Cal Poly Report — Sept. 9, 2020 

Virtual Convocation to be Held Sept. 10

Check the Cal Poly Roadmap for Fall Quarter Updates

Be sure to visit the Roadmap website for continued fall quarter updates regarding campus operations and virtual resources. The Roadmap now features links to Human Resources’ fall work plan, PPE distribution information, fall quarter academic resources, support for students who may have to quarantine or isolate, and COVID-19 testing details. Visit calpoly.edu/roadmap for more. Continue to visit the university’s coronavirus website for current health information, including case counts, health resources and safety protocol.

 

Fall Work Plan Outlines Return to Work Protocols During COVID-19

As the academic year gets underway next week, Human Resources wants to make sure campus community members are aware of the Fall Work Plan — Return to Work Protocols for COVID-19. The plan offers guidance for different workplace scenarios as well as trainings and simple steps that can help keep the community safe. Human Resources encourages all campus community members to familiarize themselves with this plan. The academic year will start with most staff being asked to continue to telework. Any change to current on-campus staffing should be coordinated through the Emergency Operations Center. If it is deemed necessary that an employee return to campus, their manager must first complete the Workplace Readiness Assessment Form and follow the process that is laid out in the plan. This will be coordinated through the Emergency Operations Center to help mitigate risks and ensure the safety of the Cal Poly community. Whether working on or off campus, the Fall Work Plan has information about trainings available to help all employees throughout this time. These trainings cover self-care as well as ergonomics in a home workspace. Anyone with questions should contact HR at humanresources@calpoly.edu or call Employee Support Services at ext. 6-2236.
 

Cal Poly Eligible for Grant Opportunities Related to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Cal Poly has received approval from the Department of Education to be designated a minority-serving institution during the 2020 fiscal year. Cal Poly applied for and received a designation as an Asian American-, Native American-, and Pacific Islander-serving institution. This designation allows Cal Poly faculty and staff to apply for federal grant funding that is reserved specifically for certain minority-serving institutions, as well as funding that may be put toward strategic planning, faculty development and endowments. The designation requires that Asian American, Native American and Pacific Islander students make up at least 10% of the institution’s enrollment. In fall 2019, 13.8% of Cal Poly’s enrolled students identified as within those demographic categories. The university also demonstrated that it was taking steps to substantially increase higher education opportunities for underrepresented students at Cal Poly. In alignment with Cal Poly’s strategic priority to enrich the campus culture of diversity, equity and inclusion, new sources of potential funding would enable the university to expand its capacity to serve low-income students and students from groups that are minoritized in higher education by improving and strengthening the support and resources available to these students. Cal Poly will now be more competitive for grants offered by federal agencies including the Department of Education, National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and Department of Energy, among others. Read more here.
 

Update on Fire at Swanton Pacific Ranch

The CZU Lightning Complex fires swept through Cal Poly’s Swanton Pacific Ranch, managed by the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, on Aug. 19-20, destroying much of the ranch and its structures. Most importantly, all staff and students were able to evacuate safely and all livestock were safely transported from the ranch. A full assessment of the damage will take weeks, perhaps even months, to fully identify. At this time, the college is aware that important structures, including the Al Smith House, Seaside School House, Red House, Archibald House, Staub House and yurts, Cal Barn, Little Creek House, Car Barn, rail cars, Roundhouse and Car Shop have all been destroyed. The Green House, Long Barn, Bunk House, Railroad Machine Shop, Train Station, full-size cabooses and picnic grounds appear undamaged at this time. While the locomotives did burn, the college will evaluate at a later date whether they can be restored. CAFES will work closely with its Cal Poly family and its partners in the surrounding Santa Cruz community to rise up, rebuild and grow from the ashes. For now, the college is focused on the immediate needs of those Swanton staff, faculty and students impacted by the fire. To learn more and contribute to the Swanton Pacific Ranch Recovery Fund, visit https://crowdfund.calpoly.edu/project/22001.
 

Cal Poly Study Shows Promise of Central Coast Offshore Wind Energy

As California aims to provide 60% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030 and 100% by 2045, a Cal Poly study provides some good news: Offshore winds along the Central Coast increase at the same time that people start using more energy — in the evening. One of the challenges of moving toward fully renewable energy is matching production to demand. Though the state has high existing solar energy capacity and the potential for even more, the supply of solar power peaks in the middle of the day and ends when the sun goes down. Consumer demand, on the other hand, peaks in the evening when people return from work around or after sunset. Because storage of solar energy on a large scale is not yet practical, other renewable sources are needed to meet the Golden State’s environmental milestone of going fully renewable. The research team found that offshore winds are strongest when demand is greatest, making it an ideal candidate to fill the gap left by solar and on-shore wind energy production. The team was led by research scientist Yi-Hui Wang (pictured) and included biology professors Ben Ruttenberg and Crow White and physics Professor Ryan Walter. Read more here.
 

Cal Poly Collaboration Introduces Breakthrough Technology for e-Scooters to Increase Pedestrian Safety

The Cal Poly Digital Transformation Hub (DxHub), powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS), developed a proof-of-concept for potential technologies to address e-scooter issues with sidewalk riding. The team developed breakthrough technology using readily available electronic parts that cost under a dollar and demonstrated that e-scooters could be inexpensively and easily modified to enhance safety. The solution will also help reduce e-scooter-related injuries for riders and pedestrians, while encouraging individuals to operate these devices on public roadways instead of sidewalks. When shared micro-mobility devices like e-scooters are ridden on sidewalks instead of the street, injuries to pedestrians demonstrably increase. The city of Santa Monica saw that despite a widespread public education program and law enforcement officers issuing tickets for violations, e-scooters were still being used on sidewalks. Read the rest here.
 

Cal Poly to Host Space and Cybersecurity Symposium Oct. 5-8

National and commercial investment in the space economy is growing at an unprecedented rate, and as the world's space-based infrastructure expands, so too do cybersecurity risks. Defending America's space assets from cyberattacks is now a national priority. Are we prepared? How can public and private sector agencies incorporate cybersecurity into their supply chains as they build the next generation of spacecraft? Will we have the workforce needed to defend our nation and commercial interests tomorrow? From Oct. 5-8, Cal Poly will host a series of solutions-focused conversations on the intersection of space and cybersecurity. The webinars feature keynote interviews and panel sessions with leaders from the Department of Defense, U.S. Space Force, industry and higher education. Space and Cybersecurity Symposium 2020 will bring together academia, government and commercial agencies to discuss the latest strategies needed to secure private and public space resources and supply chains from state and non-state cyber adversaries. The event will also share approaches for building the 21st-century workforce resources required to meet these goals. For more information, go to calpoly.events.cube365.net/media-hub/scs2020.
 

Two Students Awarded Pre-Doctoral Fellowships Aimed at Preparing Future CSU Faculty Members

Two students have been selected as pre-doctoral fellows through the CSU’s Sally Casanova Scholars Program, designed to increase the pool of potential CSU faculty. Graduate student Ashlee Hernandez (left) in the School of Education’s Higher Education Counseling and Student Affairs program and America Romero, a fourth-year psychology major, were admitted to the program. Hernandez, who also works as a graduate assistant in Cal Poly’s Parent and Family Programs, is interested in pursuing her doctorate and continuing her research on policies and practices that promote retention and completion rates of students with dependents in higher education. Throughout her fellowship, Hernandez will work with faculty advisor Tina Cheuk, an assistant professor in the School of Education who has also researched the experiences of students with dependents. Romero will work with faculty advisor Kelly Bennion, an assistant professor in the Psychology and Child Development Department. Romero worked with Bennion in the BEACoN Mentoring program and has assisted with study design and administration, data collection, and managing a team of research assistants in Bennion’s project studying memory and what factors into the likelihood of whether information is remembered or forgotten. Alongside research, she’s involved as a peer mentor to first-year students through the Cal Poly Scholars program and through the College of Liberal Arts Underrepresented Students Network. Read more here.
 

TRIO Achievers Awarded Multiyear Department of Education Grant

Cal Poly’s TRIO Achievers, federally known as Student Support Services, recently secured a new five-year grant totaling $1.72 million from the Department of Education. The multiyear federal grant allows the program to continue its annual mission of supporting at least 258 first-generation, low-income students, as well as students with disabilities, through the 2024-25 academic year. In addition, the grant supports approximately 20 students as peer mentors and student assistants, two full-time staff, and one half-time staff position. Founded in 1984 at Cal Poly, TRIO Achievers provides eligible students with grant aid, cultural events and activities, academic tutoring and advising, and graduate/professional school advising and preparation. In addition, the program offers a variety of academic resources, including laptop/technology rentals, a book lending library, quarterly workshops and academic supplies. Learn more here.

Drive-Thru Ice Cream Held Each Friday to Support Students

Cool off and support students at the Cal Poly Creamery. A drive-thru ice cream sale will be held  each Friday from noon to 4 p.m. The cost is $6 per pint (cash, cards and checks are accepted) and the flavors are vanilla, chocolate chip, mint chip and mud pie. The creamery is located in the Dairy Science Complex off Mount Bishop Road (No. 18A).

 

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Faculty & Staff

William “Carl” Wallace, a dedicated staff member who worked tirelessly for over 30 years at increasing diversity and inclusion, died Aug. 11 at the age of 83. Wallace leaves behind a huge footprint on the legacy of the African American academic and cultural community at Cal Poly and, indeed, all of San Luis Obispo.  As the director of the university’s Equal Opportunity Program (EOP) and later as the dean of students, Wallace was instrumental in the successful admissions and matriculations of thousands of students from ethnically diverse backgrounds and cultures. Wallace also assisted in the chartering process for the first Black fraternity in the 1970s. His passion was helping students, all students, but he focused his efforts on students of diverse cultures and ethnic backgrounds because he realized they were often underserved academically and in need of extra mentoring and guidance. 
 

Tina Bailey, professor emeritus and former chair of the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, died July 22 at the age of 78. She was an incredible teacher and leader in education and a wonderfully loving human being. Bailey was clearly a pioneer, one of only a few women faculty members in science when she began teaching at Cal Poly in the 1970s. She paved the way for future generations of women scientists in countless ways. Her contributions continually changed the college and university for the better. Bailey served as chair of the Academic Senate Curriculum Committee and finished her career with eight years as department chair of the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department. She received Cal Poly’s Distinguished Teaching Award and was once the campus nominee for the CSU Outstanding Faculty Award. At the national level, Bailey was recognized for her development of the studio classroom model, which combines lecture and lab to form an innovative and more effective learning environment. She also co-authored several editions of a nationally published organic chemistry textbook with her husband, Phil Bailey. In addition to raising four adopted children, Tina and Phil welcomed dozens of Cal Poly students into their home, offering them a place to live, assisting with tuition and fees, and simply providing love and moral support.  Tina Bailey also held multiple leadership positions in the San Luis Obispo community, including in the League of Women Voters, the Girl Scouts and the Community Counseling Center. Her unmatched strength and tenacious love supported and advanced the lives of so many, and she will be greatly missed by all who knew her. Her full obituary is available online.
 

Gary Dwyer was born in Denver, Colorado, in 1943 and died Aug. 9 in San Luis Obispo. He graduated from Syracuse University and SUNY with a double degree in fine arts and landscape architecture, and later earned an MFA in sculpture from the University of Denver. Dwyer believed like Pericles that “what you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.” At Cal Poly, where he taught landscape architecture for 35 years, he became known as an inspiring, unconventional and beloved teacher and mentor. During the same period, he created numerous works in sculpture and landscape architecture in the U.S. and Europe. His wife, Odile, daughters Heather and Chelsea, stepdaughter Celia, five grandchildren, and hundreds of former students and colleagues will carry on his spirit.  A celebration of his life will be held sometime down the road when the world is a little safer. 
 

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Campus Announcements

Kennedy Library Offers Contactless Pickup and Checkout

The Kennedy Library and CSU+ are now loaning books and other physical materials (excluding Course Reserves) on a limited basis with contactless pickup on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11 a.m. -1p.m. 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. 
— Please remember to wear a face covering and to practice physical distancing when coming to campus.
Books and other physical materials checked out to you will be renewed automatically. There will be no late fees or fines for any overdue items at this time. Books and other physical materials (including CSU+ and Interlibrary Loan) may be returned to the book drops located in front of the library or in parking lot H10.
 

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.
 

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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

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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. 

#497565 — Custodian, Student Affairs — University Housing. $32,460-$50,352 per year. Anticipated hiring range: $32,460-$36,000 per year. Open until closed. 

#497536 — Senior Budget and Operations Specialist (Confidential Offices Support III), University Communications and Marketing — University Communications. $39,264-$78,360 per year. Anticipated hiring range: $60,000-$70,000 per year. Open until closed.

#497459 — Temporary Campus Advocate 10/12 (Student Services Professional II), Student Affairs – Campus Health and Wellbeing. $3,587-$5,100 per month. Anticipated hiring range: $3,587-$3,946 per month. This position is paid under the 10/12 pay plan, where the salary for 10 months is distributed over 12 months. The salary will be received every month. The incumbent will have two months off every year (with pay, benefits and vacation/sick leave accrual continuing through months off). The two months may be July and August or June and December. Open until closed.

#497465 — Registered Nurse II 10/12, Student Affairs — Campus Health and Wellbeing. $3,403-$6,505 per month. Anticipated Hiring Range: $4,998-$5,148  per month. This position is paid under the 10/12 pay plan, where the salary for 10 months is distributed over 12 months. The salary will be received every month. The incumbent will have two months off every year (with pay, benefits and vacation/sick leave accrual continuing through months off). The two months may be July and August or June and December. Open until closed.

#496570 — Operations Coordinator (Administrative Support Coordinator II), Office of Research and Economic Development. $37,380-$67,668 per year. Anticipated hiring range: $42,000-$52,524 per year. Open until closed.

#497257 — Administrative Support Assistant II — Counseling Services, Student Affairs — Campus Health and Wellbeing. $2,705-$4,592 per month. Anticipated hiring range: $3,000-$3,200 per month. Open until closed.

#497215 — Custodial Laborer (Laborer), Administration and Finance — Facilities Management and Development. $33,468-$60,576 per year. Anticipated hiring range: $33,468-$37,200 per year. Open until closed.

#497247 — Custodian, Administration and Finance — Facilities Management and Development. $32,460-$50,352 per year. Anticipated hiring range: $32,460-$36,000 per year. Open until closed.

#497382 — Emergency Hire Early Childhood Teacher (Early Childhood Teacher), Academic Affairs — College of Liberal Arts. $17.41-$28.22 per hour. Anticipated hiring range: $17.41-$19.15 per hour. Open until closed.

#497407 — Computer-Aided Transcriber (Hourly Interpreter/Realtime Captioner/Computer-Aided Transcriber), Student Affairs — Disability Resource Center. $34,154 -$343,096 per year. Anticipated hiring range: $52,000-$83,200 per year. Open until closed.

#494871 — Construction Inspector (Administrator II), Administration and Finance — Facilities Management and Development. Salary commensurate with the background and experience of the individual selected. Open until closed.

#497126 — STEM Tutor Coordinator (Student Services Professional II), Academic Programs and Planning — Office of Writing and Learning. $51,648-$73,440 per year. Anticipated hiring range: $51,648-$56,820 per year. Open until closed.

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 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.
 

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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.
 

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