EOC Spotlight: Small Finance Section has Oversized Role in Tracking COVID-19 Expenses
The EOC Spotlight continues this week with a look at the fourth of five sections in Cal Poly’s Emergency Operations Center. For more than a year, as the EOC team has coordinated the university’s response to COVID-19, a small subsection of the EOC has taken care to track and report on all expenditures related to the pandemic. The five-person Finance section — Dave Marshall, Kathryn Dunham, Elizabeth Baker, Dee Louie and Marc Benadiba — have ensured proper utilization of campus financial resources. The team continuously tracks COVID-19 expenditures and submits for reimbursement from external funding sources such as the Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF I, HEERF II, and HEERF III Federal Funding) and FEMA. The team also prepares weekly management reporting, monthly Department of Finance reporting and quarterly HEERF reporting. Additionally, the team has collaborated with the other 22 CSU campuses, Disaster Recovery Consultants, and the Chancellor’s Office via semiweekly meetings to collectively share best practices and navigate the complicated infrastructure of disaster cost recovery. Their work and dedication to the university is greatly appreciated.
COVID-19 Vaccines Available on Campus through June 4; Watch Webinar on June 8
There is still time to get the COVID-19 vaccine on campus before the end of spring quarter. The Rite Aid vaccination clinic in UU 220 is open to students, faculty, staff and community members through June 4. Appointments are available for free through Rite Aid’s registration page by searching the ZIP code 93407. Walk-ins are also welcome on weekdays. The clinic provides the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine to anyone 18 and older, as well as first and second doses of the Pfizer vaccine to anyone 12 and older. (Minors must have parental consent.) Off-campus, first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccines are available through the My Turn appointment system online or at 833-422-4255 or vaccinefinder.org. All three of SLO County Public Health’s mass vaccination sites are open for walk-ins this week; those sites plan to close after June 3. Still have questions? All CSU employees are invited to a webinar from 2-3 p.m. Tuesday, June 8, “Building Confidence: COVID-19 Vaccinations” presented by Kaiser Permanente. Attendees will get tools they need to understand the current landscape of vaccines and information about them. Questions can be submitted in advance to hradmin@calstate.edu. No registration is necessary; closed captioning will be provided. Click here to join the live broadcast. Visit Cal Poly’s vaccine page for a spectrum of additional resources, including links to appointment opportunities, transportation resources and information about the available vaccines.
Want to Move More? Cal Poly Seeks Participants for Study on Reducing Screen Time
Researchers at Cal Poly’s Center for Health Research are looking for people to participate in a study on reducing sedentary screen time. Research shows that sedentary screen time — activities such as TV, social media and video games — has increased during the pandemic. On an average day, Americans spend nearly eight hours engaging in recreational sedentary screen time. This lack of movement shortens life expectancy and increases risk for cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Researchers hope a smartphone app will cut that time. “We know that sedentary screen time is bad for health, but there’s very little research on how to actually reduce screen time,” said Sarah Keadle, professor in the Kinesiology and Public Health Department and lead researcher. “We are excited about the technology-based approach that allows us to monitor all aspects of screen time, and we know that apps-based interventions are effective in increasing physical activity.” Participants in the study will receive a Fitbit to keep and use the self-monitoring StandUPTV app to view their daily and weekly sedentary screen time habits. Anyone interested in participating can take a survey to see whether they qualify for the study or read the news release to learn more.
Meet the Student Determined to Spread Vaccine Awareness
When COVID-19 struck, Caleb Armendariz leaped at the chance to help others. The fourth-year biological sciences major, who volunteers in the emergency room of Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center, signed up to help administer COVID-19 tests when they were in demand. Then, about a month ago, he volunteered to help hospital staff when they started administering vaccines. “It really was a fun opportunity to be part of the whole process,” he said. “Getting the community vaccinated was awesome.” But two conversations with friends helped him realize that there was work that could be done within the campus community too. Those experiences spurred Armendariz to set up a vaccine awareness campaign on campus. With the help of microbiology and immunology Professor Candace Winstead, he connected with organizations, including Campus Health and Wellbeing and the Department of Emergency Management, to develop a plan and put it in motion. Read the full story on Cal Poly News.
Sign up for CTLT Summer Accessibility Workshops
The Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology is offering two separate four-week fully online workshops for faculty members. The time commitment for each workshop is seven to 10 hours per week, depending on skill level and experience.
- Creating Accessible Course Materials, July 6 - Aug. 1: Faculty will develop skills to make course materials technically accessible for all students, with a focus on students with disabilities. This workshop covers Canvas accessibility, accessible documents and video captioning. Learn more and register.
- Inclusive Course Design: Implementing the UDL Guidelines, Aug. 2 - 29: Faculty will apply the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to course materials, activities, and assessments. UDL increases access, reduces barriers and improves learning experiences for all students. Learn more and register.
Free Document Accessibility Training Available
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. Join a training cohort that starts in June or July. Space is limited and available on a first-come basis.
Faculty and Staff Invited to Join Summer Book and Learning Circles
Employee and Organization Development has announced the Summer 2021 Book and Learning Circles, where participants can engage in enriching conversations and connect with peers across campus. Book Circles involve reading a book over the course of three to five sessions. The books are:
- “Ego is the Enemy” by Ryan Holiday: Many of us insist the main impediment to a full, successful life is the outside world. In fact, the most common enemy lies within: our ego.
- “The Happiness Advantage” by Shawn Achor: Learn how to rewire our brains for positivity and optimism to reap the happiness advantage in our lives, our careers and even our health.
- “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents” by Isabel Wilkerson: Explores how America today and throughout its history has been shaped by a hidden caste system.
Learning Circles involve watching a video, listening to a podcast, or reading an article and participating in a discussion during a single session. Learning Circles include:
- “Communicating Values” by Mory Fontanez: Common values are the foundation of successful relationships and successful businesses. Learning how to effectively communicate your values can lead to stronger, better-performing teams and relationships.
- “The Great Migration and the Power of a Single Decision” by journalist and author Isabel Wilkerson: Shares how a single decision can change the course of history.
- “The Happy Secret to Better Work” by Shawn Achor: We believe we should work hard in order to be happy, but could we be thinking about things backwards?
To view full descriptions and register to attend, visit the Book and Learning Circles webpage at learnandgrow.calpoly.edu.
Reentry Into the Workplace Trainings Available for Employees
How do you feel about the world reopening as the pandemic eases? Fear and anxiety is understandable given the impact to our communities over the last year. Human Resources has partnered with LifeMatters to provide sessions about navigating through the thoughts and tensions involved with returning to working on campus. Learn practical strategies for managing emotions and preparing for reentry. Learn more and register. Attendance is subject to supervisory approval and based on departmental operational needs. Contact benefits@calpoly.edu or ext. 6-2236 with any questions. Upcoming benefit events can be viewed on the Human Resources Upcoming Benefit Events webpage.
New Professional Development Courses Added in June
Employee and Organization Development invites employees to participate in the June professional development offerings as part of the Cross Campus Collaboration series. Many of Cal Poly’s and the other CSU campuses’ workshops will occur online, providing a unique opportunity to extend learning beyond campus borders while offering a new way to share professional development. New courses and additional dates have been added in June. View and register using the links below. Registration opens Thursday, May 20, on a first-served basis, so don’t delay.
- Improving the Work, is the Work: Creating an Ongoing Daily Problem-Solving Culture in Higher Education, June 8, 9:30-11 a.m.
- Mindfully Managing the Heart Side of Change, June 8, 10-11:30 a.m.
- Leaders @ Change, June 10, 9-11 a.m.
- Self-Care Strategies for Wholehearted Living, June 11, 10-11:30 a.m.
- Virtual Facilitation, June 14, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Work-Life Integration, June 15, 1-2:30 p.m.
- SMART Goals, June 17, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Exposing Hidden Bias, June 18, 9-10:30 a.m.
- Employee Engagement, June 22, 1-3 p.m.
- Respect in the Workplace, June 23, 10:30 a.m. to noon.
- Positive Psychology, June 29, 10 a.m. to noon.
- The Art and Science of Building an Organizational Culture, June 30, 10:30 a.m. to noon.
Following 18 years with the Cal Poly Corporation, Ann Roy, executive assistant to the chief executive officer, will retire on June 4, 2021. During her time on campus, Roy steadfastly worked with five chief executive officers serving as the liaison between the Corporation board and senior staff. She started her Cal Poly career in 2003 as a supervisor at Campus Dining helping to run The Ave and Building 19. It only took two years before she moved up to executive assistant. Throughout her 16 years as executive assistant she has been charged with managing Bella Montana, executing contracts, administering three board committees, planning board and senior staff retreats, and generally keeping the Corporation running. More recently Roy helped to create, staff, and manage the COVID-19 Help Center in support of students and the university. While at Cal Poly, she has developed many irreplaceable connections and special relationships that she will genuinely miss. She was an active committee member serving on the Corporation Culture Committee, AOA Conference Planning Committee, Annual Service Awards Committee, University-wide Professional Development Committee and the Administrative Professionals Event Committee. In retirement she looks forward to traveling the world and spending time with her husband, three kids and their families. Sign her virtual card.
Music Professor Antonio “Greg” Barata, longtime director of the sound design program — as well as instructor of theory, composition and orchestration — retired from full-time teaching at the end of spring quarter 2020 after 35 years. He will teach part time for the next few years. He earned his Doctorate of Musical Arts in music composition from the University of Illinois, specializing in electroacoustic and computer music, in 1985, the same year he started at Cal Poly. He founded the Sound Design program, and RSVP is the capstone of the sequential series of classes that evolved to a fully staged production, including theater, musical scenes, musical parody, dance and live and prerecorded music. The classes give students the skills and exposure to the technology and media elements needed to combine the composition, performance, soundscape and staging that bring these shows to life. Spring 2020 marked the 25th anniversary of RSVP, which was offered virtually in three video installments due to the pandemic. Barata is an active composer. In March 2020, the Cal Poly Wind Ensemble premiered his piece “Winds of Change.” In 2006, he earned a Master of Pastoral Studies degree from Loyola University in New Orleans and is currently a deacon at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Parish in Nipomo. Barata has generously served the Music Department by chairing almost every faculty search committee. Sign Barata's virtual card.
Spots Still Open for Orfalea Family and ASI Children’s Center Poly Trekkers Program
The annual summer Poly Trekkers program at the ASI Children’s Center still has available spots remaining. This program is open to children who have completed kindergarten through fourth grade (6 to 10 years old). The program includes crafts, field trips, sports activities and a good deal of fun, all while taking advantage of the experiences offered on campus. Registration is available for sessions 1, 2, 3, 6, 7 and 8. Registration ends June 18. For more information, visit the ASI website or contact Children's Center Administrative Assistant Lauren Mosley at ext. 6-1267 or mosley@calpoly.edu.
Two Bella Montaña Homes Listed For Sale
Two Bella Montaña units are on the market: 555-A and 555-B each come equipped with all the amenities that Bella Montana offers. Both have 1,029 square feet of living space in with two comfortable bedrooms and two and one-half bathrooms. These homes come equipped with a spacious one-car garage, a lovely deck and an indoor laundry unit. Beautiful views can be admired from these units. Living in Bella Montaña means convenient access to Cal Poly’s campus, nearby restaurants and retail, and beautiful hiking terrain. Visit https://bellamontanahomes.com/available-homes for more information.
‘The Muse Hour’ Concludes June 5 with Tommy Emmanuel
The conclusion of the second season of Cal Poly Arts’ virtual music and conversation series, “The Muse Hour,” will be held at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 5, with a concert from acoustic guitar legend Tommy Emmanuel. Considered among this planet’s greatest guitarists, the Australian plays multi-dimensional arrangements flawlessly on the acoustic guitar. His infectiously appealing joy is delivered with that smile of the ages and evidence of authentic, unbridled delight, that irresistibly invites listeners to feel his music as deeply as he does. Produced in cooperation with Tacoma Arts Live in Washington and The Luther Burbank Center in Santa Rosa, California, this event includes an exclusive pre-recorded concert, followed by a live virtual and moderated Q&A session with Emmanuel. Tickets to the second season of “The Muse Hour” are $11.50 per device, per event, and current Cal Poly Arts VIP Members at the $75 cameo level and up receive free access to all of “The Muse Hour” events. Visit calpolyarts.org for more information.
Cal Poly Choirs to Present ‘Ubi Caritas’ Concert Virtually on June 5
The Cal Poly Choirs will present a virtual concert “Ubi Caritas,” which will feature a variety of selections on the themes of charity and love, at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 5. Cal Poly’s Chamber Choir will present three 20th-century settings of the Latin text “Ubi Caritas,” all loosely based on the ancient chant melody. This portion will feature works by Maurice Duruflé, Ola Gjeilo and Luke Mayernik. The group will also perform several Italian and French secular works. The Cal Poly Women’s Chorus will present “Someone Will Remember Us” by Jocelyn Hagen. The choir will be accompanied by animal science major Hana AbdulCader on harp, plus a string trio of Music Department faculty members: Emily Lanzone, violin; Michael Whitson, viola; and Laura Gaynon, cello. PolyPhonics, Cal Poly’s premier ensemble, will perform music by Carlos Guastavino and Joseph Rheinberger, as well as a special comical selection. The University Singers will present music by J.S. Bach and R. Scott Coulter, among others. Tickets are sold from the Performing Arts Center, ext. 6-4849. For more information, visit the Music Department calendar website.
Wind Bands to Present Virtual ‘Voices in the Wind’ Concert June 6
The Wind Ensemble and Wind Orchestra will present a virtual concert “Voices in the Wind” at 3 p.m. Sunday, June 6. Most musical works on the program were composed in the past 10 years, including “A Mother of a Revolution!” by Omar Thomas, which was inspired by the Stonewall uprising of 1969 that brought to national attention the systemic oppression of the LGBTQ community in New York City. Faculty oboist Heidi Butterfield will perform the West Coast premiere of “Hidden Currents” for oboe and wind ensemble by Katherine Bergman. The piece depicts the seasonal changes along the northernmost stretch of the Mississippi River. Travis Cross’ “Let the Amen Sound” will conclude the concert. A live Q&A session with conductors Christopher J. Woodruff and Nicholas P. Waldron and some of the performers will be held after. Tickets are sold from the Performing Arts Center, ext. 6-4849. For more information, visit the Music Department calendar website.
Cal Poly Symphony to Present ‘Voices Past and Present’ Virtually on June 11
The Cal Poly Symphony will present its season finale, “Voices Past and Present,” through a virtual presentation at 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 11. The program will include music for winds and brass, music for string orchestra and music for everyone together. The winds and brass will conclude their yearlong exploration of Gordon Jacob’s “Old Wine in New Bottles,” a set of pieces based on old English folk songs. The orchestra’s string section will perform Chicago-based composer Stacy Garrop’s “Lo Yisa Goy,” an instrumental setting of the Jewish prayer for peace. Everyone will come together to play two works: Ralph Vaughan Williams’ “English Folk Song Suite,” orchestrated by Jacob, and Nkeiru Okoye’s “Voices Shouting Out,” written in response to the events of 9/11. A live Q&A session with conductor and music Professor David Arrivée and students will follow the recorded performance. Tickets are sold 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 event-submission@calpoly.edu.
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.