News Roundup
A biweekly update of recent Academic Affairs wins
HSI Week celebrates community, collaboration, and student success - Kicking off Latine Heritage Month for four days in September, the ֦Ƶ community convened to recognize what it means to be a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and the shared responsibility that comes with that designation.
This year’s HSI Week brought students, faculty, staff, alumni, the local community, and campus partners together for a series of conversations, activities, and community-building events centered on student success and belonging.
֦Ƶ was first designated a Hispanic-Serving Institution in 2005. Today, 52.4%, or around 22,000 students, of the university’s undergraduate students identify as Hispanic, underscoring both the significance of the designation and the importance of intentionally creating an environment in which all students can feel fully a part of The Beach community.
That work is supported by Hispanic Serving Institution Initiatives (HSII), an initiative of the Office of the Provost and Academic Affairs established in fall 2024 within the Office of Inclusive Excellence. HSII works across the university to strengthen cultural engagement, faculty and staff development, community partnerships, data-informed practices, and institutional efforts that support student success.
- ֦Ƶ announces 53 new faculty for the 2026-27 academic year - The Division of Academic Affairs is pleased to welcome 53 new faculty for the 2026-27 academic year. We look forward to supporting our new faculty as they excel in teaching, scholarship, and service. Together, they will enrich their respective departments, colleges, and ֦Ƶ's monumental initiatives.
- Meet the new Academic Affairs leadership for the 2026-27 academic year - The Division of Academic Affairs welcomed new leaders to the Provost's Council for the 2026-27 academic year. Serving under the leadership of Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs Karyn Scissum Gunn, our new leaders will advance Beach Excellence by fostering holistic student success and preparing students for meaningful careers and further study.
֦Ƶ cinematic arts and animation students to premiere work in PBS show Fine Cut next month - Over the past several years, ֦Ƶ animation and documentary students have had many of their short films selected for PBS Fine Cut, a prestigious annual showcase for exceptional films from schools across Southern California. This year drew 414 films submissions from students representing more than 53 schools across the state. ֦Ƶ's two finalists are The Rat Race, a finalist in the Animation category directed by Sarah Jackson, and From Farmersville, a finalist in the Documentary category directed by Savannah Gasca.
Winners in each of the three categories, Documentary, Animation, and Narrative will be honored at a public awards ceremony on Tuesday, September 22. The episodes will also be available for streaming at .
- The Rat Race screens on Thursday, October 1 at 7 p.m. on PBS
- From Farmersville screens on Thursday, October 15 at 7 p.m. on PBS
No updates at this time.
No updates at this time.
- Harvesting Healthy Habits Expanding Outreach Through CSU GUIDE Award - ֦Ƶ’s Harvesting Healthy Habits program is expanding its reach with new funding through the 2026 CSU GUIDE Initiative. Housed in the Center for Latino Community Health, the program gives students hands-on research and community experience while ֦Ƶhealthy eating and lifestyles among underserved children and families. Last spring alone, Harvesting Healthy Habits served 204 community members, with early results showing improvements in children’s nutrition knowledge, vegetable intake and other healthy habits.
- Claudine Radisich-Ajeti Labor Institute begins operations with two research projects - The Claudine Radisich-Ajeti Labor Institute, housed in the College of Liberal Arts and directed by Professor Gary Hytrek, has begun operations with a mission to advance worker justice and student learning across Long Beach, the South Bay and the Gateway Cities. Faculty and students are working on two initial projects: an economic and social analysis of the impact of Long Beach's Cambodian community, and the Tradeswomen Retention and Advancement Research Initiative, which examines how effectively community-based workforce organizations advance gender equity in the building trades. The institute will contact faculty about opportunities to participate, and events are planned for the spring semester. The institute is funded by a $2 million estate gift from Claudine Ajeti, a 1959 ֦Ƶ graduate and advocate for labor and public higher education, who died in 2024.
- Shark Lab students featured at the Heal the Bay Aquarium’s Marine Science Education Center - Several Shark Lab students were recently featured at the Heal the Bay Aquarium's Marine Science Education Center in Santa Monica! Shark Lab hosted a Shark Shack at the aquarium, offering visitors a unique opportunity to learn about local sharks from the experts, our students and researchers! Shark Shacks provide great outreach, as well as an important educational experience for our community. Our students even had the chance to feed some of the aquariums resident swell and horn sharks. Check out
- Shark Lab director Dr. Chris Lowe explains El Niño to news outlets - Director of the Shark Lab Dr. Chris Lowe has been featured on news outlets across the country explaining the possibly implications of, and what we can do to prepare for the upcoming El Niño season. Dr. Lowe regarding the weather's effects on marine life, activity, and ocean safety.
From The Beach to Meta: MSIS graduate lands his dream job - When Shreedhar Bhatt walked across the stage in May 2025 as a proud graduate of Cal State Long Beach’s Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS) program, he didn’t just leave with a diploma—he left with a clear path towards one of the world’s biggest tech companies.
By late June, Shreedhar had already as Data Scientist in Product Analytics at Meta. He credits this early career milestone to the knowledge, tools, and opportunities he gained during his time at The Beach.
Kassidy Harrington supports students while studying sports at The Beach - For , earning her master’s degree in Sport Management at ֦ƵState University, Long Beach was more than an academic milestone—it was a turning point. Her unique path has reflected a deep commitment to family pride, professional growth, and service to students at The Beach.
֦Ƶ’s Center for Criminal Justice Research and Training earns award for excellence - ֦Ƶ’s (CJ Center) has won the Excellence in Training Award for Organizational Achievement from California’s Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). The award honors programs that provide innovative services resulting in substantial contributions to public law enforcement.
Graduate Studies expands access to and supports success in graduate school through workshops - This Fall 2026, Graduate Studies will host 22 workshops on graduate school related topics such as “Writing a Statement of Purpose for Graduate School,” “Overcoming Writing Anxiety,” “Preparing for Academic/Professional Conferences.” These workshops support current graduate students in their education at the Beach and encourage undergraduate students, alumni, and community members to consider graduate school for advancing their careers. The Graduate Center also meets the needs of our ֦Ƶ programs, campus orgs, and departments by hosting workshops on request. Within the first two weeks of the semester, the Graduate Center received 18 requests!
Graduate Studies hosts our Graduate Advisor Orientation for the 2026-27 AY - Graduate Studies hosted our annual Graduate Advisor Orientation for the new or seasoned graduate advisors at the Beach. Over 40 Grad Advisors across the Colleges came together for a full day of learning policies, best practices, effective processes, Enrollment Services tools, and campus resources to support graduate programs and graduate students. GS thanks The Graduate Center, Domestic and International Admissions, International ֦Ƶ and Scholars, the Registrar, Financial Aid, and Student Financial Services for their time providing guidance to Grad Advisors.
Dr. Shadi Saadeh receives fifth Caltrans grant in support of Joint Training and Certificate Program - Dr. Shadi Saadeh from the Civil Engineering and Construction Engineering Management Department has received his fifth grant from Caltrans in support of the Joint Training and Certification Program (JTCP), for $1,481,856. The JTCP is a partnership between Caltrans, industry, and the State of CA, and is jointly run by ֦Ƶ and SJSU. It provides a 3-year certification on construction materials and materials testing that is required for all technicians working for Caltrans and other companies.
Dr. Cody Karcher receives $200,000 MIT grant to develop a multi-fidelity optimization framework for UAV Design - Dr. Cody Karcher from the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department received a $200,000 grant from MIT via Mitsubishi Corporation to develop a multi-fidelity optimization framework for UAV Design. This work supports the growing expertise in the HFCOE for the Space Beach ecosystem within Long Beach.
DoIT and CECS Department launch AWS Innovation Sandbox for classroom use - The Division of Information Technology and the Computer Engineering and Computer Science Department launched the AWS Innovation Sandbox for classroom use. This tool will provide secure and isolated environments for teaching topics such as AI and Cloud Security.
Digital Transfer Maps provide clear pathways to a ֦Ƶ degree - Digital Transfer Maps offer transfer students a simple, visual roadmap from a community college associate’s degree for transfer (AD-T) to a bachelor’s degree at Cal State Long Beach. These visual roadmaps provide transfer students with a recommended course sequence to save time, money, and stress.
Working in collaboration, ֦Ƶ and Long Beach City College have developed 35 individual Digital Transfer Maps outlining pathways from 17 AD-T degrees at LBCC leading to 34 bachelor degrees and corresponding options at ֦Ƶ. Faculty and academic advisors from both institutions collaborate closely to align curricula, ensuring each course fulfills students’ general education and major requirements. The result is a streamlined, student-focused pathway with built-in success strategies.
University Honors Program and LB BLAST partnership supports the college pathway - The University Honors Program (UHP) completed its second year partnering with local non-profit Long Beach BLAST to increase impact in K-12 LBUSD schools with a $15,000 service grant. Through UHP, both honors and non-honors ֦Ƶ students received a stipend to mentor and tutor local children in 12 local K-12 schools. With support from ֦Ƶ students, LB BLAST was able to reach 697 K-12 student mentees, connecting them twice per week with their college mentors.
This partnership increases the college pathway, supports the Long Beach Promise, and encourages local children to consider honors education at the college level. As honors student and LB BLAST mentor, Cynthia Fernandez explains: “I gained insight into what it is like to be an elementary student again. I saw what my mentee was going through and was able to support him in the way he needed it. Being a mentor was impactful because I got to care for someone who is different than me by doing things with him that I wished I could do when I was younger. Helping others can also help you!”
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| Month | Submissions Due | Email Send Date |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | Mon, 9/14 Mon, 9/28 | Th, 9/17 Th, 10/1 |
| October 2026 | Mon, 10/12 Mon, 10/26 | Th, 10/15 Th, 10/29 |
| November 2026 | Mon, 11/9 | Th, 11/12 |
| December 2026 | Mon, 12/14 | Th, 12/17 |
| February 2027 | Mon, 2/8 Mon, 2/22 | Th, 2/11 Th, 2/25 |
| March 2027 | Mon, 3/15 Mon, 3/29 | Th, 3/18 Th, 4/1 |
| April 2027 | Mon, 4/12 Mon, 4/26 | Th, 4/15 Th, 4/29 |
| May 2027 | Mon, 5/10 | Th, 5/13 |
