Cal Poly Report — Nov. 21, 2018
News
Watch NASA’s Insight Mission Land on Mars on Nov. 26
All earthlings are invited to watch NASA’s live broadcast of the InSight Mission’s landing on Mars from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 26, in UU 220. The broadcast will include live commentary from NASA’s “mission control” at the NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, animations of InSight’s landing, interviews with NASA scientists and engineers and international partners, and final checkouts by mission team members. InSight is the first mission to study the deep interior of Mars — its crust, mantle and core. Its science investigations include listening for “marsquakes,” and to learn about how rocky planets like our own formed. In addition, the twin communications-relay satellites, called Mars Cube One, or MarCO, will enter the history books as the first CubeSats to travel to deep space. Cal Poly helped pioneer the diminutive satellites that were first developed to teach university students about satellites and have evolved in past decade. Today they provide data on everything from shipping routes to environmental changes. The two MarCOs, nicknamed Wall-E and EVE, are each equipped with a folding high-gain antenna to relay data about InSight as it enters the Martian atmosphere and lands. The twins were on campus earlier this year when Cal Poly engineers assisted in inserting, or integrating, the satellites into the deployment boxes that ejected each satellite into space. In addition, Cal Poly students helped by wrapping the deployment boxes in protective gold Kapton tape. The MarCOs won't produce any science of their own, and aren't required for InSight to send its data back home, but they are a crucial first test of CubeSat technology beyond Earth orbit, demonstrating how they could be used to further explore the solar system. The viewing is sponsored by the Physics Department. Learn more about InSight at mars.nasa.gov/insight and about MarCO at https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/cubesat/missions/marco.php.
Undergraduates Are Increasingly Studying Abroad to Enhance Their Educations
Cal Poly students are increasingly opting to study abroad, according to an annual statistical survey of U.S. campuses. “Cal Poly is ranked third in the nation — our best showing ever — for master’s institutions for the total number of students we sent abroad in 2016-17,” said Cari Vanderkar, senior international officer and director of the International Center. “About one in four of our undergraduates participate in Study Abroad programs during their time at Cal Poly.” The Institute of International Education, the leading not-for-profit educational and cultural exchange organization in the U.S., has conducted the Open Doors Report annual survey since 1919, and with support from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs since the early 1970s. Open Doors, which surveys about 2,000 U.S. universities and colleges with Study Abroad programs, released the 2018 figures Nov. 13. Cal Poly’s vision for internationalization is to provide foundational experiential learning, teaching, service and scholarship opportunities at home and abroad that will best equip graduates and the campus community at large to solve complex global challenges sustainably, ethically and inclusively. Read more here.
Nine Student Projects Launched on New Crowdfunding Platform to Enhance Learn by Doing
Nine student projects are seeking support in the first-ever fall launch of Spur Change, a new digital crowdfunding platform where colleges, units, programs, clubs and organizations can secure funding for projects that enhance the Learn by Doing experience. Hosted and managed by Annual Giving, the Spur Change platform will give project sponsors the opportunity to use the power of crowdfunding by reaching out to networks to raise funds for their featured projects. The projects have about 20 days to reach their goals, so visit https://crowdfund.calpoly.edu/ to learn more. By giving, you can help: send Black Student Union members to the Afrikan Black Coalition Conference at UC Merced in January; fund the Multicultural Business Program’s Leadership Beyond the Resume Conference; send Engineers Without Borders and Critical Global Engagement Club students to a United Nations forum; help the Future Fuels club build a more sustainable future; send Theatre and Dance Department students to New York; help Climate Change Action Research Group go to the California Higher Education Sustainability Conference; make the Zero Waste Ambassadors program a student-run effort; fund MEXA's Xicanx Youth Conference at Cal Poly; and help the Human Powered Vehicle Club break a record. Learn more here.
Student Success
Latest CubeSat Reveals First High-Resolution Image of the Earth
While Cal Poly’s ninth CubeSat tests a way to reduce vibrations aboard orbiting satellites, the softball-sized satellite also has been busy snapping photos of the Earth. DAVE, or Damping and Vibrations Experiment, launched Sept. 15 from Vandenberg Air Force Base with three other small satellites, or CubeSats, as secondary payload on NASA’s ICESat-2 (Ice Cloud and Land Elevation Satellite-2) mission. PolySat, the student-run research lab, released its first high-resolution image that was snapped just hours after the launch. The photo shows Svalbard, the Norwegian archipelago located between Norway and the North Pole. “This is one of our better pictures,” said Grigory Heaton, a senior studying aerospace engineering and physics. “Our satellite is not controlled. It’s just spinning, so we have to get lucky with the pictures. This one, we were right overhead and got almost the entire archipelago.” The download rate from the 2-pound satellite is half a kilobyte per second, meaning it can take 45 minutes to download a 1.3-megabyte image. Students first must contact the satellite as it passes over the campus. Next, they capture a fuzzy, low-resolution thumbnail; anticipation grows while the full-size photo slowly downloads — typically in 8-minute increments spread over several days. This was especially true back in September. “We were waiting to hear back from the satellite,” said PolySat member Michael Fernandez, a physics junior from Glendale, Calif. “When we did and started downloading the photos, initially we weren’t sure what they really were. So getting a photo that is really meaningful — and cool — as our first full-resolution image is very special.” The camera lens was apparently damaged during launch. All the images have a dark splotch near the center, possibly the result of being struck by an outgassed particle on the satellite. DAVE was designed and built by Cal Poly students, working with Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, to study the behavior of particle dampers in microgravity conditions. Check out the lab’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=polysat, or listed ot the team talk about Dave on You Tube. Or learn more here.
Floral Design Team Continues Winning Tradition
All four members of the Floral Team placed in the Top 10 at a recent annual state design competition, including one student taking second place. Agricultural science junior Amber Buzzard, from Orange, California, received second place overall and the People’s Choice category at the California State Floral Association’s (CSFA) annual event held Nov. 3-4 in Carlsbad, California. Other winners included agricultural and environmental plant sciences junior Megan Borzone from Copperopolis, California, who took fifth place, agricultural and environmental plant sciences senior Jennifer Apland from Etna, California, who took sixth place, and agricultural communication sophomore Emma Blair of Wilton, California, who placed ninth. “Our team worked hard preparing for the competition, and their dedication showed,” said team advisor Melinda Lynch, a horticulture and crop science lecturer. “Our students did extremely well, especially knowing that this was the first floral competition for three of them.” The students came up with their own designs but were required to follow specifications built into the competition. In addition, the students had to use flowers grown in California. Students had 45 minutes to complete their designs.
Preorder Poinsettias by Nov. 23, Sale to Start Soon
The Cal Poly Poinsettia Student Enterprise is once again selling plants to the campus and the broader community, with official sale dates scheduled to begin soon. The plants make nice additions to graduation receptions, banquets and general office holiday decor. Campus orders are being accepted now. Contact Kelsea Jones at kjones65@calpoly.edu or Megan Taylor at mtalor51@calpoly.edu to preorder by Nov. 23. The sale will be held Nov. 30, Dec. 1 and Dec. 8 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Dec. 4-7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Poly Plant Shop in the Horticulture Unit (No. 48), at the top of Via Carta Road. This year’s poinsettia project offers many shades of red, white, pink and other variegated varieties. Sizes range from small plants in two-inch pots to large poinsettias reaching three feet high, in ten-inch pots. Prices range from $5 to $55. Questions? Call ext. 6-1106.
Support CAFES Students by Purchasing Holiday Gift Boxes
With the holidays approaching, the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences (CAFES) has a variety of student-made products available in gift boxes, including cheese, wine, chocolate and meats. The Cal Poly Creamery has new cheeses and traditional favorites available in a variety of gift box arrangements at www.calpolycreamery.com. Find Cal Poly wine, cheese and chocolate holiday pairings at www.calpolywine.com. In addition, Cal Poly Meats is now selling holiday hams. To place your order, email calpolymeats@calpoly.edu or call ext. 6-2198. Purchases support students in CAFES.
Faculty & Staff
Department of Emergency Management Will Run Emergency Exercises to Maximize Campus Preparedness
Cal Poly and the Department of Emergency Management (DEM) will simulate emergency procedures during Dec. 4-5 exercises to practice campus plans and policies. The two days provide training for DEM volunteer staff who will serve in the campus Emergency Operations Center in an emergency event. “Cal Poly has a robust emergency management program centered on supporting our students, faculty and staff,” Director of Emergency Management Anthony Knight said. “Exercises like this provide a standardized method for testing operational capabilities and identifying ways to improve our campus’ emergency management program.” The activation exercise will include 30 Cal Poly employees who volunteer their expertise in the Emergency Operations Center to improve hazard response. Training these key members of campus leadership, who will have critical response roles during emergencies, is crucial to maximizing campus preparedness. Benefits of exercises like these are substantial and speak to the DEM’s commitment to ensure the campus is ready to respond to any dangerous situation. DEM is consistently recognized by peer groups as one of the most prepared and robust programs of its kind and is frequently training to minimize damage in the event of future emergencies.
Nominations Sought for Outstanding Staff Award by Dec. 21
Staff employees, faculty members and department or division heads are encouraged to submit nominations for the Outstanding Staff Award. The deadline for submissions for the 2018-19 award is Friday, Dec. 21. To be eligible, nominees must be permanent, full-time employees of the university, corporation or ASI, who have completed at least three years of employment as of Dec. 31, 2018 (10-month employees are also eligible). Employees represented by bargaining unit 3 (faculty), former recipients of the award and student assistants are not eligible. The Outstanding Staff Award selection criteria and nomination form can be found on the Administration and Finance website.
The Cal Poly Learning Hub: New Opportunities for Employee Development to Launch in January
The Cal Poly Learning Hub, powered by SumTotal, is a contemporary online learning platform for faculty, staff and student employees. Launching in January 2019, the Learning Hub will support in-person and online learning activities. Register for an in-person workshop, track external training or view a digital resource on topics covering technology tools, business concepts and soft skills. Employees can access any of the 75,000 videos, courses and books from anywhere, on any device, at any time. The Cal Poly Learning Hub will replace Skillsoft on Jan. 29.
RSVP by Nov. 28 for Cal Poly Women’s Club Annual Holiday Dinner
The Cal Poly Women's Club will hold its annual holiday dinner Tuesday, Dec. 11, at the San Luis Obispo Country Club. This year’s theme is “Aloha Holiday Spirit” and a local hula group will perform. In the spirit of Aloha, guests are encouraged to bring nonperishable food and toiletry items to be donated to the Cal Poly Food Pantry. Tickets are $40. For more information and to RSVP for the event by Nov. 28, contact Valerie Barboza at valerie.barboza@gmail.com. Check out the club website at https://womensclub.calpoly.edu.
Nominations Sought for Student Employee Award
Faculty and staff members can show their appreciation for student employees by nominating them for the university's 2018-19 Outstanding Student Employee of the Year (OSEY) award. Nominees must have completed at least six months of part-time student employment during the academic year, June 1, 2018, to May 31, 2019. Eligible candidates include state, ASI and Corporation student employees. Nominees can be Federal Work-Study and non-Federal Work-Study students. The 2018-19 Outstanding Student Employee will be announced in April. The winner is entered into the state competition and may go on to the regional and national competitions. The national winner is announced during the National Student Employment Week, the second week of April. To print the 2018-19 OSEY nomination form, go to https://afd.calpoly.edu/payroll/student, scroll down to "Outstanding Student Employee of the Year" and click on the link. Forms are due to Financial Aid by Friday, Feb. 8. Questions? Contact Barbara Rollins at ext. 6-6584 or brollins@calpoly.edu. Faculty and staff members are asked to share this information with supervisors of student employees.
Empathia Workshop Explores 'Happy (Affordable) Holidays' on Dec. 4
Does your usual holiday celebration focus on those aspects that you feel are most important? No? Maybe a motivational boost in the form of a reminder of what truly is important may help. A Dec. 4 workshop will discuss setting realistic expectations, developing a budget, involving kids in the preparation as well as the celebration, establishing traditions, creating gift ideas and staying healthy. Join Employee and Organization Development for a webinar from Employee Assistance Provider — Empathia. Register here and come to the Cal Poly Police Training Room (Building 36, Room 105) from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 4.
PolyData Dashboards are Getting a Sleek New Look, Better Functionality
A new and improved version of PolyData Dashboards, a suite of Oracle business intelligence tools that provides campus reporting, will be available for staff and faculty users on Sunday, Dec. 2. The application upgrade features a sleeker interface, more mobile-friendly dashboards and improved functionality. PolyData Dashboards will be unavailable from 6 a.m. to noon Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 1-2, while the upgrade takes place. For more information, visit https://polydata.calpoly.edu/content/dashboards/index. If you need assistance or have any questions, contact the ITS Service Desk at ext. 6-7000.
Fidelity Investments to Offer One-on-One Appointments and Presentation
The campus Fidelity Investments representative, Christel Whittier, will host individual appointments on Wednesday, Nov. 28, in Room 128G of the Administration Building (No. 1), and Thursday and Friday, Nov. 29-30, in Room 133 of the Administration Building. These appointments are available to all faculty and staff who have questions about retirement savings and investment options. Attendance is subject to supervisory approval and based on departmental operational needs. To schedule an in-person consultation, visit http://getguidance.fidelity.com.
'Disability Tapas' Offered Every Thursday
Disabilities come in many different forms and can vary greatly. Join the Disability Resource Center (DRC) for some snack-size information and interactive discussions on a variety of disability-related topics. Presentations are provided by the DRC and are geared toward faculty and staff. They will occur every Thursday at 11:10 a.m. in the Baker Center for Science and Mathematics (No. 180), Room 113 (or attend via Zoom: https://calpoly.zoom.us/j/519378172) on the following dates:
— Nov. 29: Access Needs for Students who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing.
— Dec. 6: Getting Good Grades with Gadgets (meeting a variety of learning styles).
For more information contact Amy Gode, Disability Resource Center, at agode@calpoly.edu.
Retirements
Debbie (Arseneau) Dudley, associate registrar for the System Management Unit in the Office the Registrar, will retire Dec. 31 after 36 years of service (click here to read an extended biography). Dudley began her career in 1982 as the university class scheduler for Cal Poly, and she continued to manage campus class scheduling single-handedly for many years. Throughout her time, she oversaw transitions to different scheduling technologies and systems, even serving as the voice of “Capture,” a previous phone registration system (recognized in an amusing YouTube Video). Due to Dudley's scheduling expertise and personal dedication, she earned Cal Poly’s Outstanding Staff Award in 1988-89. In 2004, she served as Student Records’ Lead during the implementation of PeopleSoft. Her software expertise, extensive knowledge and work ethic earned her a promotion to associate registrar in 2006. Since then, she has continued to lead the office through a number of large-scale software implementations and upgrades. Dudley has also served an essential role in initiating other services like block registration for first-year students, online transcripts, PASS, PolyPlanner, and countless other vital projects. Dudley's contributions to Cal Poly are immeasurable, and the impact of her work and commitment is extensive. Join us in wishing Dudley a fond farewell from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, in the Performing Arts Center Lobby. Light refreshments will be served.
Karen Aguilar, accountant in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, will retire in December after 31 years of service. She joined the university in 1987 as an agricultural clerk and cashier supervisor with the Cal Poly Corporation. Two years later, she moved to University Fiscal Services — quickly transitioning from an accounting technician to an accountant. She stayed there until joining the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences in 2012. Aguilar is known for her dedication, willingness to help, and as the go-to person to get things done. Those who work with her value her upbeat personality, energetic enthusiasm, sense of humor and positive presence. Join in celebrating her achievements and wishing her well in retirement from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, at the Cal Poly Alumni and Conference Center (No. 28).
Maureen Conner will retire at the end of December after 11 years and four months of distinguished service to Cal Poly and the College of Science and Mathematics. Conner served in five of the college’s eight departments before concluding her career as the personnel coordinator in the Dean’s Office, where her comprehensive knowledge of the departments and her tireless work ethic made a tremendous impact. Always willing to go the extra mile to help a colleague or student or ensure that a job was well done, Conner brought a deep dedication to her work and a generous heart to every interaction with students, staff and faculty. She also contributed to the university as a long-standing essential member of the organizing committee for the annual Service Awards. A retirement reception will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30, on the fifth floor lobby of the Baker Center for Science and Mathematics (No. 180).
Cindy Holton, administrative support coordinator for the Biomedical Engineering Department in the College of Engineering, will retire Nov. 30 after 18 years of service. Prior to joining Cal Poly, Holton worked as the secretary to the city manager and deputy city clerk for the city of Atascadero for almost 15 years, bringing her total years in government service to 33. Holton has been an incredible source of institutional knowledge, and has helped the Biomedical Engineering Department grow from a startup operation into the established organization it is today. She will be missed greatly by everyone she interacted with as the face of Cal Poly biomedical engineering, as well as her many friends from across campus. A retirement reception will be held from 2 to 4 p.m., Friday, Nov. 30, in the courtyard of the Engineering Building (No. 13). Come wish Holton well as she departs for her next series of adventures.
Ben Vahedy, analyst/programmer for Academic Affairs, will retire in December after 25 years of service at Cal Poly. Vahedy has been an integral part of the report writing staff since 1994, originally writing FOCUS reports to support the Records Office on the IBM Mainframe SIS system. Vahedy played an important role in setting up Cal Poly's “Capture” process, which was the university's first automated class registration system. He later moved to the Financial Aid Office where he supported Student Awards, Grants, Scholarships and the automation of Award Letter printing. Vahedy also had a large role in the migration and implementation of today's PeopleSoft system. He currently supports the daily functions of the Admissions office, Financial Aid Office and the Office of the Registrar. Vahedy plans to travel and spend more time with his family. His humor and hard driving work ethic will be sorely missed. There will be a gathering with light refreshments from 2 to 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7, in the Administration Building (No. 1), Room 301.
Kurt O. Brown, the Art and Design Department’s beloved, award-winning instructional support technician III for photography and video — a dear friend, mentor and confidant to so many — will retire at the end of December. Brown began his career in November 1984 as a temporary equipment technician for the department. He was subsequently hired full-time as an instructional support technician I in February 1985, and has been an invaluable colleague ever since. Over the years Brown has fostered relationships with hundreds of students who have gone through the program, from art and design majors to those taking photography and video classes as either GEs or electives. He helped bridge lasting relationships with many others throughout the campus community and always enhanced the Learn by Doing philosophy at Cal Poly with his generous assistance and support to students, faculty and staff. For the department’s photography and video concentration, Brown has implemented systems and protocols for seamless lab operations that are widely used by alumni in their own practice. He has also been influential in generating thousands of dollars in equipment donations, as well as funding for equipment through his alumni connections. As a testimony to his unparalleled skills, uncompromising work ethic and overall congeniality, Brown received the staff award in 2000 for Continuing Excellence from the College of Liberal Arts; and in 2017 the college recognized him again with the Career Achievement Award. Brown is retiring to focus on his health and his family. His ubiquitous smile and compassionate heart will be greatly missed. The department wishes him the happiest of retirements. A reception will be held from 3-5 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 11, at the University Art Gallery, located on the first floor in the Dexter Building (No. 34).
Catastrophic Leave
Courtney de Blieck, student services professional in Campus Health and Wellbeing — Counseling Services, has qualified for catastrophic leave. Those wishing to donate leave credits to help her remain in full-pay status during an extended leave of absence should contact catastrophic leave coordinator Karen Woods at ext. 6-5935 or kwoods04@calpoly.edu to request a donation form.
Campus Announcements
Help Build a Better Dining Experience and Win Prizes by Taking Campus Dining Survey Through Nov. 21
Campus Dining is looking to create a better dining experience and is looking for feedback from the campus community. Creating an eclectic, on-trend dining experience is a job that takes near constant tweaking and research, and this annual fall survey is a big part of that process. Each participant who completes the survey, which takes roughly eight minutes, will be entered into a sweepstakes to win one of three prizes: a pair of Apple AirPods, a Gotrax GXL Electric Scooter or a Cal Poly Cornhole Game. Each fall Campus Dining seeks feedback from students, faculty and staff as it works to improve the customer experience, and to develop more innovative ways to deliver its products and serve the campus. The survey closes Nov. 21, and can be accessed at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JMGSCRC.
Lynda.com Now Available to Student Employees via the Portal
Lynda.com from LinkedIn is an online video tutorial and training website that teaches technology, business and design skills in a video format. This comprehensive resource is now available to all employees, including student employees. The platform offers over 7,000 courses on a wide variety of subjects including soft skills, management, instructional design, accessibility, data security, audio and video production, business skills, Microsoft Office and Adobe software, photography and web design. All of this is available to faculty, staff and student employees at no cost via the Staff and Faculty Training tab on the Cal Poly portal.
California Cybersecurity Institute Seeking Student Papers for Cybersecurity Case Library
The California Cybersecurity Institute is accepting student papers through the end of fall quarter on cybersecurity issues for its next case library. The CCI is seeking faculty and staff who may know of students who have an interest in being part of an interdisciplinary team to write a paper on cybersecurity. Faculty and staff are encouraged to share with students the opportunity to be part of the Cybersecurity Case Library. Last year's journal can be found at bit.ly/CCI-CSL. The CCI is a novel partnership among academia, industry and government to help California better protect its citizens. As an extension of Cal Poly’s Cybersecurity Center, the CCI aims to educate the next generation cyber workforce and provide faculty and students with a new, hands-on research and learning environment. For more information, contact Danielle Borrelli at dborrell@calpoly.edu or AnnMarie Cornejo at ancornej@calpoly.edu.
Cooking in the Canyon Offers Weekly Cooking Lessons to Campus Community
Everyone has to eat, so why not eat well? Campus Dining and University Housing are offering two culinary classes per week open to all students, faculty and staff. Every Tuesday from 5 to 6 p.m. and Thursday from noon to 1 p.m., a Campus Dining chef will teach participants how to make simple, delicious and healthful meals using recipes with unique themes like healthy fats, plant based, sustainable, farmers market and more. These hour-long sessions will offer helpful culinary tips and tricks to those of all experience levels. Learn how to make your own homemade mayonnaise, or even how to roast the perfect turkey just in time for Thanksgiving. Reserve a spot by filling in the form at https://www.calpolydining.com/cooking-in-the-canyon/. Class sizes are limited to 14 participants.
Submission Guidelines for Cal Poly Report
Cal Poly Report (CPR) is Cal Poly's official employee newsletter, designed to communicate information about officially sanctioned university news or events to faculty, staff and administrators. Submissions may run a maximum of three times and should be limited to 150 words. To help ensure CPR continues to contain only relevant and approved information, submissions are required to come from or be approved by the employee designated to approve submissions in the respective colleges, units and work areas. A list of designated approvers is available on the Cal Poly Report index website. Entries submitted by those other than the designated approver must be accompanied by an approval form signed by the unit's approver. The approval form is available online in fillable pdf format or a downloadable Microsoft Word format. CPR is published weekly during the school year, except during academic breaks, and monthly in the summer. The deadline for each issue is 12:30 p.m. the Friday prior to publication.
Events
Cal Poly’s University Art Gallery to present ‘New Nature’ Nov. 15-Dec. 7
The University Art Gallery will present “New Nature,” a one-take, 24-hour-long video that captures a day and a night in the life of a wild place, by artist Mark Tribe to run Thursday, Nov. 15, to Friday, Dec. 7. Shot in a single take on a stationary digital cinema camera, these pictures of Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest in New York are meant to be exhibited on large ultra-high-definition screens with immersive sound systems. The gallery, located on the ground floor of the Dexter Building (No. 34), is free and open to the public from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Tribe will also give a talk about his work at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 29, in Room 149 of the Dexter Building. A reception will follow at 6 p.m. in the gallery. Tribe is interested in the traditions of Western landscape painting and photography, and how they are reflections of the ideologies that were prevalent in the societies that produced them. If, for example, the paintings of the Hudson River School and the frontier photographs of Carlton Watkins and his peers are expressions of the idea of manifest destiny, what kinds of landscape images might flow from the ideology of environmentalism in an age of climate change and mass extinction?
MET Live in HD: 'La Fanciulla del West' to Screen at the PAC on Nov. 25
The Metropolitan Opera’s "La Fanciulla del West" will be screened live in HD at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25, in Harold Miossi Hall, a presentation of Cal Poly Arts and Opera SLO. Soprano Eva-Maria Westbroek sings Puccini’s gun-slinging heroine in this romantic epic of the Wild West, alongside star tenor Jonas Kaufmann in the role of the outlaw Dick Johnson. Baritone Željko Lučić is the vigilante sheriff Jack Rance, and Marco Armiliato conducts. Tickets are $22 for adults and $12 for students, faculty and staff. They can be purchased at the Cal Poly Ticket Office from noon to 6 p.m., by calling ex. 6-4849 or online on the PAC website.
PAC-A-Lunch Concert To Be Held Nov. 30 in the PAC Lobby
What are your lunch plans on Friday, Nov. 30? Join us for our PAC-A-Lunch Concert Series, sponsored by PAC Outreach Services. Bring a lunch and enjoy a free concert in the beautiful Performing Arts Center Lobby at noon. The November concert will feature members of Cal Poly’s A Cappella group, Take it SLO, singing original arrangements to get your feet tapping. Tell colleagues, bring a friend and get in tune with your lunch hour.
Bandfest Concert with Cal Poly’s New Director of Bands Set for Nov. 30
Nearly 300 students will perform at the annual Bandfest at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30, in the Performing Arts Center. The show will feature the Cal Poly Wind Orchestra and Wind Ensemble in an evening of works ranging from the sensitive to the powerful. The concert will begin with Jack Stamp’s “Gavorkna Fanfare.” Other works on the program include José Rafael Pascual-Vilaplana’s “Sit de Plata,” and Percy Grainger’s “Colonial Song.” The Cal Poly Chamber Winds will present Gordon Jacob’s setting of English folk songs, “Old Wine in New Bottles.” “As we launch this season’s Cal Poly Bands series, we begin an exploration of how the wind band can be used to express a cultural ‘voice,’” said Christopher J. Woodruff, Cal Poly’s new director of bands. “The big piece for the Wind Ensemble is a marvelous multi-movement take on Cajun song and dance by Frank Ticheli.” The Mustang Band will conclude the concert with arrangements the group is performing at this fall’s football games in Alex G. Spanos Stadium. Tickets for the concert are sold at the Cal Poly Ticket Office, ext. 6-4849. For more information, visit the Music Department calendar website or call ext. 6-2406.
Cal Poly Choirs to Present Second Annual ‘Holiday Kaleidoscope’ Dec. 1
The Cal Poly Choirs will present the second annual “Holiday Kaleidoscope” at 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, in the Performing Arts Center. Cal Poly’s PolyPhonics, the University Singers and Chamber Choir will be joined on the concert by three local high school choirs: Cabrillo (Lompoc), Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo. Additional special guests will be featured, including string and brass players, a guest speaker and something especially for children in the audience. The Cal Poly Choirs will perform works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Dieterich Buxtehude, Herbert Howells, Ēriks Ešenvalds and others, as well as various arrangements of popular carols and seasonal tunes. The combined forces of the university and high school choirs will perform Daniel Pinkham’s exciting “Christmas Cantata” for brass ensemble, organ and choir. Audience members can participate in a carol sing-along, and enjoy fun-spirited “cameo” pieces. Cal Poly staff member Paul Woodring will accompany the choirs on piano and organ. Jennifer Peterson conducts the Cabrillo High School choir, Holly Banfield conducts the Morro Bay High School choir, and David Alm conducts the San Luis Obispo High School choir. Scott Glysson is Cal Poly’s director of choral activities. Tickets for the concert are sold at the Cal Poly Ticket Office, ext. 6-4849. For more information, visit the Music Department calendar website or call ext. 6-2406.
Arab Music Ensemble to Feature Armenian Ensemble Dec. 1
The Arab Music Ensemble and Chookasian Folk Music Ensemble will perform a program of works from the Eastern Mediterranean and larger region at 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, in the Spanos Theatre. The Arab Music Ensemble will begin the program. The ensemble is a multi-instrumental orchestra and choir with vocal and instrumental soloists. Its membership represents a wide range of majors on campus and professions off campus. San Luis Obispo dance director Jenna Mitchell will lead the ensemble’s dance troupe in original choreographies that dialogue with the music. Samuel Shalhoub is acting director of the Arab Music Ensemble for the 2018-19 season while its regular director, Ken Habib, is on sabbatical. Shalhoub has been a long-time participant in the group and is also a lecturer in the Liberal Studies Department. The second half of the program will feature a special guest presentation by the Chookasian Folk Music Ensemble (pictured), in a performance of traditional and contemporary Armenian music. Based in Fresno, the group is led by John Chookasian, who was born in New York to immigrant parents from Sebastia, in historic Western Armenia. Tickets for the concert are sold at the Cal Poly Ticket Office, ext. 6-4849. For more information, visit the Music Department calendar website or call ext. 6-2406.
Cal Poly Symphony Opens Season with ‘The Symphony Dances’ Dec. 2
The Cal Poly Symphony will explore the rhythm and vibrancy of dance across the historical spectrum in its Fall Concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2, in the Performing Arts Center. The first half of the program features Ottorino Respighi’s “Ancient Airs and Dances,” a 20th-century reworking of 16th-century lute music; Claude Debussy’s sensuous “Sarabande,” orchestrated by Maurice Ravel; and John Adams’ “The Chairman Dances.” “This stylistically varied set of works spans a huge amount of history,” said David Arrivée, who will conduct the performance. “This music allows the orchestra to tackle everything from the Galliard, a Renaissance dance found in the Respighi, to John Adams’ pulsing, minimalist take on a Foxtrot.” The second half of the program will feature two guest artists: harpist Marcia Dickstein, and flutist Suzanne Duffy. Dickstein will perform Claude Debussy’s “Dances sacrée et profane” (“Sacred and Profane Dances”), a showpiece work commissioned to display the capabilities of the newly invented chromatic harp. Duffy will then join Dickstein to perform Howard Hanson’s “Serenade for Solo Flute, Harp and String Orchestra.” The concert will conclude with Arturo Márquez’ energetic Latin dance, “Danzón No. 2.” Tickets for the concert are sold at the Cal Poly Ticket Office, ext. 6-4849. For more information, visit the Music Department calendar website or call ext. 6-2406.
Fall Jazz Concert Set for Dec. 7
University Jazz Bands will present the annual Fall Jazz Concert at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7, in the Spanos Theatre on campus. Known to the world as America’s original art form, jazz has several subgenres which will be showcased at this concert. Dave Becker, acting director of the jazz program, said, “Concert-goers can expect a range from the tasteful and sonically intimate small combo sound, to the powerful and robust sound of traditional big bands with vocalists.” The concert will feature two big bands and two combos, nearly 40 student musicians from a variety of majors on campus. Becker (pictured) is serving as acting director fall quarter while its regular director, Paul Rinzler, is on sabbatical. Becker teaches jazz saxophone at Cal Poly. On Sept. 21, his sextet — the Dave Becker Central Coast All-Stars — performed at the 61st Annual Monterey Jazz Festival on the Education Stage. Tickets for the concert are sold at the Cal Poly Ticket Office, ext. 6-4849. For more information, visit the Music Department calendar website or call ext. 6-2406.
Event Calendar
To find out what’s going on at Cal Poly, visit the Events Calendar. The site includes community events that are open to the public and Campus Life events open to students, faculty and staff. The calendar also includes events at the Performing Arts Center. A link from the calendar allows staff, faculty and students to check facility availability before requesting and reserving on-campus locations for activities and events. For more information about publishing an event on the calendar, contact events@calpoly.edu, or visit the university scheduling page.
Athletics
For an overview of up-to-date sports information, photos and videos, visit gopoly.com. Students always get in free. Faculty and staff discounts are available.
Upcoming Events @ Home
Friday, Nov. 23
Women’s Basketball vs. Illinois, Mott Athletics Center, 2 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 24
Women’s Basketball vs. Pepperdine, Mott Athletics Center, 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 28
Women’s Basketball vs. Eastern Washington, Mott Athletics Center, 11 a.m.
Saturday, Dec. 1
Women’s Basketball vs. Saint Mary’s, Mott Athletics Center, 2 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 8
Men’s Basketball vs. Bethune-Cookman, Mott Athletics Center, 7 p.m.
Job Vacancies
Employment Opportunities
The complete listing of staff and management vacancies is posted on the Cal Poly Jobs website. To apply, go online and complete the application form. For assistance, call Human Resources at ext. 6-2236.
#105105 — Assistant to Associate Vice President, Human Resources (Confidential Administrative Support II), AFD — Human Resources. $4,233-$9,514 per month. (Anticipated hiring range: $5,000-$7,083 per month). Open until filled.
Faculty Employment Opportunities
Candidates are asked to visit the Cal Poly Jobs website to complete an application for any of the positions shown below. The complete listing of faculty position openings is posted on the website. For assistance, call Academic Personnel at ext. 6-2844.
There are no new listings at this time.
Corporation Employment Opportunities
Cal Poly Corporation is a separate entity operating in concert with the university to provide a diverse range of services and resources to students, faculty and staff. To view job postings or apply, visit the Corporation website. For assistance, contact Human Resources at ext. 6-1121.
There are no new listings at this time.
ASI Employment Opportunities
Candidates are asked to visit the ASI website to complete an ASI application and apply for open positions. For more information, visit the ASI Business Office in UU 212 or call ext. 6-5800.
Building Service Worker (Recreational Sports), $15/hour with excellent benefits. Position open until filled.
Assistant Coordinator — Accounting, $22.50/hour with excellent benefits. Position open until filled.
Teacher, $15.44/hour with excellent benefits. Position open until filled.