Campus and Community
MLK Award Winner Talks Community and Making an Impact
Earlier this year, Preston Allen co-accepted the MLK Legacy Award with student Adanna Okiwelu in recognition of their work to strengthen Cal Poly and the broader community. Allen is the retired associate vice president of Student Affairs and executive director of University Housing. In addition to his on-campus leadership, he also played a key role in reactivating the San Luis Obispo County chapter of the NAACP and in forming Cal Poly’s Black Legacy Weekend. He has focused on community and building relationships since he began his career in higher education as a resident assistant at Michigan State University.
Cal Poly Swim Club
Swim Club Makes History with Triple National Championship Sweep
Cal Poly Swim Club made history at the 2026 College Club Swimming National Championships, sweeping the men’s, women’s and overall titles for the program’s first national championship. Founded in 2017, this student-run team delivered a dominant performance, breaking 37 team records, setting seven new College Club Swimming records and earning 36 podium finishes. Cal Poly rose above the competition in every category. This landmark victory cements the program as a powerhouse and marks the beginning of a new era for the club.
Safer
Denim Decorating with Safer on April 29
Faculty and staff are invited to join Safer and the Craft Center for denim decorating on Wednesday, April 29. Tote bags will be provided, or you can bring your own denim. Participants will have the choice of block printing or embroidery as their decoration method. Space is limited and sign-ups are required for two sessions in the Craft Center: 11 a.m. to noon and noon to 1 p.m. We can't guarantee everyone their first choice of session due to space limitations, but we'll do our best! Snacks will be provided. Questions? Email Gillian Cutshaw at gcutshaw@calpoly.edu for more information.
Academic Affairs
Attend Faculty Advising Semester Conversion Workshops
As Cal Poly prepares for semester conversion, effective advising will be critical for helping students navigate new requirements, timelines and pathways. Academic Affairs is offering virtual Faculty Advising Toolkit workshops designed to equip faculty with practical strategies and tools to support student success. Sessions focus on how to use available data and campus tools to support effective, consistent advising, along with applied casework to address real student scenarios.
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FA 102: Assemble Your Faculty Advising Toolkit (April 24, 10:10 a.m. – noon)
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FA 103: Building Student Success through Faculty Advising (May 1, 10:10 a.m.– noon)
Employee and Organization Development
CSU’s Got Talent: ‘Promoted into Incompetence’ Webinar on April 30
Why do technically skilled employees sometimes struggle after being promoted into leadership roles? Join CSU’s Got Talent on April 30 from 10:00–11:00 AM for an insightful webinar with Dr. David E. Fraser, based on his forthcoming book Promoted into Incompetence. This engaging session introduces the concept of the “competence trap” and offers practical, evidence-based strategies to better assess leadership readiness, strengthen mentorship pipelines, and improve promotion systems for long-term success.
College of Liberal Arts
Center for Expressive Technologies Seed Grant Applications Open Until May 1
Center for Expressive Technologies (CET) seed grants are open to faculty and staff from all departments until Friday, May 1. Any project studying or using technology creatively to improve the human experience is eligible for up to $4,000 for student assistants, travel or additional compensation to support your research or creative activity, plus an additional $1,000 available for studio costs. Projects can utilize CET’s new studio space, where users can experiment with the latest projection and sound, exhibit art, video, audio or mixed-reality experiences, or conduct live performances and community engagement. Questions? Email CET Director Matthew Harsh at mharsh@calpoly.edu.
Office of Research
Attend Intellectual Property and Patents Discussions on May 7
Cal Poly faculty are invited to meet with TreMonti Consulting, the Office of Research’s technology transfer consultants, on Thursday, May 7. Faculty inventors can learn more about intellectual property and the patenting process by attending a virtual information session Thursday, May 7, from 11:10 a.m. to noon via Zoom. Holly Meadows will also host confidential project consultations. Sign up to schedule an appointment. Questions? Email techtransfer@calpoly.edu or visit the Technology Transfer webpage.
Faculty and Staff Housing
Bella Montaña Units Available for Purchase
Bella Montaña is conveniently located near the Cal Poly campus at the northwest corner of Highland Drive and North Santa Rosa Street. Two units are currently available within this faculty and staff housing community. Available options include a two-bedroom, one-bath unit offering 1,068 square feet, a one-car garage and a private deck as well as a three-bedroom, three-bath unit offering 1,327 square feet, a one-car garage and a patio. The community is within walking distance of campus, public transportation, grocery stores and restaurants.
Academic Affairs
Paul J. Zingg
Paul J. Zingg, who served as president of Chico State from 2004 to 2016, passed away on April 9 at 80. Before joining Chico State, Zingg was provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs at Cal Poly and served as dean of the College of Liberal Arts. While at Chico State, he presided over the university’s evolving identity, championed an early commitment to sustainability, and guided the opening of new facilities and programs. The CSU was better for having him as part of our community. Our condolences to his family and the many colleagues and students whose lives he touched.
Facilities Management and Development
Campus Marks Construction Milestones with Two Topping-Out Ceremonies
Cal Poly’s Accelerated Master Plan marked milestones with topping-out ceremonies at the Student Success Center on April 3 and a student housing facility on April 14. The housing facility is scheduled to open in fall 2026 and the Student Success Center in fall 2027. The topping-out ceremony marks completion of structural framing, with a final beam raised and topped with an evergreen tree. Representatives from the yak titʸu titʸu yak tiłhini Northern Chumash Tribe participated in the housing ceremony. The housing facility uses modular construction and will house just over 500 students. The Lynda and Stewart Resnick Student Success Center will expand student support and connect students to resources.
College of Liberal Arts
Take a Master Class with Musical Theatre Artists in Residence on April 23
The Cal Poly community is invited to a musical theatre master class by Jesse J. Sanchez on Thursday, April 23, at 11:10 a.m., and a sharing of highlights of “Sueños: Our American Musical” on Friday, April 24 at 7:10 p.m. Both events will be held in the Black Box Theatre (45-212). Sanchez — composer, lyricist and music director of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival — and director/choreographer Marissa Herrera are artists-in-residence with the Theatre and Dance Department. They are working with students from Cal Poly and PCPA in Santa Maria to develop a movement language for “Sueños.”
Music Department
Pianist W. Terrence Spiller to Perform ‘Suites and Dances’ Recital on April 24
Pianist and music Professor Emeritus W. Terrence Spiller will give a recital titled “Suites and Dances” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 24, in the Pavilion of the Performing Arts Center. The program of dance-inspired repertory will include J.S. Bach’s “Partita No. 2 in C Minor,” BWV 826; Béla Bartók’s own transcription of his orchestral work, “Dance Suite,” BB 86b; Maurice Ravel’s “Valses nobles et sentimentales,” three Mazurkas by Frédéric Chopin; and Isaac Albéniz’s “Rondeña” and “Triana” from his “Iberia,” Book 2.
Cal Poly Green Campus
The Loop Launches on April 24
Be among the first to experience The Loop, Cal Poly’s new thrift store, at its first-ever pop-up during Earth Week on Friday, April 24 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Building 82. Open to students, staff and faculty, The Loop offers free secondhand items like clothing, dorm essentials and kitchenware — keeping usable goods out of the landfill. Stop by to browse, take what you need and donate what you don’t. Save money while reducing waste and supporting a more sustainable campus. Additional pop-ups will be held May 1 and May 8 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. For updates, follow Cal Poly Green Campus on Instagram.
Campus Health and Wellbeing
RSVP Today for AFSP 101 on April 28
Join Campus Health and Wellbeing (CH&W) for a “lunch and learn” with The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). Enjoy Mr. Pickles sandwiches and hear ways you can provide mental health support for your community. Hear more on AFSP’s mission and volunteer opportunities and learn about campus resources for your classroom, lab and office spaces. Join CH&W on Tuesday, April 28, from 12:10 p.m. to 1 p.m. in the Health Center Conference Room (27-11), or virtually via Zoom. To RSVP, complete the registration form. Questions? Contact Alexis Becerra at abecer22@calpoly.edu.
Performing Arts Center
SLO Symphony Presents ‘Mystique and Wonder’ on May 2
SLO Symphony presents its season finale concert, “Mystique and Wonder,” on Saturday, May 2, at 3 p.m. in Harold Miossi Hall. Embark on an exhilarating musical adventure filled with energy and storytelling. Pianist Ilya Yakushev returns to San Luis Obispo with Rachmaninov’s “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini.” The concert will also feature Berlioz’s “Roman Carnival Overture” and Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Scheherazade.” This event has discounts for students and youth ages 12 and younger.