Cal Poly Report - Sept. 23, 2009
News
Cal Poly Cracks Down on Underage Drinking
Concerned about a recent spate of alcohol-related incidents and injuries, Cal Poly officials on Sept. 16 announced a series of aggressive short-term steps aimed at discouraging excessive partying and promoting responsible student behavior. “Because of several recent events involving alcohol abuse in the neighborhoods near campus, we decided on Wednesday that we needed to immediately and aggressively step up our efforts to ensure that the new academic year gets off to a good start,” said Cal Poly Provost Robert Koob. University Police, in collaboration with the San Luis Obispo Police Department and Alcohol Beverage Control, will increase police presence, DUI checkpoints and other alcohol-related enforcement efforts, including undercover activities, on campus and nearby neighborhoods.
More on alcohol crackdown
President Baker Outlines Progress, Challenges in Coming Year
Cal Poly President Warren J. Baker outlined progress and challenges facing Cal Poly during the opening of Fall Conference on Sept. 14. Cal Poly has a reputation for excellence, the largest undergraduate enrollments in architecture, engineering and agriculture in the CSU, and the highest graduation rate in the CSU System, he noted. But the university needs to work on developing funding sources not dependent on the state. "Unfortunately, the state’s recent cuts for the CSU were merely prologue," the president told university faculty and staff. "California’s budget difficulties are not going away anytime soon."
Read the full text of President Baker's remarks to faculty and staff
Campus Q&A - Anderson Pool
Q: When will the Anderson Pool renovation be complete?
A: The Anderson Pool renovation will be complete within two weeks. The pool is 50 meters by 25 yards and boasts 18 short course lanes and eight long course lanes. It also has one three-meter diving board and one one-meter diving board. Additional concrete pads are in place for future installation of another three-meter and another one-meter diving board. The pool walls are
constructed of stainless steel panels which makes the pool very fast. It also has an overflow gutter system.
Faculty and Staff
Professor Offers Prescription
for California's San Joaquin Delta
Professor Charles Burt, director of Cal Poly's Irrigation Training and Research Center, wrote a guest column published in the Sacramento Bee on Sunday, Aug. 30. Burt, an international expert on irrigation issues and techniques, outlined problems facing the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. "What does it mean to restore health to the Delta?" he asked.
Read Professor Burt's guest column in the Sacramento Bee
Longtime Agriculture Leader
Joseph J. Jen Retires from Cal Poly
Former agriculture Dean Joseph J. Jen retired from Cal Poly on Sept. 1 after decades of leadership on campus. Jen returned to Cal Poly in 2006 after a five-year assignment as undersecretary of research, education and economics at the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. Prior to his USDA appointment, he had served as Cal Poly's dean of agriculture from 1992 to 2001.
Read more about Jen's Work and Retirement
Trish Stewart Retirement Reception Set for Sept. 24
Trish Stewart, Academic Skills Center coordinator and academic adviser at Cal Poly is retiring after 36 years of service. Stewart began her career at Cal Poly as a placement interviewer and supervisor in the Placement Office. She became coordinator of the Learning Assistance Center when it was created by a joint collaboration between Academic Affairs, Robert E. Kennedy Library and Student Affairs Division. A reception in her honor will be held from 1-3 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 24 in the Kennedy Library Atrium.
Did You Know
Did you know that the Rec Center is open during the Rec Center expansion? The Rec Center main gym was retrofitted for the expansion. The new, fully functional fitness and weight room is 10,000 square feet - 3,000 square feet larger than the previous weight and fitness space. It features areas for stretching, cardio and weight lifting. In addition, the upper gym floors have been resurfaced to allow for prime usage for basketball, volleyball and indoor soccer. Memberships are available for all faculty and staff, and payroll deductions are available. For more information about Rec Center memberships, visit http://www.asi.calpoly.edu/membership.
Campus Announcements
Faculty Asked to Check E-mail Before Line Dropping Students
Faculty are asked to check e-mail before line dropping or otherwise penalizing anyone for not attending class. To reduce the spread of illness, students are being asked to stay away from class if they believe they have the flu and to e-mail their instructors immediately. When students return, they may not have doctors' notes confirming that they were sick. Please accept their word for it. The administration is specifically asking flu victims not to take up the time of health professionals unless they require additional care. For more information, call the Academic Programs & Undergraduate Education office at ext. 6-2246.
Earth and Soil Sciences Has Moved
Over the summer, the Earth and Soil Sciences Department office moved from the Science Building to the Graphic Arts Building, Room 100. All labs and faculty offices were moved to make way for the new Center for Science and Mathematics Building. Visit the Earth and Soil Sciences Web site for a complete list of office numbers. For more information about the Center for Science and Mathematics Building, visit http://www.cosam.calpoly.edu/science_center/index.htm. For questions, call ext. 6-2261.
Statistical Consulting Now Available
The Statistics Department provides a statistical consulting service to the entire university community to facilitate research design and data analysis in a wide variety of disciplines. The consulting service is intended to support projects and research of Cal Poly faculty and staff and to provide assistance for students working on senior projects and graduate research. Visit http://www.calpoly.edu/~stat/consulting.html for complete information.
Make Your Event Official - Put it on the Master Calendar
Cal Poly's master calendar is the central point of coordination and communication for scheduling activities on campus. Scheduling protocols for campus activities conducted by faculty, staff, individual students or state-sponsored student programs are outlined in Campus Administrative Policy 144.4 and should be registered with the campus master calendar. To register an activity or event, submit an online request form to University Scheduling at http://universityscheduling.calpoly.edu/request.html. The form also allows the user to indicate whether they want the event publicized on Cal Poly’s Events Web site. Read Campus Administrative Policy 144.4 at http://policy.calpoly.edu. Visit the University Scheduling Web site for more information
Open Enrollment Ends Oct. 9
The 2010 Benefits Open Enrollment period for Cal Poly State employees began Sept. 14 and ends Oct. 9.
Open Enrollment allows benefits-eligible employees not already enrolled in a health or dental plan to do so. For those already enrolled, Open Enrollment provides the opportunity to change health or dental carriers, enroll or cancel Flex Cash participation, and add eligible dependents. All changes made during Open Enrollment are effective Jan. 1, 2010.
This is also the time to enroll (or re-enroll) in the Health Care Reimbursement and Dependent Care Reimbursement Account plans for the 2010 tax year. These plans provide a perfect opportunity to pay for out-of-pocket health and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars. To continue participation, you must re-enroll each year during Open Enrollment.
The Benefits Newsletter, available on the Human Resources Benefits Web site at http://www.afd.calpoly.edu/HR/benefits.asp?pid=3, includes details about the Blue Shield NetValue plan now available in San Luis Obispo County, 2010 health plan premium rates, and instructions for making Open Enrollment changes.
A Benefits Vendor Fair is scheduled for Oct. 1 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the UU in Chumash Auditorium. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield HMO will hold health plan information sessions, including Blue Shield NetValue sessions at 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and noon.
All Open Enrollment Worksheets must be received in Human Resources as soon as possible but no later than 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9 in order to be processed. Questions can be directed to Human Resources at ext. 6-5436.
CTL Hosts Junior Faculty Learning Community
The faculty learning community offers participants an opportunity to network and collaborate with junior faculty from across the university. Coordinated by the Center for Teaching and Learning, the goal of the program is to enhance teaching and scholarly engagement on issues associated with the responsibilities of being a junior faculty member. Participants in the community will work collaboratively to build individual and group learning outcomes. Selected participants are led by a facilitator and paid a $500 stipend upon successful completion of the program. The community is open to full-time, probationary faculty in tenure-track positions at the rank of assistant or associate professor as of September 2009. Selected participants need approval from their department chair. The program runs from October to June 2010.
Applications are due Monday, Sept. 28, at 4 p.m. Selected participants will be notified Wednesday, Sept. 30.
For more information or an application, go to http://www.ctl.calpoly.edu/faculty/faclearning_community.html or e-mail ctl@calpoly.edu.
Cal Poly Corporation Board Meeting Set for Sept. 25
The Board of Directors of the Cal Poly Corporation will hold a regular meeting Friday, Sept. 25 at 8:30 a.m. in the Corporation Administration Building, Room 124. This is a public meeting. For more information about this meeting or to obtain a copy of the meeting agenda, contact Bonnie Murphy, executive director, Cal Poly Corporation at ext. 6-1131.
Online Course Delivery Session Set for Sept. 28
Join the growing online education field by learning to provide courses online. Add value to a resume by learning techniques, technology and methods while developing additional income potential. Taught online by Cal Poly instructional designer Tonia Malone, this course emphasizes the feedback and mentoring that studies have shown fosters a successful online educational experience. Get hands-on training in Blackboard while focusing on developing one online course from a sound pedagogical perspective within a 10-week asynchronous delivery.
Throughout “Designing a Course for Online Delivery”, Malone will provide ongoing support assistance through weekly assignments. Participants will receive vital instructor feedback and peer interaction required for success. Intended for beginner/intermediate Blackboard users. Don’t get left behind; delivering your course online is the wave of the future. Register online now at www.continuing-ed.calpoly.edu. Class begins Sept. 28.
Carol MacCurdy to Give Talk on Her Fulbright Experience Oct. 5
English Professor Carol A. MacCurdy will give a presentation on her experiences as a Fulbright Scholar teaching American Literature at the University of Pécs in Hungary. The talk is set for Monday, Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. in the Graphic Arts Building, Room 104. MacCurdy taught classes in the Department of English Literatures and Cultures and lectured throughout Hungary in 2009.
Weight Watchers is Enrolling New and Continuing Members
Weight Watchers is enrolling new and continuing members at Cal Poly. Weight Watchers will provide a free informational meeting Wednesday, Oct. 7 at noon at Einstein's Bros. Bagels in Poly Canyon Village. Weight Watchers provides professionally trained staff, program materials developed by experts in the field of nutrition and weight management, and confidential weigh-ins. For more information, contact Joy Harkins at jharkins@calpoly.edu.
Passings/In Memoriam
Passings: Foods Professor Bob Noyes
Food Science Professor Emeritus Robert Noyes, 68, of San Luis Obispo passed away Aug. 18 after a 19-month battle with brain cancer Tuesday. Professor Noyes taught in the food science department at Cal Poly from 1974 to 2001. He was also 39-year member of the Institute of Food Technologists, and was made a fellow of the institute in thanks for his service.
Read the obituary in the SLO Tribune
Events
See 'Flight' Performance in Spanos Theatre Tonight
The American Place Theatre’s Literature to Life production of “Flight” written by Sherman Alexie, will be performed Sept. 23 in Spahos Theatre at 7 p.m. The event is performed by Robert Spaulding, adapted and directed by Wynn Handman.
Details on "Flight"
See 'Bellydance Superstars'
Sept. 27 in Spanos
Cal Poly Arts presents Bellydance Superstars in a dance performance Sept. 27 in Spanos Theatre. The mystique of bellydancing has captivated audiences for centuries. Today, bellydance has gained worldwide popularity as the next big dance craze. Bellydance Superstars features the world’s most accomplished dancers, bringing their passionate and exotic art to the stage.
More on the Bellydance Superstars performance
Local Performing Artists in 'Bravo SLO' Sept. 26
Mark your calendars for the ultimate performing arts showcase experience, "Bravo SLO." Free and open to the public, this unique Performing Arts Center event features a spectacular array of performances by local performing arts organizations. Save the date, and come see the magic of the performing arts unfold.
More on "Bravo SLO"
State Employment Opportunities
#101958 – On-Call Custodian, Pool Position, University Housing, Housing and Business Services, up to 12 positions available, temporary on-call through May 31, 2010, $13.20-$19.81/hour. Open until filled. Review begins: Oct. 1