Recent News

Cal Poly and Its Students Infuse $1 Billion into Central Coast, Economic Impact Study Reports

Apr 1, 2021

For every dollar invested by the state at the Learn by Doing university, analysis shows, a nearly tenfold increase in industry activity is generated throughout California, using data from the 2018-19 fiscal year

SAN LUIS OBISPO — Cal Poly’s economic contributions ripple throughout the county, region and state like a wave, supporting thousands of jobs and generating more than $1.6 billion in industry activity and over $105 million of state and local tax revenue, according to an economic impact study released today.

During 2018-19, the campus spent more than $1 billion, made up of $535.1 million in operational expenditures, $132.5 million in auxiliary costs and $70.1 million on construction projects. In addition, Cal Poly’s more than 20,000 students spent nearly $280 million.

The study was commissioned by the California State University, the nation’s largest four-year public university system with more than 485,000 students and 52,000 faculty and staff spread across 23 CSU campuses — including Cal Poly — and eight off-campus centers throughout the state.  Researchers from ICF International Inc., a global advisory and digital services provider, utilized data from the 2018-19 academic year.

Cal Poly Study Finds Light Pollution Drives Increased Risk of West Nile Virus

Mar 26, 2021

SAN LUIS OBISPO — A new study from Cal Poly and the University of South Florida (USF) is the first to provide direct evidence that light pollution is driving infectious disease patterns in nature.

The research team previously determined mosquitoes and birds are attracted to artificial light at night, greatly enhancing the likelihood that the insects will spread West Nile virus to animals and humans.

Their new findings published this week in the “Proceedings of the Royal Society B” are in contrast to previous studies that have blamed urbanization due to its human population density and breeding hotspots, such as drainage systems.

Cal Poly Team Wins First at National Grocers Association Student Case Study Competition

Mar 19, 2021

SAN LUIS OBISPO — A team of four Cal Poly agricultural business seniors won first place in the National Grocers Association 2021 Student Case Study Competition for their presentation on how grocers can combat the major economic issues caused by COVID-19 by staying competitive through their “local supply chains” against low-price operators.

The Cal Poly team included students Katherine "Scottie" Lester, Joshua Smith, Annika Bertelsen, and Amber Eckert. Agribusiness Associate Professor Ricky Volpe advised the team.

Cal Poly Professor Co-Authors Study Showing Humans Contribute to Nuisance Tidal Flooding

Mar 10, 2021

SAN LUIS OBISPO — Human interventions in many coastal areas across the U.S. — including construction of piers and jetties and harbor dredging — have contributed to nuisance flooding, according to a study co-authored by a Cal Poly engineering professor.

Cal Poly Wind Bands to Present Virtual Concert Titled ‘Community’ on March 14

Mar 4, 2021

SAN LUIS OBISPO — Cal Poly’s Wind Ensemble and Wind Orchestra will present a virtual concert titled “Community” at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 14.

“Music has the ability to bring together minds and souls,” Director of Bands Christopher J. Woodruff said. “For this concert, the members of the Cal Poly Wind Bands explore the connections between individuals that make us part of a larger whole, whether they are performing in person or remotely.

Cal Poly Symphony’s Virtual ‘Soloist Showcase’ Set for March 12

Mar 4, 2021

SAN LUIS OBISPO — The Cal Poly Symphony will present its annual Soloist Showcase through a virtual presentation at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 12.

The symphony held auditions in November for student soloists from a variety of majors for the opportunity to be featured in the showcase. The winners were computer engineering major Kiran Manikonda on clarinet and Grant Smith, a double major in civil engineering and music, on piano.

Cal Poly Choirs to Present ‘Breathe in Hope’ Virtual Concert on March 13

Mar 3, 2021

SAN LUIS OBISPO — The Cal Poly Choirs will present “Breathe in Hope,” a virtual winter concert that will feature a variety of selections on the theme of perseverance and hope, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 13.

PolyPhonics will perform music by Camille Saint-Saëns and influential African American composer Adolphus Hailstork.

Cal Poly Interdisciplinary Student Teams Capture Historical Win at Regional Competition

Feb 18, 2021

SAN LUIS OBISPO — Cal Poly students brought home 11 trophies from this year’s annual Associated Schools of Construction Region 6 and 7 Student Competition, breaking their historical record set just last year when they won 10 awards, including six first-place trophies.

This year 11 of Cal Poly’s 14 teams finished in the top three spots, including 10 trophies won by architectural engineering (ARCE), architecture (ARCH), and construction management (CM) students, and one trophy by civil engineering students. Four Cal Poly teams placed first, including three Construction Management Department teams — Project Management, Electrical and Mixed-Use teams — and the Virtual Design and Construction Team from the Civil Engineering Department.

Cal Poly teams were made up of nearly an equal number of women and men. The university earned nearly three times the number of trophies than its closest competitor, Idaho’s Boise State.

Cal Poly Extended Education Offers AWS Training to Grow California’s Cybersecurity and Cloud Workforce

Feb 18, 2021

SAN LUIS OBISPO — Cal Poly Extended Education has entered a partnership with two statewide programs to further an initiative to deliver cybersecurity and cloud skills training from Amazon Web Services (AWS) to upskill and reskill the current and future workforce of California through training collaborations, targeting communities and corporations across the state.

Cal Poly Marketing Professors Lead Research That Finds Broad Impacts from Political Polarization

Feb 18, 2021

Study finds polarization increasing in corporate brands that voters believe best mirror their political leanings

SAN LUIS OBISPO — Political polarization has far-reaching impacts on American life, harming consumer welfare and creating challenges for leaders, from politicians and policymakers to corporate executives and marketers, says a study led by a pair of Cal Poly professors.