San Luis Obispo County Expands COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility, Campus Planning Continues
San Luis Obispo County’s Public Health Department is or will soon begin offering COVID-19 vaccine appointments to child care workers, farm workers, emergency services personnel, K-12 educators and some higher education employees. Individuals in these sectors receive direct notifications from their employer about how to access vaccination appointments. A limited number of Cal Poly employees will receive notifications via email about appointments available to them based on their roles. The county continues to offer vaccines to county residents 65 and older and health care workers. Visit the county’s recoverslo.org website for more information about vaccine distribution, and additional information and facts about vaccine safety and efficacy is available through the recoverslo.org website’s frequently asked questions. Getting vaccinated through San Luis Obispo County’s Public Health Department is free, it does not involve health insurance, and it does not require information about the recipient’s immigration status.
Cal Poly is working closely with SLO County to help end this pandemic. University leaders continue to advocate for faculty, staff and students through the county’s Vaccine Task Force. On campus, Cal Poly’s vaccine task force developed a plan that was approved by President Armstrong and county public health and is forming the operational plan to act swiftly and equitably as vaccines become available to members of our campus community. Cal Poly will reach out to specific groups of employees and students via email with more information as the university finalizes its implementation plans and responds to evolving county, state and federal public health guidance. As our community makes progress, please continue to do your part to slow the spread of COVID-19 by wearing a face covering, practicing physical distancing, and getting tested when needed. Visit Cal Poly’s COVID-19 vaccine webpage for more information and resources.
COVID Vaccine Fact Check: Will the Vaccine Give me COVID-19?
Welcome to your COVID-19 Vaccine Fact Check, weekly insight on the COVID-19 vaccines presented by Campus Health and Wellbeing. These posts aim to help staff and faculty understand the facts and spot misinformation. This week’s fact check addresses concerns that the vaccines can give you COVID-19. Here are the facts: You cannot get COVID-19 from the vaccine. None of the vaccines currently in use in the United States contain the live SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The immune response generated by the vaccine can cause symptoms or side effects in the process of building immunity. These side effects can include feeling tired, body aches and sometimes fever. This is normal and a sign that the immune system is working to build protections against the virus. Not all people will develop these side effects after vaccination, but the vaccine is still working. To learn more about vaccine, visit the COVID-19 vaccine page on Cal Poly's coronavirus website and the RecoverSLO.org website’s frequently asked questions page. Look for more COVID Vaccine Fact Check posts in future editions of the Cal Poly Report.
Equity-Focused Faculty Make Waves through New Classes, Mentorship and More
While they study different topics — everything from history to architecture to public health — 20 faculty members hired in recent years have one thing in common: they use their scholarship, teaching and service to illuminate the ways that diversity and inclusion intersect with their field of study. The educators came to the Central Coast through two cluster hire programs focused on welcoming educators who look at their disciplines through a lens of diversity, equity and inclusion. The first universitywide effort happened in 2019, following one specific to the College of Liberal Arts in 2017. Learn about how these faculty members explore meaningful research, lead critical discussions through events like the Social Justice Teach In, develop new curriculum, and inspire a new generation of Mustangs through the BEACoN Mentors program. Read the full article on the Cal Poly News website.
Save the Date: Celebrate Cal Poly Virtual Spring Commencement on June 12
Save the date for Cal Poly’s Virtual Spring Commencement 2021 celebration on Saturday, June 12, featuring six academic college ceremonies. These virtual ceremonies will feature messages from campus leaders and alumni, the conferral of degrees and graduate name reading. Please note that if public health conditions allow, a special in-person event will be held for graduates only (no guests or spectators allowed on campus) on June 12-13. Decisions about holding this event will be made in May, and if it is held, it will be live streamed for families and supporters to view from their locations outside of San Luis Obispo. All academic college, department, cultural, club and organization celebrations will remain virtual. Faculty and staff are invited to sign up to receive Spring Commencement 2021 emails to stay informed and updated as new information becomes available. If you have any questions, contact the Commencement Office at [email protected].
Physics Professor Awarded Prestigious Prize from the American Association for the Advancement of Science
Physics Professor Vardha N. Bennert is one member of the team of co-authors from 21 institutions honored with the Newcomb Cleveland Prize from the American Association for the Advancement of Science. The prize is awarded to the author or authors of the most impactful paper published in the journal Science each year. In the winning paper, titled “A single fast radio burst localized to a massive galaxy at cosmological distance," the 54 authors described how they pinpointed the origin of a non-repeating fast radio burst (FRB) for the first time. Though they last only a few milliseconds, FRBs are some of the brightest radio sources in the sky. Determining the exact location of a non-repeating FRB could improve scientists' understanding of the structure of the universe, as well as galaxy formation and evolution. Bennert obtained, reduced and interpreted optical observations from the W. M. Keck Observatory telescopes.
Teaching with Compassion Symposium Offered March 11
A symposium titled Teaching with Compassion will be offered from 11:10 a.m. to noon on Thursday, March 11. Janine Schipper, a sociology professor at Northern Arizona University, will share insights and activities from the book, “Teaching with Compassion: An Educator’s Oath to Teach from the Heart,” that she co-authored with sociologist Peter Kaufman. In this interactive conversation, participants will explore tools and strategies for developing humanistic teaching practices and fostering a culture of care and compassion in the classroom. Schipper's research and teaching focus on environmental sociology and contemplative studies, and she facilitates workshops on compassion and mindfulness practices. The Zoom link is https://calpoly.zoom.us/j/89778299390. A Cal Poly email address is required to join the symposium.
Additional Open Lab Training Available for Planon on March 4
Facilities Management and Development (FMD) will host an additional training opportunity for Planon from 10-11 a.m. Thursday, March 4. This lab session is open to all campus users interested in learning more about the use of Planon, FMD’s new work order management system that launched in February. Planon serves as FMD’s new project management platform and enables facility projects and maintenance operations along with space and finance teams to effectively and efficiently manage facilities throughout the entire building lifecycle. Call the FMD Help Center at ext. 6-5555 with any questions, and visit afd.calpoly.edu/facilities/requests/planon for more information and user guides.
Do-It-Yourself Video Captioning Training Available to 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, March 11. Attendees will learn how to use various automated transcription tools to create accurate closed captions for videos uploaded to YouTube. Visit accessibility.calpoly.edu to register for this training and to request accommodations as needed. Once registered, you will automatically receive a Zoom link for the training. Questions? Email John Lee at [email protected]. This training session will have live captions and transcripts available.
Cross Campus Collaboration Courses Allow Professional Development with CSU Colleagues
Many professional development workshops provided by Employee and Organization Development and the Chancellor’s Office that were formerly in person are now offered online. This provides a unique opportunity to extend learning beyond campus borders and offer a new way to share professional development across the CSU. Click the links below to view descriptions and register for the workshops. Registration is limited and on a first-come basis. Don’t delay. Classes in March include:
- Self-Care Strategies for Wholehearted Living, 10-11:30 a.m. March 9.
- Work-Life Integration, 1-2:30 p.m. March 9.
- Respect in the Workplace, 10:30 a.m. to noon March 10.
- Exposing Hidden Bias, 9-10:30 a.m. March 11.
- Positive Psychology, 1-3 p.m. March 16.
- Self-coaching, 1-2:30 p.m. March 16.
- Avoiding Bias in Hiring, 1-3 p.m. March 24.
- Branding Yourself, 2-3 p.m. March 24.
- Giving and Leveraging Feedback for Success, 1:30-3 p.m. March 25.
- The Art and Science of Building an Organizational Culture, 10:30 a.m.-noon March 26.
- Virtual Facilitation, 1-4 p.m. March 29.
View and Register for Upcoming Benefit Events
Did you know that you can now view and register for upcoming benefit related events on the Human Resources website? Questions? Contact the Human Resources Benefits team at [email protected] or ext. 6-2236.
Free Document Accessibility Training Available to Campus
In partnership with renowned web accessibility nonprofit WebAIM, the CSU is providing free online, four-week training courses this spring on best practices for creating accessible documents and PDFs. This training is for those who make documents with Word, PowerPoint or Adobe Acrobat. Learn how to use a few simple guidelines to create documents that are accessible to all users. As part of its commitment to excellence through diversity and inclusion, Cal Poly strives to ensure that campus communication is accessible to its student, employee and community audiences. Be part of that commitment. Learn more and sign up. Space is limited and available on a first-come basis.
First Year Success Program Coaches needed for Spring Quarter
Interested in an opportunity to support students in their journey at Cal Poly? The First Year Success Program (FSP) is looking for graduate students, faculty and staff from across campus who want to serve as coaches for first-time freshmen who are on academic probation for the first time. FSP coaches will support a small group of first-time freshmen students by facilitating growth-centered conversations, engaging in goal setting and skill development and exploring resources that students can use to help them move toward success in future quarters. FSP staff will provide a training on March 19 to discuss the details of the program and provide materials. FSP is looking for diverse members from the campus community that represent all areas of
Cal Poly, so all levels of experience and background are welcome. Sign up or express interest before March 5. Questions? Contact Kara Hitchcock at [email protected].
Call for Proposals for Continuing Instructionally Related Activities
The Instructionally Related Activities Advisory Committee has announced the call for proposals for fiscal year 2021-22 for any activities seeking continued recognition and funding. 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. Requests for funding typically exceed the available funds, so recognition as an IRA is no guarantee of funding. Workshops to help you prepare the forms are available. Proposals for continuing IRAs are due to the appropriate college dean or vice president by March 5. Find forms, instructions, dates and times for preparation workshops, and other relevant information on the Academic Programs and Planning website.
Professor W. Terrence “Terry” Spiller will retire at the end of winter quarter after nearly 30 years of making — and teaching — beautiful music in the Music Department. He served as department chair from 2004-19. He earned his doctorate from USC in 1991, the same year he began teaching at Cal Poly during its first year offering the new music major degree program. It was also then that he met newly hired colleague Alyson McLamore, who had just completed her doctorate at UCLA. Despite their collegiate rivalry, they were married in 1994. During Spiller’s years of teaching, administrating and concertizing, he had many notable experiences. He performed with vibrant and talented students of Cal Poly's ensembles and his colleagues in some extraordinary halls: the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, D.C., with the Cal Poly Symphony conducted by David Arrivée; the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles with the Cal Poly Wind Ensemble conducted by Christopher J. Woodruff; and Smetana Hall in Prague with the Wind Ensemble conducted by William V. Johnson. In 2010 he was honored with the College of Liberal Arts Richard Keller Simon Faculty Recognition Award for Outstanding Service. Spiller will continue to teach piano part time in the department for a while. Fishing, travel and reading books are on his horizon. He is grateful for the central role that Cal Poly has played — and continues to play — in his life. Sign Spiller's virtual card.
Key Dates Finalized for Cal Poly’s Accreditation Site Visit
Cal Poly is currently in the process of reaffirming its accreditation by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). A successful reaffirmation process will provide a valuable university-level peer review process, and will also ensure eligibility for federal funding in a number of programs, including student access to federal financial aid. Cal Poly’s self-study theme is “Promoting the Success of All Cal Poly Students While Achieving the Goals of the CSU’s Graduation Initiative 2025.” Specifically, the university is focusing on three sub-themes: “Developing a Campus Culture that Is Diverse, Equitable and Inclusive,” “Recruiting and Retaining a More Diverse Community of Students, Staff and Faculty,” and “Teaching and Learning How to Live and Work in a Diverse World.” Cal Poly will submit its self-study report to WSCUC by Feb. 16, 2022. A team of WSCUC commissioners will visit the campus from April 27-29, 2022, and a decision on the university’s accreditation will be made by June 23, 2022. WSCUC and Cal Poly hope that all members of the university community, including students, staff, faculty and external stakeholders will be able to participate in the April 2022 visit. For more information, see Cal Poly’s WSCUC Accreditation page.
Food Pantry Now Open to Faculty and Staff
Currently, millions of individuals face food insecurity every day. Due to the ongoing effects of the coronavirus pandemic, many households that experience food insecurity do not qualify for federal nutrition programs and rely on their local food banks and other hunger relief organizations for support. Due to this recognized need, the Cal Poly Food Pantry will open its doors to staff and faculty on Fridays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The food pantry is located in the lower level of Campus Health & Wellbeing (No. 27). Staff and faculty are welcome to peruse our selection of items, no questions asked. Cal Poly also hosts a SLO Food Bank Distribution site on the fourth Tuesday of every month from 3:30-5:30 p.m. on Mott lawn. For more info about Cal Poly’s Basic Needs resources, including how to donate: https://basicneeds.calpoly.edu/.
Transfer Hangouts Open to Campus Community
The Transfer Center, in partnership with the colleges and campus departments, is hosting transfer hangouts open to all students, staff and faculty. These hangouts are a space for transfers to connect and create community. Share these great social opportunities with students. Faculty and staff are welcome to join. The upcoming events are:
- CAED Transfer Hangout: 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 3.
- Kennedy Library Transfer Hangout: 4 p.m. Monday, March 8.
- OCOB Transfer Hangout: 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 9.
- CAFES Transfer Hangout: 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 10.
Check out other Transfer Center events.
Cal Poly Extended Education Offers AWS Training in Partnership with Statewide Programs
In collaboration with California's Employment Training Panel (ETP), UpSkill California and the Cal Poly California Cybersecurity Institute (CCI), Extended Education is moving forward on an initiative to deliver cybersecurity and cloud skills training from Amazon Web Services (AWS) to upskill and reskill the current and future workforce of California. Cloud and cybersecurity technologies are increasingly helping organizations transform and defend their information and infrastructure, and trained technicians with Amazon Web Services certification are in high demand. Currently, there are over 67,000 unfilled cybersecurity positions in California. The next course, Architecting in AWS, will illustrate the fundamentals of building IT infrastructure on the AWS platform and show users how to optimize the AWS Cloud by understanding AWS services and how they fit into cloud-based solutions. This three-day course will run from March 23-25. For more information and to sign up for training visit Cal Poly Extended Education or find the direct link to the training.
‘Picture a Scientist’ Panel Discussion with Film Director Planned for March 4
The feature-length documentary “Picture a Scientist” will be the topic of a panel discussion from 4-5 p.m. Thursday, March 4. The panel will feature the film director and two Cal Poly alumnae scientists. A free virtual screening of the film is available to the Cal Poly community and local high schools until March 7. The film chronicles the groundswell of researchers who are overcoming harassment and discrimination to write a new chapter for women scientists. Register to view the film, watch a trailer, or view more information about the event online. The event is sponsored by the College of Science and Mathematics. Email [email protected] with any questions.
Illustrating the Intersections of Masculinity, Race and Ethnicity at March 4 Event
The Men and Masculinities Program is hosting “Pass the Mic” from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 4, on Zoom. Pass the Mic is an open-mic style event featuring student speakers, engaging media pieces, group discussion and open mic segments. This is a great opportunity for faculty and staff to connect students to an intersectional experience and an engaging conversation about masculinities. This event creates a unique experience for students to listen, discuss and share their perspectives on the intersections of masculinities, race and ethnicity. There will also be an opportunity to win a prize from one of the event sponsors. Use Zoom ID 892-3754-1722 to join. Questions? Contact Nick Bilich at [email protected].
Streaming of ‘Shelter’ Starts March 6
Cal Poly Theatre and Dance Department presents “Shelter: An Immersive Theatrical Audio Experience in Your Living Space.” Streaming begins on March 6 and will play through the rest of this academic year. This devised play will explore our current circumstance of “sheltering in place” by creating a theatrical piece that examines the emotional connection to our homes through an autobiographical lens. The play features a cast of seven students plus production work by Theatre and Dance Department students, faculty and staff. Watch and learn more.
Cal Poly Wind Bands to Present Virtual Concert Titled ‘Community’ on March 6
The Wind Ensemble and Wind Orchestra will present a virtual concert titled “Community” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 6. “Music has the ability to bring together minds and souls,” Director of Bands Christopher J. Woodruff said. “For this concert, the members of the Cal Poly Wind Bands explore the connections between individuals that make us part of a larger whole, whether they are performing in person or remotely. We are excited to have this performance recorded in the Performing Arts Center’s Miossi Hall, which offers the student musicians an acoustical experience that brings out the best possible musical communication.” Compositions by Katherine Bergman, Percy Grainger and Rossano Galante will be performed. Woodruff and Associate Director of Bands Nicholas P. Waldron will conduct the concert. Tickets are sold at the Performing Arts Center, ext. 6-4849. For more information, visit the Music Department calendar website.
International Women’s Day Activities Include Virtual Panel on March 8
On March 8–13, Cal Poly will honor International Women's Day by celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. From 11:10 a.m. to noon Monday, March 8, the Cal Poly International Center will host a virtual panel presentation, “Choose to Challenge Gender Inequity,” discussing cross-cultural frameworks for understanding gender, equality and equity. Panelists include Joni Roberts, assistant professor, Kinesiology and Public Health Department; Dawn Neill, associate professor, Interdisciplinary Studies in Liberal Arts; Ning Zhang, professor, Political Science Department; and Olivia Bảo-Khanh Trần, coordinator, womxn and gender equity initiatives, Student Diversity and Belonging. The panel is co-sponsored by the Men and Masculinities Program, the College of Liberal Arts and the College of Science and Mathematics. The panel will cover gender-related issues from cross-cultural and international perspectives, including how gender norms have shaped and influenced the career paths and academic achievements of Cal Poly faculty and staff. To find out more about International Women's Day and ways to celebrate, visit the International Center website or the Facebook event page. Then get ready to join the #ChooseToChallenge #IWD2021 #IWDCP conversation.
Cal Poly Symphony’s Virtual ‘Soloist Showcase’ Set for March 12
The Cal Poly Symphony will present its annual Soloist Showcase through a virtual presentation at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 12. The symphony held auditions in November for student soloists from a variety of majors for the opportunity to be featured in the showcase. The winners were computer engineering major Kiran Manikonda on clarinet and double civil engineering and music major Grant Smith on piano. Manikonda will play Gioachino Rossini’s “Introduction, Theme and Variations,” and Smith will perform the first movement from Ludwig van Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor. The program will also include two movements from Gordon Jacob’s “Old Wine in New Bottles,” performed by the winds and brass of the orchestra, and Edvard Grieg’s “Two Elegiac Melodies,” performed by the strings. There will be a live Q&A session immediately following the recorded performance with Music Professor and conductor David Arrivée, the soloists and other students. Tickets are sold at the Performing Arts Center, ext. 6-4849. For more information, visit the Music Department calendar website.
Cal Poly Choirs to Present ‘Breathe in Hope’ Virtual Concert on March 13
The choirs will present “Breathe in Hope,” a virtual winter concert that will feature a variety of selections on the theme of perseverance and hope at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 13. PolyPhonics will perform music by Camille Saint-Saëns and influential African American composer Adolphus Hailstork. The University Singers will present music by André Thomas, plus Ernst Toch’s celebrated “Geographical Fugue.” Dale Trumbore’s “Breathe in Hope” will be performed by the Cal Poly Women’s Chorus. The piece is based on a Facebook post in response to the killing of Philando Castile and Alton Sterling. The Cal Poly Chamber Choir will present a special mass with movements from a variety of Renaissance composers that showcase the development of the genres in that period. Scott Glysson conducts the Cal Poly Choirs, which are accompanied by Paul Woodring. Tickets are sold at the Performing Arts Center, ext. 6-4849. For more information, visit the Music Department calendar website.
‘Feats of Filmmaking’ Airs on Cal Poly Arts Website March 17
For the past two years, Cal Poly Arts, in partnership with the Performing Arts Center, has presented a wildly popular series of evocative speakers from National Geographic Live. During this pandemic closure, Cal Poly Arts is continuing that tradition with a new four-part, virtual speaker series. Each 60-minute virtual event will include stories and visuals; live, moderated conversation; and audience Q&A. Tickets are $16.50 per device, per event. The second event in the series, “Feats of Filmmaking,” airs via Cal Poly Arts at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 17, and introduces two filmmakers renowned for capturing extreme feats of adventure in some of the world’s most remote and inhospitable environments. Based out of British Columbia, Bryan Smith brings stories of adventure to the screen from the South Pacific’s deepest canyons to the frozen waters of Niagara Falls. Keith Ladzinski takes on the seemingly impossible — including chasing tornadoes, hanging from massive natural arches, and swimming with alligators — to document the endeavors of the world’s most elite adventurers.
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.