News
Fall Into a Season of Change with Cal Poly Magazine
The new issue of Cal Poly Magazine showcases big changes across campus and beyond. Take a look inside the Madden Football Center, set sail at the Cal Poly Maritime Academy and travel the world with students pursuing international scholarships. Plus, meet students building the future with their fifth-year architecture theses, learn about a historic season for Mustang Athletics and check out an alumnus illustrating bestselling children’s books. Pick up a copy on campus or read the new issue online.
News
Milestones Magazine: Celebrating Bailey College Legacy, Innovation and Impact
Honoring important Bailey College of Science and Mathematics legacies, a special commemorative magazine issue, Milestones, highlights landmark events celebrating the college’s history and features new developments that will empower students for generations to come. Read about the 25th anniversaries of the Cal Poly Pier and the Student Research Conference. Learn about the decade-long impact of the Frost Fund, the university’s first femtosecond solid-state laser, comprehensive North American bird research, a new Ultracold Atoms Lab, analysis of the use of AI in public health and much more.
Faculty and Staff
October Staff Learning Community (SLC): Effective Communication
Join the Staff Learning Community (SLC) on Oct. 21 from 11:10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for “Effective Communication.” Learn about why communication breaks down and how it directly shapes culture, trust and performance. Attendees will learn practical tools for setting clear expectations, making commitments, navigating conflict and giving actionable feedback they can immediately apply at work.
Learn More and Join the Oct. 21 SLC
Faculty and Staff
Panopto Workshop Scheduled for Oct. 23
Panopto is Cal Poly’s video platform for Canvas, making it easy for faculty, staff and students to create, upload, share and view videos. Panopto can be used for recorded lectures, screen recordings, student video assignments, captions and Zoom recordings connected to Canvas courses. The CTLT is offering an online workshop on this universitywide tool on Friday, Oct. 23, 11 a.m. to noon. Learn more and explore available resources on the CTLT Panopto webpage.
Faculty and Staff
Learn About the Stress-Sleep Correlation
Join Empathia on Oct. 21 to learn why sleep is not optional — it is as important as food, water and breathing. Getting better sleep often requires making small changes to our daily routines. Content includes benefits of sleep and effects of sleep deprivation.
University Announcements
Custom GPTs Will Retire Feb. 11; Prepare to Move to Plugins
OpenAI will retire custom GPTs on Feb. 11, 2027. Users can now access an in-product option to convert eligible GPTs to plugins, and creation of new custom GPTs ends Oct. 26. GPT creators should identify essential workflows, preserve sample prompts and migrate and test replacements before retirement. GPTs using custom actions or external integrations may require additional work. Review OpenAI’s Custom GPT Retirement and Migration FAQ for details. Learn more about ChatGPT Edu in Cal Poly’s Knowledge Base.
University Announcements
Nominate Faculty for the Distinguished Scholarship Award by Fri. Oct. 23
Nominations are open through Friday, Oct. 23 at 11:59 p.m. for Cal Poly’s 2026–27 Distinguished Scholarship Award, honoring faculty with exceptional achievements in scholarship or creative activity. Learn more about the award and prior recipients on the DSA webpage. Self-nominations are allowed. Faculty, students, staff and alumni are invited to submit nominations using this online form. Questions? Email the Academic Senate office at academic-senate@calpoly.edu.
University Announcements
Could You Spot a Phishing Email?
Phishing emails and text messages are becoming increasingly convincing. Before clicking a link, opening an attachment or responding to an unexpected request, pause and think. Does the message create urgency or ask you to sign in, verify your account or share sensitive information? Even messages that appear to come from a trusted source can be fraudulent. Trust the context, not the sender. If something doesn’t feel right, don’t just delete it. Report it. You can also explore this month’s CSU Cybersecurity Awareness Month webinars.
Learn How to Report Phishing and Spam
Catastrophic Leave
Scott Gray, Custodian, AFD-UH-Custodial Operations, has qualified for catastrophic leave. To donate leave credits to help Gray 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 to request a donation form.
Faculty and Staff
Faculty Can Schedule a Title IX/Safer Presentation
Faculty are invited to learn ways to support student survivors in the classroom and workplace by attending a 15-minute presentation hosted by Christina Tutt, care manager for the Civil Rights and Compliance Office (CRCO) and Gillian Cutshaw, a confidential advocate with Safer. Departments can use the booking link to schedule a 15-minute presentation on Tuesdays or Fridays from 11-11:15 a.m. or 11:35-11:50 a.m. Christina and Gillian will share the presentation at a department meeting or another gathering.
Faculty and Staff
Apply for a Noyce School of Applied Computing Grant
The Noyce School of Applied Computing has opened its annual call for proposals for research and curriculum development projects. Proposals are due Nov. 2, and should be submitted on the Office of Research InfoReady website (InfoReady). Interdisciplinary projects are highly encouraged, and all proposals must have at least one faculty member affiliated with the Noyce School of Applied Computing.
Campus Announcements
Water Infrastructure Project Reaches Major Milestone
Cal Poly’s $14 million Water Infrastructure and Improvement Project (WIIP) reached a major milestone this month as a new reservoir, water line, pumphouse and controls system came online. WIIP replaces the aging 1-million-gallon Reservoir 1 with a new 2.1-million-gallon reservoir, adding more than 1 million gallons of storage capacity. Located below the Poly P and above the North Mountain residence halls, the new system also includes a pumping station, redundant transmission line and upgraded energy-efficient electrical and control systems. The improvements increase water capacity, improve fire flow compliance and strengthen system resiliency to support future campus growth.
In Memoriam
Cal Poly Cat Program Says Goodbye to Kiwi, a Very Special Sanctuary Cat
Beloved shelter cat Kiwi crossed the Rainbow Bridge earlier this month after more than 12 years with the Cal Poly Cat Program. Often called “King” of the shelter, Kiwi served as an ambassador for the program, welcoming new cats, kittens and volunteers to campus each year. Kiwi came to the shelter in July 2014 after being shot with a BB gun. His injuries required constant care, so he became a long-term resident. We loved caring for this sweet-natured boy over the years. We’re accepting donations in his honor. Mark “in memory of” and designate Kiwi. New fosters are also welcome.
Events
Cal Poly Choirs to Present ‘Joyful’ Concert on Oct. 17
The choirs will present “Songs of Joy and Remembrance” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, in the San Luis Obispo United Methodist Church. Acting choral directors Meredith Brammeier and Julie Dana will lead the varied program. Cantabile will premiere Brammeier’s “Hark to the Wind of the World,” the University Singers will sing Paul Basler’s joyful “Alleluia” with Music Department Chair Alicia M. Doyle on horn, the Chamber Choir will perform “Dance, Dance My Heart” by Emma Lou Diemer, which encourages dancing through life with abandon, and PolyPhonics will close the concert with Hans Bridger Heruth’s “Joy.”
Events
Cal Poly ‘The Art of Jazz’ Concert on Oct. 23
The Jazz Ensembles will present “The Art of Jazz” concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, in the Performing Arts Center. The program will explore the diverse styles that have shaped jazz performance, from swing and hard bop to Latin American and Caribbean traditions, soul and funk. The University Jazz Band and four jazz combos will perform, and the Jazz Lab Band will make its performance debut at the concert. The group is a “little big band,” with six to eight horns and a rhythm section. Jamaal Baptiste directs the bands, and Dylan Johnson directs the combos.
Events
CelloGayageum to Perform on Oct. 27 at Spanos Theatre
Founded by Austrian cellist Sol Daniel Kim and Korean gayageum virtuoso Dayoung Yoon, the duo will merge the depth of Western classical music with the mesmerizing elegance of Korean guk-ak (traditional music). This event has student tickets and a 20% Cal Poly staff and faculty discount available.
Events
Attend the Elevator Pitch Competition Oct. 28
This year’s competition brings together students from every Cal Poly college for a campus-wide celebration of innovation with a spooky Halloween twist. Finalists will represent each college, with a few mystery wildcard entries in the mix. It’s anyone’s game, and your vote helps decide the $500 Audience Choice winner. Come cheer on your college, participate in a costume contest and watch the next generation of entrepreneurs take the stage for a night of frighteningly good ideas and Halloween fun!
Athletics Schedule
Wednesday, Oct. 14
- Men’s soccer vs. Utah Valley, Mustang Memorial Field, 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 16
- Volleyball vs. California Baptist, Mott Athletics Center, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 17
- Volleyball vs. UC Riverside, Mott Athletics Center, 4 p.m.
- Men’s soccer vs. Oregon State, Mustang Memorial Field, 7 p.m.
Student Success
Bella Horne Named 2026 Women Offshore Horizon Award Honoree
Junior maritime transportation major Bella Horne received the 2026 Women Offshore Horizon Award, bestowed by the Women Offshore Organization during its annual convention in Houston. The honor is presented to students, cadets and maritime professionals with fewer than five years of experience who are already making a positive impact while inspiring those around them. The organization also recognized alumna and Women Offshore Conference keynote speaker Capt. Kate McCue, who received the Wave Maker Award, honoring an individual who made a lasting impact on careers at sea through mentorship, leadership, and a commitment to creating opportunities for others.