HSU talks new polytechnic name ideas
Humboldt State University is looking for a new name. During a virtual forum on Wednesday evening, members of the University Name Working Group asked the community how HSU should incorporate polytechnic into its name if California State University grants the designation. The group considered potential nicknames, whether or not Califonia should be in the name and how the name would look on a sweater.
HSU began a self-study after receiving the invitation to become the state’s third polytechnic university. The self-study includes a detailed analysis of campus operations and activities associated with becoming a polytechnic.
Since the state’s existing polytechnic universities are located in Southern California, HSU says a polytechnic university in the northern part of the state would improve access to high-demand STEM —science, technology, engineering and math — programs and applied sciences.
During the meeting, Dale Oliver, dean of the College of Natural Resources and Sciences, said HSU is not obligated to conform to the existing polytechnic names — California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona) and California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) — and noted HSU has changed its name five times over the years.
“It’s pretty clear that we have to have the word polytechnic in the name somewhere if we’re going to be a polytechnic institution, but other than that I think we have some flexibility,” Oliver said.
Stephanie Lane, director of alumni relations and co-chair of the University Name Working Group, conducted several polls during the forum. Generally, the 20 participants agreed the name should not be longer than three or four words and should include Humboldt.
“The Cal Polys, as they stand, have five words in their names, something for us to think about as we’re brainstorming what kind of name we want Humboldt to have,” Lane said.
“What is important to communicate in the name other than the word polytechnic?” Oliver asked. “As we’re thinking about that, there’s some debate about does the word state have to be there? What does that communicate? Is California enough? Does California have to be in there? Of course, we don’t want to be overly critical about all possibilities but we want to do want to consider options.”
Forum participants discussed potential names during a brief break-out session and came up with Humboldt Polytechnic University, California Polytechnic University Humboldt (Cal Poly Humboldt) and Humboldt Polytechnic State University (Humboldt Tech). A few participants suggested adding ‘North Coast’ or ‘redwood’ to the name as well.
Towards the end of the discussion, one of the participants asked Oliver when the CSU will determine whether or not HSU becomes a polytechnic university.
“The self-study, which is essentially addressing a series of questions and conditions or criteria for polytechnic status, goes to the Chancellor’s Office, there might be some back and forth and then it’s the Board
of Trustees that makes the final decision about whether that happens,” Oliver said.
The polytechnic designation would give HSU a leg up against other universities in the CSU system, Oliver said.
“This is an opportunity to make Humboldt State University even more distinctive as well as to meet some of the workplace needs that we have that the other institutions just don’t have the capacity to meet,” he said. “Areas that we’re looking at, of course, are related to health care …
as well as applied science and technology and engineering. Many of those programs across the state are highly impacted.”
A final poll of the small group found Cal Poly Humboldt to be the crowd favorite, followed closely by Humboldt State Polytechnic.
The University Name Working Group will hold a second forum to discuss potential names for the university at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 24. More information and registration details can be found at humboldt.edu/polytechnic.