Student Success at Center of CSU, Chico’s Second Annual Tipping Point Summit

With student success at the core of California State University, Chico’s mission, its faculty and staff work year-round in varied ways to achieve that end. This week, the University community will have a rare opportunity to come together to share, reflect, and learn how to further that effort.

On Thursday, January 16, CSU, Chico will hold its second annual Tipping Point Student Success Summit, a day-long professional development conference focused on critical make-or-break moments in students’ University experiences. The day’s activities begin in the Bell Memorial Union Auditorium, and breakout sessions will take place elsewhere in the BMU, as well as in the Arts and Humanities Building.

After an opening plenary at 8:15 a.m. with Chico State President Gayle Hutchinson and CSU Assistant Vice Chancellor James T. Minor, four sets of sessions designed specifically for faculty and staff will open at 9:10 a.m. Twelve sessions in total will cover a wide range of topics—from accommodating students with disabilities and kickstarting student engagement to meeting students’ basic needs and the principles of free speech.

Summit presenters represent a wide swath of campus, from faculty and staff to deans and directors—all with the goal to teach and empower the campus community to maximize their positive impact for CSU, Chico students.

Tipping Point is a collaborative effort between the Graduation Initiative Advisory Team and the University’s Divisions of Academic Affairs and Student Affairs. This partnership plays a key role in presenting this event, while building the foundation for future summits.

“Evaluations of last year’s inaugural event indicated that attendees were impressed with how Student Affairs and Academic Affairs partnered to champion student success at Chico State,” said Matthew Thomas, professor in the Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice and a member of the summit’s 11-person planning committee.

The framework of this year’s Tipping Point is guided by the three elements of CSU, Chico’s new Strategic Plan (equity, diversity and inclusion; civic and global engagement; and resilient and sustainable systems), which Hutchinson unveiled during her Fall Convocation.

Kate McCarthy, dean of undergraduate education and also a member of the planning committee, said that each session provides usable takeaways for all attendees, no matter their campus role. And scheduling Tipping Point during the University’s Winter Break—before the hustle and bustle of the spring semester—is designed to maximize participation.

“People on this campus work very hard with limited resources,” McCarthy said. “This day is a rare opportunity to pause, reflect, and connect with others to renew our shared purpose.”

Those who require an accommodation in order to attend Tipping Point or who have questions about accessibility may contact the Accessibility Resource Center at 530-898-5959.