Cal Poly Named California’s Top Public-Masters University in Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education Rankings
Cal Poly is the best master’s-level public university in California and is in the top 50 public universities in the nation in the 2022 Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Rankings. The WSJ/THE rankings emphasize student learning and how well a college or university will prepare students for life after graduation. Among the 796 colleges and universities ranked across the nation, Cal Poly placed No. 198 overall — up a dozen spots from last year. Cal Poly was again No. 8 among all California public institutions, behind seven campuses in the University of California system. Cal Poly ranked 48th out of all public colleges and universities in the U.S., up two notches from the 2021 rankings. The WSJ/THE rankings, released Sept. 21, come as U.S. News & World Report named Cal Poly the best public, master’s-level university in the West for the 29th straight year and Forbes once again designated Cal Poly the top public master's-level university in the state.
Homecoming 2021 to be Held Sept. 30-Oct. 2
Cal Poly community members are invited to attend one of more than 25 free events celebrating Cal Poly and Learn by Doing during Homecoming Weekend, Sept. 30-Oct. 2. Bring the entire family to open lab hours, tours and the Showcase Rodeo. Don't forget the traditional Homecoming football game and tailgate! New this year, a speaker panel with our esteemed 2021 Honored Alumni recipients will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 1, in the Advanced Technology Laboratories (No. 7). Hear more about how Learn by Doing helped them succeed in their lives and careers. Current students are encouraged to attend, ask questions and be inspired.
Don't Forget to BYO Reusable Face Covering
To help campus community members comply with requirements this fall, Cal Poly has reusable face coverings available for faculty, staff and students. These reusable face coverings not only create a safer campus, they also help keep thousands of disposable masks out of landfills. The simple act of remembering to bring a reusable face covering to campus each day will create a cleaner campus and help Cal Poly take another step toward its zero-waste goal. The free reusable face coverings are available to all faculty, staff and students at the ASI Club Services Ticket Window at the Cal Poly Recreation Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. Disposable masks are provided around campus as a courtesy, however, they cannot be recycled and must be sent to the landfill.
Learn more about the impact masks are having on the environment
For a Second Year, an Independent Scholarship Helps Support Black Students
California Community Foundation’s Black Student Scholarship is supporting nine Cal Poly students this year. This year’s new scholars join seven students who earned last year’s inaugural scholarship. “As a non-traditional low-income student, I've had to cast my net far and wide for tuition assistance,” said Jordan Greenfield, a fifth-year architecture student who joined Cal Poly after transferring from a community college. “Scholarships like this allow me to succeed going forward, focusing on my studies and not having to worry as much about the financial aspect.” An anonymous donor established the scholarship via the California Community Foundation, and other individual and corporate donors have since contributed to the fund in support of this scholarship. An independent advisory board of Cal Poly alumni and supporters reviews the applicants and makes the award decisions. Scholarships are awarded based on several criteria, including academic merit, financial need and community involvement. Nailah DuBose, a first-year pre-med psychology student from Sacramento who is one of this year’s awardees, is eager to contribute to the campus community. “I think that my job in receiving this scholarship is to make an impact on other students of color, particularly African American students who think that attending a school like Cal Poly isn't even in the cards for them,” she said. “I'm able to show them that yes, it is.”
Attend the Virtual Benefits Fair Sept. 29-Oct. 1
Attend the Virtual Benefits Fair, where various health plan and voluntary plan providers will be present to share important information about rates, changes and key features. This is also an opportunity for employees to ask questions as they make important decisions regarding their coverage. The Benefits Fair will be available on the following dates:
- Sept. 29 from 10 a.m. to noon.
- Sept. 30 from 1-3 p.m.
- Oct. 1 from 10 a.m. to noon.
The Virtual Benefits Fair is offered during the Benefits Open Enrollment period (Sept. 20-Oct. 15), state employees’ annual opportunity to review, enroll, cancel or make changes to their benefits plans to be effective January 2022.
Register to attend the Virtual Benefits Fair
Free Document and Web Accessibility Webinars Set in October
Members of the Cal Poly community can take advantage of free trainings on document and web accessibility in October, which is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. The Document Accessibility webinars are a high-level introduction to accessibility guidelines and principles and processes used in Word, PowerPoint and Acrobat Pro DC. Over the course of two-hour sessions on Oct. 5 and 12, attendees will review the basics needed to meet legal requirements for electronic documents. The two-hour Web Accessibility webinar on Oct. 19 is a high-level introduction to accessibility guidelines and principles and processes used to create content with a built-in editor. For details and registration links for these free webinars, visit the Ongoing Opportunities section of the Cal Poly Accessibility homepage.
Federal Work-Study Program Update
The Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program is extremely limited, and the fund has been fully awarded. Regretfully, the Financial Aid office is unable to make any new FWS awards during fall quarter. Earnings are monitored monthly and if additional funding becomes available, additional FWS awards will be made available to students on the waitlist in winter or spring quarters. Students without work study should be advised to contact the Financial Aid office and ask if they can be added to the FWS waitlist. There are specific criteria, and not all students are eligible for FWS. Students (not employers) need to make the request, and it can be done via email, phone (805-756-2927), fax (805-756-7243) or in person. The Financial Aid office is open from 10 a.m. to noon and 1-3 p.m. Monday to Friday. Phones are open Monday to Thursday from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Due to the limited funding, the waitlist may or may not be activated in any given year. However, students on the waitlist who are otherwise eligible are given priority for FWS in the following year. Questions? Contact Barbara Rollins.
New Data Security Compliance Training Requirement Starting Soon
Starting in October 2021, all faculty and staff will be required to complete Data Security and FERPA Compliance training in the Cal Poly Learning Hub every two years. This requirement is dictated by the CSU Information Security Awareness Training Policy (ICSUAM 8035). The data security and FERPA training course covers the importance of keeping private data secure and provides steps employees can take to maintain the confidentiality of Cal Poly data. Faculty and staff can complete the course now, or wait until it gets assigned in the Learning Hub next month.
Learning Hub Launches New User Interface
Cal Poly Learning Hub has recently received a system upgrade with a new user interface (UI) menu toolbar, which will hopefully enhance users’ learning experience and provide them with tools for success. Highlights include the Self tab, which has quick links to the most frequently used areas, including Training Transcript and Assignment Notifications. The embedded search feature lets employees find learning activities, access over 23,000 e-books and 36,000 videos, and even share their favorite learning activity with colleagues. The Library tab allows users to browse content by topic, including CSU-created learning bundles on such topics as Return to the Workplace; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion; and Communication Best Practices. For a quick video guide of the new user interface, log into the Learning Hub, or watch it on YouTube.
October Brings New Professional Development Courses
Employee and Organization Development has released the October professional development offerings as part of the Cross Campus Collaboration series. Many of Cal Poly’s and the CSU campuses’ workshops are offered online, providing a unique opportunity to extend learning beyond campus borders and offer a new way to share professional development. Use the links below to see and register for new courses and additional October dates. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Classes include:
- Mazoezi-African Dance Fitness Class
- Let’s Talk Virtual Interviews
- Strategies for Managing Nerves and Public Speaking
- The Value of Making Values Valuable for You and Your Team
- Understanding and Leveraging Your Strengths
- Avoiding Bias in Hiring
- Train the Trainer
- Positive Psychology
- Resume 101
- Respect in the Workplace
- Leading Without Authority
- Assertive Communication
- Getting My LinkedIn Life Together!
- Onboarding New and Reassigned Employees
- The Five Elements of Well-being
- Exposing Hidden Bias
- Sustainability 101
More classes are coming in November. Check the Upcoming Opportunities page for updates.
Safer to Host Four-Part Book Circle Series for Faculty and Staff
Safer is hosting a book circle in October for faculty and staff on “Sexual Citizens: A Landmark Study of Sex, Power and Assault on Campus.” To truly prevent violence at Cal Poly, the entire campus community needs to be engaged. Through this four-part book circle series, faculty and staff can learn how they can help transform Cal Poly’s physical and social environments to be violence-free. Registration is limited to 12 participants.
Retired Faculty and Staff Association to Tour Vista Grande Oct. 14
The Retired Faculty and Staff Association will hold a luncheon, informational presentation and guided tour of the newly remodeled Vista Grande Dining Complex from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 14. The three-story building, located across the street from the Performing Arts Center on Grand Avenue, offers indoor and outdoor seating, six unique dining venues, lounge space and game tables. All of these amenities are housed in a modern building that boasts LEED Gold certification for sustainable, resource-efficient design. The six nutrition-focused restaurants provide fresh, healthy, made-to-order food options for all diets, lifestyles and busy student schedules. Visit the Retired Faculty and Staff Association website for more information, including registration and associated fees.
Safer Hosts Dating Violence Action Month in October
Join Safer for Dating Violence Action Month 2021: “Our Vibrance Breaks the Silence.” Throughout the month, topics will be centered on raising marginalized voices, identifying paths to healing, and developing strategies for collective action. In collaboration with campus and community partners, Safer will host a candlelight vigil to honor lives lost to domestic violence; a dating and social media workshop, Purple Thursday; weekly outreach booths and Instagram lives; and a collaboration with the Swim and Dive team. The month will culminate in a keynote address on Oct. 28 by Shawn Ginwright, Ph.D., who coined the practice “healing-centered engagement,” a framework that promotes healing from trauma through a holistic and culturally responsive lens. Learn more about Dating Violence Action Month, download a Zoom background and email signature, and register for our community events at safer.calpoly.edu/dvam.
Campus Community Welcome to Participate in Mindfulness Meditation
The Mindfulness Meditation Group will meet this fall in Room 124 of the Erhart Agriculture Building (No. 10) from noon to 1 p.m. every Monday that classes are scheduled. There will also be a Zoom option for those interested in attending virtually. Mindfulness meditation is a non-religious exercise of paying attention to your present-moment experience. Everyone is welcome — faculty, staff and students. No experience is necessary. Two minutes of instruction will precede 30 minutes of silent meditation (with headphones permitted). For more information, contact Matthew J. Moore or ext. 6-2895.
Climate Solutions Now Virtual Conference to be Held Oct. 2-3
Climate Solutions Now, an all-virtual conference focused on solutions to the climate crisis and organized by the Initiative for Climate Leadership and Resilience (ICLR), will be held online Oct 2-3. Conference attendees will:
- Explore current climate efforts and avenues for getting engaged.
- Discover current and forthcoming Learn By Doing opportunities.
- Strategize faster, more efficient emissions-reduction efforts and more equitable, efficient and effective responses to climate change.
- Energize communication between scientists, engineers, government employees, practitioners and entrepreneurs working on climate challenges.
Expert speakers from governments, industry, business and academia, will present on:
- Agriculture and Food Systems
- Alternative Energy
- The Built Environment
- Climate Action Planning
- Community Wastewater
- Environmental Justice and Public Policy
- Natural Resources
- Regional Climate Action
- The Sciences
- Transportation
The conference will also feature short introductory courses on Climate Action Planning and Life-Cycle Analysis, a method for carbon accounting. This conference is a fundraiser for ICLR.
Learn more about the Climate Solutions NoW conference
Annual Conference Set for Oct. 13-14 to Focus on Forging New Visions for Equity in the CSU
The Cal Poly community is invited to attend the virtual CSU Student Success Network Conference, “The Time Is Now: Forging New Visions for Equity in the CSU,” on Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 13-14. The conference is designed by and for middle leaders and students in the CSU. Its purpose is to advance equitable student success by providing faculty, staff, administrators and students with an annual statewide opportunity to share actionable research, evidence and practices for use or adaptation on individual campuses. The convergence of two pandemics, COVID-19 and racial injustice, has magnified structural inequities in the U.S. and created renewed momentum for immediate change, including in higher education. For this year’s conference, presentations from middle leaders and students across the CSU will focus on their perspectives and experiences in understanding, adapting and innovating to respond to and reduce racial and other inequities at all levels on campus. Registration is free for all CSU faculty, staff, administrators and students.
Learn more and register for the CSU Student Success Network Conference
Cal Poly Music Department Announces 2021-22 Events
The Music Department is delighted to be planning in-person events again.
- On Oct. 30, the Cal Poly Bands — the Wind Bands and Mustang Marching Band — will celebrate the strength of Cal Poly’s musical community with Bandfest Returns!
- At the Nov. 4 Cal Poly Arab Music Ensemble Fall Concert, instrumentalists, vocalists and dancers will perform a variety of seminal Arab art music and selections from the historically related cultures.
- The Nov. 12 Fall Jazz Concert will be a celebration of the release of the double album “another time, another place,” produced at the onset of the pandemic.
- On Dec. 3, the Cal Poly Symphony will present "Gabrielian Plays Shostakovich.” Guest artist Tanya Gabrielian will perform Shostakovich’s Piano Concert No. 2 with the symphony, which will perform other works by composers with mental illness.
- Fall quarter will conclude with the Cal Poly Choirs' Holiday Kaleidoscope on Dec. 4.
The entire 2021-22 season is on the department's calendar website. For more information, email the department, or call ext. 6-2406.
Event Postings
Events.calpoly.edu is a new platform that shines a spotlight on high-profile special events at
Cal Poly and throughout our community, focusing on the wide and diverse range of activities on and around our campus. This site is designed to help our colleges, programs, departments and facilities promote exciting events that can be seen by a selected audience. It will update regularly and include events happening in the next 30-45 days. It is not a calendar of all events, and it does not include student club events. Here are some links to help you navigate:
Submitting an Event to Events.calpoly.edu
To submit your event for consideration, please send the event title, date, time, duration, ticket information, intended audience(s) and image (1600 dpi wide) to [email protected].
University Events Calendar
To find a listing of all events — such as performances, lectures, workshops and more — visit our Master Calendar.
Scheduling/Booking Venues
25Live: Space and Event Scheduling can help you schedule or book a venue for an upcoming on-campus event.