Orfalea College of Business Accreditation Extended
The Orfalea College of Business received an extended accreditation after a rigorous external review of its mission, faculty qualifications, curricula and ability to provide the highest-quality programs. The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, also known as AACSB International, extended the college’s accreditation for another five years. For over a century, AACSB accreditation has represented the highest standard of quality in business education. Fewer than 6% of the business schools in the world receive AACSB accreditation. The AACSB review team, composed of deans from peer business schools, engaged in a comprehensive, continuous improvement review process that reaffirmed the quality and effectiveness of the college’s degree programs, co-curricular programs and career-readiness outcomes. Dean Damon Fleming said the successful review process exemplifies the collective effort of the college. “The Orfalea College of Business is a transformational leader in experiential business education,” he said. “I am grateful to all the faculty, staff, students, alumni and advisory council members who participated in the comprehensive review. It is a testament to the dedication and shared vision of all Orfalea stakeholders.”
Cal Poly Corp. Enhancing Campus Dining Experience
To continue to enhance the student experience, Cal Poly Corporation is expanding its current partnership with Chartwells Higher Education that will bring additional resources to Campus Dining starting July 1. The expanded partnership will offer access to new systems and industry expertise, as well as financial support that will further the success of the Campus Dining program. Chartwells’ increasing partnership creates a new model to maintain an affordable dining program as the campus grows. While Chartwells will provide daily management, the corporation will continue to lead the short- and long-term program decisions and the development of master plans. Campus Dining staff, including students, will keep their current positions as Chartwells employees and will continue to receive competitive wages and more choices in their new benefits packages. Compass Group, Chartwells’ parent company, was ranked in Forbes 2022 Best Employers for Diversity and Newsweek’s America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity in 2023. Chartwells has worked with the corporation since 2017, when it was first contracted to provide management and consulting services for Campus Dining operations.
Biodiverse Plant Conservatory Officially Opens
The new Cal Poly Plant Conservatory — a $5 million, 5,000-square-foot, multi-use botanical science facility with greenhouses, labs and offices — has opened for operation this year. Featuring living plants, including exotic and rare species, that grow in extreme weather conditions, the conservatory’s greenhouses showcase three distinct growing environments: the warm tropics, a cloud forest and desert climate. In addition, there is dedicated space for experimental research for urban planning. The varied plant collection includes cacao, mahogany, banana, several types of cacti and koa — one of the most valuable hardwoods in the world, a species (acacia koa) that only grows on the Hawaiian Islands. “It’s an impressive learning experience with such a wide range of flora right here on campus, and it’s very exciting to be studying strategies toward adding more foliage to the world,” said Professor Matt Ritter, plant conservator director and national tree expert.
Learn more about the plant conservatory
Participate in Poly Gives by Helping to Feed Students
Poly Gives is a day when alumni, parents and friends give back to the Cal Poly they love. Feed Cal Poly makes it easy for all community members to take part in this event by helping combat food insecurity on campus. Feed Cal Poly assists Poly Gives in the mission to set all Mustangs up for success with access to the resources they need. The Feed Cal Poly website makes donating quick, easy and accessible, with no limit on donation size. Students with Dining Memberships also have the option to donate unused dining dollars through the Mustang Meal Share Program. All donors will receive a receipt for tax purposes. Join Campus Dining in supporting our fellow Mustangs.
Donate on the Feed Cal Poly website
Celebrate Earth Week April 17-21
Calling all Earth-lovers — Earth Week is April 17-21. Join Green Campus and the sustainability community for events Monday through Friday. RSVP to secure free Earth Week swag and to get up-to-date information on all these events:
- "Saging the World" film screening: Monday April 17, 7-9 p.m., Spanos Theatre.
- Earth Week Festival: Tuesday, April 18, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Dexter Lawn.
- Climate Anxiety Discussion: Tuesday, April 18, noon-1:30 p.m., UU 216.
- Eco Trivia Night: Tuesday, April 18, 6-7:30 p.m., Mustang Station.
- Food for Thought Discussion: Wednesday, April 19, 11:10 a.m.-noon, Food Pantry Garden.
- Green Careers Panel: Wednesday, April 19, 5-7 p.m., Career Events Center (No. 124, Room 117).
- Swap 'n' Shop: Thursday, April 20, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Dexter Lawn.
- Real Food Collaborative Potluck: Thursday, April 20, 7 p.m., location TBD.
- Sustainability Charrette: Friday, April 21, 8 a.m.-noon, UU 220.
- Make Waves Film Festival: Friday, April 21, 7 p.m., Bread Bike, 2060 Parker St. in San Luis Obispo.
- Online bike auction: All week
Additional event information can be found by following @cpgreencampus on Instagram.
Center for Service in Action to Honor Volunteers
The Center for Service in Action will host a week of service opportunities in honor of National Volunteer Week, their community partners and volunteers. All members of the Cal Poly community are invited to join the fun and check out the schedule of events on CP Now. Part of the week’s events will be the spring quarter volunteer and service fair for the campus community from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, April 20, on Dexter Lawn. This event is for anyone who has wanted to serve on a board of directors or an advisory committee or engage in meaningful service at a local nonprofit or governmental agency. Come by the volunteer and service fair to speak to representatives from organizations doing amazing work in San Luis Obispo County. Several community partner agencies will be present to share how service can take shape for faculty, staff and students.
Find National Volunteer Week events
Nominate Campus DEI Leaders for President’s Diversity Awards by April 17
The Office of University Diversity and Inclusion invites members of the campus community to submit nominations by 5 p.m. Monday, April 17, for the annual Cal Poly President’s Diversity Awards, which recognizes individuals and groups who have exhibited commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion on campus. Recipients will be honored at an awards ceremony from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Thursday, May 4, in the PAC Lobby and Courtyard. The President’s Diversity Award categories are:
- Faculty
- Staff
- Student
- Campus Department/Unit
- Student Group/Organization
- Dolores Huerta “Si Se Puede” Award for Transformational Leadership
- Excellence in Inclusive Design Award
Recipients of the Group Award and Dolores Huerta "Si Se Puede" Award for Transformational Leadership will each receive $1,000, and all other recipients/groups will receive a $500 award.
Submit nominations for the President's Diversity Awards
Newsletter Has Updates on Library Renovation
It’s no secret that the Robert E. Kennedy Library, an essential catalyst to student success, is in need of renovation. With $77 million in funding secured from the CSU Chancellor’s Office, the university will soon begin the work. Construction is expected to start this summer, and the target date for reopening the renovated building — the largest structure on campus — is the fall of 2025. Ongoing updates will be shared throughout this transformation project. The library renovation project team has developed a monthly newsletter, Connections, to inform the campus community. Learn about the latest library services and programs, get updates about renovation progress and discover some tips and tricks to help successfully connect.
Subscribe to the library transformation monthly newsletter
Safer Hosts Annual Take Back the Night on April 27
Safer will host Sexual Assault Action Month throughout April. This year’s theme is “Resistance and Resiliency” to recognize the long-term commitment to social justice that this anti-violence movement requires, while also celebrating the resiliency of survivors in our community. The month culminates in Safer’s biggest event of the year — Take Back the Night — from 5-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 27, in the University Union Plaza. Take Back the Night is an international movement against sexual violence, with roots in San Luis Obispo that date back to the 1980s. With a focus on uplifting survivors and building empowerment in community, this event will feature live music, catered food, art installations, resource fairs, speakers from the local community, a solidarity march, and will end with a candlelight vigil. This event is made possible with generous support from ASI Events, Planned Parenthood and the Career Services Diversity Funding Committee.
Cal Poly Cantabile Performs in Lincoln Center
Over spring break, Cal Poly Cantabile traveled to New York City to give a feature performance in the world-famous Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center. The 64-member group of alto and soprano voices was invited there after its performance at the February 2022 California Music Educators Conference in Fresno. The March 25 program featured the East Coast premieres of Professor Meredith Brammeier’s “I Pastured My Wolves,” and Jocelyn Hagen’s "While I Breathe, I Hope,” which was commissioned by Cantabile. Brammeier also accompanied the choir on piano. Titled “This is ME,” the concert featured music by female composers with themes of femininity in a modern world and poetry by Cal Poly singers. The group received a standing ovation at the end of the 30-minute performance. Deon’te Goodman, a member of the Broadway cast of “Hamilton” who was also on the program, approached the choir and told the members that he was blown away, and that their performance was “everything,” said Scott Glysson, Cantabile’s conductor.
LITC Students Help with 110 Controversial Tax Cases
Cal Poly's Low Income Taxpayer Clinic worked on 110 cases in 2022, saving clients $380,000 in decreased liabilities, according to the LITC's recently completed annual report. The LITC, which has been helping the community since 2010, enlists accounting students to assist people with tax conflicts, affording the students valuable Learn by Doing experiences while having a positive impact on the community. “Many of our clients are frightened of what might happen to them and unable to afford representation,” LITC Director Lisa Sperow said. “We are able to step in and help them understand their rights and responsibilities and let them move forward with their lives in a happier state.”
Soil Judging Team Takes Second at National Contest
A flight delay and missed day of practice didn’t stop the Cal Poly Soil Judging Team from beating out 21 other teams to take second place at the National Collegiate Soils Contest at Oklahoma State University. The competition, held March 26-31 in Woodward, Oklahoma, included 23 teams from colleges and universities throughout the nation. The 10-person Cal Poly team advanced to the competition after a first-place finish at the regional contest held last November in Sonora, California. “I have been to three contests, and I have to say, it is one of the most fun, exciting and most unique ways to learn,” said Andrew Litto, a fourth-year environmental earth and soil sciences major. “Soil is so dynamic and diverse, and traveling to see new soils is truly a privilege. At this contest, I was able to use what I have learned in my college experience and represent our university well.”
Applications Open for Faculty Sustainability Fellow
The Center for Teaching and Learning and Technology is accepting applications for a two-year Sustainability Faculty Fellow for upcoming academic years 2023-24 and 2024-25. The faculty fellow will help focus Cal Poly’s efforts to prepare students to pursue social justice, promote environmental responsibility and improve economic conditions in their workplaces and communities. This two-year pilot fellowship is open to instructors of all ranks with at least two years of Cal Poly service. For best consideration, applications should be received by Friday, May 12, and no later than Friday, May 19.
Visit the Sustainability in the Curriculum webpage to learn more and apply
Safer to Host Survivors Support Workshop on April 12
Safer invites faculty and staff to attend its hourlong virtual workshop “Supporting Survivors of Gender- and Power-Based Violence,” at 10a.m. today, April 12. This workshop will focus on how to best support students and colleagues who have experienced sexual assault, dating or domestic violence, stalking, harassment or exploitation. Safer will cover topics including how to respond to disclosures, how to apply trauma-informed techniques in your classroom and workspace, and information about campus and community resources.
Register to join the workshop via Zoom
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CSU Webcast Shows Tips for Realizing Your Potential
All employees are invited to participate in another edition of the CSU’s Got Talent series. Lifestyle medicine physician, longevity coach, author and speaker Dr. Alka Patel will present a webcast, “How to Achieve: Peak Productivity Through Strategic Self-Care.” In this persuasive and provocative webinar, Patel presents powerful techniques to help participants unlock their potential to live longer, upgrade their performance and elevate their energy to new levels based on scientific principles. The webcast will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 25. View previous CSU’s Got Talent recordings on the Learning Hub.
University Personnel Offers Well-Being Workshops
University Personnel — Employee Wellbeing has worked with Cal Poly’s employee assistance program LifeMatters to offer synchronous well-being workshops. They include:
- Personal Resilience: Learn how engagement and energy management relate to personal resilience. The concepts covered will challenge long-held beliefs and habits about maintaining a work-life balance. The session will discuss principles of energy management, understanding engagement and developing energy rituals. 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 20.
- Respect in a Diverse Workplace: Learn about the benefits of a diverse, inclusive workplace and how to remove barriers through constructive, assertive confrontation. This session will review definitions of diversity and respect, examples of respectful and disrespectful behaviors, and assertive confrontation. 11 a.m. on May 18.
- Mind-Body Wellness: Practicing mindfulness, breathing and guided relaxation promote mind-body wellness. Learn how to develop a centering mindset and improve focus. 2 p.m. on May 23.
Contact Lisa Gray at lcgray@calpoly.edu for more information on well-being workshops.
Safer Book Circle Opens New Chapter on May 3
Safer is committed to engaging every discipline on campus in the work of violence prevention and trauma-informed response. To do this, the group has developed the Safer Learning Community, with quarterly book circles specifically geared toward empowering faculty and staff to join this work alongside Safer. The spring quarter book is "Beyond Survival: Strategies and Stories from the Transformative Justice Movement.” The book circle will meet Wednesdays at noon, May 3-24.
Visit the Safer Learning Community Page to sign up
Employee Assistance Webinar Set for April 27
Empathia - LifeMatters, Cal Poly’s employee assistance program, offers a free benefit for workers and household members, including dependents living away from home. The benefit includes 24-hour access to confidential well-being services. In a live hourlong webinar — set for 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 27 — Phil Gray of Empathia — LifeMatters will provide an overview of the types of services available through the program, including counseling, legal and financial referrals, convenience services, how to access services and information about the provider network. No registration needed; access the webinar at the link below. The session will be recorded and available one week after the presentation date. Empathia - LifeMatters services are available 24 hours a day and can be accessed at mylifematters.com using the sign-in “calpoly,” by phone at 1-800-367-7474, or through the LifeMatters app. Contact Lisa Gray at lcgray@calpoly.edu with questions.
Apply by April 15 for Global Teacher-Scholar Grant
The Cal Poly International Center has announced new Global Teacher-Scholar Grants, available thanks to generous funding from an anonymous donor committed to expanding opportunities and access to international education and scholarship for students and faculty. Grants of up to $4,000 will be awarded; up to 15 grants are available. The deadline to submit proposals is Saturday, April 15. Grant information can be found by visiting the Faculty Opportunities webpage on the abroad.calpoly.edu website. Proposals will be reviewed by a subcommittee of the International Advisory Council with notifications sent out by May 15. Faculty may send questions to Cari Vanderkar, assistant vice provost for international programs, at civander@calpoly.edu.
Nominations Open for the 2023 LEAD Awards
The LEAD Awards recognize students, student organizations, programs and events in Student Affairs. This collaborative awards ceremony honors the following pillars: leadership; engagement; advocacy; and distinction. The LEAD Awards are geared toward celebrating the outstanding efforts on campus and are given to students or student organizations based on three categories:
- Leadership
- Engagement
- Distinction
Students can nominate themselves or others. Additionally, nominations can be submitted for the Advocate Award, which recognizes Cal Poly faculty/staff or offices/departments that are allies for students, programs or events, organizations and beyond.
Up to $180,000 Grants Available to Support Technology and Public Benefits; Apply by April 14
Public Interest Technology University Network (PIT-UN) is accepting proposals for its 2023 Challenge Grants of up to $180,000. PIT refers to the study and application of technology expertise to advance the public interest in a way that generates public benefits and promotes the public good, particularly for those members of our society who are least well-served historically and today by existing systems and policies. The number of submissions are limited, with an internal competition to determine which submissions will be made on behalf of Cal Poly. For more information, review the internal competition RFP. Pre-proposals are due by 9 a.m. on Friday, April 14. Contact Stephanie Fabro at sfabro@calpoly.edu with any questions.
Learn how to submit a pre-proposal
IR Office to Give Data Dashboards Overview
Need data? Don’t know where to find it? The Office of Institutional Research (IR) wants to help. Its data dashboards are the source information for accreditation and surveys and to help employees make informed decisions. IR will give a 30-minute Zoom presentation at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, April 19, to provide employees a virtual overview of the data dashboards that have admissions, enrollment and employee data, as well as graduation rates and much more. In this overview, participants will see all the data that is available to them and will learn how to navigate and interact with the dashboards.
New Spring Learning Circles for Employees
Employee and Organization Development has announced the spring 2023 Learning Circles in which participants watch a video, listen to a podcast or read an article and participate in a discussion during a single session. Learning Circles include:
- “Implicit Bias, Stereotype Threat, and Higher Education” by Russell McClain: Explore how the fear of confirming another’s biased views is creating achievement gaps in higher education, and learn one of several interventions for interrupting stereotype threat.
- “How to Write Less but Say More” by Jim VandeHei: Learn tips that can transform your writing and help you communicate more clearly and concisely in a distracted world.
- “Three Rules for Better Work-Life Balance” by Ashley Whillans: Understand how an "always-on" work culture is ruining our personal well-being and our work; discover the bad habits that are stopping us from getting what we need out of our free time; and learn three practical steps for setting boundaries that stick.
April 14 Is Last Day to Purchase Open House Alumni Wine & Beer Garden Tickets
Alumni, faculty and staff are invited to attend the Cal Poly Alumni Wine and Beer Garden from 2-4 p.m. Saturday, April 15, at Engineering Plaza. Attendance to the event is through pre-sale only; purchase tickets by noon on Friday, April 14. Faculty and staff can reconnect with alumni while enjoying wine, beer and cider tastings. Alumni-owned Rib Line Catering will provide sliders, snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. Discount tickets are available for faculty and staff and include tastings, food and a souvenir wine glass.
Celebrate Community Impact with ‘Power-Ful’ Campus Dining Event on April 14
On Friday, April 14, Campus Dining will join over 300 college campuses to host “Power-Ful,” a nationwide event to recognize individuals’ power and potential to create a positive impact in their community. Power-Ful will be celebrated at Vista Grande from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event, which coincides with Cal Poly’s Open House, will feature fresh Poly Produce; samples and giveaways from Campus Dining partners, including Coke, Grubhub and Jamba; a photobooth to capture the memories; and much more.
Faculty-Staff Housing Project to Break Ground in 2023
The proposed faculty and staff housing project at Slack Street and Grand Avenue is on schedule to break ground this year. Cal Poly Corporation (CPC) leadership announced at the Feb. 3 board of directors meeting that a design-build team was brought on late last year, and the conceptual design for this latest housing project had been completed. The team will be led by Thompson Dorfman Pacific as the master developer, SVA Architects for architecture and Pismo Beach-based Coastal Community Builders for building. Pending board of trustees approval, the team is ready to start construction in 2023. The development will feature 200 units, including 150 rental multifamily units and 50 single-family units for sale expected to be available for faculty and staff by May 2025. The CPC is also working to establish financing to make the units as attainable as possible. The ground-breaking day has not been set yet.
Learn about faculty and staff housing
Campus Dining Eliminates Plastic Water Bottle Usage
Cal Poly eliminated the use of single-use plastic water bottles ahead of the Jan. 1, 2023, deadline. The CSU has been making strides to enforce systemwide sustainable practices, including a policy to eliminate the use of single-use plastics. Plastic straws were replaced in 2019, and Styrofoam food service items were curtailed in 2021. At Cal Poly, all single-use plastic water bottles (20 ounces or less) have been removed from Campus Dining venues and replaced with aluminum. Cal Poly headed into the new year with even more ambitious sustainability goals for Campus Dining.
Learn more about the CSU plastic policy
Volunteers Needed for Healthy Kids Research
The Healthy Kids Lab is seeking participants for two research studies on infant feeding and development. The studies are open to pregnant women and new mothers with infants under 6 months of age. The iBaby Study aims to examine the relationship between technology use in families and infant development. Participants receive $460 if they complete this 18-month study. The Paced Bottle-Feeding Study aims to support families during breast and bottle-feeding. Participants receive $140 if they complete this weeklong study. For more information, visit the Healthy Kids Lab website, call or text 805-242-6566, or email the team at healthykids@calpoly.edu.
Be a Lifesaver at April 18 Blood Drive on Dexter Lawn
Be a hero and save up to three lives in about an hour. Join a campus blood drive hosted by University Personnel, Orfalea College of Business and Campus Health and Wellbeing on Tuesday, April 18. A Vitalant bus will park on the concrete walkway on Dexter Lawn near the Dexter Building (No. 34). Appointments are available from 10 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Scheduled donations are prioritized over walk-ups. Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. If you’re worried about needles, don’t be — most donors compare the experience to a mild, split-second pinch! The entire process is very safe and very fast. If you're in good health and meet the general eligibility criteria, then you are likely able to give blood — most people are. If you're concerned about the requirements, visit Vitalant's webpage. Donors are encouraged to hydrate well and eat a hearty meal before donating. Contact Lisa Gray at lcgray@calpoly.edu for more information.
Statistics Consulting Available to Campus Community
The Statistics Department is offering consulting service to the university community to facilitate research design and data analysis in a wide variety of disciplines. Consulting will be available through June 9 by appointment only. Statistics Department faculty Emily Robinson and Bret Holladay 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 consultation. To schedule a session, email statconsulting@calpoly.edu.
Tap-Dancing Dorrance Troupe at PAC on April 12
Cal Poly Arts will present Dorrance Dance in Harold Miossi Hall at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 12. Founded in 2011 by artistic director and 2015 MacArthur Fellow Michelle Dorrance, the New York-based company shares the incredibly dynamic range that tap dance has to offer through performance and education. The company’s goal is to engage with audiences on a musical and emotional level and to share the complex history and powerful legacy of this American art form throughout the country and the world. Faculty and staff can receive a 20% discount.
Campus Art Gallery’s Student Display Opens April 13
The annual student exhibit opens at 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 13, in the University Art Gallery in the Dexter Building (No. 34), with awards presentation at 5:30 p.m. The show, juried by artist Chen Tianquitao, a visiting photography educator (Iowa State, Montserrat College of Art and Rhode Island School of Design), features work created in Cal Poly Art and Design classes. The 2023 Juried Student Show includes an impressive grouping of artwork from many mediums, all carefully culled from a larger pool of student submissions. The University Art Gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
Free Open House Student Recital Is April 15
The Music Department will present an Open House Recital at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 15, in the Davidson Music Center (No. 45) on campus. The recital is one of many scheduled events for Cal Poly’s 30th annual Open House. Both instrumentalists and vocalists will be featured. The student performers represents a variety of majors from most of the university's six colleges, and all are involved in at least one of the department’s large, premier ensembles including Arab Music Ensemble, Choirs, Symphony, University Jazz Bands, Wind Orchestra and Wind Ensemble. The recital is free and open to all; no tickets or advanced reservations are needed. The event is sponsored by the Music Department and College of Liberal Arts. For more information, visit the Music Department calendar website or call ext. 6-2406.
Student Opera Theatre to Perform on April 15
Cal Poly Student Opera Theatre (CPSOT) will present “Spring Opera Scenes” at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 15, in the Spanos Theatre (No. 44). The program will feature a delightful array of duets, trios and ensemble numbers from numerous works, including Giuseppe Verdi’s famous “Brindisi” from “La Traviata,” Gaetano Donizetti’s sassy “gossip chorus” from “The Elixir of Love,” and CPSOT’s first stage brawl from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s comedy “Le nozze di Figaro.” The two dozen CPSOT performers represent majors in business, computer science, electrical engineering, environmental management and protection, English, music and sociology. The opera chorus will include 24 members of the Cal Poly Chamber Choir conducted by Scott Glysson. Faculty member Amy Goymerac is the director and producer; staff member Paul Woodring is the pianist and coach. The production is one of many events at Cal Poly’s 30th annual Open House. 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 "Spring Opera Scenes"
‘Saging the World’ Film, Panel Talk Set for April 17
The campus community is invited to a film screening of “Saging the World,” followed by a panel discussion with director Rose Ramirez and Heidi Lucero (Acjachemen), from 7-9 p.m. Monday, April 17, in Spanos Theatre (No. 44). The documentary spotlights the ecological and cultural issues intertwined with white sage — known for its use as incense, and for cleansing and purifying the air in sacred Native American ceremonies — centering on the voices of native advocates who have long protected and cherished this perennial coastal shrub. This event is co-sponsored by the Department of Ethnic Studies; the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences; and the Native American and Indigenous Cultural Center. The event is free; no RSVP is needed but optional registration is available. For more information, contact Jenell Navarro at jnavar18@calpoly.edu.
Register for "Saging the World"
Award-Winning Poet Major Jackson to Speak at Writers at Work Virtual Event on April 20
The campus community is invited to a free, upcoming Writers at Work event hosted by the College of Liberal Arts and the English Department. A virtual reading with poet Major Jackson will be held at 12:10 p.m. Thursday, April 20, on Zoom. Jackson has authored six books of poetry, including “Razzle Dazzle: New and Selected Poems,” “The Absurd Man” and “Leaving Saturn,” which received the Cave Canem Poetry Prize for a first book of poems. He has received a Whiting Writers’ Award, and has been honored by the Pew Fellowship in the Arts and the Witter Bynner Foundation in conjunction with the Library of Congress. Jackson also serves as the poetry editor of “The Harvard Review.”
Ethics Behind Robots’ ‘Inner Speech’ Talk Is April 20
John P. Sullins, a Sonoma State University philosophy professor, will speak on the ethics of social robots from 11:10 a.m. to noon on Thursday, April 20, in Room 123 of the Bioresource and Agricultural Engineering Building (No. 8). In a world where social robots are becoming increasingly common, the ethical implications of their design cannot be ignored. The talk will explore groundbreaking experiments using the concept of inner speech, found in psychology, to create social robots with some glimmers of an ethical conscience. By giving users access to the machines’ inner dialogue, people can work alongside these machines to make more informed ethical decisions. The talk will cover how the concept of inner speech plays a role in skilled moral reasoning — or what philosophers call phronesis — and its potential impact on the future of robotics in the context of elder care.
San Salvador Set to Perform April 21 at Spanos
Cal Poly Arts presents the six-voice percussion collective San Salvador at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 21, in Spanos Theatre (No. 44). Hailing from Corrèze in southwestern France, San Salvador combines Occitan poetry with hypnotic vocal harmonies propelled by surging percussion. Their compositions use the Occitan language — a Romance language spoken in southern France, Italy’s Occitan Valleys and in parts of Spain and Monaco — as a rhythmic instrument, combining poetry with hypnotic vocal harmonies cascading over shifting patterns of compelling percussion to create their own compositions. This event has a 20% staff and faculty discount available.
Free Upcoming Music Department Events
The Music Department has numerous free student presentations through the remainder of the 2022-23 academic year. In addition to the following events, there will be several senior recitals. For a complete list with times and locations, visit the department’s calendar website or call ext. 6-2406.
- April 18: PolyRhythmics Percussion Recital
- May 2: All That Brass
- May 5: Guitar Ensemble Recital
- May 9: An Evening of Woodwinds and Strings
- May 16: Instrumental Student Recital
- May 19: Spring Jazz Combos Hang
- May 23: Piano Student Recital
- May 25: Vocal Student Recital
- June 10: Clarinet Festival
Theatrical Mendelssohn: ‘Elijah’ Comes to PAC on April 23
SLO Master Chorale presents The Theatrical Mendelssohn: “Elijah” at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 23, in Miossi Hall. This dramatic oratorio tells the story of the prophet Elijah in a series of scenes, including the resurrection of a youth, a contest between the prophets of Baal and Elijah, the plotting of Queen Jezebel against Elijah, and Elijah’s final ascension into heaven. Mendelssohn imitates the great oratorios of Bach and Handel. Conducted by Professor Emeritus Thomas Davies, musical director and conductor of the San Luis Obispo Master Chorale, “Elijah” is performed in two parts, with a dramatic overture to begin the action.
W. Terrence Spiller to Perform Beethoven Sonatas on April 28
Pianist and Music Professor Emeritus W. Terrence Spiller will give an all-Beethoven recital at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 28, in the Pavilion of the Performing Arts Center. The recital is the seventh in Spiller’s survey of the complete piano sonatas of Beethoven. For this year’s program, Spiller will perform the poetic masterpiece Op. 109; two large early works: Sonatas Op. 2, No. 2, and Op. 10, No. 3; and the compact and joyous Sonata Op. 78. Spiller retired from full-time teaching in March 2021, but he continues to teach applied piano in the Music Department. 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.
Isabella Rossellini Brings One-Woman Show at PAC on April 29: Acting, Evolution, Cats, Dogs and Darwin
Cal Poly Arts presents Italian actress, author, philanthropist and model Isabella Rossellini in Miossi Hall at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 29. Best known as an award-winning actress but also holding a master’s degree in animal behavior and conservation, Rossellini seeks to reconcile her two worlds of acting and complex scientific theories in this new one-woman show through humor, insight and a killer Charles Darwin impression. The show is both a lesson on evolution and acting. In her usual comical tones, she demonstrates how acting could be used to understand the mysterious nature of animals and their emotions. With humor and simple devices, she plays on stage dogs, cats, chickens, peacocks and, of course, Charles Darwin.
Get tickets to see Isabella Rossellini
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 event-submission@calpoly.edu.
University Events Calendar
To find a listing of all events — such as performances, lectures, workshops and more — visit our Master Calendar.
Scheduling/Booking Venues
25Live: Space and Event Scheduling can help you schedule or book a venue for an upcoming on-campus event.
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.