Cal Poly Recognizes 2023 Sustainability Awards Winners
Cal Poly has announced the winners of its third annual Sustainability Awards, with 54 nominees showcasing student clubs and staff members dedicated to sustainability. The Sustainable Fashion Club won the Sustainability Organization Award, while Transportation and Parking Services Director Marlene Cramer won the Sustainability Staff Champion Award for her efforts in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Kalea Conrad and Allie Mortenson shared the Sustainability Student Champion Award for their work in promoting a circular economy and facilitating discussions on environmental justice and climate action planning. Facilities Operations Executive Director Dennis Elliot was recognized for his 40-plus years of service with the creation of the Dennis Elliot Sustainable Facilities Award, which will honor individuals who show excellence in sustainable facilities management. Niles Werts also received an honorable mention for his project on sustainable design and planning. The event was supported by President Armstrong, who provided cash prizes for each winner.
Cal Poly Inclusive Restroom Program Expanding
Cal Poly’s Inclusive Restroom Committee is pleased to announce increased access to All Gender restrooms on campus. After hearing feedback from students who called for additional All Gender restrooms on campus, a university committee was convened to identify the best strategies for providing increased accessibility. This effort aimed to center the needs and experiences of our transgender, nonbinary, and/or gender non-conforming community as well as those who require assistance from caregivers or family members. The 18-member committee — which includes students, faculty and staff from a variety of university programs — met regularly earlier this year to identify the additional 15 restrooms that will be converted to All Gender, multi-stall restrooms. Changing of signage on these restrooms is expected to begin June 1. The webpage, below, currently includes background on the university’s efforts, information about the committee members and additional educational resources. More information about the program, including a map of All Gender restrooms on campus, will be added at a later date.
Learn more about the university’s inclusive restroom program
Reimagine Swanton Pacific Ranch
The campus community is invited to help dream what the new Cal Poly Swanton Pacific Ranch (SPR) Education Center in Santa Cruz County will look like from 1-4:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 6 at the JUSTIN and J. LOHR Center for Wine and Viticulture (No. 156). The College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences’ is working to rebuild the ranch following 2020’s CZU Lightning Complex fires. A key component of the reimagined SPR is a new Education Center. The facility will enable SPR to create actionable climate-smart solutions critically needed by the state and beyond by: facilitating regular access by students participating in field trips, weekend enterprise classes, senior projects, undergraduate research, and residential internships; Cal Poly or visiting faculty conducting research; and participants in seminars and short courses. Siegel & Strain Architects have been working on the initial design, and the project is. at a point where additional stakeholder input is needed to better shape the programming needs of the facility. Snacks will be provided. Attendees can stay for all of or a portion of the session.
RSVP for the rebuilding workshop
Campus Dining Wins Bronze Award in National Competition
The National Association of College and University Food Services (NACUFS) has awarded Cal Poly Campus Dining and its Via Carta outdoor community space a bronze tier recipient. Camus Dining earned the 2023 Loyal E. Horton Dining Award for Retail Sales – Single Concept/Multiple Concepts/Marketplace. “Via Carta was designed to be a dynamic celebration of the Central Coast, and it’s great to be recognized for the engaging gathering space we’ve created on campus,” said Jess Dozier, Campus Dining director. “Via Carta takes full advantage of the beautiful San Luis Obispo weather and creates the opportunity to get outside, put down your devices, relax, socialize and enjoy a meal together.” Located directly outside Campus Market, Via Carta is the fourth in a collection of outdoor community spaces that have been created to further support student success and enhance the campus experience for all members of the Cal Poly community.
Corporation Board of Directors to Meet June 2
The Cal Poly Corporation board of directors will meet at noon Friday, June 2, in Vista Grande (No. 112), Room 350. Public comments must be submitted by 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 31, via email to [email protected]. The meeting will be held in person; a Zoom webinar will be available for the public to view only. If the number of attendees exceeds the capacity of the Vista Grande Conference Room, attendees will be directed to another room to view the meeting. Public comments will begin at noon. Those planning to comment should arrive at 11:45 a.m. More information will be made available on the Corporation website along with the agenda five days in advance of the meeting. Discussion topics can be added to the agenda at the discretion of the board. Call Holly Clark at ext. 6-1131 with any questions.
MOSAIC Wins DownBeat Student Music Award
MOSAIC, Cal Poly’s Vocal Jazz Ensemble, is a winner of a DownBeat Student Music Award: 2023 Small Vocal Jazz Group, Undergraduate College Outstanding Performance. The magazine holds an annual national competition in which submissions are reviewed through a blind judging process. This is the second DownBeat award the group has received in two years. In 2022 it won for Outstanding Performance, Large Undergraduate Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Asynchronous. That same year, MOSAIC member Mady Frei (Music, ’22) won Outstanding Soloist, Jazz Undergraduate. "Universities typically awarded are the most notable jazz and music schools in the country, including Berklee College of Music; University of North Texas, California State University, Long Beach; University of Northern Colorado; University of Kansas and University of Miami,” said Arthur White, Cal Poly director of jazz studies. The 46th Annual DownBeat Student Music Awards special section can be viewed on the DownBeat website and in the June issue of the magazine, which is available now.
Student Recognized for Exceptional Leadership Potential
Landscape architecture student Maryam Abutabikh was recently named the undergraduate 2023 National Olmsted Scholar, receiving a $15,000 award. The Landscape Architecture Foundation (LAF) Olmsted Scholars Program is the premier leadership recognition program for landscape architecture students. In her five years studying landscape architecture at Cal Poly, Abutabikh has learned that “landscape design isn’t just about beautification — it is a powerful interpretive tool that can challenge and shape our relationships with one another as well as the natural systems surrounding us.” As the child of two Iraqi immigrants, Abutabikh understands the value of having a strong sense of community and a culturally relatable support network. She plans to use her scholarship award to advance aspects of her senior capstone project, which focuses on community-led programs to aid in integrating refugees in El Cajon, California. The Landscape Architecture Department is tremendously proud of Abutabikh’s outstanding work.
U-Rise Program Offers Paid Research Opportunities for Underrepresented Students
The U-Rise program at Cal Poly is offering research opportunities to students from underrepresented groups who are planning to go into a biomedical field. The program aims to inspire students and prepare them for success in graduate school. The program, funded by the National Institutes of Health, includes tuition assistance and compensation. U-RISE consists of four key components over a two-year training program: a mentoring team and individual development planning; mentored research experiences at Cal Poly and at another, research-intensive university; formal coursework to support students' development as scientists; and events outside the classroom (research seminars, professional development, team building and peer mentoring). Participants will receive tuition assistance ($7,500 per year for two years), an annual stipend ($14,000 per year) for completing 10 to 15 hours’ research per week and a paid 10-week summer research experience. Learn more about the program.
Submit a Dear Mustang Graduate Letter to the Class of 2023
Faculty and staff are encouraged to showcase how Cal Poly Proud they are of spring 2023 graduates by writing a Dear Mustang Graduate letter. The Dear Mustang Graduate campaign offers a unique way to congratulate graduates, highlight their accomplishments, give thanks, share memories and offer words of wisdom. Through these letters, the Commencement Office hopes to surprise the Class of 2023 with personal notes from the people who supported them throughout their Cal Poly journey. For optimal impact, keep the letter a secret. Once submitted, the Commencement Office will begin preparations to deliver letters to graduates on your behalf. The deadline to submit Dear Mustang Graduate letters is June 9. Questions? Contact the Commencement Office at [email protected] or ext. 6-1600.
Learn more and submit a letter today
Volunteers Needed for CP Thrift store June 12-22
Volunteers are needed June 12-22 to collect, sort and clean donations for two pop-up CP Thrift stores that will open to the Cal Poly community during Mustang Move-in in September. Items will be collected from University Housing residents as they move out of campus residences at the end of spring quarter. CP Thrift is a popular place for students, faculty and staff to shop for gently used household items and décor in exchange for a donation. Located near campus housing (exact locations to be announced), the shops are stocked with clean and ready-to-use items: dishes, cookware, utensils, mirrors, fans, shoe racks, picture frames, plants and more. By preventing the disposal of items used for just nine months, Cal Poly keeps more than 6,000 pounds of waste out of the local landfill every year. Proceeds support campus sustainability efforts. For more information, contact Suzanne Aguirre at [email protected] or ext. 6-9323.
Sign up to volunteer for CP Thrift
Summer Off-Duty Staff/Faculty Permits Available Until June 2
Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS) is kicking off its annual off-duty permit program. Off-duty permits allow faculty and staff to park on campus briefly during their unpaid leave. The eligibility requirements for off-duty permits include: faculty who will not receive an appointment during summer 2023, faculty and staff on leave without pay, faculty on sabbatical or Difference in Pay Leave, or faculty and staff off duty pursuant to the 10/12 or 11/12 pay plan. Departments need to submit an “Off-Duty Permit Request” form for eligible faculty and staff to TAPS through AdobeSign by Friday, June 2. Off-duty permits will only be issued to faculty and staff who request through this process.
Join a Release Party for Literary and Arts Journal ‘Intertidal’ on June 3
Celebrate the return of the literary and arts journal tradition at Cal Poly with art and refreshments on Saturday, June 3, from 6-9 p.m. at the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, 1010 Broad St. “Intertidal” is a literary and arts journal created by English students in Assistant Professor Shanae Aurora Martinez’s three-quarter course sequence on editing and publishing. The word intertidal refers to areas between land and sea, where biodiversity flourishes. In the same spirit, the English students proudly published a diverse range of written and printable art created by an interdisciplinary blend of students, staff and faculty from all six colleges. This event is free and open to the public. Free issues of the journal will be available at the event. Send any inquires to [email protected], and follow @cp.intertidal on Instagram.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
During the month of May, University Personnel — Employee Wellbeing acknowledges the struggle, fights stigma and provides support, education and advocacy for people impacted by mental illness. Online screening may be the quickest way to determine whether individuals are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition. The Employee Assistance Program, MyLifeMatters.com (sign in: calpoly), is a resource featuring mental health screeners and webinars on boosting mental health, balance, meditation, resilience and finding help. LIfeMatters can also be reached at 800-367-7474. Services provided directly by LifeMatters are free. Anyone referred to outside resources will be advised of additional costs, if applicable. Contact Lisa Gray at [email protected] for more information.
New Electric Vans Will Move Cal Poly Closer to Sustainability Goals
Facilities Management and Development has made a significant investment in sustainability with the purchase of nine fully electric cargo vans that will be assigned to the facilities trades such as electrical, carpentry, painting and lock shops. These electric vans will replace gas trucks purchased in the 1990s and will be put into service in May. The new full vans are more versatile and practical than the currently used small electric trucks and can be driven off-campus to perform maintenance at the Cal Poly pier or off-campus ranches. The investment in electric vans demonstrates the university’s commitment to lowering the campus' environmental footprint.
Legendary Improv Comedy Troupe Comes to the PAC on May 25
Cal Poly Arts presents “The Second City Swipes Right,” an improv comedy show on all things dating, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 25, in Harold Miossi Hall. A hilarious cast of comedians will cover everything from love, dating, relationships and everything in-between in a brand-new interactive experience. Opening in 1959, The Second City has consistently been a starting point for many comedians, award-winning actors, directors and others in show business, including Bill Murray, John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Eugene Levy, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Mike Myers, Steve Carell, Jordan Peele, Stephen Colbert and many others. Come see the troupe that inspired “Whose Line is it Anyway?” and “Saturday Night Live!" This event has a 20% staff and faculty discount available.
Get tickets to The Second City
Spring Jazz Concert to Feature Guests Inga Swearingen and George Stone on May 26
The Spring Jazz Concert will include guest artists Inga Swearingen and George Stone at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 26, in the Performing Arts Center. Swearingen, voice, and Stone, trumpet and piano, will perform with Cal Poly’s Jazz Ensemble and Vocal Jazz Ensemble, called MOSAIC, directed by Director of Jazz Studies Arthur White. Graduating seniors will be recognized at the concert, including vocalists Kelley Fredrickson, Danna Dumandan, and Alfred “AJ” Zoppi, who are music majors; guitarist Jacob Cherdak, psychology major; pianist Caeden Schlosser, business major; and saxophonist James Pettis, mechanical engineering major. Cherdak, Pettis, and Schlosser have been fixtures in Cal Poly’s large and small jazz instrumental ensembles; and Fredrickson, Dumandan and Zoppi were founding members of MOSAIC in 2019. The three vocalists and Cherdak were each named “Outstanding Soloist” at the University of Northern Colorado’s Greeley Jazz Festival in April. 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 Spring Jazz Concert
Cal Poly Arab Music Ensemble Spring Concert Set for May 27
The Arab Music Ensemble will showcase music from multiple regions for its Spring Concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 27, in Spanos Theatre on campus. Several classic Iraqi songs, as well as celebrated selections of Lebanese, Palestinian, Romanian and Syrian music will be featured. Composers, poets and artists to be represented on the program include the Anton Pann Ensemble, Elias Rahbani, Fairuz, Marcel Khalife and Nazem al-Ghazali. “Al-Madrasa Al-Arabiyya,” a composition by Arab Music Ensemble Director Ken Habib, will have its world premiere. Critically acclaimed guest artists to be featured include Ishmael on qanun (zither), Fathi Aljarrah on kamanja (violin), and Faisal Zedan on riqq (tambourine), daff (frame drum) and darabukka (goblet drum). San Luis Obispo dance director Jenna Mitchell will lead the dance troupe in the performance of original choreography that dialogues with the music. 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 Arab Music Ensemble Spring Concert
‘RSVP: Soundings’ to Feature Percussion Trio line upon line June 1-2
Music Department music technology and composition students will present “RSVP: Soundings” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, June 1-2, in the Pavilion of the Performing Arts Center. The shows will be a collaboration with guest ensemble line upon line to premiere original interdisciplinary work for percussion, electronics and dance. “In preparation for the shows, the students have been investigating the role of artificial intelligence in the creation of music, including its implications on culture, automation and what it means to be sentient,” said Julie Herndon, the faculty director. Theatre and Dance Department student and alumni dancers will perform original choreography. Evan Ricaurté, lead choreographer, is a Cal Poly graduate (Architecture, ’20). line upon line is a percussion trio from Austin, Texas, that has been active since 2009. The group champions the work of living composers and pursues the musically unfamiliar. The trio — Adam Bedell, Cullen Faulk and Matthew Teodori — has premiered nearly 100 new works for percussion. 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.
Met Opera Soprano Karen Slack, Organist Alan Morrison to Perform June 2
Cal Poly Arts presents “An Evening with Karen Slack and Alan Morrison” as part of the Forbes Pipe Organ Series at 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 2, in Harold Miossi Hall. Rising Metropolitan Opera star and world-renowned soprano Karen Slack will join one of America’s premier concert organists, Alan Morrison. Slack is known for her dynamic and passionate performances in both lead operatic roles and on the concert stage. Opera Today states, “Karen Slack captured the audience with a spinning, thrilling top voice that soared above the staff. She is an artist we will definitely want to hear again (and again).” Featuring the mesmerizing Forbes Pipe Organ, the concert promises to be a moving performance of dynamic musical synergy rarely seen on the Central Coast. A 20% staff and faculty discount is available for this event.
Get tickets to “An Evening with Karen Slack and Alan Morrison”
Cal Poly Symphony to Perform Guest Artist Bahram Osqueezadeh’s Music June 3
The symphony will perform works by Bahram Osqueezadeh and “Scheherazade” by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 3, in Harold J. Miossi Hall in the Performing Arts Center. Works by guest artist Osqueezadeh will be performed for the first half of the concert. The multi-instrumentalist, scholar and composer will join the ensemble to perform his “Concerto for Santur and Orchestra.” Guest vocalist Alireza Shahmohammadi will the sing “Rational Insanity.” Both works combine Persian and Western musical traditions. Osqueezadeh will also give a free lecture-demonstration of his music and compositional process at 11:10 a.m. Thursday, June 1, in Room 218 of the Davidson Music Center. After intermission, the symphony will present Russian composer Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Scheherazade,” an orchestral tour de force based on “One Thousand and One Nights,” a collection of Middle Eastern folk tales. Music Professor David Arrivée will conduct the symphony. Tickets to the concert 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 symphony concert
Cal Poly Choirs to Present ‘In Her Words’ on June 4 with the Tucson Girls Chorus
Compositions by female composers, poetry by female poets and works about historically important female figures will be featured during the Cal Poly Choirs concert, “In Her Words,” at 3 p.m. Sunday, June 4, in Harold J. Miossi Hall of the Performing Arts Center. The four Cal Poly choirs — plus special guest ensemble, the Tucson Girls Chorus (TGC) from Arizona — will perform. There will be familiar favorites such as Benjamin Britten’s “Hymn to St. Cecilia” performed by the Chamber Choir, and modern masterpieces like Cecilia McDowall’s “Magnificat” performed by PolyPhonics and University Singers. The concert will also include some rarely performed gems such as several selections from Maddalena Casulana’s “Il primo libro di madrigali a quattro voci” (First Book of Madrigals for Four Voices) from 1568, which will be performed by the Chamber Choir and accompanied by Matthew Xie on lute. More information about the concert program and TGC is on the Music Department’s calendar website. Tickets are sold at the Cal Poly Ticket Office, ext. 6-4849. For more information, call ext. 6-2406.
Get tickets to the Cal Poly Choirs concert
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.