Cal Poly Report — April 8, 2020
News
Open Forums for Two Provost Finalists to be Held Virtually
On behalf of the Provost Consultative Search Committee, co-chairs Amy Fleischer, College of Engineering dean, and Dustin Stegner, Academic Senate chair, announce that the remaining two provost search finalist have been invited for virtual campus visits on April 13-14 and April 16-17. All faculty and staff are encouraged to attend virtual open forums on the following dates:
— Monday, April 13, 11:10 a.m.–12:15 p.m.
— Thursday, April 16, 11:10 a.m.–12:15 p.m.
Logon information and instructions for the open forums will be sent through Must Mail announcements closer to the visit dates.
COVID-19 Website Updated with Resources to Support Campus Community in Spring
The university's COVID-19 website has been updated with resources to support the campus community in numerous ways. The Office of University Diversity and Inclusion (OUDI) and the Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology (CTLT) have a wide range of useful resources related to diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-bias in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A virtual learning page was launched to help students prepare themselves for a dynamic quarter of virtual learning and access critical services and programs they need to succeed. In addition, a directory of services was created to show how campus departments and services are operating in spring; most are operating virtually. Faculty are encouraged to continue to remind students to remain at their current residences for the entire spring quarter. Students who are living off campus within San Luis Obispo County must also follow the shelter-at-home orders and remain in their homes to the maximum extent possible, except to obtain essential services such as purchasing groceries. Updates are being released frequently via email and on the coronavirus website, so check back often for the latest information.
Update on Cal Poly Recreation Center Operations During COVID-19
The CSU has suspended all recreation center operations within the CSU system including services at the Cal Poly Recreation Center. The facility has been prepared to serve as an alternate care site to assist the county with COVID-19 patients. For the latest updates and information, visit coronavirus.calpoly.edu/campus-operations.
Engineering Faculty Members Adapt Courses, Shift Focus to Coronavirus
As soon as lecturer Eric Paton heard there was a shortage of hospital ventilators worldwide amid the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, he reached out to students he knew could help and designed a course to address the challenge. “I heard that medical staff in Italy were removing ventilators from older patients, sedating them to die and giving the ventilators to younger patients,” said Paton, who teaches in both the Industrial and Manufacturing, and Materials Engineering departments. “This broke my heart.” As faculty rush to craft lesson plans on how to teach the upcoming spring quarter’s classes virtually amid ongoing shelter-at-home and social distancing orders, many College of Engineering professors are adapting even further — changing their curriculum to address the very coronavirus pandemic that is forcing the switch from classrooms to exclusively virtual teaching. Paul Anderson, associate professor in the Computer Science and Software Engineering Department, has experience teaching online courses, and one of his interests is bioinformatics — the science of collecting and analyzing complex biological data, such as genetic codes. He saw the opportunity to alter his bioinformatic algorithm course this spring to focus on studying the virus and comparing it to other viruses and diseases. “We’ll be studying various molecular, genomic, genetic and evolutionary aspects of the novel coronavirus from an algorithmic point of view,” said Anderson, pictured at home with son Samuel. Read more here.
Anxiety and Financial Counseling Available to Employees
Human Resources wants everyone in the campus community to stay safe and take the time to ensure the health and well-being of family and friends as well as themselves. Human Resources wants all employees to know that there are services available at this time to help with anxiety and financial concerns. These services can help with an employee’s emotional health and well-being as well as other life management services such as financial counseling. With the ongoing changes in work and the manner in which that work gets done, as well as the stress of new routines, please remember to take care of your personal health and well-being. Please remember that there are services available — it is a stressful time and Human Resources is here to help. Visit the Human Resources Wellbeing and Work/Life Balance webpage or reach out to humanresources@calpoly.edu.
NASA Small Satellite Program Selects Cal Poly to Help Develop New Technology for Lunar Exploration Missions
Cal Poly is teaming up with NASA and nine other university teams across the nation to advance small spacecraft technologies that will help pave the way for human and robotic lunar exploration. “Cal Poly’s CubeSat Lab has a history of collaboration with a number of different NASA centers,” said John Bellardo, who directs the lab — the campus epicenter for the class of small satellites about the size of a loaf of bread. “These awards are further evidence of that. I expect these opportunities to continue into the future.” NASA’s Artemis lunar exploration program aims to return men and women astronauts to the moon by 2024. “SmallSats” — spacecraft that range in size from CubeSats, which Cal Poly helped turn into an industry standard, up to larger cousins the size of a refrigerator — will help blaze the trail. Read the full news release.
Student Success
Fraternity and Sorority Life Organizations Recognized at Annual Conference
All three governing councils of Cal Poly Fraternity and Sorority Life were recognized recently for their achievements at the annual Association of Fraternal Leadership and Values conference, West (AFLV west). This conference brings together nearly 1,000 students from dozens of universities on the West Coast to recognize their accomplishments in their local fraternity and sorority communities.
— Cal Poly’s Interfraternity Council (IFC) received the Jellison Best of the West Award, and was also recognized for its work in the following categories: accountability, education and collaboration. This is the third year in a row the IFC has won the Jellison Award.
— The university’s Panhellenic Council (PHA) was awarded for its work in the following categories: collaboration, accountability and innovation.
— Cal Poly’s United Sorority and Fraternity Council (USFC) was recognized for its work in the categories of accountability, collaboration and innovation.
For a full list of AFLV awards to Cal Poly, visit https://greeklife.calpoly.edu/about/aflv.
Student Employee Recognition Award Ceremony Canceled
Due to the impacts of the COVID-19 situation, the Outstanding Student Employee of the Year (OSEY) Committee has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2019-20 award ceremony originally scheduled on April 23, 2020. The committee will look for an alternative way to recognize its student winners. The OSEY Committee members congratulate all the nominees and thank the student employees for the tremendous impact they have on university services, faculty and staff.
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Faculty & Staff
Working Virtually Toolkits Offered by Employee and Organization Development
Whether you’re an individual contributor or managing a team, the transition to working virtually involves gaining new skill sets to be effective and successful. The Employee and Organization Development department is here to support employees in this transition with its newly launched Working Virtually Toolkits. These toolkits cover a range of remote-working topics, including getting settled, setting up your remote work station, digital communication, setting healthy boundaries and habits, and managing remotely. With on-demand courses, articles, podcasts, checklists and books, the Working Virtually Toolkits will provide employees with information, action items, and tips they can implement today to gain confidence in their remote working capabilities and ensure their team feels valued, connected and has the tools to be successful. Visit the Employee Working Remotely Toolkit webpage or the Manager Working Remotely Toolkit webpage.
Cal Poly Images Available for Your Next Zoom Call
University Marketing has created a collection of images that employees can use as Zoom backgrounds as they meet remotely to conduct university business. Click here for a link to the photo gallery.
Zoom Open Labs Available to Answer Employee Questions
In remote work environments, staying connected with your team is more important than ever. Zoom video conferencing provides an excellent platform to have face-to-face team meetings, one-on-one check-ins, project collaborations, and even remote training sessions and book circles. Zoom Help Center provides daily live or recorded webinars to help employees get started and navigate this user-friendly software. Additionally, the Employee and Organization Development department will be hosting virtual open labs to provide small groups of employees the opportunity to ask specific questions with a focus on Cal Poly services as well as Zoom best practices and etiquette. Click on the link to register for a Zoom Open Lab time that works best for your schedule.
Learn How to Work Securely From Home
Now that Cal Poly has transitioned to virtual working and teaching, it’s important for faculty and staff to know the basics of securely working from home. Ninjio has released a special information security training video featuring Jon Lovitz called “Safe at Home,” which walks users through some critical at-home security tips, like updating your computer’s operating system and making sure your antivirus software is current. Watch “Safe at Home” on the Cal Poly Learning Hub under the Staff and Faculty Training tab on the My Cal Poly Portal (log in before clicking the links). For more tips, read “Securely Working from Home” on the ITS Knowledge Base. Unfortunately, hackers have exploited the pandemic in a new wave of phishing emails related to coronavirus. Anyone who receives something suspicious should send it to the Information Security Office either by reporting it as phishing in Outlook, or by forwarding it to abuse@calpoly.edu.
Kennedy Library Campus Administrative Policy Available for Review
The draft Campus Administrative Policy (CAP) for Kennedy Library is available for review until April 11 at https://policy.calpoly.edu/. Submit feedback to cap@calpoly.edu.
TIDE: Teaching for Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Applications Due April 8
Applications are open to faculty for TIDE: Teaching for Inclusion, Diversity and Equity, now in its fifth year. This program creates a community of colleagues who collaborate as they deepen their personal insights in, and practical knowledge of, diversity principles and inclusive teaching practices. The integrated program first introduces participants to inclusive teaching practices and principles of diversity and equity, and then provides support for applying those insights to teaching and learning experiences. The extended program begins in early summer 2020 and continues through fall quarter 2020. Tenure-line faculty and lecturers are welcome from all disciplines. A $1,500 stipend is available for eligible participants. Applications are due Wednesday, April 8. Learn more and apply.
New Book and Learning Circles to be Offered Virtually in Spring
Employee and Organization Development invites employees to participate in the spring 2020 Book and Learning Circles. The circles will be offered via Zoom and books will be sent electronically to participants.
— Book Circles involve reading a book over the course of three to five sessions. The first book, "Crucial Conversations" by Patterson, Grenny, McMillan and Switzler, has revolutionized the way millions of people communicate when the stakes are high. The second book, "Tiny Habits" by B.J. Fogg, the world’s leading expert on habit formation, shows how you can have a happier, healthier life.
— Learning Circles involve watching a video or reading an article and participating in a discussion during a single session. In the first learning circle, "Crucial Conversations: Master My Stories," Cricket Buchler explores how cognitive biases can lead us to misplace blame resulting in confrontations that go badly. She goes on to offer a framework of six sources that influence human behavior and strategies to rethink our conclusions for healthier and more positive outcomes to our crucial conversations. The second learning circle is "How Frustration Can Make Us More Creative," with Tim Harford, and shows us that challenges and problems can derail your creative process — or they can make you more creative than ever. In the third learning circle, "How to Create Meaningful Connections While Apart," Priya Parker highlights the value of gathering despite distance, and shares tools for creating meaningful connections. To view a full description and register to attend, visit the Book and Learning Circles webpage at learnandgrow.calpoly.edu.
'Disability Tapas' Presentations to be Held Every Wednesday Through Spring Quarter
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 geared toward faculty and staff (students are welcome), and offered from 11:10 a.m. to noon every Wednesday via Zoom: https://calpoly.zoom.us/j/491400215. Past presentations are viewable at https://drc.calpoly.edu/disability-tapas.
— April 15: Supporting Students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
— April 22: Accessible Events and Programs: Tips for Inclusive Experiences
— April 29: Understanding Chronic Invisible Illness
— May 6: Supporting Students with Traumatic Brain Injury and Post-Concussive Symptoms
— May 13: How to be a Disability Ally — Strategies for Identifying and Addressing Ableism
— May 20: Social Media: Guidance for Posting Accessible Content and Positive Disability Messages
— May 27: Supporting Students with Autism
— June 3: Supporting Students with Psychological Disabilities Part II
The presentations are provided by the Disability Resource Center, which can be reached at drc@calpoly.edu or ext. 6-1395.
Statistical Consulting Service Available During Spring Quarter
The Statistics Department provides a statistical consulting service to the university community to facilitate research design and data analysis in a wide variety of disciplines. Consulting will be available virtually via Zoom through Friday, June 12, by appointment only. Soma Roy, Heather Smith and Jeff Sklar will serve as the consultants. They are available to advise on data collection, experimental design and analysis of research projects. In addition, they will be available to lead seminars or tutorials on requested topics and offer advice on various computer packages available at Cal Poly. Faculty, staff and students interested in utilizing the consulting service are encouraged to access the Statistics Department website for additional information, including what to have ready for a consulting session. To schedule a consultation, email statconsulting@calpoly.edu.
Microsoft License Change Will Limit Features for Some Users
On April 1, Microsoft will change Office365 licenses for higher education customers, which will limit the features available to some campus community members. All faculty and staff will still have full access to the web-based Office 365 applications, but emeritus and CSU bargaining units 5, 6 and 11 will no longer be eligible to download the desktop Microsoft Office software suite (which includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and OneNote). The bargaining units affected by the new licensing model are primarily comprised of janitorial, groundskeeping and skilled craft workers. If there is a demonstrated need for access to the desktop versions of Microsoft applications for individuals impacted by this change, Information Technology Services (ITS) does have a limited amount of full licenses that can be applied in order to enable those features. Microsoft will not make any changes to student licenses as part of this update. Similarly, Cal Poly Corporation and ASI customers who have a contract with ITS for Office 365 accounts will continue to be able to download the desktop Office applications. If you have questions, contact the ITS Service Desk at servicedesk@calpoly.edu or ext. 6-7000.
In Memoriam
Everett Chandler, Cal Poly's dean of students for 27 years,died March 23. Chandler turned 103 years old on Feb. 6. He was honored on his 100th birthday in 2017 during halftime of a Cal Poly men's basketball game. Chandler served the campus from 1951 to 1978. His legacy includes his support for the families of those who died in a devastating Oct. 29, 1960, plane crash carrying the Cal Poly football team home from a game in Toledo, Ohio. Chandler helped develop a memorial committee to administer funds for the victims’ families. In the 1970s, the football team presented Chandler with the “Honorary Mustang” award. Seven years later, he was awarded the Scott Goodnight Award, which is presented by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators to a dean who has demonstrated sustained professional achievement in student affairs work. He was inducted into Cal Poly’s Athletics Hall of Fame in 1996. The Chandler Award for Service to Students and the Profession was established in 1998 to recognize and honor Cal Poly staff within the Division of Student Affairs who, through their work, exemplify outstanding performance and service to students and the general campus community. “Working at Cal Poly was the best job I ever had, and I had several," said Chandler in a Cal Poly Magazine article in 2017. "It is one of my proudest accomplishments. That, and marrying Arlene." After retiring from Cal Poly in 1978, Chandler obtained a stockbroker's license and worked part-time with Blakeslee and Blakeslee in San Luis Obispo. He enjoyed golf and the company of his wife, five children and three grandchildren. Read more on the Cal Poly News site.
Campus Announcements
Campus Dining Venues Transitioning to Grubhub Ordering
In an effort to decrease social interactions during the COVID-19 situation, Campus Dining is transitioning all venues to only accept payment through Grubhub. This new process will not only lessen potential contact between employees and customers when completing the financial transactions, but will also speed up the process, making it easier to purchase and pick up. Grubhub takes credit cards and dining dollars for students on dining plans. Starting this week all purchases at Einstein Bros. Bagels, Starbucks UU, Canyon Café, Bishop Craft Burger and Tu Taco will be Grubhub only. Student Choice, Village Market and Chick-fil-A will transition to Grubhub next week. The Grubhub app was introduced to campus last fall and has helped to increase the efficiency and throughput at many dining venues throughout campus.
ASI Virtual Spring Quarter Programming Started April 6
Virtual ASI spring quarter programming for fitness classes, personal training, aquatics, ASI Intramural Sports, ASI Poly Escapes, ASI Events, and the ASI Craft Center began April 6. ASI elections will also be operating virtually along with essential ASI Student Government meetings and operations. To participate in virtual programs, follow Cal Poly ASI on Instagram and Facebook and the Cal Poly Recreation Center on Instagram and Facebook. For the latest updates regarding ASI programs and managed facilities, visit bit.ly/ASICOVID-19.
Own a Home Within Walking Distance of Campus
A beautiful Bella Montana home is available. This two-bedroom, one-bath home comes complete with a contemporary kitchen, elegant living area, attractive bath and energy-saving appliances. The nearby location offers easy access to hiking trails, shops and restaurants. The home is part of a 5.3-acre planned housing community that was designed and crafted with Cal Poly employees and their families in mind. Located within walking distance of campus, Bella Montana encompasses 69 individually owned homes on Highland Drive near iconic Highway 1. For more information visit bellamontanahomes.com/resales.
Village Market Now Accepting SNAP/EBT Payment
Village Market is now accepting SNAP/EBT payment on approved items, in an effort to reduce food insecurity on campus and help students meet their nutritional needs. SNAP — the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — is a federal program that provides low-income individuals with an EBT card and ancillary funds to purchase nutritious foods at grocery stores and farmers markets. Campus Dining’s application was recently approved by the Department of Agriculture to accept EBT payment. To help every student stay focused on their studies, Campus Dining and other Cal Poly organizations have implemented programs to fight student hunger, including Mustang Meal Share, Feed Cal Poly and the Cal Poly Food Pantry. Have questions or need a little help yourself? Inquire about the program by contacting Campus Health and Wellbeing at health@calpoly.edu or ext. 6-1211.
Events
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.
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
All athletic events through the spring have been canceled.
Job Vacancies
Employment Opportunities
For all available job openings, visit jobs.calpoly.edu. All new positions opened this week are listed below. To apply, go online and complete the application form. Current employees can also find job postings at CSU Careers, an internal job site for CSU employees. For assistance, call Human Resources at ext. 6-2236.
There are no new listings at this time.
For a full list of available jobs, go to jobs.calpoly.edu.
Faculty Employment Opportunities
Visit jobs.calpoly.edu for all available job openings. 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 all available 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.
There are no new listings at this time.
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.