July, 2001                                                               Contact: Bob Ambach
                                                                                             (805)-756-1131.

                                                                                                                                                           
Cal Poly Sets Up New Auxiliary To Develop University Housing

Cal Poly has established a separate nonprofit auxiliary organization to handle the development of student, staff and faculty housing.

The Cal Poly Housing Corp. will assume responsibility for the extensive program already begun by the university to expand on-campus student housing and aid employees in the difficult task of finding affordable housing.

The new entity held an organizational meeting July 20 to adopt bylaws and install directors and officers.

The corporation is the university's third auxiliary, sharing that status with the Cal Poly Foundation and Associated Students Inc., the student-body organization. Auxiliary status, approved by the California State University, lets the corporation provide support services the university isn't prepared to offer or isn't allowed by state regulation to provide. It operates under university control. Cal Poly President Warren Baker has asked the agency to lead the proposed development of faculty and staff housing and a second phase of student housing to follow the project now under construction. The housing program is called for in the new campus master plan approved by CSU trustees in March.

"The Cal Poly Housing Corp. will play a crucial role in the master plan's implementation," Baker said.

Two campus sites on Highway 1 planned for faculty and staff housing will be leased by the university to the housing corporation on a long-term basis.

The Housing Corp.'s board of directors includes campus administrators as well as student, faculty and community representatives. The initial directors are Cal Poly Housing Director Preston Allen, Vice Provost for Institutional Planning Linda Dalton, former San Luis Obispo City Administrator John Dunn, student and ASI Chairman Chris Madsen, Cal Poly Foundation Executive Director Frank Mumford, Associate Vice President for Finance Rick Ramirez, and Accounting Professor Jack Robison.

Dalton is serving as the corporation's first chair. Allen is vice chair, and Mumford is secretary-treasurer.

More information about the Cal Poly Housing Corp. is available on the Web at www.cphousingcorp.org and from Foundation Associate Executive Director Bob Ambach at 756-1131.