College of Engineering Receives Transformational Gift to Create The Noyce School of Applied Computing
Cal Poly announced the establishment of The Noyce School of Applied Computing, a new interdisciplinary school (the first of its kind at Cal Poly) combining three departments under one umbrella — Electrical Engineering, Computer Science and Software Engineering, and Computer Engineering — to create interdisciplinary collaboration opportunities for departments and faculty doing applied computing across the university in fields such as statistics. The Noyce School is made possible by donations received from the Robert N. Noyce Trust — with its current intention to make a future eight-figure bequest to Cal Poly’s College of Engineering. Robert N. Noyce was a co-founder of Intel and inventor of the integrated circuit, which fueled the personal computer revolution and gave Silicon Valley its name. The creation of The Noyce School (pending CSU board of trustee approval) will, among other things, provide faculty with additional resources for teaching and applied research and undergraduate students in computing with opportunities to further their interests in teaching and learning. Students will also benefit from industry opportunities for paid internships and opportunities for mentors to provide guidance and counseling along the way.
R-EDGE Finalizes Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Action Plan
Research, Economic Development and Graduate Education (R-EDGE) released a plan detailing the division’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. The R-EDGE DEI Action Plan outlines goals, actions and metrics for the division and its seven units: the Office of the Vice President, Corporate Engagement and Innovation, Graduate Education, Grants Development, Research Integrity and Compliance, Sponsored Programs and the Office of Student Research. With the plan, R-EDGE strives to create an aligned and cohesive focus on DEI; ensure its activities and resources positively impact efforts to create a more just and equitable campus; reflect inclusive excellence within the division’s contributions to the ongoing growth and work of students, teacher-scholars and staff; and engage the community to create innovative scholarship that addresses and responds to real-world problems of justice, equity, inclusion and diversity. R-EDGE will also create metrics to measure outcomes and impacts of the plan, which was shaped in alignment with the university strategic plan. “While the values of diversity, equity and inclusion have always been important to our division, we welcomed the opportunity to establish clear goals that showcase our division’s commitment to DEI within our division, Cal Poly and the community,” said Allie Walter, chair of the R-EDGE DEI Committee.
Read the R-EDGE DEI Action Plan
Cal Poly Ventures Announces Investment in Mazen Animal Health
Cal Poly Ventures, a donor-supported fund that invests in Cal Poly-founded and -affiliated startups, announced its investment in the $12 million Series A round of funding for Mazen Animal Health Inc. Mazen Animal Health is focused on developing, delivering and commercializing novel biological vaccines and therapeutics. The firm’s orally delivered animal vaccines could revolutionize animal disease prevention. “We’re excited to support the advancement of this cutting-edge vaccine technology for animals. This novel approach got its start right here in the Tech Park at Cal Poly, and we want to do what we can to help bring it to market,” said John Townsend, executive director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), home to Cal Poly Ventures.
Learn more about the investment
Physics Professor Joins Research on Groundbreaking Telescope
There's a Cal Poly connection to the history-making James Webb Space Telescope: Physics Professor Vardha Bennert is involved in two research projects aboard the observatory. The James Webb Space Telescope, successor to the iconic Hubble Telescope, is an orbiting infrared observatory, meaning it has longer wavelength coverage and improved sensitivity that enables the telescope to look much closer to the beginning of time. The Webb telescope is located 1 million miles from the Earth. Bennert, who primarily studies active galactic nuclei and supermassive black holes, will use her expertise to advise researchers studying dark matter and the rate of expansion of the universe.
New Faculty and Staff Housing Advances
Following an extensive survey and demand study earlier this year, the Cal Poly Corporation recently put out a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the design and creation of a new faculty and staff housing project at the corner of Slack Street and Grand Avenue. The planned project will include a roughly 200-unit community, using 8-10 acres of the 22-acre parcel at the Grand Avenue entrance to campus. The development is being designed to create a faculty and staff community that is closely connected with campus with condominiums for rent and single-family homes available for faculty and staff to buy starting in 2025. The Corporation is also finalizing an RFP for a design-builder for a third faculty and staff housing development located off Highway 1 near Highland Drive, which will follow the Slack and Grand project. Bella Montana was the Cal Poly Corporation’s first faculty and staff housing project.
Cal Poly Professor: Interest Rate, Raised to Combat Inflation, Could Eventually Lower Housing Prices
While the Federal Reserve’s actions to increase interest rates have placed home ownership even further out of reach for many Americans, those steadily rising costs might eventually help would-be buyers, said the chair of the Orfalea College of Business Finance Area. “House prices are more likely to come down in the longer run as the Fed holds its course of fighting high prices with restrictive monetary policy,” said Ziemowit Bednarek, an associate professor of finance. “In that sense, there is definitely hope for prospective buyers.” Hope is not something non-wealthy home buyers have experienced much of in recent years.
Cal Poly Hosts CSU's Summer Algebra Institute for Local Students
The Office of Admissions received a grant from the CSU’s Office of the Chancellor to serve as a host site for the CSU’s Summer Algebra Institute (SAI) program. Seventy seventh- and eighth-grade Central Coast students were selected to participate in a free, five-week math enrichment program that also includes college readiness activities and Learn by Doing workshops. In alignment with the goals of the CSU’s Graduation Initiative 2025, SAI aims to strengthen academic preparation, improve college access and address equity gaps to ensure that all students have an opportunity to earn a college degree. Cal Poly partnered with Allan Hancock College, the California Student Opportunity and Access Program — Central Coast Consortium (Cal SOAP-CCC), Santa Maria Joint Union High School District, Santa Maria Bonita School District, Guadalupe Union School District and on-campus constituents to offer the program through July 15.
Cal Poly 2022-26 Catalog Now Available
The 2022-26 Cal Poly Catalog, which is effective fall 2022 through summer 2026, is now available at http://catalog.calpoly.edu. To view earlier catalogs, select “Previous Catalogs” from the navigation menu. The Cal Poly Catalog is the official listing of academic programs and courses offered by the university. The catalog also includes student-related academic policy and provides information on student services.
Cal Poly Foundation Board of Directors to Meet Aug. 27
The board of directors of the Cal Poly Foundation will hold its quarterly meeting virtually at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 27. In compliance with Cal Poly Foundation Policy 122, public comments for this meeting must be submitted in writing by 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19, to calpolyfoundation@calpoly.edu. Obtain a copy of the agenda after Aug. 16 by emailing calpolyfoundation@calpoly.edu. Registration as a non-speaking guest for electronic or telephonic meetings is required prior to the meeting. Once registered, login details will be provided to join as an attendee. Registration requests should be emailed to calpolyfoundation@calpoly.edu a minimum of 72 hours prior to the meeting. For more information, contact the Cal Poly Foundation office at ext. 6-7147 or calpolyfoundation@calpoly.edu.
Concrete Canoe Sets New Record
After a two-year pandemic hiatus, the Cal Poly concrete canoe team claimed its sixth national title at the American Society of Civil Engineers Concrete Canoe Competition this summer. The latest win snapped a four-way tie with UC Berkeley, the University of Wisconsin and the University of Alabama in Huntsville, making Cal Poly the most championship-winning school in the event’s 35-year history.
CAFES Recognizes Outstanding Seniors
The College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences recently recognized several outstanding seniors, along with a few other awards at the college’s Student Leadership Awards Banquet. They are:
- Louis H. and Stella Soares Outstanding Achievement Award in Agriculture: Ashley Waymire (Animal Science, ’23).
- Academic Excellence Award: Rebecca Culbertson (Animal Science, ’22).
- Contributions to the Objectives and Public Image of the College: Kiara Benavides (Agricultural Science, ’22), who is seeking a single subject agriculture teaching credential.
- Contributions to the Objectives and Public Image of the University: Hope Springer (Environmental Management and Protection, ’22).
- Service to the Off-Campus Community: Rose Giorgi (Nutrition, ’22).
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award: Jasmine Moallem (Animal Science, ’22).
- Large Club of the Year: Agricultural Engineering Society.
- Small Club of the Year: CAFES Ambassadors.
Michael Köehn Outstanding Resident Advisor Scholarship Recipient Named
University Housing named second-year English major Patrick Ashman the 2021-22 Michael Köehn Outstanding Resident Advisor Scholarship recipient. Ashman, a first-time RA, lived and worked in the Cerro Vista Apartments during the 2021-22 academic year. Peers and staff recognized him for having a positive influence on residents and staff, leading by example and modeling the behavior of an excellent student, a standout RA and a respectful community member. The Outstanding Resident Advisor award is in memory of former Resident Advisor Michael Köehn, who passed away in 1998. The award recognizes RAs for their strong commitment to personal growth; diversity, equity and inclusion; education; and contributing to the residential student experience. University Housing is proud to honor Ashman for his dedication to residents. University Housing thanks selection committee members Julie Wang, Chris DeMoville and Kolay Carver.
Animal Science Students Take Third in National Competition
A team of four animal science majors took third place in the nation at the American Society of Animal Science Academic Quadrathlon in Oklahoma. The team (pictured from left) includes Sophia Juarez, Genna Vieira, coach and Assistant Professor Zach McFarlane, Rachael Stucke, and Ashley Tartaglia. The team won the 2022 Western Section of the American Society of Animal Science Academic Quadrathlon, held April 1-2, to advance to the national competition in June. The Cal Poly team focused on how animal genetics, rangeland management, water storage, and feed selection are all tools producers can implement in times of drought. McFarlane, of the Animal Science Department, mentored the team.
Transfer Inclusion Training for Staff and Faculty Aug. 30
In an effort to create a more inclusive and equitable environment for transfer students at Cal Poly, the Transfer Center is offering a Transfer Inclusivity Training to all staff, faculty and grad students on campus. This training will run 90 minutes and includes a short break. The summer quarter training will be offered Tuesday, Aug. 30, from 1-2:30 p.m. on Zoom. To learn more about ways to support a transfer-inclusive Cal Poly, check out the supporting transfers website.
Anahid Behrouzi Honored with Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award
Anahid Behrouzi, associate professor of architectural engineering, was awarded the 2021-22 Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award. Since joining Cal Poly in 2016, Behrouzi has empowered students to lead the evolution of engineering curriculum through mentoring them in projects to create physical and digital demonstration tools, hands-on experiments and content showcasing the contributions of underrepresented engineers. These efforts have culminated in numerous student co-authored engineering conference papers and integration into the undergraduate and graduate courses she teaches. At the core of all these efforts is her desire to cultivate future professionals who are equipped and committed to balancing the technical rigor of addressing structural design challenges with empathy for diverse stakeholders who will inhabit the spaces they have created. “To engineer with heart” is her motto, and one that is most certainly evident in her work with students. Read more about the Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award.
Student Affairs Announces New Director of Student Diversity and Belonging
Student Affairs has hired Diana Ortiz Giron as its new director of Student Diversity and Belonging (SDAB). Prior to joining Cal Poly, Giron served as assistant director for Diversity Education and Support at Harvard College, where she oversaw an intergroup dialogue internship program, co-chaired the Undocumented Student Services Working Group, and provided support to the residential life Race Relations Tutor and Proctor Program. She has also served in a variety of roles with career services, equity, diversity and inclusion first-year orientation programs in her career. Giron, who began her new role on June 27, earned her bachelor’s degree in history from Pomona College, along with a Master of Divinity in religion, ethics and politics from Harvard University.
Mustang Success Center Recognized for Supporting Student-Athletes
The Mustang Success Center’s Student-Athlete Services unit was honored by the National Association of Academic and Student-Athlete Development Professionals (N4A) with the Model Practices Award for Academics for 2021-22. The MSC team includes Shannon Stephens, Carly Head, Zach Reed, Kyle Ross and Louise Torgerson. The annual award is given to a N4A-affiliated institution that displays best practices in programming for student-athletes. The Mustang Success Center, responsible for the academic advisement of over 600 Division I (FCS) student-athletes, was recognized for its Annual Coaches Symposium where academic support advisors work collaboratively with head coaches and support staff. The symposium is a foundational program that aims to provide the best student-athlete support at Cal Poly and serves as a framework for having intentional conversations on the ever-evolving landscape in intercollegiate athletics and to discuss timely and relevant academic topics based on institutional and NCAA data trends and campus needs.
Pictured above, from left to right: Zach Reed, Kyle Ross, Louise Torgerson, Carly Head, and Shannon Stephens.
Christina Wolfe-Chandler Recognized By Advising Association
Christina Wolfe-Chandler, academic advisor in the Mustang Success Center (MSC), was recognized by the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) for sharing her expertise in designing advising workshops. Wolfe-Chandler’s presentation, “Using Curriculum Design to Create Outcomes-Based Advising Workshops,” was awarded “Best of Region” for NACADA Region 9 at the 2022 Region Conference by NACADA’s Executive Office and Region 9 Conference Committee. Wolfe-Chandler brings a wealth of knowledge to her position in the MSC, and all those who have benefited from her comprehensive training programs over the years would agree. In recognition of being named Best of Region, Wolfe-Chandler has been invited to present at the 2022 NACADA Annual Conference, to be held Oct. 23-26, in Portland, Oregon. Join the Mustang Success Center in congratulating Wolfe-Chandler on this prestigious award.
Fourteen Faculty Research Projects Awarded RSCA Grants
Research, Economic Development and Graduate Education announced the awards for the 2022-23 cycle of the Research, Scholarly and Creative Activities (RSCA) Grant Program. This program is supported by funds from the CSU Chancellor's Office and the Cal Poly Provost's Office, and is designed to enable faculty to contribute new knowledge through robust programs of scholarship focused on strengthening California socially, culturally and economically. The RSCA program is one mechanism by which Cal Poly supports the teacher-scholar model, in which faculty integrate excellence in teaching with excellence in research, scholarly and creative activities. The faculty grant program, which began at Cal Poly in 2014-15, has provided over $3 million in grants to faculty members. To view the full list of projects awarded, visit the R-EDGE website.
UCM Receives CASE Award for Cal Poly Magazine Website
The Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) recently awarded Cal Poly University Communications and Marketing (UCM) the silver Circle of Excellence award for the Cal Poly Magazine website. The award is the international organization’s second-highest prize for outstanding work in a particular category of higher education communications, marketing and advancement. In their award report, the judges noted that “the digital space is well organized, and the user interface was the highest rated. … Great diversity in content and clear accessibility for information.” This is the third CASE Circle of Excellence award for Cal Poly Magazine and the sixth overall for UCM projects.
Sign Up For a Mustang Move-In Volunteer Shift
Volunteer shift signups are still available for Mustang Move-in this fall. Sign up to volunteer and play an important role in supporting first-year and continuing students as they move into their new home away from home Sept. 13-18. Click here to sign up. All employee volunteers will receive a $50 gift card to the University Store for completing their shift. Opportunities are also available to make this a great team-building activity for you and your colleagues. To learn more and sign up, visit the Employee Engagement Program page.
Take a New Professional Photo on Campus Aug. 3-4
Faculty and staff are invited to have a professional portrait taken between 9 a.m. and noon on Aug. 3 and 4 in front of the Plant Conservatory (No. 72). Appointments are required. Sign up for a spot during the available hours using Calendly by July 29. Campus photographers from University Communications and Marketing will take these free head shots of current faculty and staff to update professional platforms. Questions? Reach out to branding@calpoly.edu. Update: The portrait clinic appointments are fully booked. UCM hopes to host more dates during fall quarter. Please look for details in future editions of the Cal Poly Report.
PolyData Dashboards to Upgrade in July
The migration of the PolyData Dashboards to the Oracle Cloud is scheduled to take place July 24. This initiative is part of ITS' overall strategy to modernize campus services and move applications to the cloud. There will be minimal changes to the user experience, and all dashboards, analysis, reports, permissions and other aspects of the system will be available after the migration. Review the scheduled changes to PolyData Dashboards. Questions? Contact the Service Desk online via Support Center or by calling ext. 6-7000.
CSU’s Got Talent to Feature Webcast on Having ‘Breakthrough Mindset’
All employees are invited to participate in another edition of the CSU’s Got Talent series from 10-11 a.m. Wednesday, July 27. Mike Goldman, award-winning leadership team coach and No. 1 Amazon best-selling author, will present a webcast titled “Breakthrough Mindset: Using the Power of Focus to Create Peak Performance.” Discover ways to maximize your potential and gain confidence through various concentration techniques. Register through the Learning Hub at Breakthrough Mindset: Using the Power of Focus to Create Peak Performance.
University Personnel Offers Well-Being Workshops in July, August and September
University Personnel has worked with Cal Poly’s employee assistance program, LifeMatters, to offer synchronous well-being workshops in July, August and September. They include:
- Workplace Change: While change can happen in an instant, our adaptation to it can be a gradual process. Learn about transition through change, including understanding the impacts, influencing the change process and learning adaptation strategies. July 19 at 11 a.m.
- Getting the Most Out of Life: This session encourages reflection on values and priorities to create a simpler, more meaningful life. Content includes values assessment, practical tips and strategies for happiness. Aug. 18 at noon.
- Communicating Cooperatively at Work: Enhance interpersonal communication skills and learn to communicate more effectively. Learn strategies for sending and receiving complex communications, discover the five levels of listening, understand how to communicate well in challenging situations and learn to emphasize communication in team relationships. Sept. 21 at 10 a.m.
Contact Lisa Gray at lcgray@calpoly.edu for more information on well-being workshops.
Institutional Research Launches a Revamped Cal Poly Fact Book
The Office of Institutional Research (IR) has revamped the Cal Poly Fact Book by transitioning Fact Book data to a series of Data Dashboards, which makes the information clearer and easier to navigate. The goal of the dashboards is to use the data to tell a story. As such, there are more charts and less tables and figures. The Data Dashboards include Admissions, Enrollment, Degrees, Retention and Graduation Rates, Financial Aid and Employee data. These can be accessed via the IR website by clicking on “Data Dashboards” under the “IR MENU.” There is an “About This Dashboard” icon (lightbulb icon) and a link to a glossary on each dashboard. The dashboards are interactive in that you can select any variables you would like via the filters to get the data you are looking for. The dashboard views can be downloaded as PDF’s. Happy dashboarding!
Share Your Experiences with Cal Poly’s Global Learning Program
Faculty and students are invited to share their experience with global learning at Cal Poly through a 10-minute survey to inform ongoing global initiatives. Dawn Neill, College of Liberal Arts’ director of research engagement and internationalization, is seeking to measure students’ and faculty’s current understanding, motivations and satisfaction with global learning. All responses will be handled with confidentiality, discretion and respect. Faculty can take the survey here. Students should use this link to access the survey. Anyone with questions can contact dbneill@calpoly.edu.
New Summer Book and Learning Circles for Faculty and Staff
Employee and Organization Development announces the summer 2022 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 four sessions, including:
- “Melissa” by Alex Gino: Read this young adult book and discuss the characters’ experiences and how we might use this and similar books to introduce diverse topics to the youth in our lives.
- “Atomic Habits” by James Clear: “Atomic Habits” provides practical strategies for creating systems that will help individuals break bad habits and develop lasting and resilient new ones.
Learning Circles involve watching a video, listening to a podcast or reading an article and participating in a discussion during a single session:
- “Educating Kids About Gender Norms” by Elvis Pedersen-Nielsen: Learn about the often- prevalent gender norms in today’s society and how to engage in conversations with the youth in our lives about the full gender spectrum.
- “Think Again” by Adam Grant: “Think Again” invites us to productively challenge our own views so that we can flourish as lifelong learners.
To view full descriptions and register, visit the Book and Learning Circles webpage at learnandgrow.calpoly.edu.
Anastasia Nicole will retire at the end of July after serving as Cal Poly’s first Zero Waste Coordinator for the Energy, Utilities and Sustainability team in Facilities Management and Development (FMD). During her nearly five years on campus she has overhauled and optimized Cal Poly’s waste management efforts, saving hundreds of thousands of dollars while increasing recycling, composting and landfill diversion. Nicole co-created and managed the Zero Waste Ambassadors' student team, which supports waste diversion at events, leads campus trainings and works on strategic waste-reduction initiatives. She secured and recently completed a $225,000 CalRecycle grant that procured new recycling signage for all waste bins across campus, created four Learn by Doing paid student internships, funded a beverage container marketing campaign, and purchased 1,386 new recycle bins including Cal Poly’s first “Big Belly” solar trash compactors for high waste areas. Nicole also completed the Administration and Finance Services’ Business Transformation T-Core training program, applying her facilitation skills to several large process improvement projects in FM&D to improve communication, efficiency, and reduce wasted time, effort and resources. Nicole is a passionate gardener, gleaner, composter and permaculturist. She plans to enjoy her retirement in her new community in Oceano. To wish Nicole well before she leaves, sign this digital card.
Work on New Mural Project Is Underway
To help beautify, inspire and grow the collection of campus public art, the Cal Poly Corporation commissioned a mural along the Via Carta corridor. Titled “Generosity,” it is the first outdoor mural on campus and recognizes the value and contributions of farmworkers, the agricultural bounty of the Central Coast, and Cal Poly students’ contributions to the field of agriculture and ranching. Following a thorough proposal process, Grover Beach artist Oscar Pearson was selected to create an outdoor two-dimensional mural for installation on the Food Processing Building (No. 24). The mural will help to transform a divided triptych wall at the intersection of Highland Drive and Via Carta into a vibrant mural that encourages student and community interaction. Work on the mural began June 16. More information on the unveiling will be released soon. The mural is an element in a larger project to create a more-welcoming space along Via Carta and is part of the Corporation’s ongoing campus outdoor space enhancements.
COVID-19 Vaccines and Boosters Available July 15
Rite Aid returns to campus Friday, July 15, to administer COVID-19 vaccines and boosters in the Recreation Center, Room 109, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Rite Aid will have Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, and can now offer first and second doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to children ages 3 to 11. Second doses are available to children who received a first dose at least 21 days prior. (Children under 3 should see their pediatrician for a vaccine.) Complete the consent form (PDF) in advance to expedite the process. Individuals can get a booster five months after completing their primary Pfizer or Moderna vaccination series, or two months after receiving the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. Children 5 and older can get a third dose five months after completion of their primary series or three months after the primary series if they are immunocompromised. Visit the campus coronavirus website for more information.
Mustang Shuttle Campus Partnership to Continue
In fall 2021, a nightly pilot shuttle service coined Mustang Shuttle was launched, with ASI and the University Union Advisory Board (UUAB) providing 100% of the operating costs. Thanks to their partnership, plus support from the Cal Poly Corporation and University Housing, this seven-day evening shuttle service will return next fall. Ridership has continued to increase each quarter, with nearly 35,000 rides provided since it started in November. “It’s been great to see the popularity and early adoption of Mustang Shuttle this past year, and we are very excited to continue to offer it,” Transportation and Parking Services Director Marlene Cramer said. “But we couldn’t have done this alone. A huge thanks goes to ASI and the UUAB for partnering to help make this pilot program happen.” TAPS is partnering with ASI, UUAB, Cal Poly Corporation and University Housing on expanding Mustang Shuttle service this fall. Stay tuned for further details closer to the start of the academic year.
Statistics Department Offers Consulting Over Summer
Supported by the College of Science and Mathematics, the Statistics Department provides a statistical consulting service to students, faculty and staff. This service supports research design and data analysis in a wide variety of disciplines. Associate Professor Hunter Glanz will serve as statistical consultant for summer. To contact the consultants and schedule an appointment, email statconsulting@calpoly.edu. Find more information about the statistical consulting service, including what is helpful to bring to an initial consulting session, at https://statistics.calpoly.edu/content/consulting.