Vice President for Student Affairs Receives CSU’s Wang Family Excellence Award
The CSU has honored Vice President for Student Affairs Keith Humphrey with the Wang Family Excellence Award. Chancellor Joseph I. Castro will present Humphrey with the award in the Outstanding Staff Award category at the CSU board of trustees’ Jan. 25 meeting, along with four additional CSU faculty recipients. The award, established in 1998 by CSU Trustee Stanley T. Wang and his family, recognizes one CSU administrator and four faculty members each year for their exemplary achievements and contributions to the CSU. The recognition includes a one-time award of $20,000. As part of the award nomination process, Humphrey was lauded for his student-focused leadership, care and service throughout his nine years at Cal Poly. Read the news release.
Cal Poly to Provide Free Tax Preparation for Underserved Communities
The Orfalea College of Business is once again providing free tax return preparation assistance through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. The on-campus VITA clinics will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays from Jan. 29 through March 12. This year, all community members are required to schedule an appointment at www.myfreetaxes.org. More than 50 accounting students will prepare tax returns for local individuals and families earning less than $58,000. These IRS-certified students will prepare returns while Orfalea College of Business faculty and volunteer certified public accountants review and file the returns. The college has hosted VITA clinics on campus since 1992. In the last decade, students have helped prepare more than 7,000 tax returns for community members. The clinics serve as a valuable, hands-on senior project, allowing students to prepare returns, interact with clients and help underserved communities. Read the news release.
Students Design Web App with DX Hub and SLO County to Prevent Opioid Overdose Deaths
In an effort to reduce the number of opioid-related deaths in San Luis Obispo County, local health officials, in collaboration with the Cal Poly Digital Transformation Hub (DxHub), powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS), and a team of university students are releasing a new app that could save lives. Using the Naloxone Now app, community members can find the nearest location to get naloxone — an opioid overdose reversal medicine — or have naloxone delivered to their door at no cost. The county’s Behavioral Health Department launched the web application Jan. 25. It was designed with help from the DxHub and a team of Cal Poly students using AWS Cloud-based tools and Amazon’s Working Backwards innovation methodology. The students included: Natali Markowitz (M.S., Engineering Management, ’21; Industrial Engineering, ’21); Chloe Heinz (Graphic Communication, ’21); Danielle Knell (Business Administration, Information Systems Area, ’20); and Reilly Salkowski, a software engineering senior (pictured). Read more on Cal Poly News.
Boosters Available on Campus Every Weekday
Need a booster? COVID-19 vaccine and boosters are available Monday through Friday for the next three weeks in the Recreation Center Main Gym Lobby (No. 43, Room 101). Vaccines will be administered by Costco, Rite Aid and Vons/Albertsons to employees and their families. The Rite Aid and Vons/Albertsons clinics are walk-in only at this time. Make an appointment for the Costco clinic; walk-ins are also welcome. Visit the COVID-19 Vaccine webpage to see updated dates and times, which vaccines will be offered at each clinic, vaccine and booster eligibility, what to bring and more.
Cal Poly to Implement Inaugural #CaliforniansForAll College Corps Program
Cal Poly has been selected as one of 45 higher education institutions to implement the statewide #CaliforniansForAll College Corps program. #CaliforniansForAll College Corps is an initiative by Gov. Gavin Newsom that aims to provide 6,500 college students with service-learning opportunities over the span of two academic years to tackle statewide challenges in climate action, K-12 education and food insecurity. All told, the #CaliforniansForAll College Corps program is the largest state-level investment in a college service-based program in state history and includes state-funded opportunities for AB 540 eligible Dreamers. The program’s implementation will be a collaborative effort between Student Affairs and Academic Affairs. Read the news release.
Safer to Host Speaker on Cyberstalking
In recognition of Stalking Action Month, Safer is hosting “Stalking in the Digital Age,” a keynote address by Adam Dodge of EndTAB (End Technology-Enabled Abuse) from 11 a.m. to noon Thursday, Jan. 27. A licensed attorney, Dodge is dedicated to addressing the existing and future threats posed by technology to victims of crime and gender-based violence. He has written and presented extensively on cyberstalking, technology-enabled abuse and non-consensual pornography, and he co-authored a domestic violence advisory on the emerging threat of “deepfakes.” Dodge founded EndTAB in 2019 and delivers innovative technology-enabled abuse trainings and presentations to organizations, nonprofits and governments around the world. Learn more and register for this event.
Cal Poly Corporation Board of Directors to Meet Feb. 4
The board of directors of the Cal Poly Corporation will hold a regular public meeting via Zoom at 8:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 4. To join, use the following Zoom webinar link and call-in information: https://calpoly.zoom.us/j/87520931283. Public comments for this meeting must be submitted by 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 3, via email to [email protected]. Obtain a copy of the agenda after Jan. 28 by emailing [email protected] or on the Cal Poly Corporation website.
Students Invited to Provide Feedback on College Based Fee Proposal Through Feb. 9
The alternative consultation process for the Cal Poly College Based Fee Student Aid and Learn by Doing Plan, which would create a new campus-based source of financial aid and more fully fund our academic mission, continues through Wednesday, Feb. 9. Students can submit their comments on the fee through the feedback form on the College Based Fee website. A Cal Poly student email address is required to submit feedback, and an individual student may only submit one comment. All students and employees are encouraged to learn more about the proposal by visiting the CBF website, which includes the objective statement, frequently asked questions, open forum recordings and a schedule of campus presentations.
Submissions Welcome for Outstanding Student Employee Recognition
National Student Employment Week is April 11-16, and the Outstanding Student Employee Award Committee invites faculty and staff to nominate their outstanding student employees to be recognized for their contributions. One outstanding student employee of the year and two runners up will be selected from the nominations and invited to a special lunch in their honor. The committee has simplified the nominating process by requiring a one-page submission letter highlighting the student’s accomplishments. All student employees at Cal Poly are eligible for consideration. Faculty and staff may nominate more than one student. The committee has provided the NACE core competencies fact sheet to assist nominators with their submission. Recognition letters, preferably on Cal Poly department letterhead, are due to Financial Aid ([email protected] or [email protected]) by Friday, Feb. 11. Questions? Contact Barbara Rollins at [email protected].
Students Can Apply for Panetta Institute Congressional Internship Program
Applications are now being accepted for the 2022 Panetta Institute Congressional Internship Program in Washington, D.C. Matriculating third or fourth year 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, regardless of family income. Complete program requirements and details are available at http://provost.calpoly.edu/content/internship. The application deadline is Friday, Feb. 11.
Campus Health and Wellbeing Administering Survey to Students
The American College Health Association recently sent a random sample of 7,000 students an email inviting them to complete the National College Health Assessment (NCHA). The NCHA is a voluntary and confidential online survey about health behaviors, attitudes and experiences that takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. Campus Health and Wellbeing relies on the information gathered to create and prioritize student programming on campus. Faculty and staff can help by encouraging students to take the survey if they were selected, or ask the Health Education team to stop by your department or classroom to briefly discuss this survey. All participants of the survey will be entered into a random drawing to win one of 25 $100 Amazon gift cards. Questions? Contact the Health Education office at [email protected] or ext. 6-6181.
Join Cal Poly Women’s Basketball for Faculty/Staff Appreciation on Jan. 27
As a sign of appreciation for everything faculty and staff members do for the university, Cal Poly Athletics is pleased to offer four free general admission tickets to the women’s basketball game on Thursday, Jan. 27. The Mustangs are playing UC San Diego and tip-off is set for 7 p.m. in Mott Athletics Center. Faculty and staff can claim their four free tickets to the game by showing their Cal Poly ID at the Cal Poly Ticket Office or at the Mott Athletics Center Box Office on the day of the game. For more information or to purchase tickets to other Cal Poly basketball games, visit www.gopoly.com.
Safer to Host Four-Part Book Circle
Safer is hosting a book circle this quarter for faculty and staff on "Sexual Citizens: A Landmark Study of Sex, Power and Assault on Campus." The entire campus community needs to be engaged to truly prevent violence at Cal Poly. Through this four-part book circle series, faculty and staff can learn how to transform physical and social environments to be violence-free. The book circle is limited to 12 participants, so register soon.
Learn How to Use 25Live at Zoom Session Feb. 3
Planning an event and need to check location availability on campus? Scheduling classes for your department and need to check classroom availability? Learn how to use 25Live, the university’s space and event scheduling system. An upcoming session will cover how to check location availability, view images of locations, find information on what technology is in a location, and give an overview on how to submit a Facilities and Event Request form. The virtual session will be offered from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 3. Signups are not required. Questions? Contact University Scheduling at ext. 6-5550 or [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, which is called StandUPTV, can call ext. 6-5506 or fill out an interest form.
New CSU’s Got Talent Webcasts Announced for 2022
CSU Learning and Development presents a series of live, online webcasts every month specially designed for the CSU community that feature innovative and essential learning for professional and personal success. These webcasts are led by influential industry leaders closely tied to the CSUs, including professional coaches, educators, CEOs, community organizers and psychologists. The 2022 offerings include:
- Do What Matters Most: Lead with Vision, Manage with a Plan, Prioritize Your Time
- Fostering Wellness: Starting with the Brain
- How to Beat Burnout for Yourself, Your Family, and Colleagues,
- Thriving in the Future of Work: Hybrid Working and Team Management
- Eliminating Microaggressions: The Next Level of Inclusion
- A New Organizational Practice: Building a Culture of Strategic Thinkers
- Breakthrough Mindset: Using the Power of Focus to Create Peak Performance
- You Got This: Mastering the Skill of Self-Confidence
- Unleashing Your Greatness: Five Keys to Being Extraordinary
- The New Future of Work: Challenges, Gratitude and Opportunities
All faculty, staff and student employees are invited to attend these free webcasts. View the Learn and Grow website for more information.
Virtual Presentation, Q&A with Civil Rights Attorney Set for Feb. 14
Faculty and staff are invited to a virtual presentation, “ADA Law Protects Us All,” with Paul Grossman from 3-5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 14. The talk will focus on student academic accommodations. Grossman, J.D., served for more than 30 years as chief civil rights attorney for the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights in San Francisco. A skilled law school professor with over 20 years of classroom experience, Grossman will provide the audience with clear, useful tools for making good compliance decisions regarding students. He will explain that accommodations are not merely suggestions but that genuine qualification remains an essential standard protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act. With his intersectional view of civil rights, Grossman will also share the “universal design” practices that he developed in his own classroom to the advantage of all students. This presentation is for Cuesta and Cal Poly staff and faculty. Registration is required.
Statistical Consulting Service Available During Winter
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 March 18 by appointment only. Heather Smith and Dennis Sun will serve as the consultants. They are available to advise on data collection, experimental design and analysis of research projects. In addition, they are 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].
Learn How to Dive from Professionals With ASI Recreational Sports
Dive into the new year with ASI Recreational Sports’ Open Water Scuba class, taught by dive professionals in the open ocean. Participants can also earn their PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) Open Water certification. The Open Water Scuba class will be coached by SLO Ocean Currents instructors teaching the basic problem-solving and dive systems that empower divers to have safe and enjoyable dives. At $325, this course includes an online module; four in-person meetings; a full day of in-water instruction at the Cal Poly Recreation Center; and two local, open water dives with SLO Ocean Currents instructors. Registration includes all instruction, academic materials and use of scuba equipment for pool and open water sessions. Visit the ASI website to learn more and reserve a spot. Registration closes Feb. 17.
Center for Health Research to Hold Annual Meeting Jan. 27
The Center for Health Research invites the Cal Poly community to its annual meeting from 11:10 a.m. to noon on Jan. 27. Hear the latest in health research being led by Cal Poly investigators; connect with colleagues from multiple disciplines; and learn about the center’s resources, upcoming events and opportunities to get involved. Faculty, staff and student researchers from all disciplines are invited to attend this Zoom meeting. Register here or, for more information, contact the center’s administrative coordinator Susan Staub [email protected] or any member of the leadership team at https://healthresearch.calpoly.edu/leadership-team.
Campus Blood Drive to Take Place Feb. 1
Be a hero and save up to three lives in just an hour of your time. Join a campus blood drive hosted by Orfalea College of Business, Human Resources and Campus Health and Wellbeing on Tuesday, Feb. 1. A Vitalant bus will be parked on the concrete walkway on Dexter Lawn, near the Dexter Building (No. 34). Appointments are available between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Sign up for an appointment here. Scheduled appointments are prioritized over walk-ups. Donors are encouraged to hydrate well and eat a hearty meal before donating. Contact Lisa Gray at [email protected] for more information.
Dream Center, Campus Health and Wellbeing Launch Food Cabinet for Students
Campus Health and Wellbeing’s Basic Needs Initiative, in partnership with the Dream Center, has launched a new food cabinet location within the Dream Center, located in the Science Building (No. 52), Room E-11. This new collaboration aims to increase accessibility to nutritious and culturally relevant food for students. The food cabinet is open to all students on campus. Items in the food cabinet include current items found in the food pantry, along with culturally relevant dry and canned goods. The Food Pantry was created out of a need identified by faculty and staff to better address basic needs and food insecurity on campus. This collaboration furthers the mission and goals of the pantry by continuing to provide and improve access to resources for historically underrepresented students. Learn more about this new resource.
Cal Poly Public Safety Releases New Guardian App
Employees and students can download the free Rave Guardian app and turn their smartphone into a personal safety device. Rave Guardian offers Cal Poly users a single safety app that provides easy communications with the Cal Poly Police Department (CPPD), sendsCPPD anonymous tips, sets a safety timer when walking from place to place on campus, text Mustang Patrol, and connects to 24-hour police or support services. A significant addition to public safety’s portfolio of services, the app connects the campus community with help, security and resources. Rave Guardian offers a Safety Timer that alerts selected friends, family or CPPD of a fixed time for your departure and arrival, and then notifies them when you reach your destination — like always having an emergency blue light system and a trusted friend with you. Rave Guardian is available from the Apple Store or Google Play. For more information visit Public Safety’s Rave Guardian webpage.
‘Twanguero’ Performs at the PAC Jan. 29
Join Cal Poly Arts for an evening of international music at 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 29, in the Spanos Theatre. Spanish guitar great and Latin Grammy-winner Diego “Twanguero” Garcia will perform his signature “Latin-Twang” sound that ranges from Spanish guitar to American folk, flamenco and tango. Tickets are on sale at calpolyarts.org or at ext. 6-4849. A 20% faculty and staff discount is available.
An Evening with Fran Lebowitz Set for Jan. 30
Join Cal Poly Arts in welcoming Fran Lebowitz to the PAC stage at 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 30. In a cultural landscape filled with endless pundits and talking heads, Lebowitz stands out as one of the most insightful social commentators and cultural satirists. An author, journalist and social observer, her essays and interviews offer acerbic views on current events and the media, as well as her pet peeves, which include tourists, baggage-claim areas, after-shave lotion, and adults who roller skate. Tickets are on sale at calpolyarts.org or at ext. 6-4849. A 20% faculty and staff discount is available.
Andrew Balio to Present Trumpet Master Class at Cal Poly on Feb. 4
Orchestral trumpeter Andrew Balio will present a master class at 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 4, in the Spanos Theatre. Trumpeters from the Cal Poly Music Department and Trumpet Alliance will perform and receive input from Balio. He has been principal of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra since 2001. He has also served as principal trumpet for the Oslo Philharmonic, Israel Philharmonic, Bergen Philharmonic and the Orquesta Sinfonica del Estado de Mexico. At the age of 15, he made his soloist debut with the Milwaukee Symphony playing Joseph Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto in E-flat Major. He continued his solo career in performances with orchestras in Asia, Europe and South America. He has recorded for the Naxos and Delos labels, and is a Yamaha artist. The event is sponsored by the Cal Poly Music Department, Trumpet Alliance and San Luis Obispo Symphony. For more information, call the Music Department at 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.
Note that a minimum three-day lead time is required to process a request for use of space through the Office of the Registrar.
Visit Cal Poly Now for Student Affairs events, learning opportunities and more
Find the latest student-focused campus events from your favorite Student Affairs programs and services by visiting the new Cal Poly Now.