Astronaut Victor Glover Connects with Students from Space
Floating in microgravity aboard the International Space Station, alumnus Victor Glover chatted via Zoom with dozens of Cal Poly students in the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE). The Q&A event, titled “Succeeding While Black in STEM,” was put on by Cal Poly’s chapter of NSBE, which has roughly 30 members. Glover was president of the club when he was a student in the ‘90s. Glover talked about his professional goals, interesting experiences aboard the space station, and the importance of helping others. When asked how he dealt with the challenge of being in an underrepresented group as a Cal Poly student, Glover (General Engineering, ‘99) told students they have to face challenges since they will continue to be underrepresented in their careers. “And that requires strength,” he said. “Just like when you go to the gym, you put weight on the bar, and what does that do? It’s puts tension in your muscles. And the source of that muscle growth is that tension. And that’s what makes you physically stronger. It’s also what makes you emotionally and spiritually stronger.” Read the article on the Cal Poly News website.
Cal Poly Team Working on Cross-Disciplinary Data Science and Analytics Effort
A group of faculty from all six colleges is working to support collaborative data-driven, cross-disciplinary research and to expand on-campus educational opportunities in the areas of data science, data analytics and data literacy. The team hopes to engage a broad group of stakeholders to envision a Cal Poly that embraces “data science for all” in a way that supports innovative faculty research and enhances student development and learning. The team also emphasizes “data for good” as a guiding principle, ensuring that ethical concerns — about the creation and use of data, as well as the imperatives to increase diversity, equity and inclusion — are infused throughout their efforts. An important aspect of the initiative is to ensure that all Cal Poly students have the opportunity to be trained in data science and analytics. Renee Reijo Pera, Cal Poly’s vice president for Research, Economic Development and Graduate Education, said, “Cal Poly has an opportunity to be a global leader in data science and analytics based on the excellent work our campus is already doing. This group is seizing on this opportunity and using a Learn by Doing approach to constantly improve and expand our work in these fields.” Read more about the project.
How Quarter Plus Helped Students Get Ahead During the Pandemic
As Cal Poly moved to virtual operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Quarter Plus pivoted to a virtual program as well. The program, which launched in 2014 through Cal Poly's Extended Education, allows students to begin their fall quarter early with a four-week program that includes eight units of academic course work, mentoring and encouragement. Thanks to the work and preparation of the learning assistants, faculty and staff, the virtual Quarter Plus program ran Aug. 14 through Sept. 8, setting a record with 280 students, a 23% increase from the previous high. The cohort thrived academically, earning an average cumulative 3.53 GPA. “This quarter, the time-management skills and study habits that I learned in Quarter Plus came in handy,” said Jennifer Zielke, a first-year nutrition major from Atascadero. Read the full story on the Cal Poly News website.
Kennedy Library's Virtual Programs Come Up Big for Students in the Pandemic
To support remote teaching and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, the organizers of Kennedy Library's Foundational Experiences workshops transitioned all its content on topics like research, data visualization and imagery to virtual live, synchronous sessions that continue to champion Cal Poly’s Learn by Doing philosophy. Using Zoom meetings and leveraging features like polling, chat and breakout rooms, each workshop offers an engaging and collaborative experience to meet the needs of diverse learners. “We wanted to create a live workshop experience for the students virtually as well as we could,” said Kaila Bussert, the library’s foundational experiences librarian. “It was especially important for us to provide meaningful interactions for the students and give them the opportunity to participate and work together.” Read more on the Cal Poly News site.
New Tent on Mustang Way Creates Increased Outdoor Living Areas During Winter
An 1,800-square-foot tent has been placed on Mustang Way in an effort to further support student success throughout the pandemic during winter quarter. It can accommodate around 50 people. This expanded outdoor space provides students with a new place to study, attend virtual classes, eat and responsibly socialize outside of their residence. It will provide additional shelter during inclement weather or can be used for shade on sunny days. The tent has clear ceiling panels to let the light in during the day as well as to see the stars at night. For nighttime use, the tent is strung with fairy lights to provide light and a cozy glow. Horticulture students are planning to add plants into the covered living space. A number of individuals worked on the extensive permitting process over the holiday break to create this space. The planning and execution was a collaborative effort with Andrea Burns and Mike Thornton of Cal Poly Corporation; Anthony Palazzo, Donald Popham and Jude Fledderman of Facilities Management and Development; Daren Connor of ASI; Marlene Cramer of Public Safety; Michele Winterfeldt of Strategic Business Services; and members of the Facility Maintenance team, who helped with the electrical and tent placement.
Cal Poly Foundation Board Meeting to be Held Feb. 6
The Cal Poly Foundation board of directors meeting will be held virtually beginning at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 6. For more information, contact the Cal Poly Foundation office at ext. 6-7147 or [email protected].
Cal Poly's 12th CubeSat Mission Wings into Space in a Novel Way
A Cal Poly CubeSat rode on a historic launch this weekend aboard Virgin Orbit's LauncherOne rocket. The ExoCube 2 was one of 10 NASA-sponsored small satellites on the space agency's Educational Launch of Nanosatellites mission. Cal Poly's satellite, which is about the size of a loaf of bread, was built over several years by a group of about 50 multidisciplinary Cal Poly students, said advisor Pauline Faure, an aerospace engineering assistant professor. "The students were definitely the driver of the project execution and deserve the full credit of the incredible work they achieved," says Faure. The ExoCube 2 will gather data on ions' mass and density in the exosphere, the uppermost region of the Earth's atmosphere. A student team will use the campus CubeSat Lab ground station to download scientific data from the spacecraft and share it with their counterparts at the University of Wisconsin and the University of Illinois who are responsible for its interpretation. For the full story, visit Cal Poly News.
Students Encouraged to Apply to Panetta Institute Congressional Internship Program
Applications are now being accepted for the 2021 Panetta Institute Congressional Internship Program in Washington, D.C. Matriculating third- or fourth-year, junior or senior students from any major who meet the program requirements are encouraged to apply. This prestigious Learn by Doing experience provides an opportunity for students to enhance their education by providing encouragement in the exploration of Congress, civil leadership, and community and public service. Once selected, students participate in a two-week training session in August at the Panetta Institute, followed by 11 weeks in Washington, D.C., working in a Capitol Hill office of a California congressional delegation member. The cost of the program is fully funded in order to allow participation by any qualified student, independent of family income. Two of Cal Poly’s former Panetta Interns, Christine Lam and Imahn Daeenabi, will talk about their experiences with the program during a virtual information session from 1:10-2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 22, on Zoom at https://calpoly.zoom.us/j/84393326122. Complete program requirements and details are available at http://provost.calpoly.edu/content/internship. The application deadline is Wednesday, Feb. 3.
Jafra Thomas Receives Hally Beth Poindexter Young Scholar Award
Jafra Thomas, assistant professor in the Kinesiology and Public Health Department, received the 2021 Hally Beth Poindexter Young Scholar Award from the National Association for Kinesiology in Higher Education (NAKHE). The award recognizes the contributions of an early-career faculty member whose scholarship focuses on interdisciplinary issues facing kinesiology, physical education or general higher education. It is named in honor of Poindexter’s contributions to mentoring early-career faculty and promoting equity in physical activity, especially for girls and women in sports. The award-winning paper was co-authored by biology major Akuekegbe Uwadiale and kinesiology major Nikki Watson. The students' research was supported by Cal Poly’s 2019-20 BEACoN Program Research Mentoring Fund.
'Exploring Whiteness’ Series Starts Jan. 20
The Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology (CTLT) and Office of University Diversity and Inclusion invite faculty and staff to sign up for the co-sponsored series "Exploring Whiteness,” a program inspired by Building Anti-Racist White Educators (BARWE). The BARWE curriculum offers opportunities for white educators to work toward anti-racist practices. Over the course of five sessions, participants will explore whiteness, its influence on our personal and professional lives, and work on developing anti-racist practices. This program will take place Wednesdays from 10:30-11:30 a.m., from Jan. 20 and through Feb. 17 via Zoom. To register, fill out the Examining Whiteness Registration Form. Questions? Contact Ryan Adserias in OUDI ([email protected]) or Sarah Macdonald in CTLT ([email protected]).
Do-It-Yourself Video Captioning Training for Campus Members
The Disability Resource Center (DRC) offers monthly DIY video captioning trainings via Zoom for faculty, staff and/or their student assistants. The next training will be held from 3-4:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 28. Attendees will learn how to use various automated transcription tools to create accurate closed captions for videos uploaded to YouTube. Email John Lee at [email protected] to reserve a spot in one of these training sessions and to request accommodations as needed. Lee will email you the Zoom link for the training session you request. This training session will have live captions and transcripts available.
Creating Accessible Course Materials Online Workshop Starts Feb. 1
This four-week online workshop from Feb. 1-28 will provide an overview of accessibility and Universal Design in college courses. In this workshop participants will develop skills and best practices to make course materials technically accessible and usable to a broad range of students, with a focus on students with disabilities. This workshop covers Canvas accessibility features, accessible documents, video captioning and a culminating activity: create an Accessibility Action Plan. There is a $300 stipend for eligible participants. Total hours: seven-10 per week, depending on prior skills and experience. Questions? Contact Pam Dougherty at [email protected]. Learn more and register.
Retired Faculty and Staff Association Winter Program to Focus on COVID-19
The Cal Poly Retired Faculty and Staff Association’s (RFSA) winter quarter program will be conducted virtually from 2-3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18. The theme of the program will focus on the COVID-19 pandemic in San Luis Obispo County, including Cal Poly. A panel consisting of county Public Health Officer Dr. Penny Borenstein; Aydin Nazmi, a faculty member in the Food Science and Nutrition Department and member of the Cal Poly COVID-19 testing task force; and Vice President for Student Affairs Keith Humphrey will update attendees on topics related to COVID-19. Click here to register. The Zoom meeting link, password and instructions will be emailed upon your reply. Questions about the event can be directed to RFSA President Bill Kellogg at [email protected].
New Ninjio Information Security Video Focuses on ‘Lock Before You Walk’
This month’s Ninjio information security video is about the very timely subject of VPN security while working from home. In the video, a patient en route to a hospital is diverted while his life is in peril. The hospital is locked out of their systems due to a compromised work computer at an employee’s home. All NINJIO training videos are available in the Cal Poly Learning Hub, which can be found under the Staff and Faculty Training tab of the My Cal Poly Portal. The videos are available to emeritus on the Cal Poly InfoSec Microsoft Stream.
Call for Proposals for New Instructionally Related Activities
The Instructionally Related Activities Advisory Committee has announced the Call for Proposals for fiscal year 2021-22 for any activities seeking first-time recognition. An Instructionally Related Activity (IRA) is an extracurricular "out-of-class experience" that provides enrichment to students and enhances their learning at Cal Poly. Note that IRA funds cannot be used to fund specific projects or field trips as part of an academic course. Workshops to help you prepare the forms are available. Forms, instructions, dates and times for preparation workshops and other relevant information can be found at http://www.academicprograms.calpoly.edu/content/IRA/index. Proposals for new IRAs are due to the college deans by Feb. 5. The call for continued recognition for currently recognized IRAs will go out separately in early February and are due in March.
Faculty Invited to Apply for Grant Program by Feb. 8
The 2021-22 Research, Scholarly and Creative Activities (RSCA) Grant Program is now open. The RSCA program is intended to help faculty remain engaged in their disciplines beyond the classroom and to contribute new knowledge through robust programs of scholarship focused on strengthening California socially, culturally and economically. The annual funding from the program is intended to provide more internal resources to help faculty pursue a broader array of professional activities. All faculty unit employees are eligible to apply. Proposals should be submitted before midnight on Monday, Feb. 8, via the Cal Poly InfoReady system. For more information and submission instructions, visit the Research, Economic Development and Graduate Education website. Direct questions to [email protected].
Participants Needed for Sedentary Screen Time Study
Sedentary screen time consumes more than half of discretionary time and is the single most prevalent use of time for adults in the U.S. outside of work and sleep. Participants are needed for a study on the best ways to reduce the use of screen time and increase health outcomes. The study is led by Professor Sarah Keadle in Cal Poly's Center for Health Research and is conducted in partnership with Arizona State University. Eligible participants must be between the ages of 23 and 64, own a smartphone or tablet and have internet access with no limit on the amount of data. Due to COVID-19, this study will be conducted virtually. Anyone interested in participating or learning more about the study, called StandUPTV, should call ext. 6-5506 or fill out an interest form.
Safer Hosts Virtual Campaign for Stalking Awareness and Prevention Month
Join Safer in navigating our space together for Stalking Awareness and Prevention Month through Safer’s digital campaign: “Know the Case, Reclaim the Space.” Since stalking is an often misunderstood and delegitimized form of violence, Safer is aiming to define stalking clearly, analyze its romanticization in media, encourage confidence in intervening toward stalking behaviors and more. Join Safer in bringing education to the campus community and engaging in conversations with peers and colleagues around this topic. Follow Safer on Instagram @calpolysafer to find live Q&As and media analyses. Safer will also give away prizes throughout the month. Learn more about Stalking Awareness and Prevention Month, download a Zoom background, and learn the basics about stalking at safer.calpoly.edu/jansam.
Own a Home Within Walking Distance of Campus
A beautifully appointed home is on sale at Bella Montana. The 1,068-square-foot home at 611-C Paseo Bella Montaña (La Valle), is full of amenities. The two-bedroom, one-bathroom home has convenient laundry space, a spacious one-car garage, a beautiful deck for outdoor living, attractive baths and energy-saving appliances. Surrounded by beautiful coastal foothills, Bella Montana offers an opportunity to own a home in San Luis Obispo. The surrounding location offers an enhanced lifestyle as homeowners enjoy more time for the things they love. A hike after work, lunch at home, and more time with family are all plausible and very convenient. The home is located in a 5.3-acre planned housing community that was crafted with Cal Poly employees and their families in mind. Bella Montana encompasses 69 individually owned homes on Highland Drive near iconic Highway 1, close to campus, shops and many restaurants.
Statistical Consulting Service Available During Winter Quarter
The Statistics Department provides a statistical consulting service to the university community to facilitate research design and data analysis in a wide variety of disciplines. Consulting will be available through Friday, March 19, by appointment only. John Walker and Soma Roy will serve as the consultants. They are available to advise on data collection, experimental design and analysis of research projects. In addition, they will be available to lead seminars or tutorials on requested topics and offer advice on various computer packages available at Cal Poly. Faculty, staff and students interested in utilizing the consulting service are encouraged to access the Statistics Department website for additional information, including what to bring to a consulting session. To schedule a consultation, email [email protected].
Increased Library Services for Winter Quarter
The Kennedy Library is offering two options for obtaining library materials: in-person contactless pickup with increased hours and off-campus delivery. In-person contactless pickup is available from 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays and from 3-6 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Allow one to three weeks for requests to be processed. For off-campus delivery, library materials are shipped via UPS to continental U.S. and Alaska street addresses. The library cannot deliver to Hawaii or international locations. Items can be returned to any CSU campus bookdrop or shipped using the prepaid UPS return label. Allow four to six weeks for requests to be processed and delivered. Find more information at http://lib.calpoly.edu.
Compete in Mustang Open Virtual Golf Tournament to Benefit Student-Athletes
Cal Poly Athletics invites the campus community to compete for the chance to win big in the Mustang Open Virtual Golf Tournament, presented by SLO Brew. Play in teams of up to four players on your preferred 18-hole golf course between Jan. 22 and Feb. 14. Determine your team’s score using a scramble format, and get the chance to win prizes valued at up to $500, including exclusive Cal Poly Adidas gear, customized golf ball packages and prizes from our sponsor, SLO Brew. Kids 12 and under are invited to compete in the nine-hole Mustang Open Juniors round. Every participant will receive a Mustang Open prize pack of Cal Poly golf swag. All proceeds from this event benefit the Mustang Athletic Fund, which provides student-athlete scholarships. Contact Special Events Coordinator Lacey Buck at [email protected] with any questions. View the official tournament rules and register.
Annual Bach Week to be Presented Free and Virtually Jan. 19-23
The Music Department will present Bach Week from Tuesday through Saturday, Jan. 19-23. At
7 p.m. Jan. 19, Bach Week Co-Director David Arrivée will give an Akademie lecture titled “Bach’s ‘Musical Offering.’” Arrivée will discuss the collection of works that J.S. Bach dedicated to Frederick the Great and the opposite world views of the two great men. At 7:45 p.m. Jan. 19,
Cal Poly’s Suzanne Duffy on flute; Emily Lanzone, violin; Laura Gaynon, cello; and Paul Woodring, harpsichord; will perform the sonata from Bach’s “Musical Offering.” At 11:10 a.m. Jan. 21, guest artists Andrew McIntosh, violin, and Paul Sherman, oboe, will coach students in instrumental repertoire from the Baroque era and provide insight into the style and nuance of giving a historically informed performance. At 3:10 p.m. Jan. 21, guest artist and soprano Rebecca Myers will coach several voice students in varied repertoire. At 7 p.m. Jan. 23, Bach Week Co-Director Scott Glysson will give a preconcert lecture titled “The Motets of J.S. Bach.” Bach’s six motets (BWV 225-230) are some of the most iconic works of the traditional choral/vocal repertoire. At 7:30 p.m. Jan. 23, the Cal Poly Chamber Choir will conclude Bach Week with a performance of “Lobet den Herrn, alle Heiden,” BWV 230. Attendees will also be treated to a bonus performance of two movements of “Missa O magnum mysterium” by Giovanni Palestrina. Admission is free to all of the events this year. Donations can be made during any of the presentations. For more information, visit the Bach Week website.
Analytics Industry Expert Guest Speaker to Present Jan. 22
Rich Clayton, vice president of business analytics at Oracle, will discuss the ways COVID-19 has impacted progress in the analytics field, present key industry trends for 2021, illustrate ways to invest in data for a good program, and explain what is happening in the analytics job market.
Clayton chairs Cal Poly’s Business Analytics Advisory Board and is responsible for global market development and product marketing for the business analytics and big data product areas at Oracle. He is passionate about how analytics can improve business and social outcomes. The event will be held from 11 a.m. to noon Friday, Jan. 22. Visit
https://calpolyocob.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2sBwVmSYeLLPaQZ to register and receive the Zoom link.
W. Terrence Spiller to Present Virtual Piano Recital on Jan. 29
Pianist and Music Professor W. Terrence Spiller will give a virtual recital that will livestream at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29, and be available through Feb. 7. The first half will feature Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s technically demanding and humorous Sonata in F Major, K. 332; Maria Agata Szymanowska’s Nocturne in B-flat Major; and Maurice Ravel’s “Sonatine.” “Szymanowska was a significant influence on Frédéric Chopin and other Romantic-era composers,” Spiller said. “The inspiration for Ravel’s ‘Sonatine’ was a magazine’s composition competition. He would have won — as he was the only entrant — but his first movement was a few measures too long. It is a tribute to 18th-century elegance, style and structure.” The second half will be Sergei Rachmaninoff’s “Moments musicaux,” Op. 16. Spiller said the then-23-year-old Rachmaninoff wrote the piece rather quickly because he needed money. “The six movements represent a range of Romantic moods and styles and forms that feature special emphasis upon Rachmaninoff’s coloristic writing, his lyricism and his virtuosity,” Spiller said. Tickets to the virtual event are $5 and can be purchased online from the Performing Arts Center, ext. 6-4849. For more information, visit the Music Department calendar website.
Event Postings
Events.calpoly.edu is a new platform that shines a spotlight on high-profile special events at
Cal Poly and throughout our community, focusing on the wide and diverse range of activities on and around our campus. This site is designed to help our colleges, programs, departments and facilities promote exciting events that can be seen by a selected audience. It will update regularly and include events happening in the next 30-45 days. It is not a calendar of all events, and it does not include student club events. Here are some links to help you navigate:
Submitting an Event to Events.calpoly.edu
To submit your event for consideration, please send the event title, date, time, duration, ticket information, intended audience(s) and image (1600 bpi wide) to [email protected].
University Events Calendar
To find a listing of all events — such as performances, lectures, workshops and more — visit our Master Calendar.
Scheduling/Booking Venues
25Live: Space and Event Scheduling can help you schedule or book a venue for an upcoming on-campus event.