Students are heading back to Cal Poly a few weeks earlier than usual — marking one of several significant changes taking place this fall in San Luis Obispo. Besides an August start date, what else is new? Learn more about some of the shifts below. 

Semesters 

Cal Poly bids farewell to quarters and officially begins the fall semester on August 24, with Mustang Move-In and Week of Welcome events happening the week before. The university is shifting its academic calendar to align with the other campuses in the California State University system. Cal Poly faculty and staff have worked hard to transform curriculum and update the course catalog, which features updated class codes and units. The 14-week fall term will conclude Dec. 18. The spring semester begins Jan. 21 and ends May 21. For more resources, visit the academic calendar and semester conversion websites. 

Cal Poly Maritime Academy 

Students attending classes on Cal Poly's Solano Campus are now considered Cal Poly students. While Cal Poly and Cal Poly Maritime Academy officially began operating as one institution July 1, 2025, integration of the student experience, including portal logins, email access, financial aid and support resources, is now in effect. Learn more through Maritime Integration FAQ’s. 

Passing Periods and UU Hour 

With semesters, the San Luis Obispo campus will also shift the passing period to the last 10 minutes of the hour instead of the first 10 minutes of the hour, which was known informally as “Cal Poly Time.” Classes will begin on the hour instead of 10 minutes after the hour. In addition, San Luis Obispo’s UU Hour — a time many students did not have classes and could attend campus events — will move to 11-11:50 a.m. Fridays. Find more information on the Office of the Registrar’s website. 

Bachelor’s Pathway Programs 

Cal Poly has expanded Bachelor’s Pathway Programs, also known as 2+2 programs, in which accepted students can earn Cal Poly degrees by completing upper-division courses at partner community college campuses. This fall, students can earn a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo. At Allan Hancock Community College in Santa Maria, students can earn a bachelor’s degree in sociology or business administration with a concentration in management and human resources. For more details, visit the program’s news release. 

New Buildings 

Several new buildings and spaces will open this fall on the San Luis Obispo campus and in the local community. The College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences will open the The Charles and Claire Jacobson Animal Health Center, which includes hand-on labs and teaching spaces related to veterinary medicine, animal healthcare and animal agriculture. In the heart of San Luis Obispo, Cal Poly has transformed 1144 Chorro St. to house the Mustang Shop retail store and the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship's programs for students, alumni and local businesses. Cal Poly also announced Kristin’s Grove, a lasting tribute to Kristin Smart’s life, legacy and bright spirit, located near the university’s Dexter Lawn. 

Cal Poly Athletics 

The football team’s new hub, the John Madden Football Center, officially opened in June and will be part of the experience during home games at Spanos Stadium. The team’s first home game on Friday, Aug. 28, will be televised on ESPN. The men’s soccer team is moving from the Big West Conference to the Pac-12 Conference as an associate member beginning this fall. The university’s new STUNT team, which competed for the first time in spring 2026, will join the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation for their upcoming season, its first as an NCAA championship sport. 

On-Campus Housing 

In San Luis Obispo, Cal Poly’s first phase of its new housing plan is expected open during the 2026-27 academic year and will house more than 500 students. The next phase of the project is anticipated to open in 2027 to house nearly 500 students and align with the goal of housing more second-year students on campus. See more information on the University Housing website.

---

Want more Learn by Doing stories in your life? Sign up for our monthly newsletter, the Cal Poly News Recap!

Subscribe to the Recap