2023-2024 Academic Year
Welcome to Fall 2023
August 29, 2023
Dear Golden Eagle Family:
Welcome to fall semester 2023! Please watch the video below for a message from Interim President Leroy M. Morishita.
Classes, in-person work to resume Tuesday
August 21, 2023
Dear Golden Eagle Family:
We have all had an extraordinary weekend. I hope you and your loved ones are well and safe.
Tropical Storm Hilary set rainfall records, flooded roadways, and downed trees; and yesterday’s 5.1 earthquake rattled those who felt it.
Our decision early yesterday to cancel classes and transition to remote work for today was rooted in our concern for and commitment to you. With that same commitment, we are returning to our normal schedule tomorrow. On Tuesday, August 22, classes will be held in person as scheduled and employees should return to campus for in-person work.
In communities across Southern California, the arduous task of assessing damage, cleaning up, and recovery is now taking place. Our assessment has confirmed that campus is safe for our community, and we can resume our normal operations.
I want to update you on conditions at Cal State LA. Our Facilities staff and Public Safety officers have been out since early this morning, surveying campus. Our teams are also at work correcting issues caused by the storm.
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is working to repair a transformer that will restore power to the Golden Eagle Apartments, the Television, Film and Media Center, and Parking Structure D, near the center. Power is expected to be restored by the end of Monday. A downed tree off campus is believed to have caused the outage.
Small pools of water inside a few buildings and parking structures are being removed. And staff are continuing to check buildings and make repairs.
I assure you that our campus is ready to return to our regular work and study schedules. I recognize that students, staff, and faculty may live in communities that faced an even greater impact from the storm. Hazardous conditions may still exist. Please continue to stay safe in the aftermath of the storm.
I am grateful for the ways Cal State LA pulled together as a community to plan, prepare, and keep each other safe. Thank you to all of our employees who went the extra mile to ensure the safety of our community and campus. And thank you to every one of you for doing what needed to be done.
Cal State LA is a strong community, and we showed our strength this weekend.
Sincerely,
Leroy M. Morishita
Interim President
Changes to University operations Monday due to storm
August 20, 2023
Dear Cal State LA Community:
Out of an abundance of caution, Cal State LA is making important scheduling changes for Monday. We are taking the following actions for the health and safety of our community during Tropical Storm Hilary.
Classes will be canceled on Monday, August 21. This includes classes on our downtown Los Angeles campus.
Faculty and staff should plan to work from home on Monday. Check in with your immediate supervisor for further instructions.
Student services will not be offered in person on Monday, but are expected to resume on Tuesday. Students, please do not come to campus for matters such as financial aid or other services. Plan to handle these matters later in the week.
University events and gatherings scheduled for Monday are canceled.
The storm will bring intense rain, strong winds, the possibility of flash flooding, and other hazardous conditions. Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency and city officials have asked residents to remain off the roads during the storm. After assessing the potential impact of Tropical Storm Hilary and other factors, the steps we are taking represent the safest course of action.
While it is impossible to know with certainty what conditions will exist on Monday, my cabinet and I, along with other emergency response personnel, have decided to err on the side of caution. We recognize that the worst of the storm may have passed on Monday and the conditions on campus may be safe for our community. Our staff have been at work preparing our campus for the impact of the storm. However, our students and employees may still face hazardous conditions where they live or along their commute. For these reasons, we are canceling classes and transitioning to virtual work. Your safety is our priority.
I encourage you to keep abreast of the latest developments and be aware of the safety advice provided regarding the storm. I’m sharing again the following information that should be useful to you:
For the latest information about severe and inclement weather advisories, warnings, and updates, you can refer to the National Weather Service and the National Hurricane Center. You can also sign up to receive local alerts about emergencies. For the city of Los Angeles, sign up at Notify L.A. For other parts of L.A. County, you can find your city’s alert system sign-up at the Ready LA County website. You can find additional tips for preparing for storms from the Los Angeles Times.
Please remain inside during the storm and stay safe. Cal State LA is a strong community and we will get through this together.
Sincerely,
Leroy M. Morishita
Interim President
Greetings from the Interim President
July 31, 2023
Dear Cal State LA Community:
I’m Leroy Morishita, and I am honored and pleased to serve as the interim president of Cal State LA beginning today.
The opportunity to join the Golden Eagle family, even for a brief time, was one that I could not pass up when the CSU Board of Trustees asked me to serve. I admire and respect the rich legacy of Cal State LA and look forward to working with you to continue your great success.
I’ll serve as interim president until a permanent president takes office. As a former CSU president, I’m familiar with presidential transitions—and all that comes with them. I’m committed to working with you to ensure that Cal State LA remains strong through this period. Nancy Wada-McKee, Cal State LA’s former vice president for Student Life, will serve as chief of staff during my appointment.
As we approach the start of the semester, you'll hear more from me about what we can expect this fall.
I hope you’ll attend University Convocation on Aug. 17 in the Luckman Theatre. You can register online through August 14. As always, this will be a time to come together to hear updates about the University, greet new faculty, and congratulate the recipients of the President’s Distinguished Professor Award, Outstanding Professor Awards, and the Outstanding Lecturer Award. Of course, afterward there’ll be great music on the Luckman Street of the Arts, light refreshments, and time for fellowship before the new academic year starts.
I look forward to seeing you there.
Best regards,
Leroy M. Morishita
Interim President
Reports on Title IX and Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation
July 17, 2023
We’re writing to inform you of two new independent reports that examine difficult issues in the California State University system and at individual campuses.
Today, July 17, the Chancellor’s Office released the findings of a systemwide assessment of how we respond to reports and incidents of discrimination and harassment. Tomorrow, July 18, the California State Auditor will release a systemwide report on sexual harassment complaints involving executives, faculty, and staff.
We invite you to read the full assessment report on the CSU’s Commitment to Change website and on the Cal State LA’s President’s webpage. The summary report offers systemwide findings. A report on Cal State LA includes findings specific to our University. On May 24, at a meeting of the CSU Board of Trustees, the Cozen O’Connor law firm, presented an initial overview of their assessment. (View a recording of the presentation. The presentation begins at 23:15.)
A separate California State Auditor’s report will be available July 18 on the auditor’s website. The report examines sexual harassment systemwide and does not focus on Cal State LA.
As presidents of Cal State LA—one outgoing, one incoming as interim—we want to underscore the continuing significance of the issues explored in these reports. Maintaining a culture of respect, caring, and safety on campus is important for everyone in the Cal State LA community. In the months and years ahead, the University’s work in this area will be informed by the findings of the assessment and the audit, and our community’s ongoing commitment to making progress.
Cozen O’Connor began conducting its assessment in 2022. They conducted a three-day onsite campus visit from Nov. 29 through Dec. 1, 2022, as well as multiple virtual follow-up meetings. The University invited the campus community to participate in CSU’s Title IX Assessment survey in February 2023. We extend our gratitude to all who participated in the assessment.
The report being released today is based on a series of interviews, campus visits, survey results, and email feedback. Cozen O’Connor has identified core observations and recommendations at the system and university levels to help improve our Title IX and Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation (DHR) training, awareness, prevention, intervention, compliance, and support systems.
The Cal State LA report offers many recommendations, including key areas:
- Elevating the presence of Title IX on our campus to ensure that students, faculty, and staff are aware of the office, the many resources it offers, and how to access them.
- Reviewing the structure of and staffing for the Title IX office with the goal of ensuring there is sufficient staffing and resources to meet our University’s needs.
- Expanding training for University teams through workshops, presentations and other programming that contributes to a culture of awareness and understanding.
Earlier this year, the University created an implementation team, including a broad cross-section of campus stakeholders, tasked with addressing the recommendations. The team includes: Mariel Mulet, Title IX officer; Queen King, interim vice president for administration and chief financial officer; Susie Varela, associate vice president, Human Resources Management; Kris Bezdecny, chair, Academic Senate; Demetrus Caldwell, deputy Title IX coordinator in athletics; and Yahir A. Flores, president, Associated Students, Inc.
We look forward to continuing our review of the findings and considering recommended changes. Everyone in our community can play a role in maintaining a campus climate of respect and caring. We’ll continue to keep our community informed and updated.
Sincerely,
William A. Covino
President
Leroy M. Morishita
Interim President