Academic Affairs
Cal Poly Expands Regional Degree Pathways with Cuesta and Allan Hancock Colleges
Cal Poly’s regional Bachelor’s Pathways are expanding following the success of the sociology program at Allan Hancock College. Applications are now open for the fall 2026 programs at Cuesta College and Hancock, including new programs in liberal studies and business administration. Also known as 2+2 programs, these pathways bring Cal Poly curriculum, faculty and student services into community college settings, allowing accepted students to earn Cal Poly degrees by completing upper-division courses at partner campuses.
Campus Health and Wellbeing
Cal Poly Launches Medical Vending Machine Program
Campus Health and Wellbeing (CH&W) recently launched a medical vending machine program, with the aim of increasing access to over-the-counter products for students and employees. All told, CH&W launched the program with four medical vending machines that offer a range of products including: allergy, cough and cold medicines; topical and gastrointestinal products; pain and fever relievers; personal hygiene items; sexual and reproductive health products; and more. The vending machines accept debit and credit card payment and are located at Poly Canyon Village, yakʔityutyu, the UU and Kennedy Library.
Athletics
Cal Poly’s Beloved Mustang, Chase, to Retire After More Than a Decade
The Cal Poly community celebrated the retirement of Chase the mustang during the halftime show of the Nov. 22 football game. Since 2014, Chase has welcomed fans and led the charge onto the field at the start of each game. Following this season — his 12th — he will ride into a well-deserved retirement at the Oppenheimer Family Equine Center, grazing in the pastures and enjoying his time with students. The new Mustang mascot will be introduced in the 2026 season. Cal Poly alumnus Robin Baggett (Business Administration, ’73) and his wife, Michelle, donated Chase to Cal Poly in 2013.
Biological Sciences Department
‘California Trees’ Wins National Outdoor Book Award
Backcountry Press recently announced that “California Trees: A Field Guide to the Native Species,” co-authored by botanist Matt Ritter and ecologist Michael Kauffmann, has been awarded the 2025 National Outdoor Book Award (NOBA) in the Nature Guides category. This prestigious recognition celebrates excellence in outdoor writing and publishing — and affirms the enduring importance of California’s native tree flora. Selected for its clarity, scientific rigor and exceptional design, “California Trees” offers a vibrant, accessible guide to all 95 native tree species found across the state.
Cal Poly Partners
Campus Dining and Cal Poly Partners Earn National Marketing Awards
Campus Dining and Cal Poly Partners marketing teams earned top honors in the 2025 Education Digital Marketing Awards. Campus Dining received a Gold Award — the competition’s highest recognition — for its Dish weekly newsletter and a Silver Award for its Instagram channel. Cal Poly Partners also brought home a Gold Award for its Conference and Event Planning website. These recognitions highlight the teams’ creativity and commitment to showcasing Cal Poly’s Learn by Doing spirit through innovative digital storytelling and engagement.
Cal Poly Partners
Support Mustangs in Need This Giving Tuesday Through Feed Cal Poly
This Giving Tuesday, Dec. 2, Cal Poly is calling on the Mustang community to make a difference through Feed Cal Poly — a universitywide initiative dedicated to combating student food insecurity. Developed by Cal Poly Partners and Campus Dining, Feed Cal Poly provides an easy way for students, alumni, faculty, staff and supporters to donate meals, funds or food items to ensure all Mustangs have access to the nourishment they need to thrive.
College of Liberal Arts
‘Intertidal’ Call for Submissions
“Intertidal" is Cal Poly’s annual, student-led, literary and arts publication that showcases the creative work of students, faculty, staff and alumni from all six colleges and Cal Poly Maritime! This year’s theme, “Depths,” will compile works capturing the depths of human experience in the present moment. We want to extend a formal invitation to our Cal Poly community, welcoming you to submit your visual and/or literary art to our journal. If you have any questions, please email our team at intertidal@calpoly.edu and follow us on Instagram @calpolyintertidal!
Information Technology Services
Connecting with the CSU Zoom Network
On Nov. 25, Cal Poly’s Zoom service joined the Chancellor’s Office Zoom environment to create a unified CSU collaboration experience. This integration supports collaboration with the Solano campus and other CSU partners. Employees can connect through a shared directory, message colleagues and assign cross-campus hosts for meetings and webinars. To protect student privacy, students will be removed from the CSU-wide directory. Faculty and staff must use a student’s email address to start a Zoom chat.
Poly Plant Shop
Poinsettia Faculty and Staff Presale on Dec. 5
A holiday presale for all faculty, staff and students is being held 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Poly Plant Shop. This year’s presale will feature red and white poinsettias, including small plants in 4-inch pots to medium poinsettias in 6-inch pots. Discounted prices range from $7 to $10. Also, the public Poly Plant and Floral Holiday Sale on Dec. 6 will feature additional plants for $8 to $12, as well as student-made flower arrangements, wreaths and holiday gifts. Cal Poly products such as barbecue sauces, jams, honey and chocolate will also be available.
Student Affairs
There's Still Time to Contribute to Mustang Holiday Gift Drive by Dec. 5
It’s the final stretch 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 toward gift fulfillment via the Center for Service in Action’s direct giving link. We already have 317 gifts fulfilled of 500 requested, so please help us make this worthy goal. To pick up a gift tag, visit one of the Giving Tower locations on campus: the Recreation Center Lobby (No. 43), 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. 5.
Music Department
Cal Poly Choirs to Present Ninth Annual ‘Holiday Kaleidoscope’ on Dec. 5
The Cal Poly Choirs will present the annual “Holiday Kaleidoscope” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, in the Performing Arts Center. Cal Poly’s four choirs will collaborate with two high school choirs; an orchestra of students and guests will perform on several selections and accompany a carols singalong; and Cal Poly’s popular a cappella groups Take it SLO and That’s the Key will sing a jazz arrangement of a Christmas song. Scott Glysson will conduct the Cal Poly Choirs, and University Organist Paul Woodring will accompany the choirs on piano and organ.
Music Department
Cal Poly Symphony to Perform with the University Jazz Band on Dec. 7
Cal Poly’s Symphony and University Jazz Band will team up for the first time at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, in the Performing Arts Center to present Dmitri Shostakovich’s “Suite for Jazz Orchestra No. 2”; “Cinco Salsa,” a salsa version of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5; Antônio Carlos Jobim’s “Wave” for jazz band, flutes and strings; Claude Debussy’s “Arabesque” as arranged by Jack Matthias; Duke Ellington’s “Three Black Kings” with Ana Nelson, saxophone soloist; “A Walk to Remember” by Jamaal Baptiste, jazz band director; and George Gershwin’s “An American in Paris,” and more! David Arrivée directs the symphony.