Native American and Indigenous Cultural Center Opens
The Cal Poly community celebrated the new Native American and Indigenous Cultural Center (NAICC) during a campus gathering on Oct. 14. The event followed a small grand opening ceremony on Indigenous People’s Day, Oct. 11, with yak titʸu titʸu yak tiłhini Northern Chumash Tribal members. The center aims to provide more support for the Native and Indigenous communities on and off campus through mentorship programs; academic support; and art, dance and crafting activities specific to Native American and Indigenous cultures. “This space is a love letter to all Native and Indigenous students," said Professor Jenell Navarro, chair of the Ethnic Studies Department, president of the American Indian and Indigenous Faculty and Staff Association and longtime advocate for the center's creation. Core to the center are its partnerships with Cal Poly’s American Indian Student Association, American Indian Science and Engineering Society, the American Indian and Indigenous Faculty and Staff Association, University Housing and Academic Affairs, as well as the yak titʸu titʸu yak tiłhini Northern Chumash Tribe and other local and statewide tribes. The resources students can find are rooted in decolonial practices, restorative healing, Native knowledge and community engagement. One of the centerpieces of the space is a mural titled, “Rooted in Native Knowledge," by Indigenous artist and cultural organizer Joel Garcia (Huichol). It features a red-tailed hawk, symbolizing the hope for reciprocal relationships with the natural world. Find more details about the center and the grand opening celebration on the Cal Poly News site.
Get Vaccines and Boosters on Campus
Rite Aid is returning to campus to administer COVID-19 and flu vaccines in the Main Gym Lobby of the Cal Poly Recreation Center (No. 43, Room 101). The clinic will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22, Monday, Oct. 25, and Friday, Oct. 29. Flu shots are open to the entire campus community, including students, staff and faculty. The COVID-19 vaccine is only available to Cal Poly employees. (Students needing a COVID-19 vaccine should make an appointment at Campus Health and Wellbeing.) The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines will be available. Rite Aid will also offer Pfizer booster shots to individuals who have received the original two-dose series of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine and completed their primary series at least six months ago. That includes individuals 65 and older, those 18 through 64 with underlying medical conditions, and those over 18 who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission due to their occupational or institutional setting. For more information about what to bring and to make an appointment, visit the COVID-19 Vaccine webpage. Walk-ins will also be accepted.
Cal Poly Rose Float Students Pack Up Their Half of Float for Transport to Pomona
Cal Poly students are already thinking about New Year’s Day and the 133rd Tournament of Roses Parade, marking the 73rd time their float has rolled down Colorado Boulevard in the storied Pasadena tradition. On Oct. 14, students loaded their half of the float for the drive down to Cal Poly Pomona. A symbol of the partnership between the two campuses is the float’s chassis, the front and back halves of which will soon be bolted together to officially unite both the float and the teams. Cal Poly students work on the rear chassis in San Luis Obispo while their Pomona counterparts prepare the front chassis. The float, “Stargrazers,” will take shape over the next 10 weeks. It is the only student-built float in the parade and one of only a handful of entries not built by professional companies. “Stargrazers” aims to exemplify the 2022 theme of “Dream. Believe. Achieve.” The theme of the 133rd Rose Parade celebrates education’s ability to open doors, open minds and change lives. Learn more on the Cal Poly News site.
Listen to Transfer Stories on Oct. 22
Join the Transfer Center in the culminating event for National Transfer Student Week 2021. All members of the campus community are invited to hear five current transfer students share stories about their journeys from 2-3:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22, in the Erhart Agriculture Building (No. 10) Room 206. There will be time to connect with transfer students and advocates from across campus over ice cream after the story session.
Students Can Apply for Change the World Challenge by Oct. 22
Students from all majors are invited to apply for the Change the World Challenge, a transformative, multidisciplinary student design competition that addresses the world’s most pressing contemporary problems. This year’s theme focuses on Solutions for Living in a Post-COVID World, and the top prize is $20,000. The Change the World Challenge is open to upper- class students of any major. Students will be formed into multidisciplinary teams of five, to be mentored by faculty, to develop solutions using a systems approach that balances technical concerns with social, cultural, economic, historical, political, ethical and environmental implications. The competition will span all three quarters with a time commitment of approximately four hours per week. Apply by Oct. 22.
Nominations Open for the Distinguished Scholarship Award
The Distinguished Scholarship Award is intended to recognize the scholarship, research and creative activity of junior and senior faculty across all disciplines represented at Cal Poly. Faculty are encouraged to nominate their fellow faculty members for this award as well as notify their students that they can also submit nominations for this award. Nominations are due by Friday, Oct. 29. See the Distinguished Scholarship Award website for more information, and contact the Academic Senate office at ext. 6-1258 or [email protected] with any questions.
My Cal Poly Portal to be Upgraded on Oct. 31
My Cal Poly Portal will be upgraded and moved to the cloud at 7 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 31. The portal will remain accessible to the Cal Poly community while this work is taking place. Users who are logged in to the portal during this time may be asked to log in again once the work is complete. Anyone with questions can contact the Service Desk online via Support Center or by calling ext. 6-7000.
Safer to Offer Workshops on Supporting Survivors of Gender- and Power-Based Violence
Safer will offering three individual workshops on how to best support students and colleagues who have experienced sexual assault, dating or domestic violence, stalking, harassment or exploitation. This training is designed for faculty and staff and will cover how to respond to disclosures, how to apply trauma-informed techniques in your classroom and workspace, and information about campus and community resources. Use the links below to register:
Multi-factor Authentication to be Required for Emeriti Faculty, Staff Starting Dec. 6
On Dec. 6, Cal Poly will begin requiring emeriti to verify their identities using Duo multi-factor authentication (MFA) when logging into web-based university resources that require a Cal Poly username and password. Using MFA is now standard practice at most universities, including all 23 CSU campuses. Cal Poly has been using Duo since 2019, and it has been required for students, faculty and staff since December 2020. Emeriti are encouraged to learn more about Duo MFA and get set up before the Dec. 6 deadline by visiting tech.calpoly.edu/services/mfa-duo. For those who are new to MFA, the FAQ page at bit.ly/mfafaq is a good place to start. Anyone with questions or who need assistance can contact the Service Desk online via the Support Center or by calling ext. 6-7000.
Service-Learning Faculty Fellows Program Accepting Applications
Center for Service in Action (CSA) and the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Technology (CTLT) invite faculty to apply individually or in teams to be Service-Learning (SL) Faculty Fellows for the 2021-22 academic year. Service learning combines learning goals and community service in ways that can enhance both student growth and the common good. The purpose of the program is to support faculty expanding the number of service-learning courses offered across campus. Stipends are available. The application deadline is 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 25. The details of the program can be found here, and the online application can be submitted here. Any questions about the program should be directed to Anurag Pande ([email protected]), faculty liaison for Service Learning.
International Center Seeking Hosts for Local Activities with International Students
The International Center is seeking faculty and staff for the International Poly Hosts Program. Volunteers will host international students for short, cross-cultural day visits that include activities such as hiking, going to the beach, attending a sporting event, or celebrating holidays/family occasions. This program is intended to help international students experience the community outside of the traditional academic setting. Poly Hosts will also have the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of other cultures while sharing their own. Refer to the Poly Hosts Application to learn more about the program and to apply. Interested faculty and staff can contact Bianca Silva, International Student Advisor, with any questions at [email protected].
Cal Poly Recreation Center Offering Membership Specials
The campus community is eligible for a new membership promotion at the Cal Poly Recreation Center. Pre-pay for three months of membership and the Recreation Center will provide an extra month! The offer is available to Cal Poly faculty, staff, alumni, emeritus and their families. The promotion expires Oct. 31. Learn more about membership promotions and pricing at bit.ly/CalPolyRecreationCenterMemberships, or contact Membership Services at [email protected].
Enjoy a Day of Celebration at CultureFest on Oct. 23
The MultiCultural Center invites the campus community to Cal Poly's 24th annual CultureFest celebration from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23, in the UU Plaza. This year's theme is Rooted in Culture: A Revitalization through Community, Food and Connection. Delicious food and entertaining performances are planned for a day of celebration and fun for the whole family. Also this year, the MultiCultural Center partnered with ASI Events to have a special headliner performance from 11 a.m. to noon, to be announced this week.
Cal Poly’s ‘Bandfest Returns!’; In-Person Concert Set for Oct. 30
The “Bandfest Returns!” concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30, in the Performing Arts Center will celebrate the return of sharing the beauty and power of music at Cal Poly. The Wind Orchestra will open the concert with Brian Balmages’ “That Which Binds Us” and Robert Sheldon’s “Beyond the Higher Skies.” Omar Thomas’ moving adaption of “Shenandoah” for the wind band will be featured on the Wind Orchestra’s set. The Wind Ensemble will continue with Leonard Bernstein’s “Overture to Candide” and Gustav Holst’s “Suite in E-flat for Military Band.” The combined Wind Band will finish the first half of the program with Karl King’s circus march “The Melody Shop.” Mustang Band will conclude the concert with arrangements the group is performing at this fall’s football games in Spanos Stadium. Along with traditional school songs, the band will perform music by The Beatles, Panic! at the Disco, and several popular artists featured on its “boy bands” show. Tickets for the concert are sold at the Cal Poly Ticket Office, ext. 6-4849. For more information, visit the Music Department calendar website or call ext. 6-2406.
Cal Poly Arab Music Ensemble to Perform with Guest Artists on Nov. 6
The Arab Music Ensemble and guest artists will perform a program of music and dance from the Eastern Mediterranean and larger region at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6, in the Performing Arts Center. The ensemble is a combined orchestra and choir with vocal and instrumental soloists. Its members are from a wide range of majors on campus and professions off campus. Critically acclaimed guest artists from the metropolitan San Francisco and Sacramento areas will be featured in the program, including Ishmael on qanun (trapezoidal zither), Fathi Aljarrah on kamanja (violin) and Faisal Zedan on riqq (tambourine), daff (frame drum) and darabukka (goblet drum). Continuing a longstanding collaboration, San Luis Obispo dance director Jenna Mitchell will lead a dance troupe in original choreography to complement the ensemble of instrumentalists and singers. Cal Poly music Professor Ken Habib, a composer, performer, conductor and ethnomusicologist, will direct the event. Tickets for the concert are sold at the Cal Poly Ticket Office, ext. 6-4849. For more information, visit the Music Department calendar website or call ext. 6-2406.
Cal Poly Fall Jazz Concert Celebrating CD Release Set for Nov. 12
Cal Poly’s jazz groups will return to in-person concertizing at 7:30 Friday, Nov. 12, in the Pavilion of the Performing Arts Center. The Jazz Ensemble, Vocal Jazz Ensemble and Contemporary Jazz Ensemble will be joined by the new Commercial Music Ensemble, which performs rock, Motown, funk, modern pop, video game music and other styles of popular music from a jazz perspective. Arthur White directs the groups. The concert will celebrate both the return of live concerts and the release of the double album “another time, another place.” The CD features the Jazz Ensemble and Vocal Jazz Ensemble performing original compositions and new arrangements by White and Davis Zamboanga (Music, ’20). The CD will be available for purchase at the concert, as well as “Unify,” White’s latest CD with members of the San Luis Obispo jazz community. Sales of both albums will directly benefit the Cal Poly jazz studies program. Tickets for the concert are sold at the Cal Poly Ticket Office, ext. 6-4849. For more information, visit the Music Department calendar website or call ext. 6-2406.
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.