Sasso recently co-authored a research article about the role of Jewish college students in combating antisemitism in higher education through sorority and fraternity involvement. This article appears in the Georgia Journal of College Student Affairs. This research was supported by the Pennsylvania State Piazza Center for Fraternity and Sorority Research and Reform.

After a comprehensive process evaluating affiliation with a university system, including responses and feedback from student, faculty, staff and alumni stakeholder groups, as well as the general public, the SFA Board of Regents voted during its special meeting today to accept the invitation of The University of Texas System to become a member institution.

In addition, the board approved a waiver of its rules regarding selection of the next SFA president so the search can begin under the presidential selection rules of the UT System Board of Regents.

This November, staff members from the Dean of Students Office, Health Services, Student Outreach and Support, Campus Recreation, Athletics, Baker Pattillo Student Center, and Counseling Services collaborated to apply for the Student Success Acceleration Program Implementation Grant through the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The goal of the grant is to support students’ persistence and completions of credentials of value leading to successful career and labor market outcomes.

The grant solicited proposals from public institutions, private/independent institutions and systems of higher education in Texas for the development, enhancement and scaling of evidence-based programs and initiatives in a variety of categories.

SFA was awarded $180,000 to cover student-athlete-specific funding, equipment for the Lumberjack Food Pantry, a HydroMassage system for Campus Recreation, relaxation and wellness pods, and much more. These new upgrades and added features will be implemented in the coming months.

As the university prepares for the fall 2023 launch of the SFA Makerspace, faculty and staff are invited to visit the space in its temporary location –– the LINC classroom in Steen Library –– for a holiday maker event from 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6.

This come-and-go event will showcase 3D printers, laser cutters and other maker technologies currently available in the space and will provide attendees with the opportunity to select or make their own holiday ornament, while supplies last. Light refreshments will be served.

The Micky Elliott Family Foundation provided funding for children’s books for classroom use to all fall 2022 graduates entering elementary classroom teaching. The foundation provided 63 sets of books for early childhood through second grade students, and 58 sets of books for second through sixth grade students. Virginia Buchanan, team leader and educational consultant for Usborne Books & More, led the selection, delivery and organization of the books for distribution.

LEAP applications for eligible participants –– full-time employees, their spouses and dependents –– are now available through the 12th class day in mySFA under the “Benefits” section of the Employee tab. For questions on LEAP, email Student Business Services at sbs@sfasu.edu.

Dr. Sara Parks, assistant professor and coordinator of technical writing in SFA’s Department of English and Creative Writing, has co-authored a chapter in the upcoming book titled “Technical Communication for Environmental Action.”

Edited by Sean D. Williams, associate professor of technical communication and information design at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, this collection of essays engages scholars and practitioners in a conversation about action to address climate change. The book is slated to be published in early January.

Purple Santa will be visiting locations around campus from 2 to 5 p.m. Dec. 14. If you would like him to stop by your office, email dos@sfasu.edu with your location and the estimated time you would prefer he visit.

SFA Gardens will host the monthly Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8, in the Brundrett Conservation Education Building at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center.

Dr. David Creech, SFA Gardens director and professor emeritus of agriculture, will present “How Many Japanese Maples Are Enough? Well, It Depends on Who You Ask.”

The Electric Guitar Ensemble at SFA will perform at 6 p.m. tomorrow in the Music Recital Hall in the Wright Music Building.

Directed by Larry Greer, the ensemble will present a program of jazz standards mixed with Christmas favorites. Admission is free. For additional information, contact the SFA School of Music at (936) 468-4602.

The choirs of SFA will ring in the holidays with a "Seasonal Celebration," a program of beloved Christmas carols and classics, in a concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, in Cole Concert Hall.

Presenting the choirs in SFA's holiday tradition are Dr. Michael Murphy, director of choral activities, and Dr. Tod Fish, associate director, conductors; Martha De Luna of Las Caobas, Dominican Republic, and Ryan Herriage of Sulphur Springs, graduate student conductors; Dr. Ron Petti, Dr. Thomas Nixon and Professor Maggie Hinchliffe, collaborative pianists; and Hyo Jeong Ham of Seoul, South Korea, graduate collaborative pianist. Faculty guest artists include Dr. Nathan Nabb, director of the School of Music, saxophone; and Dr. Gary Wurtz, dean of the Micky Elliott College of Fine Arts, trumpet.

Do you ever wonder what the Colosseum looked like in Ancient Rome? Or have you seen an unfinished building and pondered what it will look like at its completion? With drone technology, light projections are being used to rebuild famous pieces of architecture and see how future architectural projects could change the fabric of a city.

Read the full article on My Modern Met.