Curricular Innovation nominations due Dec. 4
The deadline is today, Dec. 4, to submit proposals for the Provost's Awards for Curricular Innovation for Student Success that encourages teaching approaches that foster student engagement and deep learning. The focus is on improving student learning rather than advocating a particular teaching strategy. Click here for details.

India is in Coffee Hour spotlight
“India: A Symbol of Culture and Growth” will be the topic of the final International Coffee Hour of the semester. It will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 5, in the University Student Union, rooms 312-314. Gagan Bhasin, a graduate student in the Craig School of Business and coordinator of the Coffee Hour program, is the presenter.

Physical therapist will lecture
The College of Health and Human Services’ Interdisciplinary Distinguished Scholar Lecture Series is sponsoring a presentation by Dr. Diane Allen, a physical therapist on the faculty of Samuel Merritt College in Oakland. Her topic is “Effectively Measuring Outcomes in Education and Clinical Practice: The Researcher's Guide to Getting Results.” The lecture begins at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 5, in the Alice Peters Auditorium and will be followed by a reception and refreshments. Click here for details.

Holiday decorating class available
The Life+Work+Links program is sponsoring a holiday wreaths and centerpieces class with Michael’s Arts & Crafts at noon Wednesday, Dec. 6, in the Smittcamp Alumni House Board of Directors room.  Reservations should be made early because seating is limited. Register via e-mail, tfranklin@csufresno.edu; phone, 278.4851. Click here for details.

Universal design workshop scheduled
Critical to online learning is understanding the way people learn. To help build that understanding, a 90-minute live, interactive online workshop on universal design is scheduled at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 6, in the University Center, Room 202. Click here for details.

Students make downtown recommendations
The campus community is invited to join the third semester of Fresno State’s urban entrepreneurship students as they present their final projects from 3:30 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, at Jon Jon’s Grand Central Station, 1432 H. St., in downtown Fresno. Students will present their ideas about which businesses would help attract people to the downtown area.

Deadline Dec. 7 for student research grants
Faculty are encouraged to inform students that Wednesday, Dec. 7, is the deadline to apply for a maximum $500 research grant. The Educational Research and Project Grant Program has 20 grants available to graduate and undergraduate students for projects in all disciplines under faculty supervision. Details at 278.2656 or tristanbufete@gmail.com. Click here to download an application.

Special Education Teacher of the Year ceremony Dec. 7
Six central San Joaquin Valley special education professionals will be honored for their work and one will be presented the 2006 Carolyn Dobbs Special Education Teacher of the Year Award on Thursday, Dec. 7. The honors are presented by the Kremen School of Education and Human Development to recognize the importance of the work of special education professionals. Click here for details.

Holiday celebration Dec. 11
The annual University Holiday Celebration for staff and faculty is scheduled from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 11, at the Residence Dining Facility. Appetizers and Fresno State wines will be available and door prize drawings will be held every 15 minutes beginning at 4:30. The event is presented by President John D. Welty and the Staff Assembly Executive Committee.

Planetarium schedules seasonal shows
The Downing Planetarium is taking reservations for “Season of Light” programs Dec. 15 and 16 that will explore holiday traditions of various cultures and the winter skies. Shows sell out quickly. Tickets remain for shows at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15, and at 2 and 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 16. Telescope viewing will be available Dec. 15, weather permitting. Reservations: 278.4071. Click here for details.

E-waste recycling returns Dec. 16
The next e-waste recycling opportunity at Fresno State will be from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Dec. 16. in the university’s Parking Lot S, just south of Bulldog Stadium on Bulldog Lane. TVs and computer monitors will be accepted without charge, while all other electronic waste is subject to a fee of 25 cents per pound. For questions, call 278.7422. Click here for details.

Wang faculty excellence award deadline near
The deadline is Jan. 12 to nominate faculty members for the Wang Family Excellence Award, an honor awarded just four faculty each year chosen from the 23 California State University campuses. The award recognizes “faculty who, through extraordinary commitment and dedication, have distinguished themselves by exemplary contributions and achievements in their academic disciplines, and are having a discernible effect on students.” The winners are chosen from four categories: visual and performing arts and letters; natural sciences, mathematical and computer sciences, and engineering; social and behavioral sciences and public service; and education, professional and applied sciences. Click here for details.

GIS workshop for faculty Jan. 9
Full-time classroom faculty are invited to a one-day “Introduction to GIS” workshop on how computer-based geographic information systems can help classroom and research activities. The seminar is at 8:30 a.m. Jan. 9 at the Interdisciplinary Spatial Information Systems Center in IT 104. There is space for 12 participants. To reserve a seat, contact Dayna at daynam@csufresno.edu or 278.4951

Teach abroad program seeks applicants
The deadline is Feb. 2 for Fresno State faculty to apply for teaching positions in many countries in summer and fall 2008 and spring 2009 through the University Studies Abroad Consortium. The program offers teaching opportunities to fulltime faculty who plan to return to their university follow the term abroad. For details, call Bill Erysian in the International Programs Office, 278.6452.

Laval Award deadline announced
The application deadline is Feb. 9 for the Claude C. Laval Jr. Award for Innovative Technology & Research, which is open to all full-time faculty, undergraduate and graduate students. The award is $5,000. Details: call Doug Carey, 278.0856, or Click here for details.

Third Veritas Forum on campus Feb. 20-22
The third annual Veritas Forum at Fresno state will bring together nationally-renowned philosophers and authors from university campuses to explore issues of social justice, tolerance, goodness and the meaning of life. The three-day event begins Feb. 20. Click here for details.