New positions, a reflective goodbye, and summaries of important updates

Dear students, staff, and faculty,
 
This unusually busy week has prompted a number of emails, and it’s easy to miss an important note or two. Therefore, I will use today’s biweekly message to summarize news mentioned in three communiques and to provide an exciting update on our DEI efforts. I will start with the latter since we are now in the initial phases of launching two DEI searches. 
 
This week, I approved a vacancy announcement from Dr. Taiwo Ande, Associate Provost for Educational Effectiveness, to post a newly configured position: the Director of Faculty Development and Inclusive Excellence. The successful candidate will lead faculty programs associated with New Faculty Orientation and best practices related to pedagogical strategies in experiential education, digital learning, and inclusive excellence. As part of this work, the incumbent will be responsible for envisioning, co-creating with colleagues, and delivering programs that focus on learning, research, diversity, equity, and inclusion. 
 
In addition to that position, I am pleased to announce that Cal Lutheran’s search for its Chief Diversity Officer is also getting started. To assist us in building a strong and diverse pool of applicants, we have contracted with the isearch group, a search and recruitment firm out of L.A. As we enter this initial phase, isearch is helping us develop a detailed position profile based on the scope of work and responsibilities we envision being a part of this portfolio. Over the next three weeks, isearch will conduct a comprehensive analysis of the market that will help us finalize the title and job description of this new role. While those are being finalized, here are some specifics I can share with you now: Our new CDO position will be a vice-presidential one. The new VP will report directly to me and have a seat on the cabinet. I expect that this VP will supervise several departments, and I will share those at the March 5 webinar for faculty and staff that I mentioned in the February 11 note to campus. For now, please know that I am working to constitute a search advisory committee; it will be a representative one that includes faculty, staff, and a student or two. 

Before we welcome those two new colleagues, we will be saying goodbye to a friend, colleague, and spiritual leader. Pastor Scott Maxwell-Doherty, who has guided us through good times and bad for over two decades, will step down from his campus minister post at the end of May. Please join me in thanking Scott for being a steady source of hope, light, and comfort at Cal Lutheran. We wish him nothing but the very best.
 
With the above announcements at the forefront, let me continue this note by reviewing and summarizing important news that hit your inbox this week.
 
2020 and 2021 Graduation Ceremonies: As described in a series of notes that went out earlier this week, several of our colleagues across campus have worked hard to plan real-time, on-the-ground commencement celebrations for our 2020 and 2021 graduates. This year’s ceremonies will take place at the Ventura County Fairgrounds on May 8 and May 15. We are still working out many of the logistics, but we expect the events to be festive ones that allow for the personal recognition of graduates. They are designed to be drive-in ceremonies, not drive-through ones. This means that each graduate can have a carload of friends and family as part of the live event. The “Concerts in Your Car” series, featured on this website, will give you an inkling of what our graduates might expect. To keep abreast of ongoing commencement updates, make a habit of checking this university website.
 
Vaccine Update: Yesterday afternoon, County of Ventura officials opened vaccine appointments to those working in the education sector. This access was originally slated to begin on March 1, but county officials moved it forward several days without advance notice. Vaccine supply remains limited, but all Cal Lutheran employees now are eligible to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine. Please see this week’s earlier email for details and links to vaccine registration sites; monitor those sites frequently to schedule an appointment as soon as possible.
 
As you work on your end to get an appointment, please know we are working on our end, too. I am in routine contact with Ventura County Public Health to secure doses that can be administered right here on the Thousand Oaks campus. Cal Lutheran Health Services has been approved to receive and administer the vaccines. We do not yet know, however, when we will receive the doses or how many doses will be included in any allotment we eventually receive. 
 
Outdoor Classroom Update: With the launch of our 10 outdoor classrooms last week, many more traditional undergraduate students now have the option to attend in-person classes this semester. So far, those classrooms have not been used to their full capacity. Perhaps increasing numbers of faculty members and students will feel a little more comfortable exercising this option once they watch this short video. Take a look at what student Haley Tyrell and Dr. Julia Fogg have to say about their experiences learning and teaching outside. 
 
As I said, it’s been a busy week, and some of the “big stuff” is yet to come. Tomorrow and Saturday mark our winter Board of Regents meeting. Wish us well.
 
Take good care,

Lori E. Varlotta, Ph.D.
President