For Your Information shares announcements of events, public meetings, notices, classes and deadlines. The submission deadline is noon on Monday, one week before the next post.

The deadline for the March 18 posting is Monday, March 11.

We strive to include all items submitted by deadline occurring until the next post. You can submit future items by emailing pubinfo@csun.edu, sending them to mail drop 8242 or faxing them to (818) 677-4909. Email is the preferred method of submission.

Events

March 6
Rushing Waters, Rising Dreams: How the Arts Are Transforming a Community
The Friends of the Oviatt Library invite you to join them for a book signing and documentary viewing with CSUN Chicano Studies professor Denise M. Sandoval and independent filmmaker John Cantú as they discuss the book and documentary “Rushing Waters, Rising Dreams: How the Arts Are Transforming a Community.” The event will take place at 2 p.m. in the Ferman Presentation Room of the Oviatt Library.
For more information — call (818) 677-2638

March 7
Environmental and Occupational Exposure to Metal Nanoparticles
The Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, in conjunction with the EOH Alumni Association and Student Association, hosts its annual technical symposium. This year will focus on the impact of metallic nanoparticles used in manufacturing processes and consumer products. Experts will speak at various presentations from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Northridge Center Complex of the University Student Union. Pre-registration is $85 and $75 for EOH Alumni Chapter Members. Registration at the door is $100 and does not include parking ($6) or lunch. Register online on the Alumni Association website or by phone at (818) 677-2137.
For more information—visit the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health.

March 10
Seamanship and Settlement: The Portuguese Maritime Tradition and Macau’s Architectural Duality
The Delmar T. Oviatt Library presents this opening event at 2 p.m. in the Jack and Florence Ferman Presentation Room of the Oviatt Library in an exhibition of photographs and images of the Portuguese Navy’s Tall Ship N.R.P. Sagres, and the historic architecture of Macau, China. The exhibition is celebrating some 500 years of Portuguese maritime skill, daring exploration, and mutual cultural influence with China as exemplified by magnificent photographs of the N.R.P. Sagres, and of the historic architecture of the port city of Macau, the first enduring point of contact between China and the west. Reservations are appreciated, please call (818) 677-2638.
For more information — visit the Oviatt Library’s website.

March 14
STEM: Education Challenges and Career Opportunities
The Oviatt Library and the Bonita J. Campbell Endowment for Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) is scheduled to host this event in the Ferman Presentation Room of the Oviatt Library from 4 to 6 p.m. Faculty are  welcome to bring their students.
For more information — call (818) 677-2638 or visit the Oviatt Library’s website.

March 22
What Really Works in Education Conference
The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) in the Michael D. Eisner College of Education at CSUN hosts a full day education conference at the CSUN University Student Union on March 22. Participants will leave with practical tips, tricks and strategies among local teachers, parents, and administrators. Rebecca Mieliwocki, 2012 National Teacher of the Year, will the the keynote speaker.  The conference fee is $90, with discounted rates available for CSUN students, CTL Partnership Schools, and groups of 5 or more. Register online at the Center for Teaching and Learning.
For more information — call (818) 677-7494 or e-mail ctl@csun.edu

March 30
Chinese New Year Banquet
The China Institute and the Chinese Student Association at CSUN will host their annual banquet to celebrate the Year of the Snake in the University Student Union’s Grand Salon from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Recent China Council full-scholarship recipients will make presentations on their life-changing experiences and wonders in China, and the CSUN Chinese Student Association, in collaboration with UCLA Chinese Student Association, will showcase special talents in singing, dancing and playing traditional Chinese musical instruments.  Contributions to the banquet start at $60 for two guests.
For more information—contact Justine Su, director of the China Institute at (818) 677-3801 or zsu@csun.edu.

One-on-one Retirement Consultations
The Office of Human Resources has partnered with five CSU Tax Shelter Annuity Fund sponsors to have representatives visit campus and assist those approaching retirement achieve their goals. Please bring your questions and most recent statements from your retirement plan investment providers for a comprehensive analysis. For additional information, refer to the CSU TSA website.

Upcoming Meetings
ING                March 6        To schedule an appointment, contact Kam Nassiri at
(818) 774-0719 or e-mail at kam.nassiri@ingfp.com.
Fidelity         March 12     To schedule an appointment, call (800) 642-7131.
MetLife          March 14     To schedule an appointment, contact Chris Maltese at
(805) 371-4217 or (818) 648-0907.
VALIC                        March 21     To schedule an appointment, contact Rachel Baroma at (818)
326-6939 or e-mail at rachel.baroma@valic.com.
TIAA-CREF  March 28     To schedule an appointment, please call (800) 732-8353.

Public Meetings

General Education Council
Meets 2–4 p.m.
Wednesday, March 6
University Hall 211

Faculty Senate
Meets 2–4:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 7
Jack and Florence Ferman Presentation Room
(Room 81, West Wing, Lower Level of Oviatt Library)

Research and Grant Committee
Meets 10 a.m.–noon
Friday, March 8
University Hall 277

Educational Resources Committee
Meets 2-4 p.m.
Tuesday, March 12
University Hall 2111

Graduate Studies Committee
Meets 2–4 p.m.
Tuesday, March 12
University Hall 277

Educational Policies Committee
Meets 2–4 p.m.
Wednesday, March 13
University Hall 211

Classes

Brown Bag Spring 2013 – Research Seminar Series
The College of Engineering and Computer Science is hosting a research seminar series every Tuesday in Jacaranda Hall, conference room JD1568 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Each series, which will run from Feb. 12 through May 7, will feature different faculty members to share their work. Bring your lunch and listen to fellow colleagues speak about their research interests and projects that they are currently working on.
For more information – download the Brown Bag Spring 2013 Research Seminar Series program.

Human Resources Workshop
The Tseng College offers a Human Resources Management Overview and PHR/SPHR Exam Preparation Workshop at CSUN on Tuesdays. Classes will run Feb. 26 through April 30 from 6 to 9:55 p.m.  Topics include business management and strategy, workforce planning and employment, HR development, compensation and benefits, employee and labor relations, and risk management. Detailed information is posted on the Tseng College website.
For more information―email angela.carpenter@csun.edu or call (818) 677-3332.

Department of Police Services Spring Safety Workshops:
For more information on workshops offered by the Department of Police Services,
call (818) 677-2111.

March 12
Building and Floor Marshal Training
The Building and Floor Marshal plan is designed to provide recruiting, training and coordination of volunteer CSUN employees in major buildings on campus. The training will provide emergency response procedures for some of the most common or likely critical incident emergency situation that may occur on campus. Sign up for training online.

March 19
Emergency Personal Preparedness
This workshop from 12 to 1:30 p.m. will help with developing a family emergency plan; prepare emergency supplies and other valuable information to help during emergencies and the recovery process. Sign up for training online.

March 21
Identity Theft Prevention – “Has Your Identity Been Compromised?”
Learn how to protect your identity by attending this workshop from 12 to 1 p.m. Sign up for training online.

Personal and Professional Development Program:

March 5
Essentials of Public Speaking: Part I
Bridget Sampson, communication studies faculty, will host two workshops to help faculty and staff enhance their presentation skills. Part I of the workshop, taking place in Oviatt 16 from 9 to 11 a.m., will emphasize basic strategies to improve skills and conquer anxiety associated with public speaking. Sign up for training online.

March 6
Understanding How the University Operates—Essentials for all Managers
CSUN supervisory and managerial staff are invited to attend this workshop presented by Diane Stephens, associate vice president of Academic Resources, and Debra Hammond, executive director of the University Student Union. The information-rich session, taking place in Oviatt 16 from 9 to 11 a.m., will provide information to be used for more effective management in the CSU/CSUN environment. Sign up for attend online.

March 19
IRA Education Workshop (TIAA)
This session, from 9 to 10 a.m. in Oviatt 16, will review all aspects of an IRA including what it is, how to choose the right one, investment options and IRA conversions. Sign up for the workshop online.

ScholarShare: California’s 529 College Savings Plan
CSUN faculty and staff are welcome to attend this session from 12 to 1 p.m. in Oviatt 16 HR Training Room that will help teach how to integrate the 529 College Savings Plan into your savings strategy. Sign up for training online.

Retirement Income Strategies
Presented by Jonathan Reilly, district manager of VALIC, and Rachel Baroma, financial advisor of VALIC, will host a session providing faculty and staff information on how to make informed choices about protecting retirement income in Oviatt 16 from 2 to 3 p.m. Sign up to attend online.

March 22
How to be an Ally to CSUN’s LGBTQ Community
Debra Hammond, executive director for the University Student union, will host this session from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in Oviatt 16 for CSUN faculty and staff to learn how to be an ally to lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender and queer, students, faculty and staff. A student panel will share their coming out experiences and their experience of being LGBTQ at CSUN. Sign up to attend online.

March 26
Essentials of Public Speaking: Part II
Bridget Sampson, communication studies faculty, will host two workshops to help faculty and staff enhance their presentation skills. Part I of the workshop, taking place in Oviatt 16 from 9 to 11 a.m., will emphasize basic strategies to improve skills and conquer anxiety associated with public speaking. Sign up to attend online.

March 27
Improving Communication with Students that have Autism Spectrum Disorders
Faculty and staff are invited to attend this workshop, from 9  to 10:30 a.m. in Oviatt 16, which will help participants enrich their understanding of the lived experiences of students diagnosed with ASD.  Sign up to attend online.

HealthWorks by Kaiser Permanente:
Cal State Northridge and HealthWorks by Kaiser Permanente have teamed up for a third year to bring you a suite of health tools and wellness programming developed to meet your individual needs. The wellness offerings, which are open to all interested CSUN employees – whether you are a Kaiser Permanente member or not – consist of a variety of activities and resources and include onsite classes, health screenings, and an online health competition designed to help you stay on track with making healthy choices.

Mondays, On-going
Weight Management
Continuing its program in Oviatt 16 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., every Monday for eight weeks, HealthWorks will provide a weight management program that provides the tools necessary to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Participants will learn how healthy lifestyle choices, like good eating and physical activity, and a positive attitude can help them lose weight and keep it off. The program will run through April 22 and is free to faculty and staff. Sign up to register online.

Book Club Meetings and Groups:
Grow Your Mind Book Club, sponsored by the Office of Human Resources and Faculty Development, presents a series of book club meetings facilitated by Elizabeth T. Adams, senior director of undergraduate studies. All faculty and staff are welcome to join at any time. Meetings take place on the following Wednesdays from noon to 1 p.m. in Oviatt 16. Register to be in the book club at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SV6BKRP.

March 6
“White Bread: A Social History of the Store-Bought Loaf” by Andrew Boborw-Strain

April 3
“A History of the World in 100 Objects” by Neil MacGregor
The Jewish Studies Book Group will host two spring meetings in the Jack and Florence Ferman Presentation Room on the following unique reads. For more information, contact Jewish studies at (818) 677-3007 or email jewish.studies@csun.edu.

March 17
“Murder on a Kibbutz: A Communal Case” by Batya Gur
The event will be led by Rabbi Michele Paskow of the Jewish studies program starting at 2 p.m.

May 5
“What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank: Stories” by Nathan Englander
The event will be led by Audrey Thacker of the English department.

Notices

Policy on Procedures for Evaluating Teaching Effectiveness
Section 612.5.2.c.(2)(b)(ii) of the Administrative Manual was reaffirmed to comply with changes to the Collective Bargaining Agreement of Fall 2012 by the Faculty Senate and approved by President Dianne F. Harrison. The policy can be viewed on the Faculty Senate website. All policies can be found under “resources” on the Faculty Senate website.
For more information—Heidi Wolfbauer at (818) 677-3263.

Policy on Procedures for Evaluating Teaching Effectiveness (Lecturers)
Section 706.3.2.b of the Administrative Manual was reaffirmed to comply with changes to the Collective Bargaining Agreement in Fall 2012 by the Faculty Senate and President Dianne F. Harrison. The policy can be viewed on the Faculty Senate website. All policies can be found under “resources” on the Faculty Senate website.
For more information—Heidi Wolfbauer at (818) 677-3263.

Policy on Examinations and Religious Observations
In correspondence with campus policy, the Office of the Provost would like to remind faculty members that “in administering any test or examination, we will permit any student who is eligible to undergo the test or examination to do so, without penalty, at a time when the activity would not violate the student’s religious creed.” The policy can be viewed on the Faculty Affairs website. If a faculty member needs assistance in evaluation the request of a student for the re-scheduling of an examination for purposes of religious observation, please contact the Office of Faculty Affairs at (818) 677-2962.

Master of Public Administration
Applications are now accepted for the fall 2013 Master of Public Administration program offered at CSUN and online.  The Tseng College administers this graduate degree program designed for those in the public or nonprofit sector.  Detailed information is posted on the Tseng College website.
For more information―email alice.lu@csun.edu or call (818) 677-5635.

Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act
As a result of amendments to the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA) and the issuance of Executive Order 1083 (Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect), all CSU employees now have an obligation to report suspected or known incidents of child abuse or neglect. The university will provide detailed information about the law and faculty/staff reporting obligations, including a form to acknowledge that the information has been reviewed and faculty understand their obligation to comply with CANRA.  This form will require a signature and must be returned to a designated campus official.

Emergency Desk Reference for Staff Members
Be prepared and informed before an emergency or disaster occurs by referencing sources provided by the Emergency Desk. The Desk Reference is a quick guide for what to do in emergency situations that might occur on campus including medical emergencies, fires/explosions, involvement of hazardous materials, bomb threats, encounters with suspicious behaviors and objects and earthquakes. Access to the guide can be done from the home page by clicking the link “Emergency Information” at the bottom of the page. Updating personal contact information can also be done to enhance emergency contact on the myNorthridge portal in the “Emergency Information” section. Text messaging can also be managed through the system—check the box next to “Emergency Text Message” on the portal page.

Master of Public Administration Info Sessions: Feb. 26–March 19
The Tseng College hosts free information sessions for CSUN’s Master of Public Administration program held at off-campus sites.  Information sessions take place at Beverly Hills City Hall, third floor HR training room, 455 N. Rexford Drive, Beverly Hills, Feb. 26 and March 19, from noon to 1 p.m., at the Pasadena City Hall, training room S018, 100 N. Garfield Ave.; March 6 and 13,  from 2 to 3 p.m.; and at the Los Angeles Unified School District headquarters, 333 S. Beaudry Drive, Los Angeles, March 5, 5:30-6:30 p.m.  For more information, email patti.burleson@csun.edu or visit the Tseng College website.

Summer Session
Currently enrolled CSUN students can make an appointment to register for Summer Session through the myNorthridge portal, from March 19 to 25, where they self-appoint a time and date to register online.  The registration period runs March 26-April 2 for those with appointments.  Registration is open to those without appointments starting April 3. Summer Session information is posted on the Tseng College website.

Training for Dealing with Distressed Students
Faculty Senate invites faculty and staff participation in two interactive on-line training programs, meant to enhance your confidence and provide you resources when dealing with students who are showing signs of emotional distress and/or adjustment issues.  One training program is designed for the general student population and the other for our student veterans. Each training takes between 45 and 75 minutes and can be done in the privacy of your own office. Access Training can be found here for general student training and here for veteran student training. To log-on, use enrollment key “csun42,” create a password, answer the series of questions and complete the training. Other on-line resources for addressing student behavior that may be of concern can be found at the University Counseling Services website, http://www.csun.edu/counseling.  For more information, contact Mark Stevens, director of CSUN’s University Counseling Services at (818) 677-4069 or email mark.stevens@csun.edu. Counselors at UCS are also available to come to a department or staff meeting to facilitate a discussion about the Kognito trainings.

Deadlines

April 15
Graduating Senior Award
Applications for the 2013 Outstanding Graduating Senior Award will be due. Four students will receive an award of $1000 each in recognition for academic excellence, service to community and campus, and exceptional achievements or personal life circumstances that have been overcome. Applications are available in the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs or visit the Division of Student Affairs website.

Condolences
Darrick Danta
The campus community extends deep condolences to the family and friends of Darrick Danta ’77 (Geography), M.A. ’80 (Geography), associate dean of CSUN’s College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, who passed away on Friday, Feb. 15. He was a longtime faculty member of the Department of Geography. He is survived by his wife, Sara. A memorial fund has been established. Those interested in contributing to the fund may send a check, payable to CSUN Foundation, to Anne Robison, CSUN/College of Social and Behavior Sciences, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge, CA 91330-8256.