Academic Support
Learn by Doing defines Cal Poly academics. There are a wide range of academic support services such as tutoring, advising, presentation and essay help, and more to ensure that everyone has access to the same opportunities and resources.
Student Academic Services
Student Academic Services (SAS) provides services to ensure that everyone has access to the same opportunities and resources to achieve academic success and graduation. Through SAS, you can utilize a network of services including academic advising and tutoring, as well as programs such as Cal Poly Scholars, the Education Opportunity Program and more.
Career & Professional Development
Resources, training and advice are available to help you reach your professional goals. Our campus organizations offer career advising and exploration, job and internship placement, career fairs, professional development, mentorship opportunities, mock interviews, resume review and more.
Career Services
Career Services contains resources that can assist you in finding jobs and internships as well as offers career counseling, interview and resume help and more.
Center for Leadership
The Center for Leadership can help you develop the intellectual, professional and civic skills necessary to become a socially engaged leader.
AIIFSA
The American Indian and Indigenous Faculty and Staff Association (AIIFSA) supports, advocates and embraces the heritage and experiences of faculty, staff, students and local and statewide tribes.
AISES
The American Indian Science & Engineering Society (AISES) believes in student success for American Indian and Native Alaskans and promotes pathways to STEM.
Multicultural Engineering Program
The Multicultural Engineering Program provides academic, personal and professional support services to underrepresented engineering students.
For Native students, and other students of color, you have to be proactive and intentional about finding those spaces where you are not the only non-white student. Cal Poly can be hard for marginalized groups and it is easy to feel like an outsider, but making connections with those who have also gone through similar experiences deepens your bond. I have been involved with AISA/AISES since the Spring of my freshman year and am glad to have found this tight-knit community.
Clubs and Community
There are a variety of places, groups and organizations on our campus that provide a supportive environment for you to connect and build your community. Here are a few of the over 400+ clubs offered. (reword and link to clubs)
Native American and Indigenous Cultural Center
The Native American and Indigenous Cultural Center is Student Diversity & Belonging’s newest center, opening in fall 2021. It will be a community gathering space, offering connections to culture and traditions, academic support and mentorship opportunities, as well as workshops, celebrations and other special events.
American Indian Student Association (AISA)
AISA fosters a space and hosts cultural events for American Indian and Indigenous students, along with allies of the community.
Cultural Housing Communities
While living on campus, you can choose to live with others who share fields of study, career aspirations, personal interests or cultural identity.
Greek Organizations
Many greek organizations offer cultural connections, pride and community while fostering a belief in service, scholarship and leadership.
Student Diversity and Belonging
Student Diversity and Belonging is a coalition of campus centers that work together to provide a place of community and create a culturally rich environment.
Underrepresented Students Network
The College of Liberal Arts Underrepresented Students Network is a peer mentoring program that provides support and resources for underrepresented students within the college.
Francis Villablanca, Ph.D.
Professor | Biological Sciences
I really enjoy reaching out to and advising Latinx and indigenous students, plus just holding space for them. I was once a transfer student, who eventually found a passion for research and teaching as I worked my way through school. Back in those days no one knew I was bi-cultural, bi-lingual and was letting them butcher my last name. It was a liability. Today, I unabashedly express my identity. My intent is to help students recognize that I understand where you are coming from, while advocating for Latinx and Indigenous communities and the transformative role of education. By being present I hope you can see some of yourself in me, and some of yourself at this institution.
Cultural pride and Events
Our campus groups, clubs and other organizations create a rich environment of annual and seasonal events that celebrate and educate the campus community on Native American and Indigenous cultures and history.
