Professor Clint Francis Receives Nearly $900,000 for Avian Study
Biological sciences Professor Clint Francis and student researchers are embarking on a five-year study to better understand how exposure to human-caused noise and light pollution affects birds. Francis, who was recognized with the campus Distinguished Scholarship Award in September, recently was awarded $893,000 as part of a $2.6 million National Science Foundation grant, also involving researchers at Duke University and Washington State University. The world is becoming more urbanized, and the fundings will allow Francis and his students to answer key questions about how birds will cope with the challenges of an increasingly noisy and bright world. “In doing so, the project will build a testable framework for generalizing avian response to human-caused sensory pollution, which will give us important insights on what kind of birds we should see in a more urbanized future,” Francis said. The study will intensively study six avian species: ash-throated flycatchers; gray flycatchers; mountain bluebirds; Western bluebirds; chipping sparrows; and house finches.
Read more about the avian research grant
Cal Poly Welcomes Dolores Huerta on Oct. 17 as Keynote Speaker at HSI Symposium
The Office of University Diversity and Inclusion will host Latina labor leader, activist and community organizer, Dolores Huerta, as keynote speaker for OUDI’s inaugural Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) Symposium on Tuesday, Oct. 17. Huerta, who co-founded the United Farm Workers Association, is one of the most influential labor activists of the 20th century and a leader of the Chicano civil rights movement. She will deliver a keynote, followed by a conversation with Beya Makekau, OUDI assistant vice president for DEI Strategic Networks, and audience questions. Huerta’s keynote will close out a full day that includes a welcome from President Armstrong and OUDI leadership, an HSI Task Force panel discussion, a UU Plaza gathering and resource fair, and workshops for the campus community to engage in thought-provoking discussions, meaningful connections and an inspiring vision for Cal Poly as an HSI. The keynote address will be in Chumash Auditorium from 5-6:30 p.m. Registration is required for this free event, which is expected to sell out.
REGISTER FOR THE OCT. 17 CAL POLY HSI SYMPOSIUM
Division of Research Announces Name Change
The Division of Research has changed its name from the Research, Economic Development and Graduate Education. With the return of Graduate Education to Academic Affairs, the division recognizes an exciting opportunity to re-focus on its core priorities of research, scholarly and creative activities within a teacher-scholar framework and is returning to a name that aligns with that focus. The Division of Research works to make research possible at Cal Poly through pre- and post-grant award administration, internal funding opportunities, research integrity and compliance practices, student research and tech transfer. During the 2022-23 academic year, in partnership with the Office of the President and the Office of the Provost, Cal Poly provided over $900,000 in internal funding for faculty-led projects through Research, Scholarly and Creative Activities (RSCA) Grants, Teacher Scholar Mini Grants and the Proposal Development Program. To join the research listserv and receive emails about events or funding opportunities, send an email with subject "sub researchlistserv" to [email protected].
Learn More about the Division of Research
Enabling Multi-Factor Authentication
Week Two of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month focuses on using multifactor authentication. Passwords are not always effective when it comes to account security. Cal Poly mandates Multi-Factor Authentication, or MFA, for all students, staff and faculty accessing their portal, email and other business-related applications. This two-step process helps verify your identity, making it much more difficult for hackers to access your online accounts. MFA comes in different forms, such as confirming a code sent to your email/phone or fingerprint/ facial recognition. ITS recommends setting up, whenever offered, MFA for your home/personal accounts (e.g., banking, social media, email, streaming services, etc.). If you receive MFA notifications when you weren’t trying to log into an account, do not approve the request, and immediately change the account password. Set up MFA for all of your sensitive accounts, follow the suggested steps by Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
State of the Art Off-Campus Workspace Coming
Cal Poly Corporation recently purchased an off-campus building in San Luis Obispo to enable the campus community to expand over the next decade in alignment with the 2035 Master Plan. To help with programming for the two-story building, the corporation has partnered with Gensler, a global architecture, design and planning firm. 4800 Morabito Place — the former Rosetta Marketing Group building — offers 46,000 square feet of workspace over two stories as well as a 3,800-square-foot video production studio that features a two-story green screen. A working group has been formed to create a plan and pathway forward for the structure to ensure that a thoughtful approach is taken, and all options are considered. Results of a 14-week study will be announced soon. The project is expected to be completed in early 2024.
Test Your Cyber Skills in Space Grand Challenge Sandbox Series Oct. 16-21
The Space Grand Challenge (SGC) Sandbox Series is coming Oct. 16-21, coinciding with Cybersecurity Career Week. Gameplay begins at 9 a.m. Monday, Oct. 16, to 11:59 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21. Students, faculty and staff are invited to test cyber skills during this free, virtual practice event created by Cal Poly students. The SGC Sandbox uses past games to explore the SGC game environment to help build participants’s cyber skills. Check out the Cal Poly California Cybersecurity Institute to learn more and register as an individual or team today.
Register Now for Space Grand Challenge Sandbox Series
Learn About Inclusive Leadership from Raven Solomon Oct. 13
Raven Solomon, a global diversity, equity and inclusion thought leader and nationally-recognized speaker, will present “How to be an Inclusive Leader” from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13, in Chumash Auditorium at the 2023 Student Leadership Institute. The event is free to all faculty, staff and students. The Student Leadership Institute is a daylong conference focused on empowering students by providing educational experiences that support and challenge them to build and apply leadership skills to affect social change. Solomon will break down inclusive leadership into straightforward characteristics, demonstrating what each looks like in everyday leadership. Attendees will gain a clear understanding of the importance of inclusive leadership, newfound courage to lean into discomfort and an awakened curiosity to learn more about themselves, their biases, as well as the lived experiences of others. Student Affairs Center for Leadership is hosting the event.
Learn more and register for Raven Solomon’s keynote talk
Kennedy Library Transformation Team to Host In-Person Town Hall Oct. 24
The Kennedy Library Transformation team will host a panel featuring representatives from the design and build firms Miller Hull and Hensel Phelps from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 24, in UU 220 (No. 65). This is an opportunity for students, faculty, staff and supporters to learn more about the library transformation project and how it is progressing. During a Q&A portion, panelists will answer questions submitted before the event as well as those from attendees. Other topics include the project scope, fall quarter plans and student resources available throughout construction. Snacks and drinks will be provided.
Submit a Question About the Kennedy Library Transformation
Cal Poly Corporation Board of Directors to Meet Oct. 26
The quarterly meeting of the Cal Poly Corporation Board of Directors is set for 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 26 in Room 350, on the third floor, of the Vista Grande Dining Complex. Written public comments for this meeting must be submitted by Tuesday, Oct. 24, via email to [email protected]. Anyone desiring to speak on a board item needs to complete and submit a Board Appearance Request to Holly Clark at least 24 hours prior to the start of the meeting. A speaker will be limited to three minutes. The meeting will be held in person; the Zoom session is for public viewing only. Access the Zoom meeting at calpoly.zoom.us/j/89448267776. If the audience exceeds the venue capacity, attendees will be directed to another room to view the meeting. The public comment period will begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. Speakers should arrive at 8:15 a.m. Additional information will be posted on the Cal Poly Corporation website along with the agenda five days before the meeting. Questions? Call Holly Clark at 805-756-1131.
Baker Forum to Showcase Cal Poly’s Six 2023 Honored Alumni on Oct 27
The biennial Baker Forum, set for noon to 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27, will showcase this year’s Honored Alumni Award honorees, many who attended Cal Poly during President Emeritus Warren J. Baker’s tenure. The event will be held at the Performing Arts Center with a reception to follow immediately after. Hosted by President Armstrong, the discussion will be moderated by Genesis Glover, a third-year biology student and Frost Scholar from the Bailey College of Science and Mathematics, and will highlight the impact of Learn by Doing on the six honorees' careers as well as advice they have for students and alumni today. Cal Poly students, faculty, staff, alumni, supporters, and community members are all invited to this special celebration that also honors the legacy of President Emeritus Baker, who led the university from 1979 to 2010.
Cal Poly Pier Open House Returns Oct. 28
The Cal Poly Pier Open House will take place Saturday, Oct. 28 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Avila Beach facility. Attendees can view tiny marine species through microscopes and learn about ocean phenomena. Interactive displays will offer insights into local marine environments and scientific studies conducted by researchers and students. Professors and students will be on hand to answer questions. The pier is just over a half-mile long. The event is a walking tour on a pier with steel grating — closed-toe walking shoes are required (safety rules prohibit flip-flops or heels). Pets must be left at home. All visitors will be required to sign a safety waiver prior to entering the pier. Attendees may take the tour at their own pace, and they are encouraged to bring cameras to take photos of seals, pelicans, sea creatures and the incredible coastal views.
Learn more about the Open House
Cal Poly Foundation Board of Directors to Meet Oct. 28
Cal Poly Foundation’s Board of Directors will hold its quarterly meeting at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 28. According to Cal Poly Foundation Policy 122, public comments must be emailed by 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20, to [email protected]. Obtain a copy of the agenda after Tuesday, Oct. 17 by emailing [email protected]. Staff and members of the public are encouraged to participate virtually and can request Zoom login information by registering with the Cal Poly Foundation Office. Registration as a non-speaking guest for electronic or telephonic meetings is required before the meeting. Once registered, login details will be provided. Requests should be emailed at least 72 hours before the meeting. For more information, contact the Cal Poly Foundation office at ext. 6-7147 or [email protected].
Distinguished Scholarship Award Nomination Runs Through Oct. 31; Recognizes Outstanding Faculty Efforts
Nominations are open for the 2023-24 Distinguished Scholarship Award that recognizes faculty with outstanding achievements in scholarship and/or creative activities, including writing, scientific research, the fine arts and many other fields. Faculty, students, staff and alumni can submit nominations The deadline for nominations is noon, Tuesday, Oct. 31. The Academic Senate reviews the nominations. Find the online nomination form at the Academic Senate webpage. Questions? Contact the Academic Senate Office at 6-1258 or email [email protected].
Fill out a Distinguished Scholarship Award nomination form
PayByPhone App can Simplify On-Campus Parking Payments
Parking on campus just got easier with PayByPhone for Apple or Android. The popular PayByPhone mobile app will join the long-standing ParkMobile as the preferred ways to pay at all meters as well as some daily parking lots. Both are available in the App Store, Google Play and the Windows Store. The parking apps are simple, intuitive technology that offer a cashless way to pay. PayByPhone and ParkMobile notify users before parking sessions expire and offer the ability to extend time limits. Both apps are also used across the city of San Luis Obispo, meaning that they come in handy on and off campus. To learn more, visit Transportation and Parking Services.
Cal Poly Now App Launches to Campus Community
Cal Poly Now, the go-to guide for Student Affairs events, clubs, organizations and other student-focused opportunities, is available as an app. There are over 400 clubs and organizations and thousands of events posted each year in Cal Poly Now. The Cal Poly Now app is designed to make it easier for the campus community to access these experiences, as well as follow clubs and organizations, participate in group chats and grow connections across campus. All current students, faculty and staff can access the app. Download to Apple or Android devices and sign in with your Cal Poly credentials.
Master’s Student Selected as Sally Casanova Scholar
Mya Hurtado, a higher education counseling and student affairs master’s student, was named a Sally Casanova Scholar through the California Pre-Doctoral Program, which is designed to increase the pool of potential CSU faculty by supporting the doctoral aspirations of CSU students. As part of the fellowship, Hurtado will be mentored by Daniel Almeida, associate professor in the School of Education. Scholars receive funding for activities, including participating in summer research experience programs at doctoral-granting institutions, graduate school application and test fees, and participating in conferences or symposia. The Merced, California, resident is a first-generation college student who earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in cognitive science from UC Merced. She began her graduate studies last fall. Hurtado is seeking a doctorate in higher education, so she can continue researching ways to improve student experiences, as well as promoting equity and inclusion on college campuses.
>Learn more about Sally Casanova Scholars
Recent Alumni to Receive Cal Poly Mentors Through Prestigious CSU Fellowships
Three recent alumni, now in doctoral programs, earned fellowships from the CSU to support their preparation for CSU academic careers. Jacob Campbell (M.S., Higher Education Counseling and Student Affairs, ’23), Victoria Siaumau (Child Development and Ethnic Studies, ’21) and Leah Hoogstra (M.S., Mathematics, ’23) were awarded California Doctoral Incentive Program fellowships. CDIP provides financial support, mentorship, professional development and grant resources. Campbell, attending The Ohio State University, is mentored by Daniel Almeida, associate professor in the School of Education. Joyce Lin, professor in the Mathematics Department, is mentoring Hoogstra, who is studying at Brown University in Rhode Island. Siamau, at UC San Diego, is mentored by Jane Lehr, professor in Ethnic Studies and Women's, Gender and Queer Studies. Anna Cahn, assistant professor in the Food Science and Nutrition Department, is mentoring another student attending UC Davis.
Joining a Global Fight Against Two Killers
In professor Scott Eagon's lab, chemistry student Sal Deguara works on modifying compounds that could one day be used in the global fight against Ebola and anthrax. The project has been ongoing for a few years and Deguara, a Frost scholar, is the latest student to be involved. Each student has contributed to creating and isolating these new compounds, with about a half-dozen compounds completed to date. “All of the molecules made by my students have never been made before,” Eagon said. “Sal is the first human to make the compounds he’s making. That’s the cool part.”
WOW! We’re Having Some Fun Now!
A week before fall classes began, thousands of new Mustangs gathered on campus to kick off a time-honored orientation tradition: Week of Welcome. The award-winning campus program, which stretches back to when President John F. Kennedy was in office, brings new students together with more experienced student mentors who introduce them to campus life and critical resources for a successful college career.
Read more and see photos of Week of Welcome at Cal Poly News
Safer Invites Faculty and Staff to Join its Fall Quarter Book Circle
Safer is committed to engaging every discipline on campus in the work of violence prevention and trauma-informed response and invites faculty and staff to its quarterly book circle featuring Peggy Orenstein’s award-winning, New York Times 2016 best-seller "Girls & Sex: Navigating the Complicated New Landscape.” "Drawing on in-depth interviews with over 70 young women and a wide range of psychologists, academics and experts, renowned journalist Peggy Orenstein goes where most others fear to tread, pulling back the curtain on the hidden truths, hard lessons, and important possibilities of girls’ sex lives in the modern world," said HarperCollins Publishers. Facilitated by Gillian Cutshaw, Safer’s campus advocate, and Ila Moncrief, coordinator of the Gender Equity Center, the book circle meets virtually from 12:10 to 1 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 26, Nov. 2, Nov. 9, and Nov. 26.
Volunteers Needed for Healthy Kids Lab Research Studies
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 old. The iBaby Study is examining 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 [email protected].
Professional Development Courses Available in October; Virtual Sessions are Live
Employee and Organization Development is offering October professional development courses through the Cross Campus Collaboration series. These live, virtual workshops are offered by Cal Poly and other CSU campuses. Each provides a unique opportunity for learning beyond campus borders in a convenient way for participants. Registration for the partial list of opportunities is on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Sustainability in the CSU: 101, Wednesday, Oct. 11; 11 a.m.-noon.
- The Lifelong Learner: Developing Your Intellectual Curiosity, Thursday, Oct. 12; 1:30-3 p.m.
- Avoiding Bias in Hiring, Thursday, Oct. 19; 10 a.m.-noon.
- Increase Productivity with MS OneNote, Wednesday, Oct. 25; 10-11 a.m.
- Decisions, Decisions! Creative Problem Solving and Decision-Making Techniques, Thursday, Oct. 26; 10 a.m.-noon.
- Designing Presentations for Results, Thursday, Oct. 26; 11 a.m.-noon.
See the full Cross Campus Collaboration Sessions
Service-Learning Faculty Fellowship Accepting Applications
The Center for Service in Action and the Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology invite faculty to apply individually or in teams to be part of the Service-Learning Faculty Fellowship for the 2023-24 academic year. Service learning combines learning goals and community service in ways that can enhance student growth and the common good. The fellowship supports expanding the number of service-learning courses offered across campus through faculty stipends and potential funding for future dissemination of this work. The deadline for applications is 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 23. Complete the online application form and submit it. Questions about the program? Email faculty liaison Anurag Pande at [email protected].
Apply for Service-Learning Faculty Fellowship by 5 p.m. Oct. 23
Stress, Home-Life Balance and Strategies for Financial Success Workshops Offered
University Personnel – Employee Wellbeing has worked with Cal Poly’s employee assistance program, LifeMatters, to offer synchronous well-being workshops. These include:
- Stress or Success: Thriving in a Chaotic World — Learn practical ideas on how to reduce stress right away as an overall lifestyle change. Learn causes of stress through understanding the art of resiliency, mindset and attitudes, habits and actions, and connections and relationships. Wednesday, Oct. 18, at 2 p.m.
- Living to Work or Working to Live: Finding Life Balance — What is life balance? Let go of the idea that there is a perfect balance between work and family. There are steps to take to bridge a gap between the two. Learn to identify values, review barriers to life balance, review goals setting and receive tips for life balance. Thursday, Oct. 26, at 2 p.m.
- Ten Steps to Financial Success — No matter how one defines financial success, the path to achieving it requires goal setting. This session includes 10 strategies for financial success including developing a spending plan, creating objectives and weighing insurance needs. Wednesday, Nov. 8 at 10 a.m.
Email Lisa Gray for more information on wellbeing workshops.
Peace Ambassador and Observer Virtual Training Oct. 19
The Office of the Dean of Students is offering a virtual Peace Ambassador and Observer training from 11:10 a.m. to noon, Thursday, Oct. 19. Campus organizations occasionally host events that draw protestors and demonstrators, making it essential to ensure the safety and peaceful conduct of these gatherings. Peace Ambassadors assist in safety matters during social action, protests and demonstrations, potentially engaging with participants to defuse situations when safe to do so, providing support, answering questions about logistics and safety, and facilitating communication with campus administration or law enforcement. Observers, on the other hand, play a neutral and impartial role, attending events where conflicts might arise, reporting objectively and inadvertently contributing to a calming effect through their presence. Interested staff and faculty can register for the training at https://forms.office.com/r/XHAN6yFkz0. The Zoom link will be sent out to participants before the event. Questions? Email the Dean of Students office at [email protected].
CTLT Opportunities Abound for Educators
The fall lineup of professional development offerings for campus educators (faculty and staff) from the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Technology is available. Workshops include:
- Building Toward Racial Equity.
- Hybrid Course Design.
- Assignment Design for Academic Integrity.
- Creating Accessible Documents.
- Creating Accessible PowerPoint.
- Creating Accessible Canvas Pages.
Also offered is an extended workshop to earn an ACUE Certificate in Effective College Teaching and a learning community on evaluating inclusive teaching and how that is recognized in faculty evaluations. Book circles include titles on equitable grading practices and teaching methods that promote belonging, growth mindset and resilience. There are also opportunities for academic writing support, an Equitable Grading Community of Practice, and on-demand resources for academic success.
Faculty Advisor Training Series is Oct. 13-20; Don't Miss Out
University Advising is offering a Faculty Advisor Training series that introduces undergraduate faculty advisors to academic advising core competencies. Click on the below links to register.
- FA 102: Assemble Your Faculty Advising Toolkit, Friday, Oct. 13.
- FA 103: Building Student Success through Faculty Advising, Friday, Oct. 20.
Questions? Contact Christina Wolfe-Chandler, advisor training coordinator, at [email protected].
Real-Time Occupancy Rates Available for On-Campus Study Spaces
The Kennedy Library Transformation team is launching the Waitz mobile app to help increase access to Cal Poly’s study areas and make it easier to track availability of on-campus spaces, during the university’s ongoing library renovation. The mobile app will allow students and members of the campus community to check real-time occupancy of the study spaces so they can save time and know before they go. Waitz launches the week of Oct. 9 with the C-7 and H-11 study structures and will expand to the Hub24 and Sierra Madre study spaces before expanding throughout the quarter to other existing temporary study locations. Using predictive analytics, the app relays the busiest times of day for specific study areas and forecasts how occupied the space will be by the week, day or even hour, letting users know if a study site is potentially busy. All collected information goes through a data anonymization process to remove personally-identifiable information. Occuspace, the parent company of Waitz, adheres to industry-leading best practices to ensure the protection and confidentiality of information gathered. Free downloads of Waitz are available from the Apple App Store or Google Play.
Take a Free Hip-Hop Master Class with Larry Southall on Oct. 27
The Theatre and Dance Department will host a free hip-hop master class featuring Larry Southall from 2:10-4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 27, in the Performing Arts Center Pavilion. This class is open to the public. Southall is a native of the Bronx, New York, and began working with hip-hop dance forms in the early 1980s. He teaches hip-hop at the University of Colorado Boulder, the Longmont Dance Theatre and Cleo Parker Robinson Dance School, both in Colorado. For more information visit the department website or contact Diana Stanton at [email protected].
Sign up for Larry Southall’s Free Hip-Hop Master Class
Learn by Doing Research Showcase at the Oct. 13 SURP+ Symposium
The annual SURP+ Research Poster Symposium will showcase 100 projects completed as part of Cal Poly’s Summer Undergraduate Research Programs, also known SURP. Student researchers from five colleges will present their findings from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13 at Engineering Plaza, between Engineering IV (No. 192) and Bonderson Engineering Projects Center (No. 197). Student poster presenters worked with faculty members and community partners last summer, resulting in student-faculty co-authored publications and university, industry and community collaborations. In addition, 46 Central Coast community college researchers – from C6 campus as well as Allan Hancock, Cabrillo, Cuesta, Monterey Peninsula, Moorpark, Oxnard College, Santa Barbara City and Ventura colleges – will share their research. The symposium is jointly organized by the Bailey College of Science and Mathematics, the College of Agriculture, Food & Environmental Sciences, the College of Engineering, the College of Liberal Arts, the Orfalea College of Business, and the Office of Student Research in collaboration with LSAMP B2B California Central Coast Community College Collaborative (C6). Additional support is provided by the Division of Research and CSU Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) in STEM Program at Cal Poly.
Learn more about the SURP+ Research Poster Symposium
Mini Graduate School and Research Opportunities Resource Fair Oct. 13
A graduate school and research opportunities fair featuring recruiters from three states as well as Cal Poly and UC Santa Cruz will be held from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13 at Engineering Plaza, between Engineering IV (No. 192) and Bonderson Engineering Projects Center (No. 197). The fair is for students interested in graduate programs or learning how to get involved in research activities in preparation for a master’s program. Learn about doctorate, master’s and certificate programs offered at Cal Poly or partner graduate school institutions as well as resources to support undergraduate and graduate research activities. The fair will be held in conjunction with the annual SURP+ Research Poster Symposium, a showcase of over 100 research projects done by Cal Poly students and faculty last summer and nearly 50 Central Coast community college student researchers. Off-campus recruiters scheduled to attend are from: Oregon State University; Colorado School of Mines; University of Colorado Boulder; and UC Santa Cruz Computer Science and Engineering Department. Cal Poly resources include: Career Services; Graduate Education/Graduate Admissions; Office of Student Research/BEACoN/CSU LSAMP; Extended Professional and Continuing Education; School of Education; and the six colleges. Questions? Email [email protected].
National Transfer Student Week! Kickoff is Monday Oct. 16 on Dexter Lawn
The Transfer Center and departments across campus are celebrating National Transfer Student Week — Oct. 16-20 — a week full of building community, connecting transfers with campus resources and sharing transfer pride with the campus. The kickoff is Monday, Oct. 16, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Dexter Lawn.
Check out full list of events on Transfer Center website
There’s Still Time to Sign Up For Book and Learning Circles
Upcoming Book and Learning Circles from Employee and Organization Development are still open:
Read and discuss books over three to four sessions:
- “Inclusion on Purpose” by Ruchika Tulshyan [
- “Atomic Habits” by James Clear
Learning Circles involve watching a video or other media with a discussion during a single session:
- “Intersectionality at Work” by Michelle Gadsden-Williams
For book and learning circles at capacity, add names to the waitlist. To view all book and learning circles, and to register, visit the Book and Learning Circles webpage at learnandgrow.calpoly.edu.
October Safer Events Highlight Dating Violence Prevention
Join Safer in October for Dating Violence Action Month 2023: “Pathways to Partnerships.” Relationships are a journey — built on communication, trust and continuous growth — and Safer’s offerings all month hope to collectively build toward a healthier standard. October also falls within the first six weeks of the new school year, traditionally considered a time of increased risk of sexual violence on college campuses nationwide. Safer’s focus will spotlight the intersection between dating and sex, particularly on college campuses. Highlighted events include weekly informal Lunch and Learns at various lawns across campus, weekly collaborative booths, a partnership with the Cal Poly Swimming and Diving Program, collaborative community events and continuous education on Instagram @calpolysafer. For more information on Dating Violence Action Month, including event registration and a downloadable Zoom background, visit Safer's website.
October is Breast/Chest Cancer Awareness Month
University Personnel aims to raise awareness of the prevalence and risk factors of breast cancer; many men and non-binary people prefer the term chest cancer. Risk factors include being a woman, age, smoking, obesity, drinking alcohol and lack of regular exercise. Symptoms vary, and sometimes there are no symptoms. Black women are more likely to die from breast cancer than women of other ethnic/racial groups. To promote early detection, conduct monthly self-exams and get an annual screening by your health care provider. It is important to know your body so talk with a medical provider if something changes. Women who inherit a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene are much more likely to develop breast (and ovarian) cancer. If you are concerned that you could have a mutation, the first step is to collect family cancer health history and share with a doctor. All Cal Poly health plans include breast/chest screenings. Contact your health provider or LifeMatters for more information on prevention and screening. Contact Lisa Gray with questions about LifeMatters at [email protected].
CSU’s Got Talent Webcast: ‘Being the CEO of Your Life’; Watch it Live on Oct. 24
Paula Boggs, veteran, former assistant U.S. attorney, and general counsel at Starbucks, will present “Career Management: Being the CEO of Your Life” from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 24. Boggs will share her personal journey, taking charge of her own happiness, friendships and financial well-being. Attendees will gain valuable insights and inspiration through her story with a wide array of switchbacks, setbacks and successes. Register and attend this and other free webcasts using this Zoom link. Can’t make it? View previous CSU’s Got Talent recordings on the CSU Learning Hub. Employee and Organization Development is offering the live webcast as part of the CSU’s Got Talent series.
Tune in to the Live Oct. 24 webcast
Additional Temporary Study Structures Open
Three new temporary structures opened Sept. 21 to increase study and service opportunities for students during Kennedy Library’s two-year transformation. Located near the library building, the temperature-controlled structures provide comfortable seating and study spaces, power outlets, Wi-Fi, and access to restrooms and nearby Mustang Shuttle stops. The structures, one in the heart of campus on Via Carta near the intersection with North Perimeter Road (Parking Lot H-11) and the other two on California Boulevard near the intersection with North Perimeter Road (Parking Lot C-7) will be open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. These structures offer additional study and gathering spaces to study and join the six other temporary study sites on campus.
Go Online to Get Four At-Home COVID-19 Tests — Free!
Residential households can order one set of four free COVID-19 at-home tests again. There is a limit of one order per residential address, the Sept. 25 announcement said. Each order includes four individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests. COVIDTests.gov has more details about at-home tests. Orders will ship starting Oct. 2. Order free at-home tests from USPS.com. Before discarding expired COVID-19 test kits, check the FDA website to see if expiration dates have been extended.
Help Protect Campus Livestock by Not Trespassing Into Animal Enclosures
The College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences reminds all campus visitors, including students, faculty and staff, not to go inside animal units — including fenced enclosures — without permission. Faculty, staff and students are actively engaged in classes, labs and research as well as in the ongoing care of the college’s livestock in these areas. It is essential for the health and safety of all that outside exposure is limited. No-trespassing signs are posted at all campus animal units making it clear where viewing can occur in a safe manner. To request a tour of a livestock operation, email [email protected].
Cal Poly Toastmasters Becomes New Club; Meetings Held Noon on Wednesdays
Cal Poly Toastmasters is an officially chartered club and currently stands strong with 20 members. The club is part of Toastmasters International, the well-known nonprofit educational organization to help individuals enhance public speaking and leadership skills. Enjoy a supportive and positive community that empowers members to develop skills through an engaging and interactive program. All are invited you to connect, network and grow! No commitment is required. Cal Poly Toastmasters meets from noon to 1 p.m. on Wednesdays in the main Facilities building, No. 70, Room 110. Email Emily Jenson to learn more at [email protected].
Make a Splash in Your Fitness With ASI Aquatics
Join ASI Aquatics’ Masters and Intermediate Swim classes to enjoy expert swim instruction at the state-of-the-art Cal Poly Recreation Center Lap Pool. Whether you are wanting to improve your technique and endurance with Intermediate Swim or challenge yourself through water interval training with Morning and Evening Masters Swim, there is a class for you. Registration is open.
Work Continues on Tech Park Expansion
Cal Poly broke ground on a 16,200-square-foot expansion of the Technology Park this summer. The project includes a new two-story building adjacent to the existing Mount Bishop Road complex. Building officials anticipate opening the new facility next August. The structure will offer a blend of fully finished spaces primed for immediate occupancy, as well as customizable areas for tenant improvements. The expanded Tech Park will continue to offer an environment where faculty, students and industry professionals can seamlessly collaborate, and it will provide space for startups and opportunities for sponsored research and development. For tenants, the facility will house advanced infrastructure with high-speed internet access. It is being built to LEED Silver certification standards, which reflect the campus’s commitment to sustainable building practices. Reflective of the Cal Poly student body degree paths, the Technology Park focuses on attracting businesses and startups in the public health, cybersecurity, agriculture, and biotechnology and software industries. Pictured, from left, are U.S. Congressman Salud Carbajal, D-Santa Barbara, with Cal Poly Project Manager Daniel Contreras and Jon Broyles, corporate safety officer with AMG and Associates. Carbajal visited the work site Sept. 6.
Experimental Guitarist Matt Sargent to Present Oct. 13 Recital
The Music Department will host guest artist Matt Sargent for a unique guitar concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13, in Room 218 of the Davidson Music Center. The versatile artist — a composer, guitarist, recording engineer and music technologist — will perform new guitar works with electronics. The program will include works by renowned postminimalist composer Eve Beglarian, Connecticut composer and critic Robert Carl, as well as Sargent’s original works. Based in upstate New York, Sargent is an assistant professor of music at Bard College. His experimental compositions grow from interests in resonance and recursive systems, computer models of intelligence and the making/breaking of long-form patterns. He recently recorded and premiered James Romig’s “The Fragility of Time,” a new concert-length work for electric guitar. Last December, he premiered “Splectar,” a new work by classical composer Carl for retuned electric guitar and live electronics.
Read more about the Matt Sargent concert
British Actor to Bring C.S. Lewis to Life at the PAC Oct. 14
Fellowship for Performing Arts presents C.S. Lewis On Stage: Further Up & Further In at 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, in Harold Miossi Hall. Award-winning actor Max McLean’s tour de force performance captures C.S. Lewis’ magnetic personality, astonishing eloquence and laugh-out-loud wit to create an onstage experience venturing deep into the soul of one of the most influential thinkers of the past century, who died in 1963 at age 64. Using Lewis’ own words, this dazzling, multimedia theatrical event explores what convinced Lewis of the divinity of Christ; why the BBC gave him a huge audience to deliver wartime talks that would become Mere Christianity; how Adolph Hitler influenced the writing of The Screwtape Letters; and how Lewis’s profound insights on prayer, heaven and the Second Coming of Christ influenced his fantasy novels “The Chronicles of Narnia.” See the production Center Stage calls, “Thoroughly engrossing ... visually stunning experience!”
Get your tickets to C.S. Lewis On Stage on Oct. 14
OperaSLO Brings Broadway and Opera’s Greatest Hits to PAC Pavilion Oct. 15
Opera San Luis Obispo presents “Wait I’m Singing What?” at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 15, in the Performing Arts Center Pavilion. OperaSLO will kick off “Broadway and Opera Road Trip” with an interactive performance concept where the audience has a say in what’s sung. With a list of Broadway and opera’s greatest hits to choose from, patrons will cast votes for their favorite tunes. Join six of OperaSLO’s resident and guest vocalists accompanied by pianist Paul Woodring for this intimate recital. Each $37 ticket also includes wine tasting and catered appetizers for an all-inclusive experience.
Get Tickets to “Wait I’m Singing What?” on Oct. 15
L.A. Dance Troupe BODYTRAFFIC Coming to the PAC on Oct. 18
Cal Poly Arts presents BODYTRAFFIC on Wednesday, Oct. 18 at 7:30 p.m. in Harold Miossi Hall. Captivating audiences by their Los Angeles grown, contagious and lyrical vivacity, BODYTRAFFIC is hailed as one of the most musical and talked about contemporary dance companies nationwide. Led by Artistic Director Tina Finkelman Berkett, the company brings to life the timeless vocal and melodic styles of Peggy Lee, James Brown and Dean Martin through an “absolutely joyous and oh-so-entertaining” evening of dance. BODYTRAFFIC’s performances reverberate through a dynamic tension of music, harmoniously alternating in time with the dancers. Says LA Dance Chronicle: “BODYTRAFFIC gave a performance that confirmed why it is considered to be one of Los Angeles’ finest. The cast was in top form and much of the choreography was excellent.” This event has a 20% staff and faculty discount available.
Get Tickets to L.A. Dance Troupe BODYTRAFFIC on Oct. 18
Music Faculty Showcase Set for Oct. 20 During Mustang Family Weekend
Several new faculty members in the Music Department will be featured in a Faculty Showcase recital at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20, in Room 218 of the Davidson Music Center (No. 45). The event is part of Mustang Family Weekend and will feature several applied music faculty recognized across the region for their expertise in solo and chamber ensemble performance. They will present intimate works that highlight their artistic achievements. For information on the recitalists, visit the Music Department’s faculty website. The new faculty members are cellist Megan Chartier, soprano Jennifer Freye, clarinetist Sarra Hey-Folick, pianist Janet Joichi, saxophonist Anthony Yi, Inga Swearingen, a mezzo-soprano, singer-songwriter and Stephen Nutt, who plays tuba. The recital is open to all. Admission is $10 general, and $5 for students at the door.
Read more about the Oct. 20 Faculty Showcase
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.
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Find the latest student-focused campus events from your favorite Student Affairs programs and services by visiting Cal Poly Now. Download the new Cal Poly Now app on your Apple or Android device to easily find events and activities, follow clubs and organizations, and network and grow connections across campus.