. Schedule an appointment online.

Golden Eagle pride shines at Cal State LA Night at Dodger Stadium

More than 2,000 alumni, students, faculty, staff, and friends packed sections of Dodger Stadium during Cal State LA Night at the ballpark on Aug. 29. Interim President Leroy M. Morishita threw out the ceremonial first pitch and members of the Cal State LA community donned commemorative, limited-edition bucket hats and cheered L.A.’s team to victory. Read more about Cal State LA Night.

Alumnus’ art installation featured in new LA Metro station

An art installation by Cal State LA alumnus Mark Steven Greenfield is featured inside the new Historic Broadway Metro Station, which opened in June as part of LA Metro’s Regional Connector transit project. Greenfield is one of eight artists who were selected by Metro Art, the transportation agency’s public art program, to have artwork integrated into the design of the three new downtown Metro stations that were part of the expansion project. Greenfield’s piece, “Red Car Requiem,” commemorates the Red Cars, which was the nickname for the Southern California Pacific Electric Railway system, which was the largest electric railway system in the world in the 1920s and covered more than 1,000 miles of track. Greenfield worked with the Cal State LA Alumni Association to conduct a community survey to inform his artwork. Read more about Greenfield’s work and the other public art.

Golden Eagle athletics teams open 2023 seasons

Cal State LA Athletics kicks off their 2023 fall sports seasons this week with high expectations for their teams. Men’s soccer, women’s soccer, and volleyball have all been nationally ranked as top-25 teams and are each predicted to finish in the top three within the California Collegiate Athletic Association. The volleyball team, which appeared in the NCAA Division II National Semifinal in 2022, returns with all of its starters from last season including All-Americans Emily Elliott and Iane Henke. For a full schedule of all sports, visit the Cal State LA Athletics website.