Provost Communication: Monday, September 28, 2026

Dear Colleagues,

Enabling student success takes many forms, including (but not limited to!) providing students with the resources they need to be ready on the first day of class; creating opportunities to learn through service and engagement beyond the classroom; or taking the time ourselves to better understand the many experiences, responsibilities, and challenges our students navigate on their way to a degree.

This week, I am pleased to share a wonderful recognition of our College Corps program, a service fellowship, cohort-based program led by the Center for Community-Based Learning (CCBL), and in partnership with College of the Redwoods. 

Cal Poly Humboldt College Corps Recognized for Outstanding 2025–26 Performance

Cal Poly Humboldt’s College Corps program has been recognized by California Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday and the Governor's Office of Service and Community Engagement (GO-Serve) for meeting all three statewide College Corps performance benchmarks for enrollment, retention, and completion during the 2025–26 program year.

There is much to celebrate! Last year, 129 Cal Poly Humboldt College Corps fellows contributed 58,359 hours of service to our surrounding communities while developing valuable professional and civic leadership skills. Humboldt filled 100% of its allocated fellow positions, 95.3% of fellows remained in good standing by completing at least 300 hours of service, and an impressive 92.2% successfully completed the full College Corps program by contributing at least 450 hours of service and earning their full award.

These numbers represent a tremendous amount of work, but more importantly, they represent students learning through service, building professional skills, and making meaningful contributions to communities throughout our region.

Congratulations and thank you to our College Corps students, staff, and community partners whose dedication made this recognition possible. This is a wonderful example of the impact we can have when student learning, community engagement, and professional development come together.

Immediate Access Is Growing—Could Your Spring 2027 Course Be Next?

Thank you to our faculty who have helped grow the Immediate Access course materials program. This fall, 949 students across 28 course sections participated—our largest participation to date. That's nearly one out of every six Humboldt students, with only four students choosing to opt out. Most importantly, participating students saved approximately $79,000 this fall—an average of $83.06 per student.

Immediate Access helps reduce barriers by making course materials available directly through Canvas as early as five days before classes begin. Materials are automatically provided when students register for participating courses, with charges placed on student accounts so eligible financial aid can be applied. Students also have portable and offline access, along with reading and accessibility tools available through the Kortext platform.

The deadline to sign up for a Spring 2027 course for Immediate Access is Wednesday, October 28, 2026.  If you would like to explore whether Immediate Access could benefit your students, please contact Shannon Kull at Shannon.Kull@humboldt.edu. Reaching out is simply an opportunity to learn more and determine whether the program is a good fit for your course

Save the Date! Pathways to Success: The Student Experience Lab - January 15, 2027

What does it really take for a student to make their way through college?

On our next Professional Development Day, you are invited to step into a student's shoes for an interactive experience exploring the many dimensions of the college journey, from academics and finances to establishing connections, meeting responsibilities, finding belonging, navigating unexpected challenges, and planning for the future. 

Through realistic student scenarios, faculty and staff will explore how decisions, opportunities, challenges, campus resources, and life circumstances intersect over time. Together, we'll build a more holistic understanding of the student experience and consider the role each of us plays in helping students navigate their individual paths toward their goals.

Please save the date: Professional Development Day, Friday, January 15, 2027, 8 a.m. to noon. More information will be shared as we get closer to the event.

Thank you all for the many ways you contribute to student success at Humboldt. Whether through creating meaningful learning experiences, connecting students with our communities, working to understand the complexity of their journeys, or helping remove barriers to their education, these collective efforts make a meaningful difference.

Sincerely,

Shawna