Cal Poly Report — Nov. 18, 2020
News
Grimmway Farms Donates $5 Million to CAFES to Establish Organic Production, Research Center
Cal Poly will change the landscape of organic agriculture with a $5 million donation made to the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences by Grimmway Farms, the global leader in organic produce. With this gift, Cal Poly will expand its emphasis on applied research in organic production and soil health by providing a unique, collaborative platform for academia, industry and government from across California and beyond to come together to advance the organic industry. The partnership between CAFES and Grimmway will establish a unique learning model that will enable research and innovation across disciplines, focusing on real-world issues that directly impact the state’s $10 billion organic industry. The Grimmway Farms donation will be used to launch the Center for Organic Production and Research on campus, structured similarly to that of the Cal Poly Strawberry Center, as well as build the Grimmway Farms/Cal-Organic Soil Health and Sustainability Laboratories to provide research and teaching opportunities in topics related to healthy soils, water and air. “Our partnership with Grimmway will facilitate bringing increased science and technology to the production of organic food,” said CAFES Dean Andrew Thulin. “Cal Poly is at the forefront of using the power of collaboration to solve real-world problems. This new center will integrate the greatest talents in academia, private industry, government and a wide range of disciplines to benefit the organic industry as a whole.”
Aerospace Professor Explains the Significance of SpaceX Launch
This last weekend’s SpaceX launch was historic, and not only because Cal Poly alumnus Victor Glover is piloting the mission to the International Space Station. Aerospace engineering Professor Kira Abercromby, who spent eight years working at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, explains why the mission has the potential to change the way humankind pursues interplanetary exploration. “There's nothing routine about what's happening on this mission,” she says, “and to be honest, there shouldn't really ever be anything routine about whenever you send humans to space.” Abercromby also talks about the way the rocket was designed, the potential for the NASA/SpaceX partnership, and why it's important to inspire the next generation of scientists. Read the Q&A on Cal Poly News.
Mustangs in Space: Look Back on Four Stellar Astronauts
This past weekend, alumnus Victor Glover became the fourth Cal Poly graduate to travel to space with NASA. In a new video from Cal Poly Magazine, learn more about the three alumni — Robert "Hoot" Gibson, Rick "CJ" Sturckow and Gregory Chamitoff — who helped expand the horizons of crewed spaceflight. They are just a few of the Mustangs who have built Cal Poly's reputation in aerospace and aeronautics over the last century. Read more in the fall issue of Cal Poly Magazine.
OUDI to Present Agenda, Update and Vision for the Year on Nov. 19
Join the Office of University Diversity and Inclusion for a discussion around OUDI’s agenda and vision for the 2020-21 academic year. The discussion will take place from 4-5:15 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, on Zoom (ID: 871 6402 9459). Contact Ryan Adserias (radseria@calpoly.edu) with any questions.
Campus Community Encouraged to Make Appointment for Free COVID-19 Testing
Cal Poly has as many as 10,000 COVID-19 test kits available for use over the next seven days. All campus community members who are asymptomatic are encouraged to schedule a test at the university's ongoing testing program in the Performing Arts Center Lobby before the holiday break. The testing program continues this week through next Tuesday, Nov. 24, including new testing dates from Saturday through Tuesday, Nov. 21-24. Testing is available from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day. Before making an appointment, make sure to register with Avellino Labs. Students may also schedule a test through Campus Health and Wellbeing. Visit the ongoing testing webpage for more information and links to make an appointment.
Cal Poly Study Shows Noise and Light Alter Bird Reproduction
Looking for a bird’s-eye view of human impact? A new Cal Poly study published in the journal Nature provides the most comprehensive picture yet of how human noise and light pollution affect birds throughout North America, including how these factors may interact with or mask the impacts of climate change. Recent troubling findings suggest bird populations have declined by more than 30% in the last few decades. To develop effective strategies to reverse this trend, scientists and land managers need to understand what caused the decline. The effects of noise and light pollution on the health of bird populations had been largely overlooked until some recent studies suggested that these stressors can harm individual species. With this new study, a continentwide picture has emerged. “Our study provides the most comprehensive evidence that noise and light can profoundly alter reproduction of birds, even when accounting for other aspects of human activities,” said Cal Poly biology Professor Clint Francis, one of the lead study authors. Read more on Cal Poly News.
Campus Dining Donates Meals for Hunger, Homelessness Awareness Week
Campus Dining is partnering with the Basic Needs Task Force in recognition of Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. From Nov. 16-20, the Basic Needs Task Force will distribute free pre-packaged meals from noon to 1 p.m. at the food pantry, located at the lower level of the Health Center (No. 27). The meals are donated by Campus Dining and will cater to students’ various dietary preferences and restrictions including vegan and vegetarian options. The collaboration with Campus Dining helps Cal Poly join the movement to help support students struggling with homelessness and food insecurity. Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week is a program that aims to draw attention to these ongoing problems and offers a weeklong series of educational, service, fundraising and advocacy events.
Biology Professor’s Cartoons About Lab Life Bring Smiles During Pandemic
Biological sciences Professor Ed Himelblau has illustrated a unique series of cartoons special to Cal Poly. The black-and-white drawings show a cohort of anthropomorphic animals in Learn by Doing lab settings on campus and in the field. Himelblau began posting them to his Instagram account, @himelblog, at the beginning of October to celebrate some of the signature labs at Cal Poly, the majority of which are not happening this quarter due to the coronavirus pandemic. “Everyone is feeling bad that students are missing out on those experiences,” he said. “It’s an acknowledgment of what we’re missing out on and what we’ll hopefully return to in the not-so-distant future.” Read the full article and see more illustrations on Cal Poly News.
Campus Invited to Donate to Mustang Holiday Gift Card Drive by Dec. 4
The Center for Service in Action (CSA) invites all students, staff, faculty and families to contribute to the Mustang Holiday Gift Card Drive. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic we have suspended the traditional giving-tree tags and shopping aspects of the drive. Campus community members can contribute by donating money via the Mustang Holiday Gift Card Drive's Spur Change crowdfunding website by Friday, Dec. 4, at https://crowdfund.calpoly.edu/project/23564. The CSA will use the donated money to purchase gift cards for children in need served by our community partner agencies this holiday season. Anyone with questions about the Mustang Holiday Gift Card Drive can email the CSA at serviceinaction@calpoly.edu.
Student Success
Five Architecture Seniors Earn Honors at National Steel Design Competition
Two teams of architectural engineering and architecture students earned honorable mentions in a national steel design competition sponsored by the American Institute of Steel Construction and the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture. The 2020 ACSA/AISC Steel Design Student Competition offered upper-level architecture students from 56 colleges and universities across the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico the opportunity to develop project designs using steel as the primary material. The 900 participants were from such schools as Auburn, Princeton, Syracuse and Texas A&M universities, Rochester Institute of Technology, and UC campuses including Berkeley. The honorees from Cal Poly’s College of Architecture and Environmental Design were announced in September. Jacob Bodinger, an architecture senior from Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, was honored for “Adaptive Infrastructures,” which rethinks the concept of car-centric communities and supporting traffic infrastructure. Judges liked his proposal for “its conceptual approach, which proposes a design that could be applied to many cities.”
Cal Poly Holiday Cheese Boxes Feature Student-Made Products
The holidays are almost here! The Cal Poly Creamery has new award-winning cheeses and traditional favorites, available in a variety of gift box arrangements. The sale runs through Dec. 18, with shipping available throughout the U.S. and select dates available for pick-up at the Cal Poly Creamery. Gift boxes from the creamery are a safe and convenient way to share Mustang pride this holiday season. The creamery cares about our community and is giving back this holiday season. For every 100 gift boxes sold, a cheese box will be donated to the Cal Poly Food Pantry to support students impacted by food insecurity. A special cheese box is also available for purchase as a direct donation to students in need. Click here to order your cheese selections in time for holiday delivery. Thank you for supporting students and Cal Poly's Learn by Doing tradition.
Faculty & Staff
Resources Available for Faculty, Staff, Students to Support Mental Health and Well-Being
The university hopes campus community members are taking care of themselves during this time and not hesitating to reach out for support. There are numerous resources available for faculty, staff and students to take care of their mental health and well-being. Human Resources and Campus Health and Wellbeing have compiled a list of resources:
— Employee Assistance Program: confidential counseling services are available to employees and their families at 800-367-7474 or https://afd.calpoly.edu/hr/employee-resources/work-life.
— Working Remotely Toolkit: https://afd.calpoly.edu/learn-and-grow/employee-development/toolkits/working-remotely.
— Mindfulness Resources: https://afd.calpoly.edu/learn-and-grow/employee-development/toolkits/mindfulness.
— Ergonomics tips for working from home: https://afd.calpoly.edu/learn-and-grow/docs/ergonomic_tips_for_working_at_home.pdf.
— Teens and young adults can text START to 741-741 or call 1-800-273-TALK (8253) for a confidential conversation anytime (Jed Foundation).
— Students of color can text STEVE to 741-741 to access a culturally trained Crisis Text Line counselor (The Steve Fund).
— Read these tips from the Jed Foundation for taking care of ourselves and others during difficult times.
— Faculty and staff can remind students of key resources, including the Counseling Center, Cross Cultural Centers, and the Dean of Students office. Students can call Counseling Services at ext. 6-2511 for 24/7 psychological support.
— In addition, employees should try to get sufficient sleep, exercise and proper nutrition. Take breaks from work and develop separation or boundaries from your workspace or transition to and from work. Human Resources notes that a decline in productivity is possible during a challenging time, and encourages all campus community members to practice compassion with themselves and each other.
Cal Poly Corporation Marketing and Communication Wins Seven International Awards
Cal Poly Corporation’s Marketing and Communication department recently received a multitude of honors for campaigns promoting the excellence and hard work of Campus Dining, Cal Poly Corporation and Administration and Finance. The department was awarded three platinum awards and four gold awards, as well as five honorable mentions from the MarCom Awards, one of the largest, most respected creative competitions in the world, administered by the Association of Marketing and Communications Professionals. Two of the platinum awards were given in recognition of work promoting Campus Dining’s Choosewell Ambassadors and Superfoods programs, while the third was for efforts in marketing the USA Pentathlon National Qualifier event that took place in January 2020. Two gold awards were brought in for the new and fresh logo designs for Vista Grande’s restaurants Streats and Sweet Bar. Additionally, two gold awards were given in recognition of the Inside Cal Poly Blog and Campus Dining’s Faces Behind the Food campaign. Five honorable mentions were received on behalf of a plethora of categories, including digital media, website design, print media, strategic communications and integrated marketing. To see all the 2020 winners, visit http://enter.marcomawards.com/winners/.
Cal Poly Corporation Staff Presents at National Conference on Pentathlon and Communications Work
Staff members from the Cal Poly Corporation presented on two major topics during a virtual National Association of College Auxiliary Services, (NACAS) annual conference on Nov. 12. The first presentation, "Rallying Support, It Takes an Olympic Effort," laid out the work that was done to host the USA Pentathlon National Qualifying event last January. Fatma Spanton, director of Conference and Event Planning, was joined by Ellen Curtis, Corporation director of marketing and communication, and former Corporation CEO Lorlie Leetham for the presentation. They told the story of how the Corporation team was able to create a multi-venue event under an extremely tight deadline with limited funding and scarce resources. During the second presentation, Will Marchese, Corporation association executive director, legal and facilities, and Curtis shared solutions and strategies that were used to bring awareness to the numerous capital projects throughout campus. The presentation, "Building Facilities Communication, A Plan for Success," revealed tactics as well as assets, such as dedicated microsites, and campaigns that were created to share information and create buzz. NACAS is a professional trade association that supports the non-academic segment of higher education. The conference brought over 650 leaders from more than 300 higher education institutions and 200 NACAS business partners together to exchange knowledge.
Tilde Websites Will Be Decommissioned in December
Next month, ITS will decommission the PolyLog UNIX server that hosts “Tilde” websites (web.calpoly.edu/~). The server can no longer be maintained due to its age, and many of the websites hosted there do not meet accessibility standards. Owners of Tilde websites were notified over the summer and have been reminded throughout fall quarter to download their content, should they want to keep an offline archived copy. After the Tilde websites have been decommissioned, the content from the sites will be available for viewing in the University Web Archive. Questions? Contact the ITS Service Desk at servicedesk@calpoly.edu or ext. 6-7000.
Staff and Faculty Winter Parking Update
Winter parking permits will be available for purchase online beginning Monday, Dec. 21, and will be valid starting Monday, Jan. 4, 2021. Fall quarter parking permits will expire Friday, Dec. 4. Employees can purchase permits online and update their vehicle information using their parking account. Parking permits are required for parking on campus during the winter academic break. Visit Transportation and Parking Services staff page for more information on staff parking.
Save the Date: Register for Facilities Management and Development Virtual Fall Summit 2020
Facilities Management and Development will host a series of virtual Zoom sessions this year in lieu of the annual Fall Summit and Open House. From Dec. 7-9, the campus community is invited to attend sessions on a variety of interesting and informative Facilities-related topics. This year’s session topics include sustainability, COVID-19 custodial support, campus planning, information security, service request processes and many more. Visit the FMD Virtual Fall Summit webpage at https://afd.calpoly.edu/facilities/fall-summit to view the detailed session list and the session schedule and to register. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with your colleagues in FMD and learn more about the range of services and support they provide. Questions? Contact the Facilities Management and Development Help Center at facilities-cbs@calpoly.edu or call ext. 6-5555.
Faculty Advisor Training Series Set for Winter 2021
University Advising will offer a Faculty Advisor Training Series that introduces undergraduate faculty advisors to academic advising core competencies. All sessions will be held virtually via Zoom.
— Jan. 22: FA 101: Nuts and Bolts of Faculty Advising.
— Feb. 5: FA 102: Assemble Your Faculty Advising Toolkit.
— March 5: FA 103: Building Student Success through Faculty Advising.
Click here for more information about the Faculty Advisor Training series. Anyone with questions can contact Christina Wolfe-Chandler, advisor training coordinator, at crwolfe@calpoly.edu or ext. 6-5735.
Find Qualified Student Applicants by Posting On-Campus Positions on MustangJOBS
Faculty and staff who have a student employee job opening they'd like to promote can easily post it on MustangJOBS, powered by Handshake. Career Services offers this convenient, fast way to quickly reach many qualified student applicants. Whether the posting is for a virtual “on-campus” job or for a personal household job, MustangJOBS is the ideal place to promote an opportunity. Additionally, students who qualify for Federal Work Study are eligible for on-campus jobs at only 25% cost to the department’s budget. The federal government contributes the other 75% of the wages (learn more about Federal Work Study). To post position(s) on MustangJOBS, click here to get started. (Tip: for on-campus listings, select “on-campus” rather than “part-time” as the job type.) For more information on using MustangJOBS contact Career Services at careerservices@calpoly.edu or ext. 6-2501.
Do-It-Yourself Video Captioning Training for Campus Members
The Disability Resource Center (DRC) is offering one more DIY video captioning trainings on Zoom for faculty, staff and/or student assistants from 4-5:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 23. Attendees will learn how to use various automated transcription tools to create accurate closed captions for videos uploaded to YouTube. Email John Lee at jlee245@calpoly.edu to reserve a spot and to request accommodations as needed. Lee will email the Zoom link for the training session. The training session will have live captions and transcripts available.
Foundations of Gender and Sexuality Workshop to be Held Nov. 19
Faculty and staff are invited to participate in the Foundations of Gender and Sexuality virtual workshop from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19. This workshop explores how people are socialized regarding sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and provides foundational awareness of basic allyship practices for inclusion, with special regard to the LGBTQ+ community. Through this training, participants can become better equipped to support individuals of all sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions within our current socio-historic-political contexts. Participants will also have the opportunity to examine their own socialization and beliefs, raise awareness of others in our community, begin the process of critiquing paradigms and systems that are harmful to LGBTQ+ people, and commit to enhancing allyship practices. Join the meeting at its scheduled time at https://calpoly.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0ofuitrDkiHNbK10AryTpOzogQZ_Y_Jgwh.
Research, Economic Development and Graduate Education Invites Faculty to Join Research Listserv
Faculty members are invited to join Research, Economic Development and Graduate Education's (R-EDGE) research listserv to receive communication about activities or funding opportunities related to research. To join, send an email with subject line "sub researchlistserv" to sympa@calpoly.edu. For more information about the Research, Economic Development and Graduate Education division, visit research.calpoly.edu/.
Place Requests Now For Library Materials Needed Before Breaks
The Kennedy Library and CSU+ are loaning books and other physical materials (excluding Course Reserves) with contactless pickup from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays and from 4-6 p.m. Tuesdays. In addition to academic materials, the library also offers recreational reading material in the Good Reads collection. Because of delays due to COVID, it may take up to three weeks for requests to be fulfilled, so submit requests today. To checkout items:
— Request books on OneSearch using your Cal Poly account: https://onesearch.calpoly.edu.
— Receive an email that your items are ready to be picked up.
— Bring your Cal Poly ID/Library Card to the Kennedy Library front entrance on the days/hours listed above.
— Call Library Circulation at ext. 6-5760 to notify staff of your arrival and to provide your library card information.
— Staff will place your items outside the door.
— Remember to wear a face covering and to practice physical distancing when coming to campus.
Join a Virtual Community of Lifelong Learners
The College of Liberal Arts has created a virtual learning circle — kind of like a book club — for alumni, faculty, staff and friends. Everyone is invited to read the same book, watch the same documentary, listen to the same podcast, etc., and then join together to take part in a discussion about the piece led by CLA faculty members. Join the second CLA Learning Circle opportunity focused on the book “Stand Out of Our Light.” Written by James Williams, the book explores the "attention economy" and its effect on us as individuals and as a society. The discussion will take place at noon Thursday, Nov. 19, via Zoom. Joining is free, and the book is currently free through Cambridge University Press. Learn more and RSVP at https://cla.calpoly.edu/events/learning-circle.
Back to Shortcuts
Retirements
Debra Valencia-Laver, associate dean for operations in the College of Liberal Arts, will retire at the end of December after 29.5 years of service at the university, including 1.5 years as an interim associate dean and another 13.5 years as an associate dean. Throughout her career at Cal Poly, her university service has included work on the Academic Senate, General Education, WASC, and more. She served as the interim chair of the Ethnic Studies Department from fall 2002 to spring 2004. She is proud of being a founding and continuing member of the Chicanx Latinx Faculty Staff Association, serving most recently as the CLFSA liaison for Chicanx Latinx Commencement. Notable achievements as associate dean include the development of majors in ethnic studies and liberal arts and engineering studies, and the recent conversion of the modern languages and literatures major to a Spanish major. A professor in the Psychology and Child Development Department with a specialization in cognition and aging, she hopes to return to teaching as a rehired annuitant in the fall. She deeply appreciates the many connections she has made with staff, faculty and students from across the university and over the years. She will very much miss being a part of the day-to-day operations of the college and university. Join us in signing a virtual card for her here (https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/so57dr7P), where you can write comments and upload photos or video messages.
After being a part of the Cal Poly community for almost 25 years, Maria Bettencourt will retire from the campus custodial team. She landed on the central coast nearly 30 years ago after leaving her home in San José, Costa Rica. She and her husband, a fourth-generation San Luis Obispo native, settled in and started a family together here. During her time at Cal Poly, Bettencourt primarily worked in the late hours of the night. Because of this she was able to attend classes and eventually graduate from Cuesta College. Though she worked at night when the campus was quiet, Bettencourt was motivated by the fact that the Cal Poly employees would show up in the morning to a clean and fresh smelling work environment. Her passion and grit stems from a message from her mother that she holds dear to her heart. Her mother always told her to do her job to the best of her abilities, no matter what it may be, or go home because someone else will do it better. Bettencourt is very thankful for the community she found in her Cal Poly family. She is proud and honored to have worked at the university for as long as she did and only has glowing memories. She will retire from her custodial position as well as her teaching aide position at Pacheco Elementary School and spend more time enjoying her family and discovering new hobbies.
Druci Reese, Music Department administrative support coordinator, is retiring from Cal Poly at the end of December after almost 35 years of stellar service. She first came to Cal Poly in 1972-75 as a student double majoring in ornamental horticulture and recreation administration. During that time, she worked in the Registrar’s Office until leaving for the Bay Area. She and her family returned to San Luis Obispo in 1985, and she began working in the Music Department in 1986 while she also held a temporary half-time position in the Soil Sciences Department. Reese has served on several university committees, including as the College of Liberal Arts (CLA) representative for the Staff Council formed in 1993, and the staff representative for a CLA dean search. She has served as the staff employment equity facilitator for the Music Department, PAC, Spanos Theatre, Theatre and Dance Department and University Scheduling. She is the recipient of two CLA Staff Recognition Awards: Continuing Excellence (1999) and Outstanding Career Achievement (2019), and the University Outstanding Staff Award (1999-00). She is a font of information and a bastion of support to students, faculty and staff. After retiring, Reese plans to spend more time with friends and family, in particular her grandchildren. She and husband, Ralph, hope to spend more time at their cabin in the Sierra Nevada and travel. More about Reese is on the Music Department website. Join us in signing a virtual card for her.
Campus Announcements
Portable Battery Chargers Available to Students, Faculty, Staff for Free
The Outdoor Spaces Project recently purchased portable battery chargers that will be available to support students, faculty and staff in their on-campus virtual work and classes. These new portable chargers will allow the campus community to utilize the multitude of outside study areas on campus without worrying about their laptop’s battery going dead. The chargers can be found at the Tech Desk inside the University Store and will be available to rent for up to four hours free of charge. To check the chargers out, renters will be asked to leave a form of ID or credit card. With these new portable battery chargers, students, faculty and staff will have a wider range of places to work and relax around campus. The Outdoor Spaces Project is jointly funded by Cal Poly, the ASI, and Cal Poly Corporation.
Service Learning Town Hall to be Held Nov. 19
In accordance with CSU Chancellor’s Office initiatives, the Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology (CTLT) and the Center for Service in Action (CSA) are offering a virtual service learning town hall highlighting virtual alternatives to in-person/on-site service learning during COVID-19. Featured speakers and service-learning faculty fellows Sara Bartlett (Psychology and Child Development) and Karen Muñoz-Christian (World Languages and Cultures) will share how they developed new or adapted existing activities into all-virtual versions and more. The town hall will be held from 11 a.m. to noon on Thursday, Nov. 19. Anyone from the campus community interested in service-learning as a high impact practice for Learn by Doing is welcome to attend. Join via Zoom (ID: 871 3240 5391 https://calpoly.zoom.us/j/87132405391). Anyone with questions can contact CTLT faculty liaison for service learning Anurag Pande (apande@calpoly.edu) or CSA senior coordinator Bradley Kyker (bkyker@calpoly.edu).
Own a Beautiful Bella Montana Home
Another beautifully designed Bella Montana home is now available for purchase. The home, at 567-D Paseo Bella Montaña (La Cumbre), is listed at $482,514 and comes equipped with a long list of property highlights. This 1,327 square-foot, three-bedroom, three-bath home is noted for its beautiful hardwood floors, convenient indoor laundry unit, spacious one-car garage and comfortable and private outdoor living area. It is ideally located in the Bella Montaña development that encompasses 69 individually owned faculty and staff homes. These condominiums are walking distance to campus as well as to shops and restaurants. Surrounded by beautiful coastal foothills, Bella Montana offers an opportunity to own a home in San Luis Obispo, one of the most livable cities in California. There are so many beautiful views and opportunities to take those views in, whether it be on a walk, run or hike. This is a must-see unit. Contact Chris Lupo at 530-219-3332 or clupo@calpoly.edu for more information.
Events
Panel on Understanding the 2020 Election Outcome to be Held Nov. 18
The Election Working Group will present a webinar featuring panelists Thayani Jackson (History), Michael Latner (Political Science), and Amber Williams (Psychology and Child Development). The panel will be moderated by Elena Keeling (Biological Sciences) and will take place from 3-4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18, on Zoom ID: 894 0108 6847). Contact Blanca Martinez-Navarro (bmarti90@calpoly.edu) with any questions.
Second 'Movember' Talk on Nov. 18 to Feature UC Riverside's Jamal Myrick
Join the Men and Masculinities Program at noon Wednesday, Nov. 18, for the second installment of the Movember workshop. It will feature critical dialogue and action planning activities with Jamal Myrick about discovering and keeping stubborn joy in uncertain times. Myrick is director of African Student Programs at UC Riverside and author of "Dear Black Dads: Wisdom for Your Journey to Fatherhood," which is featured as the No. 1 new release on Amazon's "90 minute Arts & Photography Short Reads" and "Fatherhood" categories. To participate in the workshop, register here. Attendees will receive a special discount code to purchase the book. Be sure to check out Myrick's recent M&M Speaker Series episode on Stubborn Joy (Part 1-2) here. Note: This space is reserved for Black men and those who experience with black manhood and masculinity. 
'Movember' Closing Keynote to be Held Nov. 19
Join the Men and Masculinities Program for the "Movember" closing keynote “We Have Questions …” with Cal Poly alumnus Blake Williams from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, on Zoom. Attend for a witty and insightful conversation and inquiry about Black masculinities and mental health. As an alumnus, former behavioral therapist, mental health advocate and fitness consultant, Williams brings a unique perspective to some of the most pressing questions related to Black men's health today. Register here.
Theatre and Dance Department Presents Virtual Production of ‘An Iliad’ Daily Through Nov. 20
Cal Poly’s Theatre and Dance Department will present a virtual production of Lisa Peterson and Denis O’Hare’s riveting play “An Iliad” based on Homer’s “An Iliad,” translated by Robert Fagles. Virtual shows will be daily at 2 p.m., 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. from Saturday, Nov. 14, through Friday, Nov. 20. “‘An Iliad’ asks ‘what is it like to be present at the invention of a story?’ It showcases a small group of narrators, burdened as the carriers of history, who present the tale of the Trojan War as a means for investigating human nature,” said Josh Machamer, director and chair of the Theatre and Dance Department. The virtual presentation will feature actors who were filmed in their own residences and the work of Theatre and Dance Department students, faculty and staff, including Laina Babb, costume shop manager; Thomas J. Bernard, costume designer; Clint Bryson, technical director; and Brian Healy, scenic and lighting designer. In addition, a handful of students contributed to the production through their work in stage management and lighting. The department is presenting all performances of the virtual 2020-21 season free of charge as a way to continue its commitment to Learn by Doing. Audience members may contribute $10, $15 or $20 as their “ticket” to the performances. For production information and access, visit the Performing Arts Center website.
The Muse Hour Continues Nov. 22 with Rhiannon Giddens and Francesco Turrisi
Cal Poly Arts presents a four-episode, livestream music and conversation series in partnership with Luther Burbank Center for the Arts and Tacoma Arts Live. The Muse Hour's third episode will air live at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 22, featuring American folk artist and former lead singer of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Rhiannon Giddens, and Italian pianist and percussionist Francesco Turrisi. Centuries before West African music and dance influenced American culture, European music was transformed by Arabic and North African instruments and rhythms. Giddens and Turrisi trace this musical globalism by reimagining these encounters with the banjo, the frame drum and other instruments in a musical journey from Africa and the Middle East, through Europe, and finally to the Americas. This event features live performances and will be followed by a moderated audience Q&A session. Tickets are $11.50 and are available through calpolyarts.org.
Cal Poly Symphony Opens Season Dec. 4 with Music by Jacob, Walker, Beethoven
Cal Poly’s Symphony will present music of Gordon Jacob, George Walker and Ludwig van Beethoven in its fall virtual presentation at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4. In addition to the 20-minute concert portion, student musicians will be interviewed about their experiences with the challenging process of preparing for and presenting a concert during a pandemic, and videos from fall quarter rehearsals will be shown. The program will begin with the first movement of Jacob’s “Old Wine in New Bottles,” a collection of old English folk tunes. The program will continue with Walker’s “Lyric for Strings.” His career included many firsts for a Black instrumentalist: he was the first to perform in Manhattan’s Town Hall, the first to perform with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the first to be signed by a major management, the first to earn a doctorate from the Eastman School of Music, and in 1996, he became the first Black composer to be awarded the Pulitzer Prize in music. The program will also include the second movement of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 in A Major, which was composed between 1811 and 1812. Tickets are sold at the Performing Arts Center, ext. 6-4849. For more information, visit the Music Department calendar website.
Cal Poly Choirs to Present Annual ‘Holiday Kaleidoscope’ on Dec. 6
The Cal Poly Choirs will present the fourth annual — and first virtual — “Holiday Kaleidoscope” at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6. A variety of virtual choir presentations will be featured, with special guest appearances by the Valencia High School Choirs and Canzona Women’s Ensemble, among others. All four Cal Poly choral ensembles will perform: PolyPhonics, the Women’s Chorus, Chamber Choir and University Singers. The Valencia High School Choirs will be directed by Cal Poly alumna Christine Tavares-Mocha (Music, ’01). The four university choirs and the guest choirs will each perform a few short selections of repertoire, and the groups will unite for some works as well. The concert will close with a special setting of the traditional carol “Silent Night.” Paul Woodring is the accompanist for the Cal Poly choirs, which are conducted by Scott Glysson. Those who attend the concert are invited to a post-concert talk and will be able to interact with students and Glysson. Tickets to the concert are $10. A $15 backstage pass ticket includes both the concert and the post-concert session. For more information, visit the Music Department 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. Virtual events can also be publicized via the University events calendar. Email the Events team with details and they will assist with adding your information.
Athletics
For an overview of up-to-date sports information, photos and videos, visit gopoly.com. Per guidelines from the state and San Luis Obispo County Public Health, no fans will be permitted for these events. This guideline will be revisited for future events.
Upcoming Events @ Home
Friday, Nov. 27
Men's Basketball vs. Bethesda, Mott Athletics Center, 4 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 14
Women's Basketball vs. Santa Clara, Mott Athletics Center, 3 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 16
Men's Basketball vs. San Diego, Mott Athletics Center, 3 p.m.
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 this week. To see currently available jobs, please follow the instructions included below.
To find internally posted positions, start from the Cal Poly Portal. Click “Cal Poly Jobs” on the left-hand menu. On the next page click “Apply.” All internally and externally posted positions appear there. For a full list of available jobs, go to jobs.calpoly.edu.
Faculty Employment Opportunities
Visit jobs.calpoly.edu for all available job openings. The part-time lecturer pools are now open. Visit jobs.calpoly.edu for current openings, further information and how to apply. For assistance, call Academic Personnel at ext. 6-2844.
There are no new listings this week.
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 this week.
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 this week.
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.