Cal Poly Fall 2022 Commencement Set for Dec. 10
Cal Poly will honor more than 900 eligible graduates in the 39th annual fall commencement on Saturday, Dec. 10. The celebration will commemorate graduates from each college in one ceremony. Festivities will start at 10 a.m. at Spanos Stadium. The university expects around 9,000 guests. “Commencement, spring or fall, remains one of the best days of the school year for the campus community and the entire Mustang family," President Armstrong said. “These members of the Class of 2022 are ready to take on new challenges as they begin careers or continue their educational journeys. This is the walk they’ve prepared their entire lives to make.” The ceremony will include performances by the Cal Poly Chamber Choir and feature large LED screens with closed captioning for graduates and guests to view. The 90-minute ceremony will also be live streamed with closed captioning for those unable to attend.
Campus Community Supports Students, Local Residents this Holiday Season
Recent campus gift drives and donation efforts raised thousands of dollars, more than 150 pounds of food and personal items, and about 180 gifts to support students and community members. At the Dec. 1 holiday reception, employees supported Cal Poly’s Basic Needs programs by donating 154 pounds of nonperishable food and personal hygiene items, as well as $70 worth of grocery gift cards. Additional online donations were made to support Cal Poly Cares, the Food Pantry, and Health and Counseling Services, while others supported the Food Pantry by purchasing from its Amazon Wishlist of frequently requested items. On Giving Tuesday, Campus Dining opened a donation shop on the Grubhub app. Students and staff donated $3,500 to the Mustang Meal Share program. In addition, Cal Poly’s Center for Service in Action hosted its annual Mustang Holiday Gift Drive to fulfill gift requests from local children and teens in partnership with the San Luis Obispo County Department of Social Services and the Housing Authority of San Luis Obispo. This year 163 gifts and $725 were donated. The funds will be used to fulfill approximately 23 more gift requests, bringing total gifts fulfilled to 186.
Read more about the donation efforts
Police to Hold Active Shooter Training at Kennedy Library on Dec. 13 and 17
The Cal Poly Police Department will work with the San Luis Obispo Police and Fire departments on training for an active shooter scenario in drills to be held Tuesday, Dec. 13, and Saturday, Dec. 17, at Kennedy Library on campus. Campus community members may see law enforcement and emergency personnel around the building between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. both days. CPPD takes part in active shooter training annually with other local agencies. These trainings are held at locations on and off campus from year to year, providing an opportunity for Cal Poly officers and those from nearby departments to prepare for the possibility of an emergency and familiarize themselves with buildings and terrain within one another’s jurisdictions. These departments would assist one another with response in the event of such an emergency. For more information or with questions, contact Cal Poly Police at [email protected].
Cal Poly Annual Poinsettia Sale Continues Dec. 10
Thousands of plants and dozens of varieties and colors will be available from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, at the Poly Plant Shop during Cal Poly’s annual poinsettia sale. The flowering holiday plants are grown by students who work in the Plant Sciences Department’s greenhouses. This year’s poinsettia project offers many shades of red, white, pink and other variegated varieties. Sizes range from small plants in 4-inch pots to large poinsettias reaching 3 feet high, in 14-inch pots. Prices range from $10 to $100. In addition to poinsettias, the Poly Plant Holiday Sale also features student-made wreaths, centerpieces, succulents, ornaments and gifts. Customers are encouraged to bring their own boxes and wagons for transporting larger purchases. The Poly Plant Shop is located on campus off of Via Carta Road. Take the Highland Drive entrance, turn left on Via Carta Road, and go to the top of the hill. For more information, call the Poly Plant Shop at ext. 6-1106 or visit polyplantshop.com.
Campus Dining is Thankful for Help in Building a Better Dining Experience
Campus Dining wishes to thank all campus community members who participated in the Build a Better Dining Experience Survey this fall. Campus Dining received more than 3,700 responses, and each one helps to create an eclectic, on-trend dining experience, a job that takes near constant tweaking and research. Three participants were randomly selected during the survey prize raffle. The grand prize winner of the Apple Watch 8 Series was student Andrew Avrit. The winner of the Nintendo Switch was student Owen Hildenbrand, and the winner of the Keurig coffee maker with a $100 Amazon gift card was student Chris Yang. Campus Dining congratulates the winners and thanks all who participated.
Learn About Vista Grande Express Reusable Container Program
Campus Dining has introduced a new program at Vista Grande Express intended to help the Earth and your wallet. Choose a small or large reusable container — $6.95 or $8.95 respectively — and fill it with your choice of a wide selection of menu items. A single container needs to be reused as few as three times to beat the environmental impact of using a single-use container. The Vista Grande Express reusable container program will keep at least 500,000 single-use containers from entering the waste stream each year. Vista Grande Express only accepts PolyCard payments. Faculty and staff can add funds to a PolyCard through Campus Express. A $5 refundable deposit will be added to all purchases, and it will be returned once the container is brought back. The menu rotates weekly, so come by often to find new favorites and help the planet.
Hundreds of Visitors View Unique Student Designs at Vellum Furniture Competition
Nearly 200 students from the College of Architecture and Environmental Design displayed their one-of-a-kind furniture pieces at the 19th Annual Vellum Furniture Competition and Exhibition. Hosted by the Architecture Department and Vellum Design-Build on Nov. 4-5, the event is a chance for students from any of the CAED’s five majors to display their creativity and technical skills to a broad audience. This year’s event in downtown San Luis Obispo marked a strong comeback after the online and on-campus format of the past two years. With the second-largest turnout in the contest’s history, the event hosted hundreds of visitors. Architecture major Ethan Odberg earned Space Architecture’s Milano Grand Prize — a sponsored trip to Italy and the chance to present at the Milan Furniture Fair — for his project “Rural Basin” (pictured). The modern seat encourages the audience to question their perspective on urban and rural zones.
Read more about the competition and exhibition
Actor Joins Cal Poly Theatre Class
On the heels of a phenomenal performance of his cabaret show on Sunday, Nov. 13, at the PAC, actor Alan Cumming joined the Acting in Musical Theatre class the following Monday. During the talk, moderated by Cal Poly Arts Director Molly Clark and Professor Karin Hendricks-Bolen, Cumming gave students and invited community members insights into his creative process, sources of inspiration and philosophies on acting and life. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for students was part of Cal Poly Arts' ongoing student engagement program, a mission-driven initiative to connect artists to the campus community beyond the stage. The next engagement program comes in January, when Academy Award-nominated and five-time Grammy-winning composer and jazz artist Terence Blanchard will give a talk on his prolific body of work. For more information, contact Cal Poly Arts’ Coralee Macias.
Winter Parking Permits on Sale Starting Jan. 3
Employee parking permits will be on sale starting Jan. 3. Finding a parking permit option that best fits each employees’ commute is easy using their parking account. Daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual parking permits are available online for purchase at employees’ union rate. Permits sold in parking lots at pay stations, parking meters or by ParkMobile do not offer staff rates. Winter quarter permits are valid Jan. 9 through April 2. Fall quarter parking permits expire Jan. 8. Employees can purchase permits online and update vehicle information using their parking account. Visit Transportation and Parking Services staff page for more information on staff parking.
CTLT Offers Opportunities for Educators in Winter
The winter quarter lineup of professional development offerings for campus educators from the Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology is available to explore. Topics include multiple aspects of equitable and inclusive teaching, blended/hybrid course design, learner-centered teaching practices, scholarly writing and well-being in higher education. The opportunities include:
- Workshops (some with stipends available) include Introduction to Equitable and Inclusive Teaching, Creating a Blended/Hybrid Course and ACUE Micro-Credential: Designing Learner-Centered and Equitable Courses.
- Collaborations such as writing retreats, a yearlong Faculty Writers' Accountability Group and a new Equitable Grading Community of Practice.
- Book Circles reading and discussing “If I Understood You, Would I Have this Look on my Face? My Adventures in the Art and Science of Relating and Communicating” and “Well-Being and Higher Education: A Strategy for Change and the Realization of Education's Greater Purpose.”
- On-demand resources are also available through the CTLT website, including the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity (NCFDD) Resources for Academic Success, Teaching with Technology and Instructional Continuity.
New Winter Book and Learning Circles for Employees
Employee and Organization Development has announced the winter 2023 Book and Learning Circles, where participants can engage in enriching conversations and connect with peers across campus. Book Circles involve reading a book over the course of three to four sessions. The books are:
- “Who Moved My Cheese?” by Spencer Johnson, M.D.
- “Inclusion on Purpose” by Ruchika Tulshyan.
- “Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success” by Adam Grant.
Learning Circles involve watching a video, listening to a podcast or reading an article and participating in a discussion during a single session. Learning Circles include:
- “The Real Reason You Feel So Busy (and What to do About It)” by Dorie Clark.
- “How to Go Beyond Diversity and Inclusion to Community and Belonging” by E’Ula Green.
- “Well-being: Gratitude” by Hailey Bartholomew.
- “Brené Brown on Empathy” by Brené Brown.
View full descriptions and register to attend
Risk Management Launches New Web-Based Driver Safety Program
Cal Poly’s Driver Safety Program is now being managed by the Risk Management office in an effort to better align the program with auto liability management expertise. The new web-based Driver Safety Program enables the user to complete the compliance process on their own with support available when needed. All new applicants will need to go through Risk Management. This program establishes rules and regulations for Cal Poly employees who drive for university business and ensures the safety of drivers and passengers. The ability to drive a state vehicle, whether it be a rental or leased vehicle, power cart, 10+ passenger van, or privately owned vehicle, for university business requires the operator to be compliant with Cal Poly’s Driver Safety Policy.
Learn more about the driver safety program
CTLT Workshops Focused on Accessibility to be Offered Winter Quarter
The Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology (CTLT) will host workshops on inclusive course design and creating accessible materials during winter quarter. Participants should only sign up for one course, as they overlap and stipends are limited. Both workshops are offered several times per year.
- Inclusive Course Design: Implementing the UDL Guidelines will be offered Jan. 17-Feb. 23. This online faculty workshop provides instructors with methods and strategies to apply the principles of Universal Design for Learning to course materials, activities and assessments. A $500 stipend is available for eligible participants. Learn more and register: Inclusive Course Design.
- Creating Accessible Course Materials will be offered Jan. 30-Feb. 26. This workshop provides instructors with hands-on experience creating accessible course materials, including an accessible Canvas page, an accessible Word document or PowerPoint presentation, and an instructional video with captions. A $500 stipend is available for eligible participants. Learn more and register: Creating Accessible Course Materials.
Bruno Giberti, associate vice provost for Academic Programs and Planning and accreditation liaison officer, has announced his retirement. Giberti’s last day at Cal Poly will be Dec. 31. Interim leadership will be shared in the coming weeks. Giberti came to Cal Poly’s Architecture Department in 1994 as an architectural historian specializing in topics relating to modernity and the United States. Prior to assuming the post of associate vice provost in 2017, he served as faculty director of Cal Poly’s self-study for the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, director of the Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology, associate head of the Architecture Department and faculty associate for Academic Policies, Assessment, and Accreditation and chair of the Academic Senate. Giberti is a proud Cal Poly alumnus, and after graduating with a B.S. in architecture, he earned his M.A. and a doctorate in architecture from the UC Berkeley. A retirement reception, open to the campus community, will be held from 3-5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 19, in the Rossi Grand Lobby of the Performing Arts Center.
Dr. Aaron Baker, medical director of Campus Health and Wellbeing, will retire at the end of the calendar year. Baker started his time at Cal Poly as a toddler in the Child Development Lab. He later returned and earned a degree in mechanical engineering in 1979 before attending medical school at UC San Francisco. He then completed his residency in emergency medicine at UCSF — Fresno. His career in Campus Health and Wellbeing began in 1984 as a corpsman before being hired as a per-diem physician in 2006. Baker has served as the medical director of CHW for the last seven years, during which time he successfully led the campus though the COVID-19 pandemic, Norovirus, Meningococcal B exposure and mpox, and has provided medical care to countless students. In retirement, he looks forward to many bike rides, flying and volunteering for the Youth Symphony.
Mindfulness Meditation Group Offered Mondays in Winter Quarter
The Mindfulness Meditation Group will meet this winter every Monday that classes are scheduled, from noon to 1 p.m. in Room 11 (the downstairs conference room) in Campus Health and Wellbeing (No. 27). There will also be a Zoom option for those interested in attending virtually. Mindfulness meditation is a nonreligious 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 (12:15–12:45 p.m.) of silent meditation (with headphones permitted). For more information, contact Matthew J. Moore at [email protected] or ext. 6-2895.
Cal Poly Statistics Department Offers Consulting Services in Winter
The Statistics Department will provide a statistical consulting service to the university community to facilitate research design and data analysis in a wide variety of disciplines. Consulting will be available Jan. 9 through March 17 by appointment only. Statistics faculty members Hunter Glanz and Heather Smith will serve as the consultants. They are available to advise on data collection, experimental design and analysis of research projects. In addition, they are available to lead seminars or tutorials on requested topics and offer advice on various computer packages available at Cal Poly. Faculty, staff and students interested in utilizing the consulting service are encouraged to access the Statistics Department website for additional information, including what to bring to a consulting session. To schedule a consultation, email [email protected].
Participants Needed for Sedentary Screen Time Study
Researchers are seeking participants for a study on the best ways to reduce the use of screen time and increase health outcomes. The study is led by Professor Sarah Keadle in Cal Poly's Center for Health Research and is conducted in partnership with Arizona State University. Eligible participants must be between the ages of 23 and 64, own a smartphone or tablet and have internet access with no limit on the amount of data. Sedentary screen time consumes more than half of discretionary time and is the single most prevalent use of time for adults in the U.S. outside of work and sleep. Anyone interested in participating or learning more about the study, which is called StandUPTV, can call ext. 6-5506 or fill out an interest form.
Civic Ballet of SLO Presents ‘The Nutcracker’ Dec. 9-11 at the PAC
Civic Ballet of San Luis Obispo’s beloved production of “The Nutcracker” returns Dec. 9-11 in Harold Miossi Hall. Join Uncle Drosselmeyer, Mother Ginger and the Sugarplum Fairy as Clara travels to the Land of Sweets on a very special Christmas Eve. For the past 44 years, the Civic Ballet has presented this holiday classic, including 25 sold-out performances at the PAC. “The Nutcracker” is filled with all the pageantry, magic and wonder that have made this one of the most enduring holiday traditions around the globe. Featuring Opera SLO’s full live orchestra, sterling production values and San Luis Obispo County’s finest dancers, this is a ballet experience you won’t want to miss. Tickets can be purchased at the Cal Poly Ticket Office, by calling ext. 6-4849 or online.
Get tickets to "The Nutcracker"
‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ Comes to Spanos Theatre Dec. 16-18
See each of the 12 days come alive on stage in Ballet Theatre San Luis Obispo’s “The Twelve Days of Christmas” from Dec. 16 -18 in Spanos Theatre. The program begins with “Winter Concerto,” a winter storm danced to Vivaldi’s famous music, and “Les Patineurs” (The Skaters), BT-SLO’s signature holiday ballet. Tickets can be purchased at the Cal Poly Ticket Office, by calling ext. 6-4849 or online.
Get tickets to “The Twelve Days of Christmas”
SLO Master Chorale Brings Holiday Festival and Sing-Along to the PAC on Dec. 17
SLO Master Chorale will present holiday festival and sing-along “Messiah” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, in Harold Miossi Hall. The event features soloist Paul Woodring on the Forbes pipe organ. Sing along with the Master Chorale in the great choruses from Part I of Handel’s masterpiece, “Messiah,” as well as traditional carols and holiday arrangements for chorus, organ and orchestra. Tickets can be purchased at the Cal Poly Ticket Office, by calling ext. 6-4849 or online.
Celebrate New Year’s Eve with SLO Symphony on Dec. 31
SLO Symphony will present its New Year’s Eve concert “Come Together” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 31, in Harold Miossi Hall. Ring in the New Year with a pops concert featuring Canadian-based symphonic rock group Jeans ’n Classics celebrating the hits of the 1980s, ‘90s and 2000s. Bring your friends and your party hats to enjoy the music of Queen; Earth Wind and Fire; Michael Jackson; Stevie Wonder; U2; A-ha and more. Tickets can be purchased at the Cal Poly Ticket Office, by calling ext. 6-4849 or online.
Get tickets to “Come Together”
W. Terrence Spiller to Perform Piano Recital on Jan. 13
Pianist and music Professor Emeritus W. Terrence Spiller will give a recital at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 13, in the Spanos Theatre. The program will open with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s dramatic Sonata in A Minor, K. 310, and Maurice Ravel’s glittering “Jeux d’eau.” Both works were composed in Paris more than 100 years apart. Sergei Prokofiev’s “Visions fugitives,” Op. 22, and “Suggestion diabolique” will follow, which were written by the composer during his early years in St. Petersburg. The second half of the recital will feature Frédédric Chopin’s “Two Polonaises,” Op. 40; his Nocturne in G Major, Op. 37, No. 2; and five of his “Études,” Op. 10; many of which were also composed in Paris. Spiller teaches applied piano at Cal Poly, though he retired from full-time teaching in 2021. Tickets are sold at the Cal Poly Ticket Office, ext. 6-4849. For more information, visit the Music Department calendar website or call ext. 6-2406.
Get tickets to the piano recital
Cal Poly to Present Annual Bach Week Jan. 17-21
The Music Department will present Bach Week Tuesday through Saturday, Jan. 17-21. “The Art of the Fugue” lecture-recital will be held at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 17 in the Performing Arts Center Pavilion. At 11:10 a.m. Jan. 19, in Room 218 of the Davidson Music Center, guest artists will present an instrumental master class, followed at 3:10 p.m. by a vocal master class. The final events will be held at the First Presbyterian Church of San Luis Obispo. At 7:30 p.m. Jan. 20, a concert titled “Bach Reconstructed/Deconstructed” will be presented by period instrument ensemble Tesserae Baroque and guest vocalists. On Jan. 21, two Bach Week finale concerts titled “Bach and the German Chorale” will be performed at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Members of Cal Poly’s Chamber Choir, Symphony and faculty will join with guest artists to perform a variety of works. Bach Week Co-Director Scott Glysson will give a preconcert lecture at 6 p.m. prior to the 7:30 p.m. performance. Admission to the Jan. 17 lecture-recital and Jan. 19 master classes is free. Jan. 20 concert tickets and Jan. 21 concert tickets are sold at the Cal Poly Ticket Office, ext. 6-4849. For more information, visit the Music Department calendar website 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 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 includes 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 bpi 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.
Note that a minimum three-day lead time is required to process a request for use of space through the Office of the Registrar.
Visit Cal Poly Now for Student Affairs events, learning opportunities and more
Find the latest student-focused campus events from your favorite Student Affairs programs and services by visiting the new Cal Poly Now.