Chris Lupo Named Director Noyce School of Applied Computing
College of Engineering Dean Amy S. Fleischer announced Chris Lupo has been named the founding director of The Noyce School of Applied Computing. As founding director, Lupo will work in partnership with faculty, Fleischer and the university community to establish and execute a broad and inspirational vision for the school. He will also foster interdisciplinary collaboration opportunities for faculty and departments involved in applied computing across the university. Lupo has been a Cal Poly faculty member since 2008, most recently serving as chair of the Computer Science and Software Engineering Department. Lupo's teaching and research specialties include parallel and high-performance computing (HPC), GPU computing, heterogeneous and distributed computing, performance analysis and computer architecture. NVIDIA Corp. has recognized his research and teaching with NVIDIA GPU Research Center and NVIDIA GPU Teaching Center awards. Other support includes funding and equipment awards from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Sandia National Laboratories, Google, Western Digital, Lockheed Martin and Sun Microsystems. Lupo earned his doctorate and M.S. in computer engineering from the UC Davis and his B.S. in electrical engineering from California State University, Fresno. Lupo will begin his appointment during the summer of 2023.
Mark Your Calendars for ChatGPT and Writing Instruction Event
The Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology (CTLT) invites the campus community to attend an informative 80-minute panel and Q&A about ChatGPT and its implications for writing instruction Thursday, April 13, from 11:10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Kennedy Library, Room 209. Panel participants will define artificial intelligence (AI) large language models; discuss the particular AI ChatGPT; share how they are integrating this tool into writing instruction across disciplines; and offer new perspectives on higher education's approach to writing. An opportunity for informal discussion and refreshments will follow from 12:30-1 p.m.
Find Temporary Kennedy Library Locations During Transformation Project
Cal Poly has announced the temporary locations for its library services and study spaces while the Kennedy Library building closes for a planned two-year transformation project. The building is scheduled to close for renovation in summer 2023, with reopening slated for fall 2025. While the library building is closed, the services and programs provided by the library will continue in other locations on campus. Built in 1980, Kennedy Library is over 40 years old and needs significant system upgrades. To ensure the safety of the campus community and construction partners, the building will be closed during the entirety of construction. The library renovation team, working closely with partners from across the university, has identified service and student study hub locations. Tools will be available to help community members quickly find the resources they need throughout the construction.
Cal Poly Students Bring STEM Lessons to Local Schools
As part of a new initiative to encourage active STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) learning, students are branching out into local schools to teach lessons, including mentorship at the after-school Maker’s Club at Santa Margarita Elementary School. Through a pilot program supported by the U.S. Department of Defense-funded SciTrek initiative and Cal Poly’s Center for Engineering, Science and Mathematics Education (CESAME), Cal Poly students are connecting with children at Santa Margarita Elementary and Fairgrove Elementary in Grover Beach this year to help with instruction and hands-on projects that teach students STEM skills through active participation and engaged learning. “Introducing STEM to elementary students is so important to close the achievement and gender gaps in the STEM fields and getting role models in front of little kids growing up,” said Caleb (Witt) Unruh, a Maker’s Club mentor who graduated in December with a biological sciences degree. “They can start seeing themselves as a scientist or an engineer.”
Learn more on the College of Science and Mathematics website
Employees Invited to Transfer Appreciation Night at April 4 Baseball Game
Join the Transfer Center and Cal Poly Baseball for Transfer Appreciation Night on Tuesday, April 4, at 6 p.m. Fourteen members of the baseball team are transfer students. Faculty and staff are encouraged to support student-athletes and watch great baseball. The first 100 transfers will receive a special edition transfer pride bucket hat, and concessions will serve discounted tacos to all attendees. Admission is free for Cal Poly students and for children under 13. Faculty and staff tickets are $5-$15.
Nominations Sought for Faculty Director of Program Improvement
Academic Programs and Planning is accepting nominations for the position of faculty director of program improvement. The position will provide leadership and direction for academic assessment and continuous improvement efforts at the program and institutional levels; work with the Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology to provide professional development workshops for faculty and staff; and coordinate the administration of external campuswide assessments. This is a full-time faculty position covering the academic year and four to eight WTU (weighted teaching units) of summer work. The successful candidate will be released 100% from teaching and service responsibilities in their home department. The initial appointment will be for two years, renewable for additional three-year periods. Nominees must be full-time, tenured faculty members with significant teaching experience in higher education and two or more years of experience with academic assessment. The application deadline is 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 12. Contact Maureen O’Connor at [email protected] with questions.
Find the position description and how to apply
Submit Nominations by April 10 for Provost’s Leadership Award for Partnership in Philanthropy
Nominations are being accepted for the Provost’s Leadership Award for Partnership in Philanthropy. This award celebrates visionary leaders who have forged critical partnerships to advance the mission of Cal Poly. Nominees may be current or former faculty member who have been instrumental in comprehensive development and fundraising efforts. The award recipient will be recognized at Fall Convocation. Faculty and staff are encouraged to submit nominations, which are due by Monday, April 10. The nomination form is available on the Office of the Provost website. Direct any questions to [email protected].
Grant Opportunity: Up to $180,000 Available to Support Technology and Public Benefits
Public Interest Technology University Network (PIT-UN) is accepting proposals for its 2023 Challenge Grants of up to $180,000. PIT refers to the study and application of technology expertise to advance the public interest in a way that generates public benefits and promotes the public good, particularly for those members of our society who are least well-served historically and today by existing systems and policies. The number of submissions are limited, so there will be an internal competition to determine which submissions will be made on behalf of Cal Poly. For more information, review the internal competition RFP. Pre-proposals are due by 9 a.m. Friday, April 14. Contact Stephanie Fabro at [email protected] with any questions.
Learn how to submit a pre-proposal
Institutional Research to Give Data Dashboards Overview
Need data? Don’t know where to find it? The Office of Institutional Research (IR) wants to help. Its data dashboards are the source of data for accreditation and surveys and to help employees make informed decisions. IR will give a Zoom presentation Wednesday, April 19, from 11-11:30 a.m. to provide employees a virtual overview of the data dashboards that have admissions, enrollment and employee data, as well as graduation rates and much more. In this overview, participants will see all the data that is available to them and will learn how to navigate and interact with the dashboards.
Career Education Canvas Modules Available to Embed in Courses
Career Services offers career curriculum available in Canvas modules that faculty can embed in their courses. The modules were developed by a team of professional career counselors in consultation with the Center for Teaching and Learning, the Career Services Advisory Council, faculty and students. The following modules are currently offered:
- Networking.
- Interviewing.
- Discovering Career Possibilities.
- Navigating Your Job/Internship Search.
- Resume and Cover Letter.
Each module is designed to be delivered asynchronously and includes several customizable components, such as readings, videos and activities. Faculty are encouraged to complement the material by having a career counselor visit their class as well. Those who have used the modules in the past are asked to continue to submit a form each quarter they use the modules to help Career Services track student utilization of this service.
Learn more about the modules and/or request access
CTLT’s Spring Quarter Opportunities for Educators
The spring lineup of professional development offerings for campus educators, including faculty and staff, from the Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology (CTLT) is available to explore. Workshops focus on equitable and inclusive teaching, online course design, hybrid course design, assignment design for academic integrity, accessibility, and Universal Design for Learning. Book circles include titles on equity in academia, equitable grading practices, fostering intrinsic motivation among students, and effective communication practices. There are also opportunities for academic writing support, equitable grading community of practice, and on-demand resources for academic success.
- Learn more and register for CTLT Workshops and on-demand resources.
- Learn more and register for CTLT Book Circles.
- Learn more about the Equitable Grading Community of Practice.
Eat with Sustainability in Mind During National Nutrition Month
March is National Nutrition Month, and University Personnel — Employee Wellbeing has joined with Campus Dining Nutritionist Kaitlin Gibbons to support employees in creating sustainable, healthy habits. Reduce your carbon footprint while enjoying nutritious foods by eating plant-based meals, minimizing packaging and growing food at home. Shopping locally and enjoying seasonal foods also support the environment. San Luis Obispo County features many opportunities to find local, seasonal foods at weekly farmers’ markets. The Cal Poly Organic Farm offers produce at the San Luis Obispo farmer’s markets, recipes and storage tips for fruits and vegetables. This month, try an earth-friendly, seasonal recipe such as Spicy Chickpeas with Tomatoes and Kale. For additional sustainability tips, see ”Six Tips to Lighten Your Carbon Footprint.” Contact Lisa Gray at [email protected] for more information.
Sign up for the weekly Cal Poly Farm newsletter
CET Seed Grant Program Accepting Applications
The Center for Expressive Technologies (CET) Seed Grant Program is open to faculty and staff from all departments until Friday, April 28. Any project studying or using technology in creative ways to improve the human experience is eligible for up to $4,000 in funding for student assistants, travel or additional compensation to support the research or creative activity. This year, CET is also looking for projects that could utilize its new studio space in the center of campus, where users can experiment with the latest projection, sound and lighting technologies; exhibit art, video, audio or mixed-reality experiences; or conduct live performances and community engagement. Have questions or need help finding a collaborator? Email CET Interim Director Martine Lappé.
Find more information on the grant program
Faculty Advisor Training Series Offered in Spring
University Advising is offering a Faculty Advisor Training Series that introduces undergraduate faculty advisors to academic advising core competencies. Register using the links below:
- FA 101: Nuts and Bolts of Faculty Advising: April 14.
- FA 102: Assemble Your Faculty Advising Toolkit: to be offered in fall quarter.
- FA 103: Building Student Success through Faculty Advising: to be offered in fall quarter.
Questions? Contact Advisor Training Coordinator Christina Wolfe-Chandler at [email protected].
Learn more about the Faculty Advisor Training series
New Spring Learning Circles for Employees
Employee and Organization Development has announced the spring 2023 Learning Circles in which participants watch a video, listen to a podcast or read an article and participate in a discussion during a single session. Learning Circles include:
- “Implicit Bias, Stereotype Threat, and Higher Education” by Russell McClain: Explore how the fear of confirming another’s biased views is creating achievement gaps in higher education, and learn one of several interventions for interrupting stereotype threat.
- “How to Write Less but Say More” by Jim VandeHei: Learn tips that can transform your writing and help you communicate more clearly and concisely in a distracted world.
- “Three Rules for Better Work-Life Balance” by Ashley Whillans: Understand how an "always-on" work culture is ruining our personal well-being and our work; discover the bad habits that are stopping us from getting what we need out of our free time; and learn three practical steps for setting boundaries that stick.
Volunteers Needed for Healthy Kids Research
The Healthy Kids Lab is seeking participants for two different research studies on infant feeding and development. The studies are open to pregnant women and new mothers with infants under 6 months of age. The iBaby Study aims to examine the relationship between technology use in families and infant development. Participants receive $460 if they complete this 18-month study. The Paced Bottle-Feeding Study aims to support families during breast and bottle-feeding. Participants receive $140 if they complete this weeklong study. For more information, visit the Healthy Kids Lab website, call or text 805-242-6566, or email the team at [email protected].
Campus Blood Drive to Take Place April 18
Be a hero and save up to three lives in just an hour. Join a campus blood drive hosted by University Personnel, Orfalea College of Business and Campus Health and Wellbeing on Tuesday, April 18. A Vitalant bus will be parked on the concrete walkway on Dexter Lawn near the Dexter Building (No. 34). Appointments are available between 10 a.m.-2:45 p.m. Scheduled donations are prioritized over walk-ups. Donors are encouraged to hydrate well and eat a hearty meal before donating. Contact Lisa Gray at [email protected] for more information.
Statistics Consulting Service Available to Campus Community
The Statistics Department is offering consulting service to the university community to facilitate research design and data analysis in a wide variety of disciplines. Consulting will be available through June 9 by appointment only. Statistics Department faculty Emily Robinson and Bret Holladay 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].
Enjoy ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’ at the PAC April 1-2
Ballet Theatre SLO presents the world premiere of Theresa Slobodnik’s epic three-act ballet adaptation of Victor Hugo’s classic novel, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 1, and 2 p.m. Sunday, April 2, in Harold Miossi Hall. In 1460s Paris, a hunchbacked and hideous-looking little boy is abandoned on Notre Dame Cathedral’s steps, rescued and fostered by a clergyman. A mother’s beautiful, beloved infant daughter is stolen from her home and raised by criminals. Fifteen years later when their paths cross, one simple act of kindness unleashes a whirlwind of love, cruelty, betrayal, prejudice and hypocrisy. Slobodnik’s vision and choreography brings fresh insight to Victor Hugo’s complex characters amidst professionally mounted sets, stunning period costumes and the compelling storytelling by the dance artists of Ballet Theatre SLO.
Get tickets to "The Hunchback of Notre Dame"
Drummer Nate Smith comes to Spanos Theatre on April 7
Cal Poly Arts presents drummer, composer and producer Nate Smith with his band KINFOLK at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 7, in Spanos Theatre. Smith fuses his original compositions with an eclectic mix of music, including jazz, R&B, hip-hop and pop. His visceral, instinctive and deep-rooted style of drumming has led to three Grammy nominations and work with esteemed artists, including Pat Metheny, Dave Holland, Brittany Howard, Van Hunt, The Fearless Flyers, Norah Jones and Somi. His latest album, “Kinfolk 2: See The Birds,“ was the highly anticipated follow-up to his 2017 Grammy-nominated album, “Kinfolk: Postcards From Everywhere.” In recent years, Smith’s viral videos have been viewed by millions of people, underscoring his popularity as one of the most influential drummers of his generation. This event has a 20% staff and faculty discount available.
Tap Dance Troupe Dorrance Dance Comes to the PAC April 12
Cal Poly Arts will present Dorrance Dance in Harold Miossi Hall at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 12. Founded in 2011 by artistic director and 2015 MacArthur Fellow Michelle Dorrance, the New York-based company shares the incredibly dynamic range that tap dance has to offer through performance and education. The company’s goal is to engage with audiences on a musical and emotional level and to share the complex history and powerful legacy of this American art form throughout the country and the world. Faculty and staff can receive a 20% discount.
Cal Poly Music Department to Present Open House Recital April 15
The Music Department will present an Open House Recital at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 15, in the Davidson Music Center (No. 45) on campus. The recital is one of many scheduled events for Cal Poly’s 30th annual Open House. Both instrumentalists and vocalists will be featured. The student performers are from a variety of majors, and all are involved in at least one of the department’s large, premier ensembles including Arab Music Ensemble, Choirs, Symphony, University Jazz Bands, Wind Orchestra and Wind Ensemble. The recital is free and open to the public; no tickets or advanced reservations are required. The event is sponsored by the Music Department and College of Liberal Arts. For more information, visit the Music Department calendar website or call ext. 6-2406.
Cal Poly Student Opera Theatre to Present ‘Spring Opera Scenes’ April 15
Cal Poly Student Opera Theatre (CPSOT) will present “Spring Opera Scenes” Saturday, April 15, at 7:30 p.m. in the Spanos Theatre. The program will feature a delightful array of duets, trios and ensemble numbers from numerous works, including Giuseppe Verdi’s famous “Brindisi” from “La Traviata,” Gaetano Donizetti’s sassy “gossip chorus” from “The Elixir of Love,” and CPSOT’s first-ever stage brawl from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s comedy “Le nozze di Figaro.” The two dozen CPSOT performers represent majors in business, computer science, electrical engineering, environmental management and protection, English, music and sociology. The opera chorus will include 24 members of the Cal Poly Chamber Choir conducted by Scott Glysson. Faculty member Amy Goymerac is the director and producer, staff member Paul Woodring is the pianist and coach. The production is one of many scheduled events during Cal Poly’s 30th annual Open House. 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 "Spring Opera Scenes"
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.