Provost Communication, Wednesday, February 25, 2026

Dear Colleagues, 

Looking back at the content of the past month’s provost communications, I find myself in awe. The collection of messages capture how dynamic and engaged our campus is as a place of learning and growing, for all of us. The work we do here is such a privilege, and I am grateful for all your contributions to this communication platform. Please keep sending your announcements so that we can continue to appreciate and celebrate our shared stories and successes.    

If you want to share your events, award opportunities, or your pride in your colleagues or team for the excellent work they have accomplished, please send us an email at oaavp@humboldt.edu. I am so pleased to share all that you do to contribute to our institutional culture and student success. 

13th Annual ideaFest Save the Date: Friday, May 1, 2026; Registration opens March 9, 2026

On Friday, May 1, 2026, Cal Poly Humboldt will come alive for the 13th Annual ideaFest as hundreds of students, faculty, and staff showcase the work they’re most proud of. This is truly a campus-wide event, and one of the best opportunities we have to highlight the incredible academic and creative energy happening across every discipline. ideaFest is sponsored by the Office of Research & Sponsored Programs, Marketing & Communications, and the Library, in collaboration with all Colleges. It continues to grow each year because of your engagement, mentorship, and excitement. Help us spread the word, inspire your students, and make this year’s event the biggest and most vibrant yet!

Why Faculty Participation Matters: Students consistently tell us they got involved because their instructors encouraged them. Your enthusiasm and your invitation can be the spark that motivates a student to take the leap and share their work publicly. Whether your courses include research, creative work, group projects, performances, or digital media, ideaFest is the perfect venue for students to shine. Any student, in any discipline, at any level can participate.

Spring planning items for consideration: 

• Add ideaFest participation as an assignment or extra credit option

• Announce registration during class

• Encourage your research students, capstone groups, creative practitioners, and emerging scholars to participate

• Showcase your own work alongside your students

Key Dates:

• Registration Opens: Monday, March 9, 2026

• Registration Deadline: April 17, 2026

• 13th Annual ideaFest: Friday May 1, 2026 

Humboldt-ERFSA Small Grant Program for Tenure-track Faculty, Lecturers, and Staff

Sponsored by the Humboldt-Emeritus and Retired Faculty and Staff Association, grant awards are intended to help tenured-track faculty, lecturers, and staff with less than 5 years employment at Cal Poly Humboldt seeking to expand professional qualifications. Awards up to $1,000 will be made upon evaluations of the applicant’s prior work and on the relationship of the proposal to further professional development.

Applications are due by Thursday March 26, 2026, at 3 pm Please visit the ERFSA Grant Program website and the 2026 Grant Flyer for details.

Call for Nominations: 2026 Sustainability Champion Awards

Please consider nominating someone to be one of this year’s Sustainability Champions! Cal Poly Humboldt is accepting nominations for its ninth annual Sustainability Champion Awards program, to recognize faculty, professional staff and students whose practices have deepened a culture of sustainability, have furthered the integration of sustainability into academics, student life or campus culture, and/or reduced Humboldt’s environmental footprint. Complete the form linked here: 2026 Sustainability Champion Awards Nomination Form by Wednesday, April 1, 2026 to nominate a faculty, professional staff  or student staff member for an award. 

Self-nominations are accepted. Winners and their nominators will be notified by Friday, April 10, 2026.  Those with sustainability in their job title or with sustainability as an obligatory aspect of their job (e.g., Office of Sustainability staff, Sustainability Librarian and the Faculty Sustainability Fellow) are not eligible for the award. An award selection committee will choose up to three candidates who embody the spirit of innovation, collaboration, and leadership as they work to establish solutions to pressing challenges facing the campus and society. Each Sustainability Champion will receive a trophy and a feature profile in campus publications. The awards ceremony will be held in April during Earth Week, a series of events in celebration of Earth Day. More information about the Sustainability Champion Awards can be found at the following link: Sustainability Champion Awards.

Sincerely, 

Shawna Young