Recent News
Cal Poly Mustang Marching Band to Perform in Chinese New Year Parade on Feb. 19 in San Francisco
Jan 18, 2022
SAN LUIS OBISPO — The Cal Poly Mustang Marching Band has been invited for the seventh time to participate in the Alaska Airlines Chinese New Year Parade on Saturday, Feb. 19, in San Francisco.
The Mustang Marching Band first performed along the 1.3-mile of the Chinese New Year Parade in 2014 and was among the 15 marching bands that participated. It has been awarded first place in the adult marching bands category at each appearance. The band’s more than 220 members, from academic disciplines across the Cal Poly campus, perform for nearly 50 occasions on campus each year, including athletic events and university functions such as December’s in-person recognition ceremony at Alex G. Spanos Stadium honoring the graduates of the Class of 2020.
Cal Poly Vice President for Student Affairs Named Board Chair of Local Medical Center
Jan 4, 2022
Keith Humphrey to Lead Sierra Vista’s Governing Board of Directors in 2022
SAN LUIS OBISPO –– Cal Poly Vice President for Student Affairs Keith Humphrey has been named incoming chair of the Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center board of directors.
Humphrey, who has been a member of the Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center Board since 2016, currently serves as the governing body’s vice chair. His one-year term as board chair began Jan. 1.
Humphrey previously served as a member of the Community Counseling Center of San Luis Obispo board of directors from 2017 to 2018.
Cal Poly to Exhibit a Curated Selection of Artifacts by Renowned Architect Julia Morgan
Jan 4, 2022
SAN LUIS OBISPO — The Cal Poly College of Architecture and Environmental Design is proud to announce “Julia Morgan, Architect: Challenging Convention,” which will open to the public Saturday, Jan. 15, and run through Friday, Feb. 11.
The exhibit features curated artifacts from Special Collections and Archives at Cal Poly’s Kennedy Library and highlights original drawings, photographs and correspondences from Morgan’s personal and professional papers.
“Julia Morgan was revered for her versatility and the lasting value of her architecture,” said Jennifer Shields, associate professor of Architecture, who co-curated the exhibit with Director of Special Collections Jessica Holada. “This exhibit will illuminate her study and practice, highlight her innovative designs, and reveal her relationships with her contemporaries, her influences, and those she influenced.”
Cal Poly Float Wins Animation Award at 2022 Rose Parade®
Jan 1, 2022
Universities’ ‘Stargrazers’ Recognized for How the Float’s Moving Parts Meshed to Create an ‘Animation Performance … Better Than a lot of The Professional Floats’
PASADENA, Calif. — Cal Poly universities’ Stargrazers float that brings to life a scene from the classic Mother Goose rhyme “Hey diddle, diddle” received the Animation Award at the 133rd Rose Parade® held New Year’s Day.
The honor, announced two hours before the start of the parade, recognizes the most outstanding use of animation, said Regina Chapuis, the Cal Poly SLO team president. It’s the first time that the schools earned the designation since the award names were changed in 1984.
Cal Poly-Developed COVID-19 Saliva Testing Technology Will be Brought to Market
Dec 14, 2021
Partnership with Santa Maria-based Hardy Diagnostics will Expand Scale and Use of Faculty-Developed Saliva Collection Device for Easier Virus Testing
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Cal Poly has partnered with Santa Maria-based medical device manufacturer Hardy Diagnostics to bring to market saliva-based COVID-19 testing technology that was developed by members of the university’s faculty.
Cal Poly faculty and staff involved in this effort hope the technology can be utilized to further combat the COVID-19 pandemic and to address future viruses and improve healthcare technologies worldwide.
Nathaniel Martinez, associate professor of biological sciences, and Andres Martinez, professor of chemistry and biochemistry, have been developing microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (microPADs) for low-cost and portable diagnostic applications.
Cal Poly Names Terrance Harris as Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Management
Dec 13, 2021
SAN LUIS OBISPO — Cal Poly announced today that Terrance Harris, currently serving as interim vice president for Strategic Enrollment Management at the university, has been selected to fill the position permanently following a nationwide search.
“Terrance has been an incredible member of our community as a student, an advisor, a mentor and a leader. He truly embodies Cal Poly’s Learn by Doing philosophy,” said Cal Poly President Jeffrey D. Armstrong. “His leadership will be crucial in our continued efforts to make sure we are bringing students to Cal Poly and supporting them throughout their college career so they can be Ready Day One.”
Harris has served as interim vice president since June 2021. In this role, he sets the strategic vision for the division, collaborates with university partners on short- and long-term enrollment goals, and leads the development of strategies and practices that leverage financial aid awards. He also leads the creation of marketing and communication campaigns designed to attract and yield prospective students.
Cal Poly’s Annual Bach Week Set to Be In Person Jan. 18-22
Dec 13, 2021
SAN LUIS OBISPO — The Cal Poly Music Department will present its annual Bach Week in person Tuesday through Saturday, Jan. 18-22, with presentations and performances on campus and at the First Presbyterian Church in San Luis Obispo.
Bach Week features a range of events, including an organ concert paired with an Akademie lecture, a chamber concert featuring vocal and instrumental guest artists performing on period instruments, two master classes, and a finale concert of vocal and instrumental works with a pre-concert lecture.
Cal Poly Fall 2021 Commencement Set for Dec. 11
Dec 8, 2021
The university also will host an in-person ceremony Dec. 12 for the Class of 2020, impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic
SAN LUIS OBISPO — Cal Poly will host two ceremonies honoring its graduates this weekend — the 38th annual fall commencement on Saturday, Dec. 11, celebrating the fall Class of 2021, and a special, in-person name recognition event Sunday, Dec. 12, for graduates of the Class of 2020.
Both events will start at 10 a.m. at the Alex G. Spanos Stadium on campus.
“Commencement marks the end of a chapter and a celebration of accomplishment for our Cal Poly graduates,” said Cal Poly President Jeffrey D. Armstrong. “It gives us an opportunity to honor their hard work and to salute their support team of family, friends, faculty and mentors. This is particularly true of these graduates, who have navigated life and studies in the incredibly challenging time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Fall commencement comes as we all gear up for the holiday season and offers more to be joyful about. We won’t have look far; we’ll see it on the faces of these Ready Day One graduates.”
Pianist W. Terrence Spiller to Perform Recital Jan. 7 at Cal Poly
Dec 6, 2021
SAN LUIS OBISPO — Pianist and Cal Poly Music Professor Emeritus W. Terrence Spiller will give a recital at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 7, in the Spanos Theatre on campus.
Spiller will perform works by Clara and Robert Schumann, who Spiller calls two of the most important musicians from 19th-century Germany as well as one of the most famous married couples in music history.
Cal Poly Orchesis Dance Company to Present ‘Convergence’ Jan. 14-15 and 20-22
Dec 1, 2021
SAN LUIS OBISPO — The Cal Poly Theatre and Dance Department will present the Orchesis Dance Company’s 52nd annual concert, “Convergence,” on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 14-15, and Thursday through Saturday, Jan. 20-22, in the Spanos Theatre. Performances will begin at 8 p.m. on all days, with a matinee scheduled at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 15.
The Orchesis Dance Company celebrates its return to the concert stage after live performances were canceled due to the pandemic. In celebration of the theme of convergence, the point at which we come together, performances will include choreography by faculty, student, and guest choreographers in multiple genres.