College of Architecture and Environmental Design
Students Showcase Functional Art at Record-Breaking Vellum Furniture Competition
In early November, students from the College of Architecture and Environmental Design flexed their fabrication skills during the record-setting 22nd annual Vellum Furniture Competition. The largest in university history, this year’s competition featured a jaw-dropping 262 entries, including tables, chairs, light fixtures, toys and other experimental design solutions. Vellum challenges students to dream up an original piece of furniture, source materials and build it. During a public exhibition of the pieces, a panel of judges, including faculty, architects, furniture designers and artists, evaluate each entry on functionality, individuality and beauty.
Cal Poly Tech Park
Ribbon-Cutting for New Technology Park Building Scheduled for Feb. 5
Cal Poly Partners will host a ribbon-cutting celebrating the opening of the second building at the Cal Poly Technology Park Feb. 5 at 10 a.m. The event will take place at the technology park, 1 Grand Ave., Building 84, in San Luis Obispo. The 16,200-square-foot facility is designed to enhance collaboration among faculty, students, staff and third-party partners while advancing the Learn by Doing mission. The building marks phase two of the technology park, which is planned to expand into a 120,000-square-foot campus focused on innovation and workforce development. The event will include remarks from leadership, networking and self-guided tours.
Career Services
Faculty Invited to ‘Career Connected Classrooms’ Sessions
Help your students turn learning into career success! Join Career Services on Wednesday, Feb. 11, for “Career Connected Classrooms,” a session designed to help faculty easily integrate career readiness into their courses. Discover quick, practical tools — including Big Interview, Big Résumé, Career Education Modules in Canvas and the Graduate Status Report — and take a guided tour of Career Services. RSVP for 11:10 a.m. to noon or 2:10 to 3 p.m., or to receive the materials by email. Questions? Email Tammy Martin.
University Personnel
Now Accepting Nominations for the 2026 Trustee Wenda Fong and Daniel Fetterly Staff Award
Cal Poly is accepting nominations for the 2026 Staff Awards, funded by Trustee Wenda Fong and Daniel Fetterly. The program offers three individual $25,000 awards and one $25,000 team award (up to five members):
-
Affordability Advocate and Driver of Transformative Change
-
Fostering an Inclusive and Equitable Learning Environment
-
First-Generation Belonging and Community
-
Trailblazing Team
Nominees must be current CSU staff in good standing with accomplishments since Jan. 1, 2025. Eligible employees include permanent, full-time staff of the university, Cal Poly Partners or ASI. Deadline to submit nominations is Jan. 28 at 5 p.m. via the HR website.
Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology
Academic Departments Invited to Host Accessible Course Materials Workshops
CTLT’s Faculty Associates for Accessible Course Materials are available to facilitate Essential Skills for Accessible Course Materials workshops during department meetings or for other faculty groups. These hands-on sessions support faculty in meeting the April 24, 2026, Title II ADA instructional materials accessibility compliance deadline, as outlined by the CTLT, and focus on accessibility best practices, including headings, alt text, accessible links and Canvas tools (Access4All and TidyUp). Departments may request a workshop by completing the accessibility skills workshop request form.
Associated Students, Inc.
Power Up Your Winter with ASI Fitness
Winter quarter brings a fresh lineup of energizing ASI Recreational Sports fitness classes designed for all experience levels. Whether you’re beginning a new wellness routine, advancing your training or staying active with friends, there’s something for everyone! Explore specialized fitness classes, learn how to make reservations for select sessions and find the right fit for your goals. ASI can't wait to help you connect with the classes that power your fitness goals!
Kennedy Library
Call for Proposals: ‘Voces de Cal Poly’ Speaker Series 2026
Cal Poly Library invites proposals for “Voces de Cal Poly,” a new speaker series highlighting creative, cultural and community projects that center Latinx/e experiences. Held monthly February through May 2026, the series fosters belonging, visibility and dialogue through creative scholarship and storytelling. Students, student organizations, faculty, staff, artists, researchers and community members are encouraged to apply. Selected presenters will receive a $500 honorarium. Proposals due Jan. 26, 2026, at 8 a.m. Questions? Contact voces@calpoly.edu.
Cal Poly Foundation
Board of Directors to Meet Feb. 7
The Cal Poly Foundation Board of Directors will hold its quarterly meeting at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. In compliance with foundation policy 122, public comments must be emailed to calpolyfoundation@calpoly.edu by 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30. The agenda is available after Feb. 2 upon request via email. Attendees must register for Zoom login details via email at least 72 hours prior to the meeting. Login details will be provided to each registrant to join as an attendee. For more information, contact the Cal Poly Foundation office at (805) 756-7147 or via email.
Black Academic Excellence Center
Celebrate MLK Jr.’s Legacy on Jan. 23
The Cal Poly community is invited to the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration on Friday, Jan. 23. The event begins with a march from Dexter Lawn at 3 p.m. followed by a reception from 3:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. and the main program from 4 to 5 p.m. The celebration honors King’s legacy and his vision for equality, justice and peace. The MLK Legacy Award will be presented to two individuals who promote love, hope and campus unity. No RSVP is needed for faculty and staff, but seating is limited. Students should RSVP via Cal Poly Now.
Theatre and Dance Department
Announcing the Community Launch of ‘Mawtini’
A free opening reception of “Mawtini: Arab American Narratives of Home and Belonging” will be held 3 to 6 p.m. Jan. 24 in Kennedy Library’s first-floor gallery. "Mawtini” is a community oral history project amplifies the rich histories and contributions of Arab Americans on the Central Coast. Visitors can read and listen to interview excerpts, engage with interviewees and experience theater drawn from the narratives. There will also be a roundtable discussion with Cal Poly professors, students and community members representing a variety of ethnic communities. The installation will remain in Kennedy Library through March 20.
Music Department
Simone Keller to Present ‘Just for a Thrill’ Piano Recital on Jan. 27
The Music Department will host Simone Keller for a piano recital at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, in Room 218 of the Davidson Music Center. Keller’s program was inspired by Lil Hardin Armstrong’s “Just for a Thrill,” composed while she was married to the famed Louis Armstrong. Keller studied at the Zurich University of the Arts in Switzerland, and some of her recordings have been featured on best-of lists by The Boston Globe and The New York City Jazz Record. Admission to the recital is free.
Performing Arts Center
Grand Kyiv Ballet Brings ‘Snow White’ to Life Feb. 1
Grand Kyiv Ballet presents its production of “Snow White” on Sunday, Feb. 1, at 1 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center in Harold Miossi Hall. The ballet “Snow White” takes the vibrant style of the Disney animated movie and sets it to the musical motifs of Polish composer Bogdan Pavlovsky. This performance of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves” promises to be a magical experience for audiences of all ages. Don't miss your chance to see these world-class dancers in action as they tell this beloved story through the beauty and grace of ballet.