Happy Holidays!

Dear Faculty, Staff, and Students,

We have made it to the end of the calendar year! Chilly weather and holiday celebrations have injected some festive cheer into the mad race to the finish. Soon, we will all be able to kick back a bit and enjoy the spirit of the many holidays celebrated at this time of year.

The semester’s final Town Hall last week brought ~200 faculty and staff to the table. For those who couldn’t be there in person or catch it online, below is a recap of what we shared.

UPDATES

Campus Plan

As we begin the implementation of the Campus Plan, we are using several cornerstones to ground our work. The first “active node” cornerstone calls us to invest in projects that create or fortify a sense of vibrancy in the central part of campus (near Ullman Commons, Memorial Parkway, and space where Nygreen Hall is located). As part of this cornerstone, we are studying the pros and cons of the restriction of vehicular traffic on a portion of Memorial Parkway. This tentative project will require Board of Regents (BoR) and City approval, so there is much yet to debate.

A second cornerstone, bolstering students’ academic experience, is prompting us to consider an accelerated schedule for remodeling the Ahmanson Science Center. A third cornerstone, enhancing the student co-curricular experience, has led us to consider upgrades to our most participated co-curricular program: Intercollegiate Athletics. The BoR has already approved upgrades to softball dugouts and storage areas which will begin as soon as the spring season concludes. We are also looking carefully at what it will take to design and build a track and field facility.

Teacher Residency Grant

Along with the many grants we announced at the last Town Hall, we were excited to share the latest news about a new $1.875 million State of California grant for a “Pathway to Teaching Residency Program.” Through this initiative, approximately 25 Santa Maria-Bonita School District (SMBSD) employees annually, for three years, will receive a scholarship to obtain their teaching credential at Cal Lutheran.

Space to Honor Chumash Peoples

A group of university faculty and administrators are meeting to discern how we might transform an open space near Kingsmen Park and the Student Union to honor the Chumash and inspire reflection and gathering.

Gallegly Archive Completion

The Gallegly Archive materials have been organized, categorized, and appropriately shelved for research use. Starting this winter, student and faculty scholars will be able to search online for materials they wish to review. They can then schedule an appointment to visit the library archives and access the materials they need.

Giving Tuesday

Cal Lutheran participated in Giving Tuesday on November 29. Despite being a 24-hour, global campaign that invites people and organizations to generously “give back,” University Advancement almost doubled the University’s fundraising goal in 12 hours. The $133,000 raised will go to myriad centers and departments on campus, all reinvested towards students.

STUDENT SHOWCASE

Men’s Water Polo

Earlier this month, our Men’s Water Polo team won their first SCIAC Championship! The Kingsmen made it to the finals of the DIII National Championship, losing a heartbreaking game to the University of Redlands in the final match. The team embodies the camaraderie, athleticism, and dedication it takes to be student-athletes. Faculty and staff were thrilled to have the team and Coach Cody Pletcher attend the Town Hall for a well-deserved recognition. Way to go, Kingsmen!

Kingsmen and Regals Quartet

In the spirit of the season, the Kingsmen and Regals Quartets performed three songs from their Make We Joy Christmas Concert setlist. Nothing puts you in a merry mood like the masterful combination of iconic and updated Christmas carols. It was a perfect Town Hall finale. 

We can see the light at the end of the tunnel and a little merriment will help keep us moving. I invite those who work an afternoon/evening shift to join me at Merry AfternoonCheer today at 4:00 p.m. on the President’s Patio at the Pederson Administration Building. Tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. everyone is invited to a Merry Morning Cheer at the Habit Patio.

No matter what holidays you celebrate this season, I wish you all a joyful and happy time, filled with friends, family, and some restful downtime.