Serving Hispanic Students

Asegurando su éxito

Our Commitment to You

Creating a welcoming environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging is our top priority — and we're dedicated to enhancing campus with programs, resources, and support services that resonate to help you succeed. On this page, you'll find available resources and learn more about Cal Poly's path to official designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution.

Becoming a Hispanic-Serving Institution

Cal Poly is making steady progress toward becoming a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). Our commitment includes ensuring equitable access, enriching academic and ethnic cultural experiences, and fostering a holistic sense of belonging for Latinx/e students and families.

This past fall, Cal Poly hosted its first HSI Symposium. At her keynote presentation, labor icon Dolores Huerta asked the audience to remember their common humanity, take care of each other, vote and remember their power.

more about HSI

Learn by Doing in Action

Learn by Doing is at the core of our curriculum, both in and outside of the classroom. And it's central to the success of our Latinx/Latine students.

Two high school students observe a lobster in a touch tank at the Cal Poly Pier with a student ambassador

Mentoring

On a crisp morning in June, a group of high school students from Tulare met Cal Poly student mentors on the beach in Cayucos to search for shellfish.

Learn about the project

The Día de los Muertos / Day of the Dead celebration is a Latinx multi-day holiday that revolves around celebrating and remembering ancestors and friends

Honoring

"Our Día de los Muertos event was the first time since I arrived on campus that I felt connected to my Latinx culture," said second-year agricultural communications student Daniela Rodriguez-Ruiz.

Read about the event

Christina Benitez Ruiz leans on a railing and smiles on a sunny day outside on campus.

Caring

Biology student Christina Benitez Ruiz plans to help low-income minority groups gain better access to health care and has been honored for it.

More about Christina

Academic Support

Cal Poly academics are rigorous and hands-on. There are a wide range of academic support services such as tutoring, advising, presentation and essay help, and more to ensure that everyone has the same opportunity to thrive.

Multicultural Engineering Program

The Multicultural Engineering Program (MEP) provides academic, personal and professional support services to underrepresented engineering students. Through academic advising, tutoring, a study and computer lab open 24-hours, networking and mentorship opportunities and more, MEP is a resource that can help you build community and feel supported throughout your academic career.

Learn more about MEP

Exterior of the Bonderson Engineering Project Center.

Additional Academic and Cultural Resources

Academic Advising First-Generation Student Resources Student Academic Services Spanish Debate Team Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers Latinx Business Student Association Chicanx Latinx Faculty Staff Association Latinos in Agriculture Career Services

When I first came to Cal Poly, I was scared I would have a hard time transitioning and making friends because I knew absolutely no one. Poly Cultural Weekend helped establish the foundations of many of my friendships. During WOW, I also got involved with Cross Cultural Experience, which allowed me to create even more vital connections and friendships and opened numerous doors to me.

Diana Fierro Gonzalez

Architecture major

Diana was born and raised in Tampico, Mexico, and later moved to Brownsville, Texas. on the U.S. - Mexico border. She serves on the Executive Board of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and is a member of Cal Poly's Triathlon team.

Clubs and Community

A variety of places, groups and organizations on our campus provide a supportive environment for you to connect and build your community.

Latinx Cultural Association

The newly-established Latinx Cultural Association provides a safe and welcoming environment for all to learn, share and experience Latinx culture and practices. Meetings and events are a great place to meet new people and create community.

Connect on Instagram

Latinx Cultural Association members sell fruit at Culturefest.

Student Diversity and Belonging

Student Diversity and Belonging is a coalition of campus centers that work together to provide a place of community and create a culturally rich environment.

Cultural Clubs

Getting involved with one of our many student-run cultural clubs are a great way for you to make connections and find your community.

Greek Organizations

Diverse social fraternities and sororities such as Gamma Zeta Alpha or Lambda Sigma Gamma can help you form lifelong friendships while serving your community.

Cultural Housing Communities

While living on campus, you can choose to live in residential learning community with others who share your field of study, career aspirations, personal interests or cultural identity.

First-year

Continuing, transfer and graduate

Juan Vergara

English Major | Spanish Major

Coming to Cal Poly was definitely a challenge due to the disparity in its ethnic demographic. Finding Latinx identifying friends was hard, but through the Multicultural Center, Spanish Debate Team, and Latinos in Agriculture I was able to connect with many people and be a part of multiple inclusive communities. Taking the time to experience and try out different groups and clubs definitely helped me find an environment in which I feel comfortable and appreciated.

Cultural pride and Events

Our campus groups, clubs and other organizations create a rich environment of annual and seasonal events that celebrate and educate the campus community on Latinx culture and history.

CultureFest is a free annual event with live performances, ethnic food and activities designed to promote and celebrate cultural awareness.

The Cross Cultural Experience of our Week of Welcome (WOW) consists of activities, workshops and more community building events.

Imagen y Espíritu Ballet Folklórico de Cal Poly is a dance club that focuses on traditional Mexican regional dances and performs at campus and local community events.

Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers of America and civil rights activist speaks to our campus community.

Polycultural weekend is an annual event that introduces academic, cultural and social resources to our newly accepted students.

Día de los muertos (Day of the Dead) is a Latinx multi-day holiday that revolves celebrating and remembering ancestors and friends.

Cal Poly Salsa is a student-run dance club that is passionate about sharing the art of salsa dancing and music to the world.

In addition to the main commencement ceremony, we host seven cultural ceremonies to honor our diverse student communities.

Political and social activist, author, and educator Angela Davis was the keynote speaker at the annual Change the Status Quo Social Justice Leadership Conference sponsored by The Center for Service in Action.

The Students of Color Summit is a day long conference that unites students of color to explore issues and think critically about our social and moral responsibilities.

8 Photos

Francis Villablanca, Ph.D.

Distinguished Professor | Biology Sciences

I was once a transfer student, who eventually found a passion for research and teaching as I worked my way through school. Back in those days no one knew I was bicultural, bilingual, and I was letting them butcher my last name. It was a liability. Today, I unabashedly express my identity. My intent is to help students recognize that I understand where they are coming from, while advocating for Latinx and Indigenous communities, and the transformative role of education. By being present I hope they can see some of themselves in me, and some of themselves at this institution.

¡Adelante!