News
Updates to University Standing Committees
As part of its commitment to effective shared governance and responsible stewardship of resources, Cal Poly periodically reviews its standing committees. Following a recent review, several committees that had fulfilled their original purpose have been dissolved, while others have been realigned to divisions better aligned with their work. We thank the committee chairs and members whose dedicated service has made lasting contributions to Cal Poly. An updated list of university standing committees is available on the Office of the President website.
Faculty and Staff
Sharpen Your Leadership Skills with Principles of Supervision
Employee and Organization Development (EOD) is offering a new session of the Principles of Supervision series — an interactive program focused on core supervisory skills that drive performance, engagement and retention. Whether you’re new to leading or want to refresh your approach, this series empowers you with proven strategies. Join us 9 a.m. – noon Wednesdays, Sept. 2 – Oct. 14. Invest in your professional growth. Space is limited! To register, email learnandgrow@calpoly.edu and confirm your commitment to attend each session.
Join the Express Interest List
Faculty and Staff
August Staff Learning Community (SLC): Building High-Performing Student Assistant Teams
Join the Staff Learning Community (SLC) 11:10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Aug. 19 for “High-Performing Student Assistant Teams.” Explore how effective supervision throughout the student employment lifecycle empowers students to grow into confident contributors. Participants will learn strategies for hiring and onboarding, setting expectations, delegating work, coaching and developing student talent, and fostering accountability. Walk away with the tools to build a high-performing student team while creating meaningful experiences for your student employees.
University Announcements
Submit Your Fall Crowdfund Application Today
Cal Poly clubs, organizations, programs and departments are invited to submit an application for this year’s Fall Crowdfund Cohort. Crowdfunding is a great platform to raise money for special projects, events, conferences and competitions. To qualify, projects must be able to provide their organization’s account number and be sponsored by a Cal Poly faculty member or advisor.
The 2026 Fall Cohort application due dates and project run dates are as follows:
- October project application due by Aug. 31, 2026. Projects run Oct. 1 – 31.
- November project application due by Sept. 30, 2026. Projects run Nov. 2 – 30.
Space is limited, so submit your application today!
News
Construction Commences on Kristin’s Grove
Cal Poly and the family of Kristin Smart are proud to announce the creation of Kristin’s Grove, a new memorial space located near the university’s Dexter Lawn and designed as a lasting tribute to Kristin’s life, legacy and bright spirit. Completion is anticipated by the beginning of the upcoming fall semester.
Read More About Kristin’s Grove
News
Kai Poke Opens in 1901 Marketplace
Kai Poke is now open in 1901 Marketplace, replacing Picos. What began as a seasonal offering at Poly Choice in fall 2025 quickly gained popularity before moving to Vista Grande. Strong guest response, continued demand and feedback from Campus Dining’s annual campus survey helped lead to its expansion into a permanent location at 1901 Marketplace. Choose from signature or build-your-own bowls, poke burritos and sides, with options including ahi, tofu, pork belly teriyaki and chicken katsu. Kai Poke is now available for lunch and dinner at 1901 Marketplace.
News
Birds Respond Differently to Environmental Change — and Their Traits Explain Why
A sweeping new Cal Poly study of North American birds reveals that environmental change does not affect all species equally and that a bird’s traits can explain whether populations rise or fall as local conditions change. The peer-reviewed research in the journal Current Biology, titled “Avian traits link divergent population responses to environmental change across North America,” analyzing more than half a million bird captures collected across North America over nearly 30 years, found that the same bird species can fare very differently depending on where they live.
News
$1 Million Awarded to Charles and Claire Jacobson Animal Health Center
The Joseph W. Tripiano Charitable Fund, a fund of the Community Foundation for San Benito County, awarded a $1 million grant to Cal Poly’s Charles and Claire Jacobson Animal Health Center, providing transformational support for student learning and animal care. The funding will enhance hands-on learning by enhancing opportunities in classroom, lab and clinical settings that will be used daily by students in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences’ new Animal Health Center. Students will have access to advanced diagnostic equipment and will be able to perform forensic examinations on large animals using new hydraulic tables.
Student Success
Seniors Build Learning Tools for Lucia Mar Students with Complex Medical Needs
Every learning tool in Heather McColley’s medically fragile classroom at Oceano Elementary School must meet students where they are. Two Cal Poly mechanical engineering senior project teams took on that challenge with a push-button garden box and sensory den built to bring more moments of response and discovery into the school day. McColley, who has taught for 22 years, works with Lucia Mar Unified School District students with complex medical needs in the district’s only classroom of its kind. She wanted equipment that could adapt to her students’ needs and give them clearer ways to engage with stimuli.
Faculty and Staff
Vista Meadows Homes Available to Faculty and Staff
Eligible faculty and staff have an opportunity to apply to purchase a home at Vista Meadows, the new 34-home community located at Grand Avenue and Slack Street. Homes feature three floor plans ranging from 1,600 to more than 2,100 square feet. Interested employees are encouraged to learn more about this homeownership opportunity and submit an application online. The SESLOC Mortgage Assistance Program is available to eligible buyers and features no down payment or private mortgage insurance requirement.
Catastrophic Leave
Brandi Santillan, custodian in University Housing, has qualified for catastrophic leave. To donate leave credits to help Santillan remain in full-pay status during an extended leave of absence, please contact catastrophic leave coordinator Esther Wilkinson at (805) 756-7781 or eswilkin@calpoly.edu.
Retirements
Christine Reed Retires After More Than 30 Years of Service at ITS
After more than 30 years of dedicated service to Cal Poly, Christine Reed is retiring from Information Technology Services (ITS). Throughout her career, Christine has been a cornerstone of the ITS office, providing essential administrative support and helping keep daily operations moving. Her professionalism, institutional knowledge and willingness to support others have made a lasting impact on ITS and the broader campus community. Please join ITS in congratulating Christine on her well-earned retirement and wishing her happiness, new adventures and all the best in her next chapter.
Campus Announcements
Fall Parking Permits Now Available
Faculty and staff may now purchase fall semester parking permits. Permits are valid Aug. 17 through Jan. 15, 2027. Fall staff motorcycle and fall staff evening permits will be available Aug. 17. Employees can purchase permits online through the Parking Portal.
Learn More About Parking Permits
Campus Announcements
Classroom Audiovisual: Day One Confidence Starts Here
Did you know ITS offers Classroom AV Orientations? Walk into your first day of classes feeling confident with classroom technology. Most classrooms share a standard AV setup, so once you learn one, you’ll be familiar with the technology in many rooms across campus. Don’t wait until day one to figure it out! Schedule a quick, no-pressure walkthrough before the semester starts.
Campus Announcements
Mustang Reuse Now Available to Cal Poly Community
Mustang Reuse, Cal Poly’s new online peer-to-peer exchange platform, is now available to the campus community. Students, faculty and staff can use their calpoly.edu email to create an account, browse available items or list personal goods for exchange, including clothing, electronics, books and household items. The platform helps keep usable goods in circulation and out of landfills while providing a safer way for people to coordinate in-person exchanges. Faculty and staff should note that state property cannot be listed and must be processed through appropriate university channels.
Campus Announcements
New Online Ordering and Design Services at Cal Poly Print and Copy
In response to feedback from a campuswide survey and student focus groups, Print and Copy now offers online ordering and design services to better support faculty, staff and campus departments. The new system allows users to upload files, request quotes and place print orders online. The design services provide creative support for flyers, posters and other print-ready materials. The expanded services make it easier to move print projects from concept to completion. Visit the Print and Copy website to learn more and place an order.
Events
Cal Poly Music Department Announces 2026-27 Events
Check out the Music Department’s 2026-27 events season! In addition to a chronological listing, you can also view through these event categories:
- Arab Music Ensemble
- Choral
- Free
- Jazz
- Soundings
- Special Events and Faculty Recitals
- Student Opera Theatre
- Symphony
- Wind Band
Cal Poly faculty and staff receive a 20% discount for any Music Department event sold through the ticket office. Call (805) 756-4849 for more information.
News
Training Ship Golden Bear Returns from Final Summer Sea Term Voyage
Throughout Training Ship Golden Bear’s final Summer Sea Term, cadets stood watch on the bridge, operated engineering systems, maintained the ship, practiced emergency response and developed the leadership skills required in the maritime profession. Cadets also gained experience navigating coastal waters and the open ocean, conducting mooring operations and maintaining propulsion and auxiliary systems around the clock while traveling from Vallejo to San Diego, Papeete (Tahiti), Suva (Fiji) and Honolulu. These port visits highlighted the importance of cultural awareness and relationship-building in a profession that spans every corner of the globe.
News
Superintendent Returns Home for Historic Five Sisters Race
For Rear Adm. Eric C. Jones (Ret.), superintendent of Cal Poly Maritime Academy, this summer’s Five Sisters Race was more than an offshore sailing competition. It marked a return to U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Eagle, the iconic tall ship that helped shape his Coast Guard career, during the race’s first running in 50 years. Sailing aboard Eagle, Jones helped the crew earn a second-place finish in the Five Sisters Race — part of the Sail250 celebration commemorating America’s 250th anniversary.
News
Cal Poly Maritime Academy Sailing Makes Historic Debut
In the 2026 Pacific Cup, Cal Poly Maritime Academy cadets made history as the first undergraduate collegiate crew to compete in the event’s 46-year history. They finished third in their division after racing more than 2,000 nautical miles from San Francisco to Kauaʻi.