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Academics

Alumnus Montgomery returns as new Fresno State winemaker

August 10th, 2017|0 Comments on "Alumnus Montgomery returns as new Fresno State winemaker" 0 Comments

Thomas Montgomery, an award-winning winemaker and Fresno State alumnus, is the Fresno State Winery’s new winemaker. The Sanger native, who Read "Alumnus Montgomery returns as new Fresno State winemaker" [...]

Campus & Community

Fresno State launches ‘Clear the Air’ campaign for smoke-free campus

August 17th, 2017|0 Comments on "Fresno State launches ‘Clear the Air’ campaign for smoke-free campus" 0 Comments

Fresno State announced today its plan to provide a clean, safe and healthy environment for the campus under a new Read "Fresno State launches ‘Clear the Air’ campaign for smoke-free campus" [...]

Dr. Jill Biden to keynote California Teachers Summit

July 21st, 2017|0 Comments on "Dr. Jill Biden to keynote California Teachers Summit " 0 Comments

(July 21, 2017) — The third annual Better Together: California Teachers Summit will be held Friday, July 28, at 35 Read "Dr. Jill Biden to keynote California Teachers Summit " [...]

Castro kicks off 107th year with major campus upgrades

August 17th, 2017|0 Comments on "Castro kicks off 107th year with major campus upgrades" 0 Comments

As the Fresno State campus at Shaw and Cedar avenues enters its 62nd academic year since moving from its original Read "Castro kicks off 107th year with major campus upgrades" [...]

Research

Survey shows most Valley residents support construction of High-Speed Rail

May 8th, 2017|0 Comments on "Survey shows most Valley residents support construction of High-Speed Rail" 0 Comments

According to a new survey of the San Joaquin Valley conducted by the Institute for Leadership and Public Policy at Read "Survey shows most Valley residents support construction of High-Speed Rail" [...]

Alumni

Rabobank creates scholarships in memory of Tony DeGroot

August 10th, 2017|0 Comments on "Rabobank creates scholarships in memory of Tony DeGroot" 0 Comments

The Ag One Foundation announced the creation of two Fresno State student scholarships sponsored by Rabobank N.A. in memory of Read "Rabobank creates scholarships in memory of Tony DeGroot" [...]

Valley economic index points to expansionary economy

May 1st, 2017|0 Comments on "Valley economic index points to expansionary economy" 0 Comments

The San Joaquin Valley Business Conditions Index declined slightly in April to 60.2 from March’s record high 61.2, but remains Read "Valley economic index points to expansionary economy" [...]

Manuel Pérez, Diana Gomez to receive Bold Visionary Legacy Award

May 12th, 2017|0 Comments on "Manuel Pérez, Diana Gomez to receive Bold Visionary Legacy Award" 0 Comments

(May 12, 2017 -- updated May 15) — Two Fresno State alumni will be presented with the Fresno State Chicano Read "Manuel Pérez, Diana Gomez to receive Bold Visionary Legacy Award" [...]

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Watch the #SolarEclipse on the big screen! The Henry Madden Library is showing #NASA's live feed 8:30-noon Monday. 10:09am is the peak. #TotalEclipse ... See MoreSee Less

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20 hours ago

Bulldogs! Whether you’re riding back to class or out for something to do, you save every time.

Save 15% on the train, just for being a student. 🐶🐾www.amtraksanjoaquins.com ... See MoreSee Less

Explore California on the San Joaquins Train | Amtrak

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With multiple daily departures, the Amtrak San Joaquins train provides a great way to travel throughout California and the San Joaquin Valley.

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1 day ago

"The Phantom of the Opera is here".. 🎼 🎩

#FresnoState alum Constantine Pappas landed a role with the *national* tour of "The Phantom of the Opera"! #GoDogs 🐶🐾 ... See MoreSee Less

Music alum Constantine Pappas gets understudy for lead role in ‘Phantom’

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Earlier this summer, Donald Munro reported that Fresno State music alum Constantine Pappas landed a huge role playing the understudy to the character of Raoul in the national tour of “The Pha…

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Tix for Shania Twain 2018 Tour available Aug. 25

Tickets to see five-time GRAMMY winner and country superstar Shania Twain at the Save Mart Center will be on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 25. Twain announced that she will begin touring in May 2018 in Washington in support of her new album, NOW and will perform in Fresno at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 1. The last time Twain was in Fresno was in 2015 during her “Rock This Country” tour. Ticket prices range from $32.95 to $152.95. Tickets can be purchased at ticketmaster.com, by phone at 800.745.3000 or at the Save Mart Center Box Office. INFO: 559.278.3400.

University Theatre auditions Aug. 22

The Fresno State Department of Theatre Arts will hold preliminary auditions for its fall season at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 22, in the John Wright Theatre. The fall theatre season includes three productions: “A Particle of Dread (Oedipus Variations)” Sept. 29-Oct. 7p; “Native Son” Oct. 27-Nov. 4; and “The Two Gentlemen of Verona” Dec. 1-9. All actors are asked to come prepared with one memorized monologue, no longer than two minutes, as well as a completed preliminary audition form. Perusal scripts are available for checkout in the Department of Theatre Arts Office in the Speech Arts Building, Room 33. Callback auditions will be held Aug. 23-24. For more information about this season’s productions, auditions and callbacks, visit the Department of Theatre Arts audition page.

Two solar eclipse viewing parties at Fresno State Aug. 21

Fresno State will host two eclipse viewing events Monday, Aug. 21. The first is a live stream viewing from 8:30 a.m. to noon in the Fresno State Madden Library first floor, North Wing. The second event presented by Lyles College of Engineering will be held from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the foyer of the Engineering East building A partial eclipse begins at 9:03 a.m. with the maximum eclipse at 10:19 a.m. Victor E. Bulldog III will join from 10 to 11 a.m. for photos with the engineering and construction management students. While it is open to the public, students get first chance at the 100 pair of official NASA viewing glasses that will be available. “The Sundogs,” Lyles College of Engineering’s solar and renewable energy club will be in attendance. The party is in celebration of FresWOW Welcome Week at Fresno State. In the spirit of the solar eclipse, Lyles College students will receive Sunkist soda, Sun Chips, Moon Pies and Eclipse Gum. NOTE: Downing Planetarium, which will not be open Aug. 21, has run out of viewing glasses it was selling but has provided instructions to make them at bit.ly/FS-SolarEclipseGlasses. INFO: Engineering – Rebecca Wass at 559.385.1336 or rwass@csufresno.edu; Library – Cindy Wathen at ciwathen@csufresno.edu. The eclipse: www.nasa.gov/eclipse

Tim Skeen named Hallowell Professor of Creative Writing

Dr. Tim Skeen, a Fresno State professor of English, is the University’s new James and Coke Hallowell Professor of Creative Writing, starting this fall.

The professorship was established in 2001 by the Hallowells in an effort to attract and retain exceptionally talented faculty for the Master of Fine Arts Program in Creative Writing at Fresno State.

Following the departure of Steve Yarbrough, the professor emeritus of English and award-winning fiction writer who was the first holder of the professorship, the award was turned into a rotational term. The holder is released from teaching one course each semester to allow time to write.

After Yarbrough, the professorship has been held by Dr. Corrinne Clegg Hales (2011-2014) and Steven Church (2014-2017).

Skeen joined the faculty in the Department of English in 2004 with a Ph.D. in creative writing from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He specializes in 20th century American poetry. He served as coordinator of the Master of Fine Arts Program from 2011 through this past spring.

Skeen said he is grateful for the extra time to write that’s provided by the Hallowell professorship. “This time will allow more opportunities to pursue poems that will become the core of my next book,” he said.

Skeen’s third poetry collection, “Reward,” is coming in September from Finishing Line Press. The poems largely focus on Skeen’s experiences with loss, grief and recovery while volunteering as an American Red Cross disaster assessment specialist, including time he spent in the Gulf Coast during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

His second poetry collection, “Risk,” won the 2014 White Pine Press Poetry Prize, and it was selected as the 2014 Outstanding Faculty Publication in the Department of English at Fresno State. His first poetry collection, “Kentucky Swami,” won the 2001 John Ciardi Prize for Poetry and was published by BkMk Press at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Skeen’s poems have also appeared in journals and magazines such as the Antioch Review, Prairie Schooner, New Letters, the Mid-American Review, The Southern Review and the Sonora Review. In February, he was featured in the Fresno State Talks student-selected lecture series, where he presented a talk on Bob Dylan and the Beat Poets.

His wife, Pam Weiner, works as an admissions adviser on campus. His daughter, Iris Skeen, is a freshman theater major at University of California, Santa Barbara.

As part of the Fresno Poets’ Association reading series, Skeen will read from his work at the creative writing faculty reading at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 12. He will also give a featured reading at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 22. Both readings will be in the Alice Peters Auditorium (Peters Business building, Room 191) inside the University Business Center. The readings are free and open to the public.

Fresno State launches ‘Clear the Air’ campaign for smoke-free campus

smoke-free-campus-resources

Fresno State announced today its plan to provide a clean, safe and healthy environment for the campus under a new California State University system-wide policy requiring all 23 campuses to become tobacco, smoke and vapor free beginning Sept. 1.

The University’s “Clear the Air” campaign will educate students, employees and campus visitors about the new policy adopted in the spring 2017 semester by the CSU Chancellor’s Office with Executive Order 1108.

State law already bans smoking from workplaces and all buildings accessible to the general public throughout the state as well as within 20 feet of buildings. Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations authorizes universities to set and enforce smoking and tobacco policies.

The new CSU policy, which will be in effect at all times, applies to all University property, including buildings, athletic venues, residence halls, parking lots, vehicles and grounds. This includes no smoking, vaping or tobacco use inside any personal vehicles located on Fresno State property.

This restriction applies to tailgate gatherings and other outdoor, on-campus events. The new plan also removes 22 designated smoking areas that had been established under Fresno State’s previous smoking policy.

Fresno State offers cessation resources for students, faculty and staff at: http://www.fresnostate.edu/adminserv/smokefree/cessationprgs.html.

To help support the implementation and communication of this new policy, University President Joseph I. Castro assembled a committee of 20-plus members including students, faculty and staff. The committee is led by Deborah Adishian-Astone, Fresno State vice president for administration. Adishian-Astone said the primary goal of the committee is to educate the campus community and public about the smoke-free policy.

“We are sensitive to what this change will mean for our campus community, so we want to do as much as we can through educational programs, communication and resources,” Adishian-Astone said. “To support this goal, the ‘Clear the Air’ educational campaign will create awareness of the change and invite cooperation as we move toward creating a healthier campus environment.”

She said Fresno State campus and community members are asked to help create a smoke-, tobacco- and vapor-free environment using community reinforcement.

“Community reinforcement relies on individuals to educate one another about the smoke-free policy and the value of breathing smoke-free air,” Adishian-Astone said. “Studies show that tobacco-, smoke- and vapor-free campus policies can reduce tobacco use and exposure to second-hand smoke, which provides health benefits to the entire campus community.”

Resources:

For help with smoking and tobacco abuse, online resources and information are available at www.fresnostate.edu/smokefree.
Students needing help can contact the Student Health and Counseling Center at 559.278.2734.
Faculty and staff may contact the Employee Assistance Program Life Matters 24/7 Referrals at 1.800.367.7474as well as the online resources.
For more information about Fresno State’s smoke-free programs, visit the websites for smoking cessation and counseling programs and the Fresno State Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Safety Council.

Fresno State Smoke Free Committee members – www.fresnostate.edu/smokefree

CSU Executive Order 1108 (PDF)

Smoking cessation and counseling programs

Enforcement protocols (reporting noncompliance)

CSU Tobacco-Free Policy Rationale (PDF)

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Castro kicks off 107th year with major campus upgrades

As the Fresno State campus at Shaw and Cedar avenues enters its 62nd academic year since moving from its original site on Van Ness in 1956, the University will embark on a plan to upgrade and modernize older areas including a dozen high-use classrooms, Fresno State President Joseph I. Castro said Thursday, Aug. 17, at the annual Faculty/Staff Fall Assembly.

The University’s nearly 1,500 faculty members returned to work this week when the semester officially began Aug. 14 in preparation for class instruction beginning on Aug. 22. They join about 1,000 staff in fulfilling the University’s mission “to boldly educate and empower students for success.”

The fall semester’s projected enrollment is nearly 25,000, the president reported.

“Educating the next generation of leaders through teaching, research and public service is what Fresno State does best,” said Castro, a Hanford native who enters his fifth year as Fresno State’s eighth president, the first born and raised in the San Joaquin Valley.

“Our efforts in this area have resulted in widespread national distinction over the past year alone from U.S. News and World Report, Washington Monthly, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities and the Association of Public Land Grant Colleges and Universities among others,” he said.

Declaring that a critical ingredient to the University’s success “is to preserve and upgrade our physical and technological infrastructure,” Castro announced an investment of $26 million in new funds during 2017-18 to support infrastructure projects.

This will include $10 million to modernize the North Gym and South Gym to support academic and athletic programs and $5.1 million to modernize eight of the oldest and most important teaching spaces on campus.

He also announced that a new plan to upgrade teaching and learning spaces extends through 2019 and will include a total investment of about $11 million ($5 million this year and $6 million next year) to modernize 12 of the most widely used classrooms.

Castro noted that since 2013, the University has invested about $100 million in improving its physical and technological infrastructure.

The University is also investing in its people, as the president recognizes that even after significant investments made during every year since he has been President, employee concerns still remain particularly in regard to compensation and professional development opportunities.

“The good news is that virtually every new permanent dollar received from the state in the past four years has been used for faculty and staff compensation,” he reported. “In addition to salary, we each receive a generous benefits package that includes essential health insurance for us and our eligible dependents.”

He noted total compensation and benefits for staff and faculty at Fresno State have increased the past four years from $50 million in 2013 to $80 million today. For each individual employee, benefits represent an average cost of 40 percent of total salary.

“This investment is made with great pride because we know that an investment in you is an investment in achieving our mission of student success,” Castro said.

Castro also addressed freedom of speech and how universities are places where a wide range of ideas and perspectives can be discussed and debated.

“Fresno State has an opportunity to model for our Central Valley and beyond how freedom of speech — in a civil and respectful way – leads to a stronger teaching and learning environment,” Castro said. “As a thoughtful member of our campus community, I urge you to be boldly open-minded and to take the time to listen to and respect the perspective of others while sharing your own perspective. This is especially important on occasions when you might disagree with someone else’s point of view.”

To enhance the leadership skills of campus, Castro announced the establishment of the President’s Leadership Academy, a new professional development program that is “uniquely designed to prepare a new generation of leaders for our University. I am optimistic that many future deans, directors, associate vice presidents and vice presidents will be graduates from this program.”

Castro invited the campus community to join him in recognizing four faculty and staff for their service and contributions to Fresno State’s pursuit of excellence:

Jennifer Randles, a sociology professor, won national awards from the American Sociological Association and the National Council for Family Relations.
Ken Ternate served the past 12 summers as the coordinator of Fresno State Dog Days: New Student Orientation Program, organizing the welcoming of 5,200 freshman and transfer students and 2,000 guests.
Luke Shields, Fresno State men’s tennis coach, was named the 2017 Mountain West Men’s Tennis Coach of the Year.
Tom Uribes, the University’s public information officer and a founding writer for www.FresnoStateNews.com, the campus news service in the University Communications Office, will retire this semester after nearly 30 years of service to Fresno State.

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Fresno State student vies for world judo title Aug. 21 in Taiwan

National collegiate judo champion Miranda Imamura, a pre-nursing student and member of the Fresno State Judo Club, will compete at the 2017 World University Games Aug. 19 through 30 in Taipei, Taiwan. Imamura, who leaves for Taiwan early Wednesday morning with a 16-member delegation, earned her spot to represent the United States in the World University Games when she won the senior division title at the National Collegiate Judo Championships at San Jose State University in 2016. Her division, women’s under 57 kilogram, begins competition at 9 p.m. PDT Aug. 21 with finals set for 2 a.m. PDT Aug. 22. The competitions will be streamed live at www.livefisu.tv. The USA team is governed by the United States International University Sports Federation and its members compete globally as representatives of the United States in university-level sports competitions. Imamura began learning judo at age 4 and is coached by her father, Randy, and her uncle Richard, both alumni. Her grandfather, Haruo Imamura, taught a judo class through the Kinesiology Department at Fresno State and started the Fresno State Judo Club on campus. INFO about the Judo Club: Eddie Dominguez at 559.278.5987.

Fall semester classes begin next week; Castro talk Aug. 17

Fresno State prepares to kick off the fall 2017 semester with several events this week and next. On Aug. 17, Fresno State President Joseph I. Castro will deliver his annual Fall Assembly State-of-the-Campus talk to faculty and staff. On Aug. 18, University Courtyard move-in day for Residence Halls will begin for students and will continue through the weekend. On Aug. 21, New Student Convocation and Bulldog Bash will welcome new students to campus with celebratory festivities. On Aug. 22, classes begin. FresnoWOW welcome back activities will be ongoing, culminating Aug. 25 with Fresno State Night at Campus Pointe. Full press release below.

Fresno State ready for fall semester with Castro talk, move-in, FresWOW

(August 16, 2017) — Classes at Fresno State begin Tuesday, Aug. 22, with a projected enrollment of 24,850 students.

But the campus begins its back-to-school action starting Thursday (Aug. 17) when University President Joseph I. Castro delivers his State-of-the-Campus talk to employees followed by students moving into the University Courtyard residence halls Friday morning.

The first of 860 student residents begin moving into nine halls at 9 a.m., Aug. 18 and through the weekend. They will be greeted by the University’s Baggage Buddies — members of student clubs who volunteer to provide a warm welcome and help incoming students unload suitcases, bed linens, TVs and other college-living essentials.

President Castro and other administrators will greet students and parents during the welcome barbecue from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Friday. The Bulldog Marching Band makes its 2017 debut at about 5:45 p.m. President Castro talks to the Bulldog residents and their families at 5:30 p.m. See calendar at http://www.universitycourtyard.org/event/.

At the Faculty-Staff Fall Assembly at 9 a.m. tomorrow in the Save Mart Center, Castro will address University employees. He will discuss salaries and announce funding for infrastructure upgrades to the near-70 year-old Shaw campus that include modernizing many older parts of the campus and 12 of the most widely-used classrooms. He will also review recent University accomplishments as he begins his fifth year as University President.

At 3 p.m. Monday, Aug. 21, the University will formally welcome its newest students at the free, public New Student Convocation in the Save Mart Center whereJes Therkelsen, Media, Communications and Journalism professor, will give the keynote address on the topic of curiosity.

The Bulldog Bash after-party follows at 4 p.m. in the Student Recreation Center next to the arena.

The action picks up with the first day of classes Tuesday as #FresWOW Weeks of Welcome events continue. Several activities are planned including Traditions Day and Club Fair on the University Student Union Balcony at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 23. Other events include “Fresno State Night” at Campus Pointe Friday, Aug. 25.

The full updated schedule of events can be viewed at www.fresnostate.edu/welcome-week.

For more information about welcome events, call the Student Involvement Center at 559.278.2741.

Traffic and parking are often congested the first few days of instruction, so students and employees are reminded to arrive early, campus officials said.

University Courtyard – http://www.universitycourtyard.org/

New Student Convocation – bit.ly/FSN-NewStudentConvo15

Back-to-School name reminder: the university’s official names are Fresno State and California State University, Fresno. We generally use the long name for official documents and encourage the use of the shorter name for media and general materials. We ask that any other variations or the CSUF acronym (belongs to CSU Fullerton) NOT be used. Thank you!

The university’ social media accounts are www.Facebook.com/FresnoState and @Fresno_State (Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat).

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