Cal Poly Report — Sept. 18, 2019
News
President Armstrong Welcomes Faculty, Staff to New Academic Year
President Armstrong kicked off the official start of the academic year at Fall Convocation on Sept. 12 by honoring the past, celebrating the present, and looking toward the future. Addressing an audience of campus community members in the Performing Arts Center, Armstrong shared two main areas of focus: improving diversity, equity and inclusion at Cal Poly, including bettering campus climate and creating a campus community that more closely reflects the demographics of California, and enhancing recruitment and retention of faculty and staff, including raising salaries and placing a special emphasis on recruiting and retaining more tenure-track faculty. Accomplishing these core goals, he added, will require the university to generate alternative sources of revenue and be as efficient and effective as possible. Armstrong said that on Oct. 17-18, the campus community will learn the results of the last year’s CPX Survey and will delve into future plans to build a model of change on campus. “Success will take the collective effort of everyone at Cal Poly,” he said. Armstrong noted numerous accomplishments: The university is graduating more students on time and will welcome an incoming class that may be the most diverse ever, with the highest ever GPA and test scores. He also celebrated success in philanthropy: The Power of Doing campaign has raised $642 million of the university’s $700 million goal. Those gifts are transforming the campus through scholarships, academic and athletic programs. The donations have also expanded Cal Poly Cares assistance, funded faculty positions, new buildings and more. Looking toward the future, Armstrong anticipates additional growth in these areas. “Of one thing I am certain,” he said. “Cal Poly will be a diverse, residential campus and will still celebrate Learn by Doing years and years from now.” Following his remarks, Armstrong honored 14 faculty and staff members who received annual awards. View profiles of the awardees and watch a video of the event at https://fallconference.calpoly.edu/.
State of Diversity Series Kick-off Set for Sept. 30
Join the Cross Cultural Centers (CCC) and the Office of University Diversity and Inclusion (OUDI) for the State of Diversity Series kick-off event and light refreshments from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 30, in Chumash Auditorium in the University Union. The theme of the first State of Diversity event is “State of Diversity at Cal Poly: Acknowledging the Past, Recognizing the Present, Looking Forward.” Come hear remarks from campus leaders and a panel discussion featuring faculty, staff and students from across the university, moderated by Julie Garcia, interim associate vice president for diversity and inclusion. Garcia and the panel will discuss some the demographic trends and successful programs that are making Cal Poly more diverse and a more inclusive campus for everyone. Anyone with questions or needing to request accommodations, can contact the CCC at culture@calpoly.edu.
The Power of Doing Campaign Leads to Successful Fundraising Year
The 2018-19 fiscal year was the second most successful fundraising year in Cal Poly history. Last year's goal was to raise $80 million, and ultimately Cal Poly raised $117.2 million from 15,604 individual donors. This includes two transformational gifts from two separate anonymous donors, one for $50 million and one for $20 million. Only one year has surpassed this past year's fundraising achievement since Cal Poly's founding in 1901, which was 2017, the year Bill and Linda Frost made their historic $110 million gift, a record donation to any campus in CSU history. The Power of Doing campaign total to date currently stands at $642 million out of a $700 million goal by 2021. Learn more about The Power of Doing and read stories about the impact that philanthropy has on campus at giving.calpoly.edu.
Cal Poly Earns Accolades in U.S. News, Wall Street Journal College Rankings
Cal Poly has been named the best public, master’s-level university in the West by U.S. News & World Report’s annual America’s Best Colleges guidebook for the 27th straight year. The 2020 guidebook, which ranked 1,921 colleges and universities across the nation, lists Cal Poly in fourth overall in the West — up eight spots from last year’s rankings. Cal Poly was eighth on the list of best master’s/bachelor’s engineering programs in the nation — and the top California-ranked university. Separately, the university was named the best master’s-level public university in California and is in the top 50 public universities in the U.S. in the recently released Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Rankings. The WSJ/THE rankings emphasize how well a college or university will prepare students for life after graduation. Cal Poly placed No. 193 overall — up 19 spots from last year. The two latest rankings comes on the heels of Forbes again naming Cal Poly the top public masters-level university in California and cracking the magazine’s annual list of Top 25 public and private universities in the West.
Campus Community Listening Sessions Set for Provost Recruitment and Search
The Cal Poly Provost Search Committee has contracted with the professional search firm of Isaacson, Miller to assist in a nationwide recruitment of the university's next provost. Representatives from Isaacson, Miller will be on campus to meet with the committee members and also to conduct listening sessions on Thursday and Friday, Sept. 26-27. The listening sessions will provide an opportunity for the campus community to offer input and feedback on what qualities, characteristics and expertise are most important for Cal Poly’s next provost. Your thoughts and insight are essential to this collaborative process, and the committee hopes you will be able to attend one of the sessions listed below. Anyone who is unable to attend may email Isaacson, Miller directly with any comments, suggestions or a nomination. Nominations and applications can be directed to www.imsearch.com/7190; general feedback can be directed to Angela Finocchiaro at afinocchiaro@IMSearch.com.
— Thursday, Sept. 26: All sessions will be held in UU 220.
Faculty — Open Forum, 2:30 to 4 p.m.
Deans' Session, 4 to 5 p.m.
Students — Open Forum, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
— Friday, Sept. 27: All sessions will be held in the Recreation Center Multi-Activity Center (No. 43), Room 170.
Faculty — Open Forum, 8:30 to 10 a.m.
Academic Affairs Division Provost Direct Reports, 10 to 11 a.m.
President's Cabinet, 11 a.m. to noon
Staff — Open Forum, noon to 1 p.m.
Academic Senate Executive Committee, 2 to 3 p.m.
Save the Date: Campus Invited to Hear CPX Survey Findings, Attend Sessions Oct. 17-18
Learn how Cal Poly will embrace the journey toward Inclusive Excellence. On Oct. 17 and 18, Damon A. Williams and his team will return to campus to present the results of the CPX (Cal Poly Experience) Survey conducted during the 2019 spring quarter, and to lead a daylong Strategic Diversity Leadership Institute. Williams will present findings from the CPX Survey from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, in the Cal Poly Recreation Center Multi-Activity Center. On Friday, Oct. 18, Williams and his team will engage the campus in deeper conversations during a daylong series of sessions in the Strategic Diversity Leadership Institute from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Space is limited for these sessions, and access will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration information will be posted soon on the Office of University Diversity and Inclusion website.
Faculty and Staff Support Student Volunteers During Mustang Move-In
A team of about 1,700 volunteers — including students, faculty and staff members, and community members — helped new and returning students move into campus residence halls and apartments during Mustang Move-in, Sept. 13-16. University Housing thanks all members of the campus community who created a positive and welcoming environment for new students and their families, with special appreciation to the faculty and staff leads who return each year to guide the move-in effort. University Advising staff member Rebecca Richards led the volunteer outreach this year, supporting housing staff with the planning, recruitment and onsite coordination of student volunteers from WOW, Greek Life, QuarterPlus, Athletics, campus and the San Luis Obispo community.
Register for Brand Training Sessions This Fall
The campus community is invited to sign up for workshops and training sessions that will help staff, student assistants and faculty leverage the refreshed Cal Poly brand throughout the fall. Registration is open for sessions on visual design, the brand review process, and on-brand photography and videography. The University Marketing website also has information about ongoing Design Support Office Hours, when anyone with a design project involving the brand can drop in and get advice from the university's design team. Registration is open for the Web Workshop Series, 10 weeks of sequenced training beginning Friday, Sept. 20, to help content creators prepare for the website template transition. Stay tuned for more educational events this fall, including social media branding in October that will help professionals brand different channels through visuals and content strategy. You can find details about Cal Poly's refreshed brand on the University Marketing website; staff and faculty can also access design templates, logos and other resources through the University Marketing Wiki. Send questions to branding@calpoly.edu.
$5 Million NSF Award Will Strengthen Local Community College Pipeline, Increase Student Diversity for College of Engineering
A $5 million National Science Foundation award will help increase diversity in engineering by strengthening the pipeline from two area community colleges to Cal Poly’s College of Engineering. The NSF S-STEM ENGAGE grant will increase access to engineering careers for low-income, academically talented students with a demonstrated financial need. ENGAGE, or Engineering Neighbors: Gaining Access, Growing Engineers, is a partnership among the university, Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria and Cuesta College that will launch with scholarships this fall. The three schools have collaborated on this grant for more than two years. At Cal Poly, ENGAGE is an initiative in the College of Engineering and the Center for Engineering, Science and Mathematics Engineering. The NSF funding will provide two-year scholarships to 50 students at both Cuesta and Hancock colleges. All students from the community college ENGAGE cohorts who transfer to the College of Engineering will be eligible for up to three additional years of scholarships — or up to $45,400 over five years at both two- and four-years schools. “This award will help remove the financial barriers for some of our talented students,” said Amy S. Fleischer, dean of the College of Engineering. “By providing opportunities for students from a wide variety of backgrounds to earn engineering degrees, this grant will help build the technical workforce that California needs.” Read the news release.
Aerospace Engineering Professor and Computer Engineering Student Help Cambodian High School’s Quest to Launch Nation’s First CubeSat
A two-person team from Cal Poly — Pauline Faure, an assistant professor of aerospace engineering, and computer engineering senior Justin Nguyen — helped the Cambodian space program get off the ground in August. The pair traveled to the capital city of Phnom Penh to assist a group of high school seniors, with the goal to install and test the students’ ground station for tracking satellites — not to launch a national program. But they were happy to play a role in the potentially history-making student project as well as the bigger picture of lifting the nation into orbit. “They are pioneers,” Faure said. “There is no university — no school — in Cambodia with a space curriculum or even close to it. So, one of the outcomes for these seniors is to start developing a space curriculum and then spreading the word about it to further ignite interest in STEM education. It might start from a high school but then hopefully it will spread to a university and beyond.” For about a year, Faure has been working with a group of science, technology, engineering and mathematics students from the Liger Leadership Academy who want to build a small satellite — a first for Cambodia. Read the news release.
Student Success
Students Set American Collegiate Record with High-Speed Bicycle
On its last possible run, a human-powered vehicle created by a team of engineering students broke the American collegiate speed record Saturday, setting a mark that hadn’t been bested in nearly three decades. The new record, 63.68 mph, was set during the 20th annual World Human-Powered Speed Challenge in Battle Mountain, Nevada, held Sept. 8-13. The previous record was 61.29 mph, set by a team from UC Berkeley in September 1992. A human-powered vehicle is any vehicle powered by muscular strength. The most common such vehicle is a bicycle. Cal Poly’s vehicle, named Ambition, competed against other enclosed recumbent bicycles that were designed, built and ridden by students. Professional teams also competed in separate categories. Cal Poly’s Human-Powered Vehicle Club has been around since 1978, but this is the first time they built a vehicle specifically to break the American collegiate record. After working on the vehicle for a year, the team had to make multiple significant changes in the days leading up to the race, adding a windshield and fixing a chain that repeatedly fell off. Read the full story.
Floral Design Team Wins First Overall in National Competition
The Floral Design Team took home three first-place awards from the American Institute of Floral Designers National Student Competition, held at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas in July. The team won first overall and first in the Flowers to Wear and Bridal Bouquet categories. The team also placed fifth in Sympathy Design and 10th in Interpretive Design. Competing team members were Alyssa Snow, a senior agricultural education major from Galt, California; Amber Buzzard, a junior from Orange, California, studying animal science; and recent graduate Megan Borzone (Horticulture and Crop Science, ’19) from Copperopolis, California. As a team, they placed first overall. In the individual competitions, Buzzard earned second place overall, won first in Flowers to Wear, and placed sixth in both the Wedding Bouquet and Sympathy Design categories. “This was an experience I will never forget,” Buzzard said. “It was exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time, and I’m already looking forward to the next competition.”
Faculty & Staff
Mechanical Engineering Professor Wins CSU Faculty Award
Associate Professor James LoCasio's positive effect on students throughout the years is well known. “As I meet with engineering alumni, so many of them tell me that their classes with Professor LoCasio had a profound impact on their lives,” said College of Engineering Dean Amy S. Fleischer. “He has a lasting legacy through his students.” LoCasio's impact on students was just part of the reason he was recently honored with the CSU Faculty Innovation and Leadership Award (FILA). The award, presented to one person from each of the 23 CSU campuses, acknowledges faculty who have demonstrated leadership at the program, department, school, college or university level to improve student success and outcomes in courses with traditionally low success rates or persistent equity gaps. LoCasio’s father, an immigrant from Sicily, worked three jobs to support his family in New York City — two in upholstery shops and one driving a taxi. Despite his lifetime of work, the elder LoCasio always wanted a better life for his children, telling his son and daughter they would eventually go to college so they would not have to work as hard as he did. “My background has always made me aware of what it means to be a first-generation mechanical engineering student,” LoCasio said. “This has helped me bond especially with my first-generation Hispanic students. It always amazes me, the change in attitude when my first-generation students realize I was also a first-generation student.” Click here to read more about LoCasio and the award.
Cal Poly Professor Receives Grant to Track, Improve Mental Wellness of Engineering Students
For engineering students, all-nighters and long hours in labs can be seen as a badge of honor, said Andrew Danowitz, an assistant professor in the Electrical Engineering Department. But that drive to excess is one of the many factors that can impact mental wellness. “As an undergraduate and graduate student, I viewed academic success as a key part of my identity,” he said. “And I witnessed many people — peers and myself — burn out trying to achieve academic perfection. The National Science Foundation recently funded Danowitz’s proposal to study mental wellness in engineering — a project that Danowitz expects to lead to a wellness action plan. The project officially began this month. “We have funding for at least three years,” Danowitz said, “and we expect to collect a wealth of data over that period.” While Cal Poly has collected data on student wellness, Danowitz was particularly interested in engineering students. So he collaborated with Kacey Beddoes, project director for San Jose State’s Research Foundation and College of Engineering Dean’s Office. Along with Geneva Reynaga-Abiko, director of counseling services at Cal Poly’s Student Affairs, the trio will research engineering student wellness using surveys and in-person interviews over the next three years. Students are expected to assist with data collection, data analysis and publishing. Read the news release.
Faculty Advisor Recognized for Increasing Engineering Opportunities for Women
A longtime faculty advisor, who helped more than double the percentage of women engineering students at the university, will receive the 2019 Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award at the annual Society of Women Engineers conference in Anaheim this fall. Helene Finger, who has helped Cal Poly’s SWE chapter become one of the largest and most successful sections in the nation, will be honored at WE19, the world’s largest conference and career fair for women in engineering and technology, set for Nov. 7-9 at the Anaheim Convention Center. Finger, who joined the Civil/Environmental Engineering Department as a faculty member in 1997, became director of the Women’s Engineering Program and SWE advisor in 2000. During that time, the Cal Poly SWE has risen to national prominence with several Outstanding Collegiate Section awards. Meanwhile, Finger’s recruitment efforts have helped increase the percentage of freshmen female engineering students at Cal Poly from 11.8 percent in 2004 to 28.1 percent in 2018. “It was a group effort to get here,” Finger said. “A lot of students mentor me as I mentor them.” Read more here.
Associate Vice Provost Bruno Giberti to Serve as Accreditation Liaison Officer
Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Mary Pedersen has announced that Bruno Giberti, associate vice provost for Academic Programs and Planning, will serve as the university’s accreditation liaison officer. Supported by the office of Academic Programs and Planning, the accreditation liaison officer is responsible for maintaining Cal Poly’s relationship with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). Cal Poly has begun to pursue the thematic pathway for reaffirming its WSCUC accreditation, a process that will culminate with the submission of an institutional report, a site visit and commission action in winter/spring 2022. Giberti will assume the role of ALO along with his other responsibilities of leading Academic Programs and Planning, including oversight of program development and review, university- and program-level assessment of student learning, the development and implementation of academic policy and the university’s Instructionally Related Activities program. He will also be providing oversight for the Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology; the Writing and Learning Center; the Honors Program; and Service Learning Program. Pedersen and Interim Director of Strategic Initiatives Amy Robbins will run strategic planning efforts for Academic Affairs. For more information on Cal Poly’s reaffirmation of its WSCUC accreditation, visit https://wasc.calpoly.edu.
A&F Names New Associate Vice President for Financial Services
Administration and Finance has announced that Angela Kraetsch has been appointed associate vice president for financial services effective Sept. 23. Kraetsch brings more than 19 years of experience in progressive responsibility for accounting, budget, financial management and oversight. She is currently the director of finance for the city of Santa Clara and has direct responsibility for municipal services, budget, treasury, payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable, purchasing, warehouse, general accounting, audit and Stadium Authority. In her current role, she stewards a budget of over $1 billion and serves as chief financial officer for Silicon Valley Power, the city-owned electric utility, as well as the treasurer for the Santa Clara Stadium Authority. Kraetsch is a graduate of Troy State University and is a certified public accountant (CPA).
Make Changes to Your Benefit Plans During Open Enrollment Now Through Oct. 4
Open Enrollment is happening now through Oct. 4. View the Benefits Open Enrollment webpage for 2020 rates, plan information and more. Mark your calendar for the annual Health and Resource Fair on Thursday, Sept. 26, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., in Chumash Auditorium. Visit the Fair webpage for more information. Attend a Lunch and Learn event hosted by Human Resources to learn more about your benefits and upcoming changes. Visit the Benefits Upcoming Events webpage for more details.
Faculty Advisor Training Series to be Offered Fall 2019
University Advising will host a Faculty Advisor Training Series that introduces undergraduate faculty advisors to academic advising core competencies. Register for each workshop using the links below. All workshops will be held in the Science Building (No. 52), Room E48.
— FA 101: Nuts and Bolts of Faculty Advising: 10:10 a.m.-noon Friday, Oct. 4.
— FA 102: Assemble Your Faculty Advising Toolkit: 10:10 a.m.-noon Friday, Oct. 25.
— FA 103: Building Student Success through Faculty Advising: 10:10 a.m.-noon Friday, Nov. 22.
Click here for more information about the Faculty Advisor Training series. Questions? Contact Christina Wolfe-Chandler, advisor training coordinator, at ext. 6-5735 or crwolfe@calpoly.edu.
Womxn's Faculty and Staff Association Announces Fall Meeting Dates
Join the Womxn's Faculty and Staff Association for its fall meetings, which will be held the third Friday of the month at noon and the second Friday in December in the Graphic Arts Building (No. 26), Room 109. The association will hold its fall kick-off meeting at noon on Friday, Sept. 20. Lunch will be provided; RSVP at http://evite.me/VVAh2vzcFM. Additional fall meeting dates are Oct. 18, Nov. 15 and Dec. 13. The association has changed its name to Womxn’s Faculty and Staff Association to more clearly express the intention to explicitly include women of color, trans women, and other womxn who have historically been excluded and further marginalized by virtue of multiple, intersecting identities. The mission of the Womxn’s Faculty Staff Association is to create a network to connect, empower and advocate for self-identified womxn at Cal Poly. Anyone with questions or those wanting to join the association's email list should email wfsa@calpoly.edu.
Fraternity and Sorority Life Seeks Faculty and Staff Advisors
Fraternity and Sorority Life seeks faculty and staff advisors who are interested in supporting Cal Poly fraternities and sororities with their academic development. Serving as a faculty or staff advisor is a great way to assist with the academic needs and challenges some of our students face throughout the year. The advisor role includes: meeting with academic officers twice per quarter to discuss chapter academic performance, opportunities for academic achievement, and other academically related issues/concerns; sharing educational resources; and facilitating workshops, when applicable. Academic faculty/staff advisors assume no liability for chapter operations. Please note, the advisor role requires a one-year commitment. To learn more, contact Shawnna Smith, lead coordinator for Fraternity and Sorority Life, at ssmit1183@calpoly.edu.
Safer to Start Leadership Training in November
Cal Poly Safer is launching Safer Leadership Training for Staff and Faculty. Anyone interested in participating in pilot test groups this November should fill out a brief interest form. Learn about the foundations of violence and what you can do in your role on campus to prevent gender- and power-based violence. Participants will have the option to join for three, one-hour sessions; or one, three-hour session. Dates and location will be determined at the beginning of October and will be sent to those who have filled out the interest form. For more information, email Megan Stuart at mkstuart@calpoly.edu.
Financial Aid Office Shares Update on Federal Work-Study Program
The Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program is extremely limited and the fund has been fully awarded. Regretfully, the Financial Aid office is unable to make any new FWS awards during the fall quarter. Earnings are monitored monthly, and if additional funding becomes available, the office will make additional FWS awards to students on the waitlist in winter or spring quarters. Students without work study should be advised to contact the Financial Aid office and ask if they can be added to the FWS waitlist. There are specific criteria and not all students are eligible for FWS. Students (not employers) need to make the request, and it can be done via email to financialaid@calpoly.edu, by phone to ext. 6-2927, by fax to 805-756-7243, or in person. The Financial Aid office is open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Due to the limited funding, the waitlist may or may not be activated in any given year. However, students on the waitlist who are otherwise eligible are given priority for FWS in the following year. Questions? Contact Barbara Rollins at ext. 6-6584 or brollins@calpoly.edu.
Tickets on Sale for Open House at Swanton Pacific Ranch Oct. 12
Faculty and staff are invited to an open house event at Cal Poly’s Swanton Pacific Ranch in Santa Cruz County from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12. Event highlights will include walking tours and demonstrations highlighting its natural beauty, ecological diversity, integrated and sustainable land management practices, educational programs and research-based restoration projects. Tours will feature botanical communities, sustainable forestry, creek restoration, the new field camp development, the Al Smith house and the Swanton Pacific Railroad. To purchase tickets, visit https://bit.ly/2mjiRuP. Free bus transportation is available to all faculty and staff, departing from the Agricultural Sciences Building (No. 11) at 7 a.m. and returning at 7:30 p.m. Event tickets are required. The cost is $25 for adults and $15 for youth. Children age 5 and over may ride the bus; all ages are welcome at the event. To reserve a seat on the bus, visit https://bitly.com/swantonday19.
New Book and Learning Circles Set for Fall
Employee and Organization Development is excited to announce its fall 2019 Book and Learning Circles. Faculty and staff are invited to participate in these conversations, including a Book Circle, where participants read a book and discuss as a group, or a Learning Circle, where attendees view a video or read an article before discussing as a group.
— Book Circles involve reading a book over the course of multiple sessions. The first book, "The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results" by Gary Keller, helps readers discover why choosing to focus on only one thing allows them to achieve the success they want. The second book, "Daring Greatly" by Brené Brown, works to dispel the cultural myth that vulnerability is weakness and argues that it is, in truth, our most accurate measure of courage.
— Learning Circles involve watching a video or reading an article, and participating in a discussion during a single session. In the learning circle "How to Let Go of Being a 'Good' Person — And Become a Better Person," Dolly Chugh explains the puzzling psychology of ethical behavior — like why it’s hard to spot biases and acknowledge mistakes — and shows how the path to becoming better starts with owning your mistakes.
To view a full description and register to attend, visit the Book and Learning Circles webpage at learnandgrow.calpoly.edu.
Office of the Registrar Offers 25Live Training Set for Sept. 30
The web application 25Live is used by Cal Poly for space and event scheduling, as well as for publishing event information to the University Events Master Calendar. A new, mobile-friendly version of 25Live was released to campus Monday, Sept. 9. Join the University Scheduling team from the Office of the Registrar from 10:10 to 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 30, for a training session on “How to Check Location Availability” in the newest version of 25Live. The session will be held in Kennedy Library (No. 35), Room 217C. Advance sign-up is not required.
Join Human Resources for New Workshops
Join Human Resources as it offers workshops every month from Cal Poly's Employee Assistance Provider (EAP) — Empathia. Register here or through the Cal Poly Learning Hub on the My Cal Poly Portal. Workshops include:
— Sept. 27, noon: Stress Fitness. The workshop provides a new view of stress as an impetus for building strength. This class introduces a medley of mind/body strategies for maintaining well-being while succeeding.
— Oct. 28, 11:30 a.m.: Dealing with Difficult People. The workshop offers an alternative view of "difficult people," and insightful strategies to better cope with their behavior, increase cooperation and improve team productivity.
— Nov. 20, noon: Holiday Stress. Create a holiday season that is relaxed, fun and comfortable for you and your family. Learn to cope with the expectations, holiday blues and more. Learn more about upcoming benefits workshops and events at afd.calpoly.edu/hr/benefits/events. Learn more about upcoming Learn and Grow workshops at afd.calpoly.edu/learn-and-grow/courses-workshops/in-person-learning/.
Help Out-of-State Students Find a Home Away from Home
Faculty and staff are invited to become local sponsors to out-of-state and international students this year through the Local Connections program. Local Connections aims to connect out-of-state students with members of the Cal Poly and San Luis Obispo community for occasional meals, activities and/or general support. Local sponsors will get the opportunity to connect with students and become a valued resource during their transition to campus life. Your local knowledge, support and friendship will make a significant difference for Mustangs who are far from home. Learn more and apply today at localconnections.calpoly.edu.
International Center Seeking Hosts for Local Activities with International Students
The International Center is seeking faculty and staff for the International Poly Hosts Program. Volunteers will host international students for short, cross-cultural day visits that include activities such as an informal dinner at a Poly Host's home, going to the beach, meeting at a coffee shop, or celebrating holidays or family occasions. This program is intended to help international students experience the community outside of the traditional academic setting. Poly Hosts will also have the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of other cultures while sharing their own. Refer to the Poly Hosts Application to learn more about the program and to apply.
Catastrophic Leave
Maria Fonseca Cordova, custodian in Facilities Management 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 Laura McCarren at ext. 6-5212 or lmccarre@calpoly.edu to request a donation form.
Ray Valdez, custodian in Facilities Management-Custodial Services, has qualified for catastrophic leave. Those wishing to donate leave credits to help him remain in full-pay status during an extended leave of absence should contact catastrophic leave coordinator Laura McCarren at ext. 6-5212 or lmccarre@calpoly.edu to request a donation form.
Campus Announcements
Career Services Accepting Donations of Professional Clothing for Clothing Closet Sept. 27
Career Services will host its fifth annual Professional Clothing Closet event on Friday, Sept. 27, to provide free, work-appropriate clothes to students in need. First impressions can significantly impact a student’s chances for success, and many students struggle to afford professional clothing for career fairs and interviews. Faculty and staff are asked to consider donating dry-cleaned, gently used, contemporary professional clothing. Want to support, but don’t have clothes to donate? Career Services has introduced the Career Services Professional Clothing Closet Amazon Wishlist. Career Services has selected a menu of professional clothes; you choose and purchase the clothes, and they’ll be shipped directly to Career Services. It’s that easy. For more details about donating clothes via drop-off or the Amazon Wishlist, visit the Clothing Closet page. Questions? Call Career Services at ext. 6-2501.
Cal Poly Switches to eduroam Wi-Fi
Cal Poly is now using eduroam as its primary Wi-Fi network for students, faculty and staff. If you’ve never connected to eduroam before, it requires a one-time setup for each device, using your full Cal Poly email address and password. Once connected, you’ll be able to instantly access eduroam Wi-Fi when traveling to any of the thousands of other member educational and research institutions across the U.S. and worldwide. For help getting connected and more information about the unique benefits of eduroam, visit http://bit.ly/CPWiFi. Questions? Contact the ITS Service Desk at servicedesk@calpoly.edu or ext. 6-7000.
New Cal Poly Health and Resource Fair Coming Sept. 26
Two popular events from last year — the Campus Resource Fair and the Health and Wellness Fair — are joining this year to bring employees insightful information about the array of resources and support available to them. The new Health and Resource Fair will bring together more than 80 representatives in one location where attendees can chat one-on-one with health care and insurance providers, community organizations, on-campus service providers and clubs to get personalized support, gather reference materials, and so much more. Sponsored by Human Resources, Employee and Organization Development, and the Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology, the Health and Resource Fair will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26, in Chumash Auditorium. Registration is not required. Information is available on the Health and Resource Fair webpage. Contact Human Resources at benefits@calpoly.edu or ext. 6-2236 with questions.
Office of the Registrar to Host Inaugural Summit Oct. 9
The Office of the Registrar will hold its inaugural summit on Wednesday, Oct. 9, at the Performing Arts Center. This on-campus conference offers an opportunity to learn more about the Office of the Registrar and its interaction with faculty, staff and students. Each of the four units within the office (Records; Evaluations; Systems Management; and Curriculum, Catalog and Scheduling) will host a variety of sessions throughout the day on topics ranging from enrollment troubleshooting to the articulation process. The day will conclude with information on what’s coming from the Office of the Registrar, including an overview of Degree Planner, Schedule Builder and CourseLeaf CLSS. Visit https://registrar.calpoly.edu for up-to-date information on conference sessions. To best accommodate attendees, registration is required.
Kennedy Library’s Tech Checkout Temporarily Moving to the Natatorium
Kennedy Library’s Tech Checkout services have temporarily relocated to the Natatorium in Building 46, which also houses the Information Technology Services (ITS) Service Desk. With this move and other initiatives, ITS and Kennedy Library are partnering to provide the campus community with the highest level of service and ensure that students, faculty and staff have access to the technology resources they need. The tech checkout counter in the Natatorium, across from Spanos Stadium, checks out laptops, projectors, cameras and other equipment for up to five days, rather than the three hours previously offered from the library tech checkout window. Reservations can be made online at techrentals.calpoly.edu. Technology accessories, including adapters, headphones, calculators and chargers, will still be available for rent at the front desk in Kennedy Library. Tech checkout services are expected to return to the library later this academic year.
Mindfulness Meditation Group to Meet This Year on Campus
The Mindfulness Meditation Group is meeting on campus again this year. The group meets every Monday that classes meet (i.e., not during exams, holidays or breaks) from 12:10 to 1 p.m., in the Lower Level Conference Room in the Health Center (No. 27), Room 11. The group will meditate silently for 30 minutes, starting at 12:15 p.m. (Headphones for guided meditations are welcome.) Mindfulness meditation is a non-religious exercise of paying attention to your present-moment experience. Many people find it calming and relaxing. No experience necessary. All are welcome — faculty, staff and students. For more information, contact political science Professor Matthew J. Moore at mmoore02@calpoly.edu or ext. 6-2895.
Join Vanpool and Help Get One More Car off the Road
Looking to save time and money? Do both at the same time by joining or starting a Cal Poly vanpool group. A vanpool is like carpool, except it holds more people, usually it’s a group of five to 15 people who commute together. Typically, a vanpool consists of coworkers or students who live near each other, and can meet up easily at a central location. Some vanpool participants take turns driving, others cover the full commute costs of the everyday driver. There are a number of local vendors that provide vanpool services in San Luis Obispo County, including Enterprise Vanpool and Ride-On Transportation. These vendors have competitive pricing that includes a complete service package, vehicle registration, insurance and maintenance. In addition, SLOCOG offers a vanpool subsidy that could cover 50 percent of your monthly commute costs, and Cal Poly vanpool groups enjoy other subsidies such as two days per month parking, as well as incentives and other rewards. See if you qualify for subsidies when you apply to create a vanpool. Want to know more? Call Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS) at ext. 6-6680 or email commute@calpoly.edu.
Free Legal Advice Offered to Faculty, Staff, Students
Do you need legal advice? ASI has contracted with San Luis Obispo attorney Jeff Radding for 34 years to provide free legal advice to the campus community. This service is available to currently enrolled students, faculty and staff. Radding provides a free 15-minute consultation by scheduled appointment. No matter what the issue, advice and guidance is available. Legal consultation can provide a foundation to take the most effective steps necessary for your situation. Fall quarter appointments are available from noon to 2 p.m. on the following Fridays: Oct. 4, Oct. 18, Nov. 1, Nov. 15, and Dec. 6. To schedule an appointment, call the ASI Business Office at ext. 6-1281. Consultations are held in the ASI Business Office conference room located in UU 212.
Applications Being Accepted for the Cal Poly Learning Lab Preschool
The Cal Poly Psychology and Child Development Preschool Learning Lab — which is open to the entire campus community — is accepting applications for new students for the 2019-20 school year. Children of faculty and staff receive priority. The program focuses on inquiry-based learning experiences that encourage each child’s natural interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The lab offers a low teacher-child ratio, while providing a high-quality preschool atmosphere that supports the developmental needs of the whole child in a warm, nurturing, play-based environment. For more information, visit https://preschoollearninglab.calpoly.edu/.
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
Music Department Announces 2019-20 Events
The Music Department's 2019-20 season will begin with a guest artist lecture-recital and three faculty performances. On Oct. 3, guest artist Diane White-Clayton will present a lecture-recital titled “The Many Colors of Spirituals,” a musical journey of Afro-American spirituals as they made their way from the plantation to the concert stage. On Oct. 12, a lecture-recital on Robert Schumann’s “Myrthen” (“Myrtles”), Op. 25, will be presented by Katherine Arthur, soprano; Paul Woodring, piano; and Emma Levine, lecturer. On Oct. 18, Arthur White, Cal Poly’s new director of jazz studies, will perform the world premiere of his first long-form jazz work, “Pictures of the Heartland.” There will be a Faculty Showcase Recital on Oct. 25 with at least eight faculty performers. Additional fall events include: Oct. 26, Choirs’ Fall Concert: Cry Out; Nov. 15, Bandfest 2019: Boston Brass!; Nov. 16, Arab Music Ensemble Fall Concert; Nov. 22, Fall Jazz Concert; Dec. 6, Symphony Fall Concert: Teamwork; and Dec. 7, Choirs’ Holiday Kaleidoscope. The complete list of events through June — which includes dozens of free offerings — is available on the Music Department’s calendar website. For more information, call ext. 6-2406 or email the department. Printed versions of the event brochure are available on request.
Lecture-Recital on Spirituals to be Presented Oct. 3
The Music Department will host guest artist Diane White-Clayton for a lecture-recital at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, in Room 218 in the Davidson Music Center (No. 45). Titled “The Many Colors of Spirituals,” White-Clayton’s presentation will be a musical journey of Afro-American spirituals as they made their way from the plantation to the concert stage. From classical arrangements by prominent African American women composers to a cappella soul-stirring folk renditions, the program will feature powerful spirituals that accompanied marches of the Civil Rights era and will include audience participation as White-Clayton teaches a selection in a “down-home” congregational style. White-Clayton is a native of Washington, D.C., where she began performing at 4 years old in the Baptist church where her father pastored. She was conducting choirs by the age of 9 and composing by 11. She travels extensively throughout the U.S. and abroad as a classical and gospel vocalist, pianist, conductor, clinician and speaker. Admission is $5 at the door. The presentation is sponsored by the Music Department. For more information, call the Music Department at ext. 6-2406 or visit its calendar website.
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
Thursday, Sept. 19
Women's Soccer vs. Washington, Spanos Stadium, 5 p.m.
Men's Soccer vs. Westmont, Spanos Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 23
Men’s Soccer vs. Seattle, Spanos Stadium, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 24
Women’s Volleyball vs. Long Beach State, Mott Athletics Center, 7 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 26
Men’s Soccer vs. Loyola Marymount, Spanos Stadium, 7 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 29
Women’s Soccer vs. Seattle, Spanos Stadium, noon.
Job Vacancies
Employment Opportunities
Cal Poly is currently transitioning to a new applicant tracking system. Visit www.calpolyjobs.org and jobs.calpoly.edu for available job openings. To apply, go online and complete the application form. For assistance, call Human Resources at ext. 6-2236.
There are no new listings at this time.
Faculty Employment Opportunities
Cal Poly is currently transitioning to a new applicant tracking system. Visit www.calpolyjobs.org and jobs.calpoly.edu for available job openings. For assistance, call Academic Personnel at ext. 6-2844. Part-time lecturer pools are being opened this month. Visit jobs.calpoly.edu for current openings, further information and how to apply.
#493735 — Tenure-track position, Assistant Professor of Transportation Engineering, College of Engineering. Open until filled.
#493768 — Associate Dean, College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences. Open until filled.
#493621 — Tenure-track position, Assistant Professor — Social Psychology, Psychology and Child Development Department, College of Liberal Arts. Open until filled.
#493421 — Tenure-track position, Assistant Professor — Statistics, College of Science and Mathematics. Open until filled.
#493512 — Tenure-track position, Assistant Professor of Finance, Orfalea College of Business. Open until filled.
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.
Accounting Technician II — Business Services, $21.56/hour with excellent benefits. Position open until filled.