Winter 2012
Greetings from the Dean: Winter 2012
Hello and welcome to the Winter 2012 edition of our college e-newsletter for alumni, parents and friends.
"May you live in interesting times" is often cited as a Chinese curse, though it actually may have been coined by British diplomats in Asia. Either way, it's a pretty good forecast for what's in store for the College of Science and Mathematics and Cal Poly in 2012: very interesting times.
College of Science and Mathematics student ambassadors and PolyReps with
Dean Bailey (third from right) on what will be a public terrace on the third floor of
the new Center for Science and Mathematics. Students, faculty and staff toured the
construction site and building in early February.
The good news: construction of the new Center for Science and Mathematics is steaming ahead. We're on track to open the center in May 2013.
You can see the progress for yourself in our construction photo galleries or on our live webcams anytime.
When it's done, the six-story, 192,000 square-foot center will offer state-of-the-art classrooms and labs for physics, geology, soil science and chemistry, lecture halls that will house classes from departments across the university, and two of our applied research centers.
It's sure to be LEED Gold Certified — a high honor awarded to environmentally-friendly, energy-conserving buildings.
Funding for the $119 million project was made possible by state bonds and $18 million in private donations. Without that private support, this project would not be happening.
That brings us to the economy, which guarantees 2012 will be full of interesting times. As many of you are aware, up until 10 years ago, the state of California provided us with roughly 90 percent of the funding required to educate each student. This year, the state is funding less than 40 percent of the cost. To ensure that students continue to receive the high quality, hands-on education that makes a Cal Poly degree so valuable for graduates, alumni and employers, we have proposed a fee increase called the Student Success Fee. Our students will be having an advisory vote on the fee Feb. 29.
As the state reduces its support of education, private support from our alumni and corporate partners is becoming even more important in allowing us to provide the special experiences that define Cal Poly.
On behalf of the entire College of Science and Mathematics and its students, I want to thank all of you who have continued to contribute to our college and its programs. You have and are making a difference.
I'm sure you will hear much about the economy and funding for education this year. Your vocal support for Cal Poly among your friends, associates and elected officials is vital to the university, the college and our students this year — and it is deeply appreciated.
As always, if you'll be on campus anytime this year, please stop by my office or that of your department to say hello; let us know where you are and how you're doing.
Phil Bailey, Dean
College of Science and Mathematics
pbailey@calpoly.edu