La CASA Celebrates its Grand Opening
Cal Poly’s Latinx/e Center for Academic Success and Achievement, known as La CASA, officially opened its doors to the campus community Nov. 10. The grand opening celebration featured joyous mariachi music, delicious pan dulce and a few tears shed by passionate students, alumni and faculty. “I am genuinely filled with so much alegría,” or happiness, said Daisy Paniagua-Uribe, coordinator for Latinx Initiatives within Student Diversity and Belonging. “La CASA has been a labor of love, and it’s beautiful to see the center serve as a home away from home for so many students.” La CASA is designed to foster belonging and provide holistic support to all students who identify as Latinx. Since its soft launch in September, the center has already helped students build a community while hosting signature events and exploring an inclusive spectrum of cultures, histories and traditions. The campus community can visit La CASA in the Science Building (No. 52), Room E-22.
Learn more about La CASA on Cal Poly News
Deans' Firsthand Knowledge Helps Transfer Students Overcome Challenges
Dean Wendt, dean of the College of Science and Mathematics, and Damon Fleming, dean of the Orfalea College of Business, recently shared their experiences as transfer students and their work in supporting transfers at Cal Poly. “We have a tremendous opportunity to make an impact on all our students' lives, and we have to make the most of that,” Wendt said. “That’s what inspired me to come back to the campus and, as a leader, I try to share this and instill this in the faculty and staff in the college.” Cal Poly celebrated National Transfer Student Week Oct. 17-21 with events focused on community, transfer pride and connecting transfers with campus resources. Wendt, Fleming and others hope to continue to celebrate and support the community far into the future. “I hope at Cal Poly that we can see our students as students and as future leaders, regardless of where they came from or how they came to us. I hope that we will always meet our students where they are: to help them be successful here and after they graduate,” Fleming said.
Read the full story on Cal Poly News
Administration and Finance Accepting Applications for Campus Beautification Initiative
Applications are now being accepted for the Utility Box Art Project — a campus beautification initiative transforming utility boxes into works of public art to enhance the vibrancy of the campus and showcase local talent. Students, faculty, staff and community members are invited to submit an application by Dec. 31 via email to [email protected]. Selected artists will be notified in March and will receive a $250 Amazon gift card to cover necessary materials.
View the Utility Box Art Project guidelines and application
Kennedy Library Renovation Update
Kennedy Library will be renovated to create a more student-focused, energy-efficient and sustainable space, and to accommodate increased programmatic needs. The library will remain open for the 2022-23 academic year. Construction is planned to start in July 2023, with a scheduled reopening during fall quarter 2025. During the renovation, the library’s physical location (No. 35) will be fully closed, however, access to programs, services and study space will still be available at alternate locations. A communications project team has been created to help keep the campus community informed of ongoing updates surrounding the renovation, including how work is progressing, where library programs and services will be available, any changes, what’s new and more. For more information on the renovation, visit the project page and check back frequently for updates as changes happen and more features are added.
Learn more about the planned renovation
Take Survey by Nov. 18 to Help Build a Better Dining Experience
Campus Dining is looking to build a better dining experience and seeks feedback from the campus community. Creating an eclectic, on-trend dining experience is a job that takes near constant tweaking and research. The annual fall survey is a big part of that process. Completing the survey, which takes about eight minutes, enters respondents into a sweepstakes to win one of three prizes: an Apple Watch Series 8; a Keurig coffee maker plus a $100 Amazon gift card; or a Nintendo Switch. Responses will help Campus Dining improve the customer experience for staff, faculty and students, and help develop more innovative ways to deliver products and serve the campus. The survey is open through 18.
Students Win Cash Prizes for Innovative Ideas at CIE’s Elevator Pitch Competition
Two students won $1,500 at the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship’s (CIE) 13th annual Elevator Pitch Competition, a fast-paced, high-energy competition for student entrepreneurs, held Nov. 2 at the PAC. Ten finalists, selected from an initial pool of 50 applicants, had 90 seconds each to pitch their innovative products, services and startup ideas. Industrial engineering senior Owen Works received the $1,000 first-place prize with his pitch for DrinkWise, a temporary tattoo that gives users real-time measurements of their blood alcohol concentration. Camille Boiteux, a business administration junior with a concentration in entrepreneurship, received the $500 audience choice award. Her pitch for Swish Lash, a uniquely shaped reusable sponge brush that removes mascara in just a few swipes, was the top pick of attendees.
Learn about all of the finalists
First-Year Success Program Coaches Needed for Winter Quarter
The First-Year Success Program (FSP) is looking for faculty, staff and graduate students from across campus who want to serve as academic coaches for first-time first-year students who are on academic probation. FSP coaches will support a small group of 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 Dec. 9 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. Questions? Email [email protected].
Sign-up or express interest by Dec. 7
Students Can Apply by Nov. 20 for Davis Henegar Memorial Grant
Mustangs for Recovery is accepting Davis Henegar Memorial Grant applications. Faculty and staff are encouraged to let students know about the grant. Applications are due Nov. 20 and should be sent via email to [email protected]. The grant is named in honor of Davis Henegar, a Cal Poly alumnus who fought tirelessly to reduce the stigma associated with substance misuse and offer a space for all students to seek and find recovery support. Thanks to the generosity of the Henegar family and the innumerable people affected by Davis’ short but amazing life, Mustangs for Recovery is able to offer a grant for students in recovery who are matriculating at Cal Poly. Funds are distributed quarterly and requires student applicants to have a minimum of three months of continued recovery from all identified substance addiction. All paths to recovery are honored and there are no residency or financial need requirements. To learn more, visit chw.calpoly.edu/wellbeing/mustangs-recovery.
Learn about Mustangs for Recovery
BEACoN Research Scholar Student Applications Due Nov. 22
The BEACoN Research Mentoring Program, run by the Office of University Diversity and Inclusion (OUDI), exists to educate, empower and advocate for underrepresented students and provide them with funded undergraduate research opportunities working one-on-one with faculty (about 10 hours per week during winter and spring quarters). OUDI is soliciting applications for underrepresented undergraduate students to become BEACoN Research Scholars, due by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 22. Selected students will receive $2,000 per quarter ($4,000 total) distributed via financial aid for their time gaining research experience and participating in professional development events within the BEACoN Program. Matches will be finalized by the end of fall quarter, with research mentorships occuring winter and spring quarters 2023. Learn more on the BEACoN Mentors website, and email Associate Professor Kelly Bennion ([email protected]) with questions. Faculty and staff are encouraged to share widely.
PeopleSoft Upgrade: Financial Administration Unavailable Nov. 18-21
The PeopleSoft Financial Administration (CFS) application, accessed through the My Cal Poly Portal, will be unavailable from 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18, through 8 a.m. Monday, Nov. 21, due to a required upgrade. During the maintenance window, the link accessed through My Apps (CSU Portal — Financial Administration) will be unavailable. This upgrade is required to ensure that Cal Poly stays up-to-date with security patches and bug fixes. If you have questions or need help, contact Valerie Maijala at ext. 6-1187 or [email protected].
Distinguished Teaching Award Nominations Close Nov. 24
The final day to submit nominations for the Distinguished Teaching Award is Nov. 24. The award recognizes Cal Poly faculty who demonstrate excellence in teaching. Only students and alumni may submit nominations, so faculty are encouraged to notify their classes and direct them to the nomination form on the Distinguished Teaching Award webpage. For more information, reach out to the Academic Senate Office at [email protected].
Find the Distinguished Teaching nomination form
Zoom Cloud Recordings to be Deleted After 180 Days Starting Dec. 16
Effective Friday, Dec. 16, Cal Poly’s Zoom Cloud Recording videos will be deleted 180 days after they were created. This means videos that were saved to Zoom Cloud Recordings on June 19 or before will be deleted on Dec. 16. Videos will continue to be deleted daily when they reach the 180-day limit. Save videos for longer than 180 days by following these steps:
- View your saved videos in Zoom Cloud. Visit calpoly.zoom.us to locate video files.
- Download video you want to keep. A one-hour video can be downloaded in 15 seconds on campus.
- Store and share videos. ITS recommends uploading and storing videos in MS Stream, OneDrive, your computer or MS SharePoint. Use MS SharePoint to take advantage of the newest Microsoft features like video enhancements and viewer analytics.
Help is available in the Knowledge Base or from the ITS Service Desk at ext. 6-700 or [email protected].
Proposals Due Feb. 6 for 2023-24 RSCA Grant Program
The 2023-24 Research, Scholarly and Creative Activities (RSCA) Grant Program is now open. The RSCA Grant Program, supported by funds from the CSU Chancellor’s Office and the Cal Poly Provost's Office, is intended to help faculty remain engaged in their disciplines beyond the classroom and to contribute new knowledge through robust programs of scholarship focused on strengthening California socially, culturally and economically. All faculty unit employees are eligible to compete for funding, including lecturers, tenure-track and tenured faculty. Proposals should be submitted by midnight Monday, Feb. 6, via the Cal Poly InfoReady system. For more information and submission instructions, visit the Research, Economic Development and Graduate Education website. All are invited to attend the RSCA Information and Q&A session via Zoom at 11:10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 8. Participants must be log in with Cal Poly credentials to join. Direct questions to [email protected].
Learn how to submit a proposal
Exposing Hidden Bias Workshops Offered Nov. 18 and Dec. 7
Employee and Organization Development continues to offer the Exposing Hidden Bias workshop with sessions scheduled for Friday, Nov. 18, and Wednesday, Dec 7. The workshop brings attention to the unconscious biases we all possess and provides some strategies for overcoming its impact in our work and relationships. Attendees will learn about diversity and inclusion at Cal Poly, how to recognize areas where unconscious bias may surface, identify strategies for avoiding bias, and learn of resources available for additional learning and involvement. Registration begins Monday, Nov. 28, for the Dec. 7 session.
After 28-plus years at Cal Poly, Associate Dean Bill Hendricks is retiring. Join the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences to celebrate Hendricks’ career and thank him for his years of service from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1, at the JUSTIN and J. LOHR Center for Wine and Viticulture. Share your written memories and experiences with Hendricks by submitting them in advance. The college is also gathering videos to be shared at the celebration. Hendricks served as a professor and head of the college’s Experience Industry Management Department for more than two decades prior to becoming an associate dean in August 2020. While in the dean’s office, he oversaw college administration and enrollment management. In 2016, he oversaw the transition of the Experience Industry Management Department from Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration — making it the first of its kind in the country. He is the recipient of Cal Poly's Distinguished Scholarship award; the USDA Forest Service and International Journal of Wilderness, Excellence in Wilderness Management Research award; and the CAFES Faculty Teaching Excellence award. He is an elected fellow in both the Academy of Leisure Sciences and the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration. For more than two decades Hendricks worked cooperatively with the U.S. Forest Service and California State Parks on a variety of outdoor recreation research projects. He has also conducted research for Visit California and the Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute. In retirement, he plans to ski, surf and hike often.
Cal Poly Holiday Cheese Boxes Feature Student-Made Products
Cal Poly Holiday Cheese Boxes are on sale through mid-December. The Cal Poly Creamery has award-winning cheeses and traditional favorites, available in a variety of gift box arrangements. Shipping is available throughout the U.S. and select dates are available for pick-up at the Cal Poly Creamery. Gift boxes from the creamery are a great way to share Mustang Pride this holiday season while supporting student success and Cal Poly's Learn by Doing tradition. Visit the Cal Poly Creamery website to order cheese selections by Dec. 7 in time for holiday delivery.
Campus Invited to Contribute to Mustang Holiday Gift Drive by Dec. 2
The Center for Service in Action (CSA) invites students, staff, faculty and their families to contribute to the Mustang Holiday Gift Drive by picking up a gift tag and purchasing a gift for a child in need or by donating money via the Center for Service in Action’s direct giving link. Each tag represents a specific request supporting local children and families in need. To pick up a gift tag, visit one of the Giving Tower locations on campus: second floor stairway landing in Kennedy Library (No. 35), the second floor of the UU (No. 65), and outside the Mustang Success Center in the Science Building (No. 52, Room D37). Bring newly purchased, unwrapped gifts to the CSA in Sierra Madre Residence Hall (No. 113, Room L119) by Friday, Dec. 2.
Learn more about the gift drive
Fall ASI Craft Sale Open Through Nov. 16
The ASI Craft Sale continues for one more day. The UU Plaza will be full of local artists and their crafts from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16. Dozens of students, staff and community makers will show off an array of crafts and specialty items, including jewelry and one-of-a-kind creations, for the campus community to see and buy. Stop by and find an original piece of art at the ASI Craft Sale.
Learn more about the craft sale
International Center to Host International Education Week Nov. 14-18
The International Center will host a series of events Nov. 14-18 to celebrate International Education Week to highlight the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. The brainchild of the U.S. departments of State and Education, International Education Week will be celebrated across the nation. Cal Poly activities will provide opportunities for the campus community to participate in cultural and educational programming by sharing their international experiences. Events include:
- Prize drawings for students, faculty and staff. Use the hashtags #IEW2022 and #CPGlobalMustangs to enter to win swag bags.
- Sample international meals from Campus Dining all week.
- Attend information sessions on study abroad opportunities, faculty-led programs, financial aid and scholarships, Fulbright and internship opportunities all week.
- Test your international trivia knowledge on Dexter Lawn, Nov. 15 and 16.
- Attend a Nov. 15 student-led panel, “Living Abroad,” to connect with students who have lived in different cities, cultures and countries.
- Faculty and staff can learn about teaching abroad, international fellowships and more on Nov. 15.
- On Nov. 17, a panel of international and domestic students will give their perspectives on living in a different culture while attendees sample specialty coffee and teas from around the world.
Bluegrass Sibling Duo Watkins Family Hour Set for Nov. 16 at the PAC
Cal Poly Arts presents Watkins Family Hour and special guest Margaret Glaspy at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16, in Harold Miossi Hall. Watkins Family Hour is a bluegrass sibling duo with Sara Watkins and Sean Watkins, who also form two-thirds of the Grammy-winning Americana music group Nickel Creek. The group began in 2002 as a monthly, informal musical variety show with the Watkins siblings and their friends in the Los Angeles nightclub Largo. The duo is on tour following the release of their third studio album, “Vol. II.” Tickets can be purchased at the Cal Poly Ticket Office, by calling ext. 6-4849 or online. There is a student discount available.
Get tickets to Watkins Family Hour
Join Campus Dining for ‘Thank-Ful’ Event Nov. 16
Join Campus Dining for “Thank-Ful” — a national college campus event — from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16, at Campus Market. Thank-Ful is designed to celebrate the Cal Poly community and give thanks through food, gratitude activities and giving back. Activities will include outdoor games, a special “Friendsgiving” lunch, donation tables for the Cal Poly Food Pantry, a special Thanksgiving edition of Teaching Kitchens and more.
Check out the Thank-Ful activities
Cal Poly to Host Andrew Surmani for Music Industry Lecture and Q&A on Nov. 17
Business coach and teacher Andrew Surmani will present a free lecture and Q&A about the music industry, music business and entrepreneurship at 11:10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, in Room 216 of the Davidson Music Center (No. 45). He is president and CEO of Surmani Business Coaching, and he teaches music industry studies at CSU Northridge, where he is also the academic lead of its music industry administration master’s degree program. He previously served as CEO of Caleb Chapman’s Soundhouse, a contemporary music training program. As chief marketing officer for Alfred Music, he oversaw global sales and marketing operations. While there, he helped consolidate company operations following the largest acquisition in print music publishing history — Alfred’s purchase of Warner Bros. Publications — and launched and oversaw numerous major music-related product lines. Surmani also works as a freelance musician and has performed in numerous international jazz festivals. For more information on the free presentation, visit the Music Department calendar website or call ext. 6-2406.
Cal Poly’s Fall Jazz Concert on Nov. 18 to Include Release of Two Singles
The Fall Jazz Concert will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18, in Spanos Theatre. Cal Poly’s Jazz Ensemble and Vocal Jazz Ensemble will perform music by jazz legends, including Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Count Basie, Pat Metheny and Wayne Shorter. The concert will also celebrate the release of the Vocal Jazz Ensemble’s two new singles: “Sunlight,” by Esperanza Spalding, which was arranged by Director of Jazz Studies Arthur White; and “Let the Good Times Roll” by Fleecie Moore and Sam Theard, arranged by Jeremy Fox. “Sunlight” features music major Danna Dumandan on lead vocals and Grammy Award-winning Gregg Bissonette on drums. “Let the Good Times Roll” features Bissonette, plus Kim Nazarian and Darmon Meader of the New York Voices. Both singles will be available for free download the day of the concert. Tickets 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.
SLO Master Chorale Presents ‘The French Connection’ on Nov. 20
SLO Master Chorale will bring “The French Connection: Fauré and Poulenc” to Harold Miossi Hall at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20. This peaceful “Requiem” and elegant “Pavane” represent the two most enduring of Gabriel Fauré’s works. Francis Poulenc’s “Gloria,” which is both spirited and reverential, reveals in Poulenc’s words “the best and most genuine part of myself.” The concert features soloists Amy Goymerac, soprano, and baritone Ben Kazez. Tickets can be purchased at the Cal Poly Ticket Office, by calling ext. 6-4849 or online.
Get tickets to "The French Connection"
Cal Poly Choirs to Present Sixth Annual ‘Holiday Kaleidoscope’ on Dec. 2
Cal Poly’s Cantabile, Chamber Choir, PolyPhonics and University Singers will present the sixth annual “Holiday Kaleidoscope” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, in the Performing Arts Center. The choirs will be joined by the Cabrillo High School Madrigal Singers, directed by Cal Poly alumna Jennifer Peterson (Music, ’95); and the Central Coast Youth Chorus’ Cadence Choir, led by Cal Poly music majors Danna Dumandan and Katelyn Caron. A 20-piece student orchestra will accompany the choirs on several pieces and during carol sing-alongs. The evening will include other fun features, such as College of Liberal Arts Dean Philip J. Williams narrating “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.” Cantabile will present a portion of the program it plans to perform at Lincoln Center in New York City in March. Its set will include music by Sarah Quartel, Jacob Narverud and an arrangement of the Puerto Rican Christmas carol “Ábreme la Puerta.” Tickets 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.
Get tickets to the Cal Poly Choirs concert
Cal Poly Arab Music Ensemble Fall Concert Set for Dec. 3
The Arab Music Ensemble will be joined by the Morro Bay High School Choirs and critically acclaimed guest artists for its Fall Concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, in Spanos Theatre. A special feature of the concert will be a collaboration with the Morro Bay High School Choirs, directed by Katie Bravante, a 1999 graduate of the Music Department. The groups will perform an adaptation of Joy Hirokawa’s arrangement of “Lamma Bada Yatathanna,” a foremost example of Arab art music. The critically acclaimed guest artists to be featured in the concert include Ishmael on qanun (zither), Fathi Aljarrah on kamanja (violin), and Faisal Zedan and Keeth CrowHawk on riqq (tambourine), daff (frame drum) and darabukka (goblet drum). San Luis Obispo dance director Jenna Mitchell will lead the dance troupe in the performance of original choreographies that dialogue with the program’s music. Music Professor Ken Habib will direct the event. Tickets 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.
Get tickets to the Arab Music Ensemble concert
Cal Poly Symphony to Feature Madrone String Quartet on Dec. 4
The symphony will begin its season with the Madrone String Quartet at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, in the Performing Arts Center. The concert will begin with Ralph Vaughan Williams’ “Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis,” for double string orchestra and solo string quartet. This antiphonal work will feature the strings of the symphony, separated into two groups, and the Madrone String Quartet. The guest artists will then perform Felix Mendelssohn’s String Quartet No. 6 in F Minor, Op. 80. The concert will conclude with Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, “From the New World.” Three of the quartet’s members — Emily Lanzone, violin; Mike Whitson, viola; and Laura Gaynon, cello — are applied faculty members in the Music Department. With guest artist Valerie Berg-Johansen, violin, the musicians bring rich experience in performance and education to this collaboration, which is part of their residency, and will also include a free master class on Dec. 1. Tickets 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.
Get tickets to the Cal Poly Symphony fall concert
Civic Ballet of SLO Presents ‘The Nutcracker’ Dec. 9-11 at the PAC
Civic Ballet of San Luis Obispo’s beloved production of “The Nutcracker” returns Dec. 9-11 in Harold Miossi Hall. Join Uncle Drosselmeyer, Mother Ginger and the Sugarplum Fairy as Clara travels to the Land of Sweets on a very special Christmas Eve. For the past 44 years, the Civic Ballet has presented this holiday classic, including 25 sold-out performances at the PAC. “The Nutcracker” is filled with all the pageantry, magic and wonder that have made this one of the most enduring holiday traditions around the globe. Featuring Opera SLO’s full live orchestra, sterling production values and San Luis Obispo County’s finest dancers, this is a ballet experience you won’t want to miss. Tickets can be purchased at the Cal Poly Ticket Office, by calling ext. 6-4849 or online.
Get tickets to "The Nutcracker"
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 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 includes 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.