Sonoma State University
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Faculty Retreat

The 2025-2026 Faculty Meeting & Retreat will be held on Thursday, January 22nd, 2026

A coffee service will precede the event, beginning at 10:00am (final details to be confirmed). Following the event, there will be an informal meet-up at 3:50pm at Old Caz Brewpub.

Agenda

Morning Session - 10:30am - 12:15pm Stevenson 1301 and Online (Zoom link will be provided)

  • Presidential Address: State of the Campus by President Spagna

    • Focus on SSU’s direction under new leadership

  • CFA & Academic Senate: Faculty Perspectives: What We Need, What Must Change, and Where We’re Going

    • Chapter President Asencio

    • Faculty Chair Gehlawat

      • What faculty need this spring

      • What must change to protect shared governance

      • A hopeful direction

  • Library Lightning Update

     

Lunch - 12:15pm - 1:15pm (Details to be confirmed, estimated attendance gauged from past event participation)

SSU Branding Sticky-Note Wall (12:15–1:15 PM): During lunch, in the Stevenson Lobby,  attendees are invited to participate in a sticky-note activity intended to gather community input before the launch of the university’s external marketing campaign. Using a series of guiding prompts, faculty and staff may contribute words, ideas, and short reflections about SSU’s identity, values, and story. For those who are not able to attend in person, the same prompts are available through an online input form

 

Afternoon Sessions (some concurrent, all in-person only format):

  • Academic Restoration & New Pathways - 1:15pm - 2:00pm Stevenson (Room to be confirmed) (concurrent)

    • Curricular task forces, reinstatement pilots, and new program development.

  • Governance & Transparency: “Never Again” - 1:15pm - 2:00pm Stevenson (Room to be confirmed) (concurrent)

    • Building structures to protect shared governance and prevent unilateral cuts; advancing budget transparency.

  • Academic Freedom: Protecting the University’s Core Mission - 2:00pm - 2:30pm Stevenson (Room to be confirmed)

    • Hosted by: AFS Chair

  • Restorative Practices Plenary: Repairing Our Community - 2:40pm - 3:40pm Stevenson (Room to be confirmed)

    • A facilitated restorative session to develop tools to rebuild trust and establish shared agreements for collaborative governance.

 

Closing Circle & Commitments for 2025 - 3:40pm - 3:50pm Stevenson (Room to be confirmed) (in-person only format)

 

Please contact the Office of the Academic Senate with any questions regarding the Faculty Retreat.