Researchers at CSUSM are seeking adults (21-45 years old) who are endurance trained, participating in at least five hours a week of cardiovascular-based exercises like running or biking with limited resistance training (lifting weights). Participants cannot be using any form of cannabis products. You will participate in three visits to our laboratory in the Extended Learning Building over the course of about three weeks. You must be between 21 and 45 years old, with a smartphone and in good health. For more information, please contact Weston Titus, Ph.D. student candidate, at Weston.titus@autuni.ac.nz or Dr. Matt Schubert at mschubert@csusm.edu.

Did you know that there are three ways to check the working status of CSUSM’s 45 elevators and five wheelchair lifts? Facilities Development and Management tracks the working status of our elevators with an interactive map. You can sign up for email notifications, which automatically alert you when our elevators are taken out of service or returned to service. You can receive automatic notifications on your phone through the CSUSM app. To sign up, follow the following steps: From the app, go to “Maps” Click on “Elevator Status” Click on “Messages” in the upper-right corner Click on the “Opt In” button

Housing move-in days are scheduled for Aug. 24 (The QUAD) and Aug. 25 (UVA and North Commons) from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. We look forward to welcoming more than 1,800 residents to campus. Please mark your calendars to be prepared for high traffic and congestion along North City Drive, East Barham Drive and Campus View Drive.  Residents will be directed to park in Parking Structure 1 on both days. The first two levels of Parking Structure 2 (behind North Commons) will not be available on Aug. 24-25. Parking Lot O will not be available on Aug. 25.

A faculty member in kinesiology is conducting a research study that offers free cardiac screening to women. This will require you to meet us in Academic Hall after a 4-6 hour fast. The study includes ECG, body composition, lipid levels through finger stick, submaximal fitness and a blood vessel ultrasound study. If you are interested, reach out to dfeairheller@csusm.edu. We are doing some testing this summer and will continue in the school year.

We are excited to announce the CSUSM Aspiring Scholars pilot program, an Inclusive Post-Secondary Education (IPSE) program for students with intellectual disabilities. It is a non-degree, four-year university program for students with intellectual disabilities seeking an inclusive college experience. Students participate in academic courses, vocational internships, independent living skills instruction and campuswide social activities with the goal of competitive integrated employment. They will learn and grow alongside their CSUSM peers, becoming an active part of the campus community. Upon completion, students will earn an academic and career studies higher education certificate. Individuals with intellectual disabilities who want an inclusive college experience, are seeking to gain meaningful competitive integrated employment, and meet eligibility requirements are encouraged to apply. Eligibility Requirements Is at least 18 years of age. Has a documented intellectual disability. Completed high school with a diploma or certificate by Aug. 1, 2023. Has a strong desire to gain employment after completion of the CSUSM Aspiring Scholars program and is striving toward independence. Is comfortable with a dynamic schedule and has intrinsic motivation to participate in all program components (academic instruction, vocational skills, independent living skills instruction, campus activities). Is able to complete daily needs, access their physical environment and safely function with minimal to no supervision. (Note: If a student has prearranged supports, indicate this on the application.) Is able to communicate needs effectively (inclusive of communication devices). Has the ability to get along with peers, follow rules and accept direction. Is able to effectively and appropriately participate in and benefit from the program.  Student applications are due Friday, June 16. For more information about the program and how to apply, please contact Dr. Rebecca Brooks at rbrooks@csusm.edu.

Free parking in lots X, Y and Z will not be returning. A paid parking session will be required while on campus, including lots X, Y and Z. For the summer only, a discounted monthly permit will be available. Purchase a Summer Monthly XYZ permit for $30, valid for 30 days from the date of purchase in X, Y and Z only. The permit will be on sale May 22 through July 31. Daily permits for $5 and three-hour permits for $3 will continue to be available.

Healthy men and women ages 18-50 are needed as subjects in exercise-based studies overseen by Dr. Todd A. Astorino in the kinesiology department. Studies require three sessions of exercise for a total time commitment of about two hours. Please email Dr. Astorino at astorino@csusm.edu for more information.

We are calling on friends, family and supporters from across the country to help us celebrate Dante’s “rebirthday” week by rolling up your sleeves (literally) and saving some lives.  Each year since Dante’s 2018 accident, we have celebrated the days from April 7 to April 13 as Dante’s “rebirthday” week, marking the days he fought through a coma to come back to us. Since his passing, celebrating Dante’s rebirthday has become a whole lot more bittersweet, but we will forever be grateful for the gift we got of nearly four more years with him thanks to the blood he received from blood donors like you. With your help, the Longo Strong Foundation is committed to paying this gift forward through the launch of our annual Dante Longo Rebirthday Blood Drive from April 7-13. When you donate blood in Dante’s name, you’re not only honoring his journey, but you’re also helping to ensure that others can have the same chance at life that he did.  We have expanded the options for donating so that it is even easier to fit “saving a life” into your busy schedule no matter where in the country you are. Our in-person drive will be held April 10 at Kellogg Plaza from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., and our virtual drive will run from April 7-13 across the country. Thank you for helping us save lives!

During spring break this week, Campus Way Cafe is open Monday through Sunday, with brunch from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and dinner from 5-8 p.m. Starbucks, the USU Market and the campus bookstore are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

For the first time ever, the CSUSM women’s basketball team has reached the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Division II tournament.   The No. 3-seeded Cougars are headed to the West Region final to play top-seeded Cal State Dominguez Hills at Dominguez Hills tonight at 7.    Gear up in Cougar blue and show up in one of two ways:  1. Free fan bus and free tickets for the first 50 students! Click here to reserve your place.   The first 50 students who RSVP will get free admission to the game, free food and free CSUSM swag!    3:30 p.m. – Report to Campus Way Circle / USU first floor to load bus and depart to Dominguez Hills. 7 p.m. – Cheer on the women’s basketball team  (free food at the game). 11 p.m. – Return to CSUSM. 2. Watch party at the USU, starting at 6:45 p.m. in USU Meeting Room 2310. Enjoy the live action and free food while cheering on our women’s team to victory!

Are you interested in learning more about philanthropy and how it impacts students at CSUSM? Would you like to learn how the Student Philanthropy Council (SPC) raises funds for scholarships and programs that help students? Join the next SPC meeting, April 13 at U-hour, by emailing sbriner@csusm.edu.

CSUSM students, do you want to help the environment and promote campus wellness? The Tobacco, E-Cigarette and Cannabis Waste Randomized Trial is now scheduling participants. Students between the ages of 18 and 25 may be eligible to take part in a six-week intervention addressing tobacco and e-cigarette waste perceptions and behaviors. Participants will receive $25 each for three Zoom visits and $35 for a six-month follow-up, for up to $110 in compensation. Visits last 15-45 minutes and include watching brief educational videos, talking with a research assistant and completing surveys. Please visit https://redcap.link/TECWRCT-CSUSM to learn more and complete a brief survey to join the study. Email tecwrct@gmail.com for more information.

The Center for Training, Research and Educational Excellence and the Department of Kinesiology invite any interested faculty, students and staff to attend a guest lecture on Friday, Feb. 17 from 2-3:30 p.m. in Markstein 106.  Dr. Nicholas Tiller will be presenting on “Science and Pseudoscience in Health and Wellness: Fake News, Fraud and Fitness Influencers.” Dr. Tiller is a senior researcher in the Institute of Exercise Physiology and Respiratory Medicine (Lundquist Institute) at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. Tiller has a broad research profile, contributing numerous peer-reviewed studies in cardiopulmonary function (specifically in chronic respiratory disease), respiratory mechanics and exercise limitation. Tiller is a leading authority in the physiology and pathophysiology of extreme exercise, a subject of personal interest in his capacity as an ultramarathon runner. He is an associate editor of the International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism. He is an advocate for skepticism and critical thinking in undergraduate and graduate STEM education.

Researchers from CSUSM and Auckland University of Technology are seeking active women to participate in a study to assess differences between circuit and traditional strength training. Women ages 18-40 who have at least six months of experience with resistance training, are free of musculoskeletal injury and not currently dieting or trying to lose weight are invited to participate. You will complete a 10-week training study with pre- and post-body composition and muscle strength testing. Doctoral student Sohee Lee is leading the study and can be contacted at soheeleeaut@gmail.com. The faculty sponsor for this project is Dr. Matt Schubert (mschubert@csusm.edu) of CSUSM's kinesiology department. This study has received ethical approval from the AUT and CSUSM human subjects review boards.

The ASI Cougar Pantry will be closed for winter break starting Dec. 15 and will be re-opening Jan. 23. We hope you have a wonderful winter break! Looking for food resources during the break? Text 211 for distributions near you.

Parking and Commuter Services will be closed from Dec. 19-Jan. 2. We will reopen on Jan. 3 at 8 a.m. Please make parking arrangements for needed permits before the office closure. Happy holidays!

Fall semester parking permits will be expiring Jan. 10. Spring 2023 permits will be available to purchase online starting Jan. 2. Parking Structure 1 (PS1) and Parking Structure 2 (PS2) will be undergoing maintenance during the winter break. There will be no overnight parking in PS1 from Dec. 19–Jan. 13. Vehicles remaining in the structure during these dates will be ticketed and/or towed. Overnight parking is available in lots B, C, F, K, N and O.

Do you wonder how people around the world celebrate the holidays? What do they eat? What do they do? Are holidays even “a thing?" The CSUSM International Faculty and Staff Group (IFSG) invites you to a Zoom discussion on Dec. 2 from noon to 1 p.m. on the subject “Holiday Traditions Around the World." Come learn from our international faculty and staff as they share about the holiday traditions in their cultures. Join us on Zoom: https://bit.ly/worldholidayscsusm. Please share this message with any student, staff or faculty who might be interested. Looking forward to celebrating CSUSM cultural diversity with you all!

We are recruiting healthy adults, ages 18 to 50 , to be part of a study on the effects that anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery has on muscle mass and balance. We are recruiting participants who have had ACL surgery or injury on one leg. Participation will take approximately 40 minutes. If you volunteer, you will have a measure of body composition completed and will then stand on each leg to allow us to measure balance and stability. The study is being conducted in Room 240 of University Hall on campus. Previous ACL surgery on both of your legs may exclude you from participating.  If you are interested, please contact Deanna Schmidt by email at djschmidt@csusm.edu.

Veterans Week Events Nov. 7 - Waves of Flags Celebration A display of American flags celebrating our CSUSM Veteran and Military Affiliated Students. This display will be on the Forum Plaza throughout Veterans Week. Each flag represents our almost 2,000 Veterans and Military Affiliated students on campus. Nov. 8 - Murph Workout Fitness Challenge, 11 a.m., Veterans Center Deck In partnership with Campus Recreation, we welcome those to join in a fitness challenge during Veterans week. The Murph Workout honors the life of Lt. Michael Murphy, the first service member to receive the Medal of Honor for service in Afghanistan. The workout consists of a 1-mile run, 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 air squats, and another 1-mile run. Nov. 10 - Chow on the Deck, noon, Veterans Center Deck Come join the Veterans Center for “Chow on the Deck”. Hang out and connect with the Veterans Center. Nov. 10 - Deck Challenge, noon, Veterans Center Deck Do you have what it takes to be the best? Join the Veterans Center for a Ping Pong and Corn Hole Tournament.