Messages from the Office of the Provost

Dear Colleagues,

I am writing to share that Bruno Giberti, associate vice provost for Academic Programs and Planning and accreditation liaison officer, has announced his retirement. Bruno’s last day at Cal Poly will be Dec. 31, 2022. We are in the process of identifying interim leadership and anticipate sharing updates in the coming weeks.  

Bruno leads Academic Programs and Planning, which is responsible for the annual process of academic planning, the development and implementation of academic policies, the development and review of academic programs, and the assessment of student learning. As the accreditation liaison officer, he manages the university’s regional accreditation and serves as the primary point of contact with the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). He has also played a leadership role in strategic planning for the university and the division of Academic Affairs, as well as Cal Poly’s response to the CSU’s Graduation Initiative 2025. 

Bruno came to Cal Poly’s Architecture Department in 1994 as an architectural historian specializing in topics relating to modernity and the U.S. Prior to assuming the post of associate vice provost in 2017, he served as faculty director of Cal Poly’s self-study for WSCUC; director of the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Technology; associate head of the Architecture Department; faculty associate for academic policies, assessment, and accreditation in Academic Programs and Planning; and chair of the Academic Senate.  

Bruno is a licensed architect and has worked in architecture and architectural journalism, most notably for the magazine “Arts and Architecture.” His book, “Designing the Centennial: A History of the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia” was awarded the Material Culture Award by the University Press of Kentucky. 

Bruno is a proud Cal Poly alumnus; after graduating with a B.S. in architecture, he earned his M.A. and a Ph.D. in architecture from UC Berkeley. We are planning to celebrate Bruno during a retirement reception Jan. 19 and will share further details in an upcoming Cal Poly Report.  

Please join me in thanking Bruno for his years of service to Cal Poly and congratulating him on his retirement.  

Sincerely, 

Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, Ph.D. 
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs  

Dear Campus Community,  

I am writing to share with you that Christine Theodoropoulos, dean of the College of Architecture and Environmental Design (CAED), has informed me of her intention to retire from Cal Poly upon the appointment of the next dean of the college. Please join me in expressing our appreciation for her exemplary leadership of the college and wishing her the best as she plans the next chapter of her life’s journey as a collaborator serving local and global communities.  

I look forward to working with Dean Theodoropoulos in the coming year while the university, in partnership with an external search firm, conducts a nationwide search for the next dean and facilitates a leadership transition that ensures the continued success of the CAED community and positions the college for future achievements that will sustain the excellence of CAED programs. We intend to share more information on the search process, including opportunities for the campus to participate, in the coming weeks.   

Dean Theodoropoulos joined Cal Poly in 2012 as the first woman to serve as dean of the College of Architecture and Environmental Design. Today she is the second-longest-serving dean in the college’s 75-year history and the longest serving of Cal Poly’s current six academic college deans. Her interdisciplinary background and her interest in professional education that integrates architectural and structural design drew her to the CAED, where she found exciting opportunities emerging from the college’s tradition of symbiotic connections among programs in planning, design, engineering, and construction.   

During her deanship, the CAED strengthened faculty expertise and grew student enrollment while advancing the national recognition of its accredited programs. Her work has elevated Cal Poly’s standing as a top-ranked school that prepares graduates to shape the built environment. Known for placing students’ interests first, Dean Theodoropoulos’ commitment to sustaining a robust Learn by Doing culture focused on community and industry partnerships, global engagement and applied scholarship has had significant, positive impacts, including an impressive record of prestigious awards recognizing the work of CAED faculty, staff and students. She formed a college leadership team that engaged the CAED community as it developed an academic masterplan and a diversity strategic plan, expanded the size and role of the Dean’s Leadership Council, and founded the college’s first DEI Committee.   

Leading the college through times of change, her confident approach to coordinating the college’s participation in Cal Poly’s strategic priorities and attending to the needs of the CAED community during the pandemic underlies the sustained success of the CAED. Through partnerships with the college’s academic departments, alumni, friends, and industry, she increased support for students with financial need; fostered new and increased access to career paths and co-curricular and global programs, and founded the CAED Teacher-and-Student-Scholar Grant Program.  

Please join me in once again thanking Dean Theodoropoulos for her outstanding leadership and service to the College of Architecture and Environmental Design and Cal Poly. 

Sincerely, 

Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, Ph.D.  
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs   

Dear Students,

I am writing today to share information about the comprehensive menu of academic resources available to help you to achieve success at Cal Poly. 

Free Tutoring in any Subject – Cal Poly is proud to offer free peer tutoring to all enrolled students. Tutors are available for one-to-one or small-group consultations on activities, assignments, writing projects, and exam preparations for courses in all six colleges. These collaborative tutoring sessions are student-driven, which means that the learning experience is propelled by the specific questions and individual needs you bring to a session. Tutoring sessions are available by appointment and on a drop-in basis both virtually and in person six days a week at four locations across campus. Learn more and schedule a tutoring appointment at https://writingandlearning.calpoly.edu/tutoring.

Academic Coaching – Academic coaches are available upon request to help you develop skills, behaviors, and habits that contribute to academic success. During a coaching session, you can engage in discussion with an academic coach who will help you set learning goals, cultivate motivation, manage time, think and read critically, develop study strategies, and communicate with faculty and staff. In partnership with the Transfer Center and Cal Poly Scholars, we are especially pleased to offer transfer academic coaches to support the transition to Cal Poly and the quarter system. Learn more at https://writingandlearning.calpoly.edu/academic-coaching.

Supplemental Workshops and Study Sessions in STEM Courses – Supplemental workshops and study sessions provide support for historically challenging courses in a collaborative learning environment. Math and science workshops and STEM study groups are led by peers with subject-specific knowledge who can provide fresh perspectives on course materials. In these academic support sessions, you will develop metacognitive learning strategies and challenge your understanding of course concepts by engaging in small-group activities, problem sets, and practice exams. For more information on these supplemental learning opportunities, visit https://asc.calpoly.edu/.

Support for the Graduation Writing Requirement (GWR) – Staff in the Writing and Learning Initiatives Office are available to address questions about the GWR, whether you plan to complete the requirement in an upper-division course or via the portfolio program, and peer writing tutors are available both virtually and at four tutoring locations across campus to help you prepare GWR-related documents that demonstrate your proficiency in writing for academic and professional purposes. Learn how to fulfill this upper-division graduation requirement at https://writingandlearning.calpoly.edu/gwr.

I encourage you to take advantage of the writing and learning support programs available at Cal Poly. To learn more, visit writingandlearning.calpoly.edu or email writingandlearning@calpoly.edu to request assistance.

Sincerely,

Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

On behalf of Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore and the Extended, Professional and Continuing Education (EPaCE) Dean Search Committee, thank you for your participation attending open forums and meetings with the finalists. 

The Consultative Search Committee and others involved in this important search value the comments of the campus community. All members of the campus community are encouraged to provide their comments confidentially via the links below. Please submit feedback forms no later than 5 p.m. today, Oct. 21. 

Provide feedback on Dr. J. Kevin Taylor 

Provide feedback on Dr. Beth Brunk 

Provide feedback on Dr. Tina Chang 

Provide feedback on Dr. Daniel R. Bernard 

Thank you again for your participation. 

On behalf of the Extended, Professional and Continuing Education (EPaCE) Dean Consultative Search Committee, chair Christine Theodoropoulos announces finalist Dr. Daniel R. Bernard will visit Cal Poly on Oct. 20-21. 

Dr. Bernard serves as the associate dean of the Division of Continuing and Global Education at California State University, Fresno, where he is responsible for oversight and management of all academic programs of the division. He helped create and previously served as the program coordinator for the Veterans Education Program, providing educational opportunities to veterans and service members who otherwise would not be able to attend Fresno State.   

He has 13 years teaching experience in communication at four separate universities and is the recipient of six teaching, research, and service awards. He has published several scholarly research articles and book chapters and has numerous presentations at local, national, and international conferences. 

Dr. Bernard earned his Ph.D. in communication from the University of Oklahoma. He earned his M.A. in communication and B.A. in speech communication from California State University, Fresno. For more information, view Dr. Bernard’s CV.  

All students and employees are encouraged to attend Dr. Bernard’s university open forum scheduled for Friday, Oct. 21, 11:10 a.m. – noon in the Performing Arts Center’s Christopher Cohan Center third floor lobby.   

The Consultative Search Committee and others involved in this important search value the comments of the campus community.  All members of the campus community are encouraged to provide their comments confidentially on Dr. Bernard through this feedback form.   

Thank you in advance for your participation. 

On behalf of the Extended, Professional and Continuing Education (EPaCE) Dean Consultative Search Committee, chair Christine Theodoropoulos announces finalist Dr. Tina Chang will visit Cal Poly on Oct. 12-13. 

Dr. Chang currently serves as the inaugural associate vice president for Continuing and Professional Education (CAPE) at the University of St. Thomas-Minnesota — the largest private university in the state. Her work focuses on opening pathways to economic and social mobility by expanding access to higher education. 

Prior to joining the University of St. Thomas-Minnesota, Dr. Chang was the inaugural associate vice president for Professional and Continuing Education (PaCE) at the University of New Orleans. In this role, she partnered across public and private sectors to create economic mobility by launching the Innovation Academy—a grant-funded initiative that expanded access for underrepresented groups throughout the state of Louisiana. 

Dr. Chang earned her Ph.D. and J.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her B.S. from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. For more information, view Dr. Chang’s CV. 

All students and employees are encouraged to attend Dr. Chang’s university open forum scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 13, 11:10 a.m. – noon in the Performing Arts Center’s Christopher Cohan Center Pavilion. 

The Consultative Search Committee and others involved in this important search value the comments of the campus community.  All members of the campus community are encouraged to provide their comments confidentially on Dr. Chang through this feedback form.   

Thank you in advance for your participation. 

Dear Colleagues, 

I hope that you have had a successful start to the term. I am excited to continue to work and collaborate with you over the year as we strive to do the best for our students, colleagues, and the university. In the division of Academic Affairs, as we continue our work on semester conversion, we will focus on three areas: Teacher-Scholar Model; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; and being a Transfer-Friendly University. All three of these focus areas should be considered in the context of our ongoing work to ensure that we have a successful transition to semesters — and importantly each of these would be our main priorities even if we were not making the conversion to a semester calendar. 

Teacher-Scholar Model 

I have great appreciation for the Teacher-Scholar Model and the ways in which it helps us advance our scholarship and bring students into the scholarly enterprise. It acknowledges the importance of engagement in continuous learning in one’s field and enables faculty to develop new knowledge, integrate scholarship into the learning process, and innovate industry-relevant curriculum. For students, involvement in scholarly endeavors is a form of active learning. It is a high-impact practice that enhances student engagement, retention, and success — Learn by Doing for both the instructor and the student.     

The commitment to implementing a sustainable and resourced Teacher-Scholar Model requires collaboration and partnerships across the colleges, divisions, and the university. This year, I am excited to continue our work to more fully actualize and support the Teacher-Scholar Model at Cal Poly, especially as we engage in semester conversion, while also amplifying the existing ways we value this endeavor. 

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 

The work of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is not limited to one division, one office, or one person in a department or college. Over the last few years, our colleges and administrative units in Academic Affairs have worked on diversity action plans specific to their fields, communities, and work. I hope that we can all continue to incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion principles into the ways that we learn and work together. Building an inclusive campus climate is and always will be a top priority for our university and it is crucial that we maintain an inclusive learning environment. Additionally, we must continue to create and maintain a culture of accessibility in our learning spaces and materials. 

The focus on Learn by Doing and Ready Day One, coupled with recognizing the necessity of intentionality to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are bedrocks on which we can build and continue to be a vibrant educational community. 

Transfer Friendly  

We must continue our work to support transfer students and enhance their opportunities for access to a Cal Poly education and success in their academic careers here. We have an opportunity to be strategic and intentional in the ways in which we help our students to navigate the campus and curriculum, be successful in and outside of the classroom, and truly have a sense of belonging. What can we do to align the curriculum so that students are able to achieve their degrees regardless of their entry point to the university? 

While the semester conversion provides us with an opportunity to look for areas where we can remove administrative and curricular barriers to transfer success, we can and should take action and make changes well before Fall 2026 and continue to be intentional thereafter to ensure transfer student success.  

Semester Conversion 

We will continue our collaborative efforts across campus in preparing for the transition to a semester calendar in Fall 2026. Rachel Fernflores, director of Semester Conversion, will continue to update us on this work and provide opportunities for engagement. I encourage everyone to get involved with the conversion of your programs and services. 

Thank you for the work that has gone into preparing for the academic year. Additional communications and engagement on these various items will occur throughout the year.

Sincerely, 

Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, Ph.D. 
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs 

Dear Campus Community,  

Please see below for information on universitywide open forums for the third and fourth finalists for the dean of Extended, Professional and Continuing Education (EPaCE) position. Information and CVs for each finalist will be sent one day prior to their campus visit.  

The open forum for the third finalist, visiting Oct. 12-13, is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 13, 11:10 a.m. – noon in the Performing Arts Center’s Christopher Cohan Center Pavilion. 

The open forum for the fourth finalist, visiting Oct. 20-21, is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 21, 11:10 a.m. – noon in the Performing Arts Center’s Christopher Cohan Center third floor lobby. 

Thank you in advance for your participation in this important search. 

On behalf of the Extended, Professional and Continuing Education (EPaCE) Dean Consultative Search Committee, chair Christine Theodoropoulos announces finalist Dr. Beth Brunk will visit Cal Poly Oct. 6-7. 

Dr. Brunk is currently the dean of Extended University and professor of Rhetoric and Writing Studies at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). Extended University supports Professional and Public Programs; the Center for Instructional Design; The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute; and UTEP Connect, UTEP’s suite of fully online degree programs. She has held several other administrative roles at UTEP, including director of First-Year Composition and associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts.  

A member of the inaugural class of University of Texas System Academy of Distinguished Teachers, Dr. Brunk is also a recipient of the University of Texas Academy Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award. She has served on several national boards, task forces, and committees and has published in the areas of online teaching and learning, online collaboration, student retention and persistence, and serving diverse student populations.  

Dr. Brunk earned her Ph.D. in rhetoric and composition from the University of Texas at Arlington, her M.A. in English from the University of Texas at El Paso and her B.A. in Journalism-Advertising from New Mexico State University. For more information, view Dr. Brunk’s CV. 

All students and employees are encouraged to attend Dr. Brunk’s university open forum scheduled for Friday, Oct. 7, 11:10 a.m. – noon in Room 285 in Fisher Science Hall (bldg. 33).   

The Consultative Search Committee and others involved in this important search value the comments of the campus community.  All members of the campus community are encouraged to provide their comments confidentially on Dr. Brunk through this feedback form.   

Thank you in advance for your participation. 

On behalf of the Extended, Professional and Continuing Education (EPaCE) Dean Consultative Search Committee, chair Christine Theodoropoulos announces finalist Dr. J. Kevin Taylor will visit Cal Poly Oct. 3-4. 

Dr. Taylor is currently the interim dean for Extended Education and the director for the School of Education at Cal Poly. As interim dean, he provides leadership for Extended Education programs and staff. He has served as director for the School of Education since 2015, leading the school’s five post-baccalaureate credential programs, four graduate degree programs, a supplemental authorization program, and Cal Poly’s accreditation with the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC). 

He was previously department chair for the Kinesiology and Public Health Department. Dr. Taylor has been recognized for his innovative and engaging approach to teaching as a recipient of Cal Poly’s Distinguished Teaching Award and in 2015 was honored as the inaugural Learn by Doing Scholar Awardee. 

Dr. Taylor earned his Ph.D. in teacher education, physical education from the University of South Carolina, his M.S. in physical education from Central Washington University, and his B.A. in sports studies from Northumberland University Newcastle, England. For more information, view Dr. Taylor’s CV.  

All students and employees are encouraged to attend Dr. Taylor’s university open forum scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 4, 11:10 a.m. – 12 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center’s Christopher Cohan Center third floor lobby.   

The Consultative Search Committee and others involved in this important search value the comments of the campus community.  All members of the campus community are encouraged to provide their comments confidentially on Dr. Taylor through this feedback form.   

Thank you in advance for your participation. 

Dear Campus Community,  

Please see below for information on universitywide open forums for the first two finalists for the dean of Extended, Professional and Continuing Education (EPaCE) position. Information and CVs for each finalist will be sent one day prior to their campus visit.  

The open forum for the first finalist, visiting Oct. 3-4, is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 4, 11:10 a.m. – 12 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center’s Christopher Cohan Center third floor lobby. 

The open forum for the second finalist, visiting Oct. 6-7, is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 7, 11:10 a.m. – 12 p.m. in Room 285 in Fisher Science Hall (bldg. 33).   

Thank you in advance for your participation in this important search. 

Dear Campus Community, 

Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore has accepted the recommendation of the Extended, Professional and Continuing Education (EPaCE, formerly Extended Education) Dean Consultative Search Committee, chaired by Dean Christine Theodoropoulos, to invite four finalists for the position to visit campus.  

Please save the date for university visits scheduled for each finalist. All members of the campus community are invited to attend open forums for each finalist and your feedback is crucial to the success of this search.

The visits will take place Oct. 3-4, Oct. 6-7, Oct. 12-13, and Oct. 20-21. Information about each finalist, and the times and locations for these open forums will be sent prior to the campus visit. 

About the Position:

The dean of Extended, Professional and Continuing Education oversees the development of EPaCE’s vision, mission, and programming as well as the effective management of the unit’s financials, business functions, operations, marketing strategies, and fiscal and human resources. The dean is responsible for fostering relationships with college deans, department heads/chairs, and faculty for curricular and program development; collaborating with university and community partners to develop and deliver programs in response to community needs; and providing oversight and management of academic programs in a variety of formats in cooperation with Academic Affairs. In addition, the dean provides leadership for the development and implementation of unit operating policies and procedures, ensures fiscal stability, and oversees the allocation of resources within the unit, including the development of the annual fiscal, program, and marketing plans, as well as the long-range strategic plan. The dean will establish and maintain a strong working relationship with leadership within the division of Academic Affairs and will bring a collaborative spirit and visionary leadership to EPaCE. 

Thank you for your participation in this important search process. 

Dear Colleagues, 

As we begin the new academic year, it is important to reflect on the fact that members of our community may be observing religious holidays. 

Based on the Campus Academic Policy on Class Attendance and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, it is Cal Poly’s policy to provide the opportunity to students, faculty, and staff to observe the holidays set aside by their chosen religious faith. For students, religious holidays are considered an “excusable” reason to be absent from class. For faculty and staff, supervisors should make appropriate accommodations to ensure their employees have the opportunity to express and exercise their religious beliefs. Faculty and staff requests for time off for religious observances may be approved as vacation time, a personal holiday, or could include a schedule change in some circumstances. 

Faculty and staff should be sensitive to the observance of these holidays so that students who absent themselves from class on these days, or during specific times of the day, are not disadvantaged. As major assignments are planned, it may be helpful to refer specifically to the Interfaith Holy Days and Holidays Calendar made available by Interfaith and Spiritual Life. It is the responsibility of those students who wish to be absent to make the necessary arrangements in advance with their instructors.  

I encourage faculty to work together with their students constructively to find the best feasible solution for each instance. The claim of a religious conflict should be accepted at face value. Please consider the ways in which these planned absences can be fairly and respectfully accommodated. 

As an institution, we are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and our practices must conform to our commitments. Working together we can continue to build an environment that supports and fosters these values. 

Sincerely, 

Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, Ph.D. 
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs 

Dear Colleagues,

I am writing to share that Dr. Dawn Neill will assume the role of administrator in charge for Research, Economic Development and Graduate Education (R-EDGE) on September 12, 2022.

Dr. Bob Crockett, who has been serving as administrator in charge since March 28, 2022, will be starting a sabbatical in the fall. The search for the vice president for R-EDGE was extended, and we plan to share further updates in the fall.

Dawn is the director of research engagement and internationalization in the College of Liberal Arts and a professor of anthropology in the Interdisciplinary Studies in Liberal Arts Department. She is the most recent chair of the Cal Poly Grants Review Committee and a member of the research advisory council for R-EDGE.

Her research specializations include medical and nutritional anthropology, food systems studies, evolutionary demography, parental investment, and the ecology of obesity. Her current international research examines urbanization and changing family dynamics, including family size, education, child productive work, women's domestic and wage-earning work, and nutrition transition in the Fiji Islands. In the US, her research focuses on food insecurity and food knowledge production.

Dawn received her B.A. and M.A. in anthropology from Louisiana State University. She earned her M.S. in nutritional sciences and her Ph.D. in biocultural anthropology from the University of Washington.

Please join me in thanking Bob for his service to R-EDGE and Dawn for taking on this important role. 

Sincerely, 

Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, Ph.D. 
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs  

Dear Campus Community,

I am writing with an update on the search for the vice president for Research, Economic Development and Graduate Education (R-EDGE).

Last month three candidates for the vice president for R-EDGE position participated in campus visits as part of our robust national search process. After thoughtful deliberation and consideration of the feedback provided by various campus constituents, I have decided to extend the search for a new vice president for R-EDGE.

Thank you to the consultative search committee for their work on this search and to the members of the campus community who engaged with and provided feedback on our candidates. While this is not the outcome we had hoped for when we began this process, I am confident that discussions and considerations around the university’s work in research, economic development, and graduate education will continue and benefit our work in these areas.

We look forward to sharing more information about the search in early fall quarter.

Sincerely,

Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dear Colleagues,

I am writing to share an update with you regarding Graduate Education.

To support a smooth transition and onboarding into the interim dean role, Dr. Amanda Lathrop, professor in the Food Science & Nutrition Department, will serve as an administrative faculty fellow for Graduate Education effective March 28, overlapping with Elizabeth Lowham through the end of the quarter. She will assume the interim dean role on June 13 and will continue in the role through August 2023 or until the permanent dean appointment is made.

Dr. Lathrop joined the Food Science and Nutrition Department at Cal Poly in 2009. She teaches Introduction to Food Science, Food Plant Sanitation, and Food Safety. Currently, her research interests include produce safety focused on leafy greens, citrus fruits, and the use of biofumigation for the control of food pathogens in agricultural soils. She is actively involved in a multidisciplinary project assisting underrepresented small farmers with on-farm food safety practices. During her time at Cal Poly, Dr. Lathrop has served as a thesis advisor to numerous graduate students and since 2019 has served as the BMS and MS in Food Science graduate coordinator.

Prior to joining Cal Poly, she worked at The National Food Lab in Livermore, CA, as the Food Safety Manager. There she assisted clients in developing and executing food safety projects ranging from product and process food safety assessments to new technology validations. Dr. Lathrop received her Ph.D. and M.S. in food science from Purdue University and her B.S. in food science from Cal Poly. 

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Lathrop on this new role. I look forward to working with her.

Sincerely,

Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dear Campus Community, 

This note is to let you know that Cal Poly has been granted a one-year extension on our conversion to semesters. Our first semester was originally scheduled to be fall 2025; it will now be fall 2026. 

We requested an extension due to new curricular developments related to AB 928, which is an assembly bill approved by the legislature last fall. AB 928 is designed to allow for a common general education transfer pathway from community colleges to both California State University and University of California institutions. We have recently learned that a new CSU GE executive order is expected, probably during summer 2024. Because that timeline would not give us time to develop our local GE template and convert our GE curriculum for a fall 2025 semester, we were granted an extension. Please consult the CSU AB 928 timeline here. 

The prospect of a new GE executive order in line with AB 928 may raise many questions. At this stage we do not know what the new executive order will say. We will be watching all phases of the AB 928 GE timeline closely in order to learn more about the common GE. 

Dr. Rachel Fernflores and I are working together to develop an adjusted timeline for converting to semesters for fall 2026. She will be reaching out with that timeline over the next few weeks. 

This is an important development as the semester conversion process will impact the entire campus. 

Thank you for the hard work you have already done toward converting to semesters. The work of those involved thus far, our collective forward momentum, in addition to the CSU AB 928 timeline, have all made our case for an extension compelling. The continued support for our semester conversion leadership team is greatly appreciated. Your efforts, commitment, collegiality and careful consideration of the conversion process in the early stages of the semester conversion have been exceptional. We look forward to the continued engagement and can-do approach.    

In closing, let me state again that, as of March 1, 2022, Cal Poly has been granted a one-year extension on our semester conversion process. Our first term on a semester calendar will be fall 2026. 

Sincerely, 

Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs 

Dear Colleagues,

I am writing to follow up on President Armstrong’s message to campus yesterday regarding the university’s mask mandate and our preparations for spring quarter. If you have not read the president’s message, you may find it on the Campus Updates webpage (2/24/2022 - Important Update on Masking Policy and Plans for Spring Quarter).

With our very high vaccination and booster rate and the very low rate of coronavirus illness on campus, the decision to adjust the mask mandate for those with up-to-date vaccinations was made in close consultation with medical and public health professionals.

Individuals whose vaccinations are not up to date will continue to be required to wear a mask in all indoor locations. High-quality (N95) masks continue to be available to community members who request them. Individuals may pick up four N95 masks at a time for their personal use. Distribution locations and instructions can be found on the face coverings webpage. As with all areas on campus people with up-to-date vaccinations who wish to continue wearing a mask may do so, even in those places where it is not required (common lab facilities, shared office and lobby spaces, club meeting rooms, etc.).

It is important to recognize that individuals on campus may prefer to wear a mask for a number of reasons. Please remember that the people you interact with may have compelling but private reasons to remain masked, and they might request that others mask while interacting with them. We ask that you consider these requests, that you keep a mask with you at all times, and that you show care and empathy to our fellow community members.

Winter Quarter

As the president announced, through the remainder of the winter quarter, masks will continue to be required for everyone in classrooms and teaching laboratories. This only applies to indoor spaces where for-credit instruction is actively occurring. Additionally, please ensure signage in department spaces where masking is not required is updated or removed.

Spring Quarter

In the spring quarter, masks will not be required indoors for individuals with up-to-date vaccinations, including in classrooms and teaching labs. Please remember that all faculty, staff, and students with up-to-date vaccinations who wish to continue to wear masks indoors may do so — and that high-quality (N95) masks continue to be available to all campus community members who want them.

The campus pass system will also remain in effect throughout the spring quarter and students will be required to continue to complete the daily self-screener. Students are aware that they should be ready to show this pass upon entering a campus facility such as a classroom, building, or office. Faculty and staff have this tool available to help maintain a safe environment and to support the goal of a healthy campus community. Further information on the daily self-screening requirement and the campus pass system is available on the campus pass webpage.

Updates to the Academic Affairs Frequently Asked Questions and CTLT’s COVID-19 Faculty Resources are under development, including information for faculty to help support student accommodation requests and syllabus statement examples intended to be responsive to the new policy or changing policies. As you prepare for your spring quarter courses, please ensure that your syllabi are updated to remove previous language on face covering requirements.

Please remember that course modalities for spring quarter have already been posted and that students have made decisions on enrollment based on the posted modalities. More information for faculty is available on the Academic Affairs Frequently Asked Questions webpage, particularly in the Course Modality question: “What is the process for a faculty member to request to change the modality of their class (e.g. F2F to virtual, F2F to hybrid, synchronous to asynchronous)?”.

It is still the case that deans and department heads/chairs are encouraged to work closely together to provide assistance to faculty and staff. Employees with impacts to their personal health circumstances can consult the Human Resources Disability Accommodation Request process to learn about their options. The university also provides several resources to support employees. Cal Poly’s EAP provider, LifeMatters, offers information, evaluation, counseling, and referral services to employees seeking assistance with personal and workplace challenges. LifeMatters can be reached directly at 800-367-7474 or at mylifematters.com (login: calpoly).

As conditions change and we continue to respond to public health advice, it remains important that we continue to show compassion as each of us finds the masking practice that is comfortable for us as individuals. I hope that we continue to cultivate a community of care on our campus in which we are respectful and considerate of one another — and that we practice empathy and show grace to our fellow community members.

Sincerely,

Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dear Colleagues, 

As shared with you in December, Elizabeth Lowham accepted the role as the dean of the College of Social Sciences at Fresno State. Elizabeth’s final day at Cal Poly will be May 31. I am writing to share that Dr. Robert “Bob” Crockett, professor in the Biomedical Engineering Department, will assume the role of administrator in charge for Research, Economic Development, and Graduate Education (R-EDGE) on March 28. 

Bob joined Cal Poly in 2003 and has previously served as department chair for the Biomedical Engineering Department and as associate dean for innovation infrastructure in the College of Engineering. Bob also has worked in the aerospace, biotechnology, medical device, and consumer products industries in leadership roles on both the strategic and tactical sides of engineering and IP development. 

In addition to his academic work, Bob is currently involved in four technology-based startup companies, including serving as the Director of X-Lab for HaptX, Inc. Bob received his Ph.D. from University of Arizona in materials science and engineering. He holds an M.B.A. from Pepperdine University and a B.S. in mechanical engineering from University of California, Berkeley. 

Elizabeth will continue in her role as interim dean for Graduate Education until her final day at Cal Poly. A call for an interim dean for Graduate Education was made to faculty February 14, and we anticipate sharing updates as they become available. 

A national search for the vice president for R-EDGE is currently underway. Updates on this search, including details of finalists’ visits to campus, are expected to be shared with the campus community this spring.  

Thank you to both Bob and Elizabeth for their work in supporting this division and our campus. 

Sincerely, 

Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, Ph.D. 
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs 

Dear Students,

Tomorrow, February 9, is the final day for you to share your feedback on the Cal Poly College Based Fee Student Aid and Learn by Doing Plan. If you have not done so already, I strongly encourage you to submit your thoughts on this proposal to adjust the College Based Fee through the online feedback form.

If you would like more information on the fee proposal, please visit the College Based Fee website, which includes the full objective statement on the proposal, pro and con statements, recordings of our campuswide open forums, frequently asked questions, and background information and data on the current fees.

Thank you to everyone who has taken time to learn more about the proposal, attend presentations, and share their thoughts. Your participation throughout this process has been crucial as we consider this important step for Cal Poly.

Sincerely,

Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dear Students,

This is a reminder to participate in the College Based Fee adjustment consultation process by learning more about the proposal and submitting your comments by Friday, February 4. Your participation in this process is crucial to our efforts to improve access to all and more fully fund the academic mission.

You can get involved by:

Attending a campuswide open forum.

Monday, Jan. 24, 11:10 a.m. - 12 p.m., calpoly.zoom.us/j/85865481083

View the recording of the first open forum on the College Based Fee website.

Visiting the CBF website for fee details, frequently asked questions, and more.

Attending a focused presentation. View the campus groups presentation schedule on the CBF website.

Sharing your opinion. Tell us what you think through the online feedback form. Please note that you can only submit one comment during the consultation process from Jan. 5 – Feb. 4.

If you have any questions, please email cbf@calpoly.edu. Thank you for your continued engagement with this process.

Sincerely,

Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dear Colleagues, 

We understand the challenges faculty, students, and staff are facing this quarter, and we continue to encourage deans and department heads/chairs to work closely together to provide assistance to you. We also want to remind you of the information available at Academic Affairs Frequently Asked Questions, particularly in the Course Modality question: “What is the process for a faculty member to request to change the modality of their class (e.g. F2F to virtual, F2F to hybrid, synchronous to asynchronous)?” 

Faculty members should consult with their department head/chair to develop solutions in the event they need to change course modality beyond the 25% stipulated by AS-896-20 to accommodate temporary COVID-related situations like personal illness, care for sick family members, childcare emergencies, or other unplanned-for contingencies. 

Recognizing that students have or may miss class at some point during the term for COVID-related reasons, faculty are encouraged to exercise compassion and grace in providing flexibility with students. 

We trust that everyone will use their best judgment to create a learning environment that prioritizes student, faculty, and staff success. 

Additional resources, including links to the Environmental Health and Safety Exposure Notification Protocol and the COVID-19 Reporting Form, are available on Cal Poly’s Coronavirus Information Website. If you have any questions or concerns regarding requests for accommodations or other personnel matters, please contact Academic Personnel (krummell@calpoly.edu or aliddico@calpoly.edu). 

Thank you for all that you are doing to support our students, faculty, staff, and community. 

Sincerely, 

Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, Ph.D. 
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs 

Albert A. Liddicoat, Ph.D. 
Vice President, University Personnel and Chief Human Resources Officer 

Dear Cal Poly Students, 

I am writing today to begin a conversation with you and the entire campus community about how we can create a future for Cal Poly in which we provide equal access to all qualified Californians through increased financial aid and we more fully fund the academic mission.  

From now through February 4, we invite you to learn more about a proposed College Based Fee adjustment and to share your opinions on this proposal. The Cal Poly College Based Fee Student Aid and Learn by Doing Plan would address our campus needs by: 

• Creating a new campus-based source of financial aid and providing scholarships to lower the net cost of attendance for those students with the greatest economic need. 
• More fully funding our Learn by Doing mission and the teacher-scholar model, allowing us to raise student research opportunities and student-faculty collaboration to higher levels of excellence. 

If approved, the fee would be phased in over four years and only applied to new students. Current Cal Poly students would not pay the adjusted fee.

CSU policy guides us through this process of discussing topics related to fees. We want to ensure that you are aware of the proposed fee adjustment and have the chance to share your feedback. I hope you will get involved through the methods below: 

Learn about the proposed fee adjustment, read arguments for and against the proposal, see frequently asked questions, and more on the CBF website.  

Attend an open forum  

• Thursday, Jan. 13, 1:10 - 2 p.m.,
  calpoly.zoom.us/j/81288429787 
• Monday, Jan. 24, 11:10 a.m. - 12 p.m., 
  calpoly.zoom.us/j/85865481083 

Attend a focused presentation. View the campus groups presentation schedule on the CBF website. Check this page regularly, as many presentations are still being finalized.  

Submit your opinion via the Feedback Form by February 4.  

If you have any questions, please email cbf@calpoly.edu. We strongly encourage you to participate in the process and look forward to engaging in discussions with the campus community over the next five weeks. 

Sincerely, 

Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, Ph.D. 
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs 

Dear Colleagues,

A new calendar year is an opportunity to commend the incredible resilience, patience, compassion, dedication, talent, care, and concern of our entire Cal Poly community. It is equally important to acknowledge that questions, concerns, and uncertainty loom with respect to the Omicron variant of COVID-19.  That is understandable; and we are all looking for a reprieve from the virus and its impacts.

The unwavering commitment of Cal Poly’s faculty, students, and staff to the success of our entire community is what allows us to provide amazing opportunities for our many stakeholders. As we return to campus for winter term 2022 and in-person instruction, our collective goal is to support and reassure our students and each other as we learn, work, and live together. This can be accomplished in part by understanding that faculty and staff will be balancing many considerations while continuing to assist our students in their efforts to attain their education and comply with public health guidance. With that in mind, please note the following:

 - We recognize that there is the potential for disruptions this term and encourage faculty to work with department chairs and deans on anything that will have a direct and major impact on any course(s) you are teaching.

 - Faculty and staff are also encouraged to stay in contact with their department/college/unit on matters that may be impacting their own success and ability to navigate through the term.

 - Faculty are encouraged to wait at least 24 hours after their first class session to line drop absent students who have not otherwise been in contact with their instructor.

 - Students with blue passes will be able to access campus facilities and services and attend classes during the first week of the quarter.

 - If you learn that a student must be absent from in-person classes for the first eight days of instruction, for any reason, please encourage the student to reach out to an academic advisor.

 - Information for students who cannot be in class due to isolation or quarantine, including how they should contact professors, is available through the Dean of Students website.

 - Faculty can support a student in isolation/quarantine or who has a confirmed positive test the same as they would for other absences due to illness.

Continued thanks and appreciation for keeping our students and colleagues, indeed our entire campus and community, at the forefront of your individual and collective decision processes.

Sincerely,

Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dear Colleagues, 

We hope that the fall quarter is wrapping up smoothly for you and that you are looking forward to the winter break. We are writing today to share information on how the winter quarter will begin in January for your planning purposes. The university will continue to monitor public health conditions and work closely with experts both on and off campus throughout the winter break as we prepare for the new year. Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to check their Cal Poly email regularly over the break for any possible updates. 

As Tina Hadaway-Mellis, assistant vice president for Student Affairs Health & Wellbeing, noted in her message to students earlier today (12-3-21 Winter Break Travel), fully vaccinated students will not be required to test upon their return to campus at the start of the winter quarter. This is on the advice of Cal Poly’s medical advisors and due to students’ high vaccination rates. Unvaccinated students will be required to resume ongoing testing in the winter quarter. More information on testing in the winter quarter is available in Assistant Vice President Hadaway-Mellis's note. 

Face Coverings 

Cal Poly continues to require all students, employees, and visitors accessing any indoor facility on campus to wear a face covering, regardless of their vaccination status. Signage is available for offices, learning spaces, labs, etc. outlining face-covering requirements. A sample statement on the face covering requirement is available on the CTLT COVID-19 Faculty Resources webpage.  

For financial and environmental reasons, Facilities will no longer provide disposable face coverings at sanitation stations. Your college or unit may be able to provide boxes of face coverings you can bring to your classroom/learning space to mitigate issues with non-compliant students. 

Employees working on campus and all students needing a face covering, including students living off campus, can pick up a cloth, reusable face covering at the Kennedy Library Circulation Desk, located in the main lobby on the first floor, during the library's operational hours. 

For more information, visit the Face Coverings webpage and check in with your department head/chair or manager for questions or concerns about the face covering requirement. 

Campus Pass 

The campus pass will remain in effect in the winter quarter for all students regardless of vaccination status. Faculty and staff are encouraged to use the campus pass as a tool to help maintain health and safety in classroom or office spaces.  

If you plan to check campus passes, consider adding a brief explanation of your procedure to your syllabus and Canvas course site and/or posting at the entryway of offices, learning spaces, labs, events, etc. a brief explanation of your procedure so that everyone understands your expectations up front. The CTLT COVID-19 Faculty Resources webpage contains a sample syllabus statement with information on the campus pass that can be modified for a variety of academic contexts. Signage on the campus pass is also available and may be posted near entryways or other highly visible spaces. Find downloadable signs by visiting the faculty/staff resources section of the COVID-19 Self-Screening page. 

For more information about the campus pass system, please visit the COVID-19 Self Screening webpage. 

Ongoing COVID-19 Testing Program 

Cal Poly’s COVID-19 mandatory testing program will continue for students and employees who are not fully vaccinated in the winter quarter. Students who do not test as required will be subject to SSO restrictions and may be referred to the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities for ongoing non-compliance. More information on the testing compliance program is available on the Testing Compliance webpage.  

Free on-campus testing is also available for all asymptomatic students and employees, regardless of vaccination status. Symptomatic students should test at the Health Center, and symptomatic employees should test through their health care provider. For more information on testing, visit the Saliva Testing webpage.  

Exposure Notification 

COVID-19 exposure investigation is handled by the Office of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS), through an approach endorsed by San Luis Obispo County Public Health. An outline of the exposure notification process and guidance for instructors when a student tests positive is available on the EHS COVID-19 Exposure Response Protocol webpage. Information about guidance for managers and employees when an employee tests positive is also available through Administration and Finance on the COVID-19 Reporting webpage. 

Resources 

The CDC recommends everyone age 18 and older should get a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot. Rite Aid is hosting a COVID-19 vaccine, booster, and flu shot clinic today, Dec. 3, in the Main Gym Lobby of the Recreation Center until 5 p.m. for those who would like to receive their COVID-19 booster shot. Only walk-ins are accepted. For more information and future on-campus clinic dates, visit the COVID-19 vaccine webpage. 

The Academic Affairs Frequently Asked Questions page includes information on COVID-19 safety guidelines, classroom procedures, and course modality. This page will be updated after the fall quarter ends with information on winter. If you have not already, please bookmark this page for reference. 

Please continue to refer to the Coronavirus website for the most updated information on campus health and safety protocols. 

Remember to take time to care for yourself over the academic break. Resources for employee wellbeing and mental health are available through Cal Poly Human Resources. 

Thank you for your work in ensuring a healthy and productive learning and working environment for our students and colleagues. 

Sincerely, 

Office of the Provost 

Dear Colleagues,

On Thursday, February 17, our campus community will participate in the CLA’s sixth annual Social Justice Teach In – a daylong series of talks and workshops centered around equity and social justice designed to inform and inspire. These mostly virtual events will be open to all members of our community and as always will feature numerous speakers and presentations from students, staff, and faculty across the university.

As you plan for the winter quarter, I encourage you to allow your students to attend the Teach In events as a whole class activity or to consider offering credit for an assignment based on student participation or learning at one of the presentations. I also encourage you to attend the Teach In events with your students or as your schedule allows. For supervisors, thinking about ways to allow staff to attend some sessions is also encouraged.

For more information about the Teach In, visit https://cla.calpoly.edu/teach-in. The full schedule will be available soon.

Thank you all for your consideration and a special thanks to everyone who has worked to plan for this day of events or plans to present. Your commitment to improving our culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion is much appreciated.

Sincerely,

Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to share with you that two of our faculty colleagues will serve as faculty fellows focused on Cal Poly’s quarter to semester conversion process. Earlier this quarter, we shared an update on this conversion’s timeline. You can find this update on the Office of the Provost website. (below)

Dr. Rachel Fernflores, professor of philosophy, serving as director of semester conversion, will lead the conversion process with the assistance of Dr. Aaron Keen, professor of computer science. They will lead Academic Affairs through the semester conversion process, researching and bringing forward best practices from other universities and coordinating with other divisions on campus.

They will collaborate closely with the Academic Senate and its committees, along with the college and department curriculum committees, and will work together with campus constituents to convert processes including curriculum, advising, registrar, financial aid, admissions, and others to align with the semester calendar.

Dr. Fernflores has a long history of shared governance and curricular reform. As chair of the Academic Senate for three years, she successfully led several curriculum-related projects, including bringing general education back into the purview of the Academic Senate, creating the General Education Governance Board, and creating a curriculum appeals process. More recently, she chaired several general education area C workgroups for GE 2020. She also has administrative service, serving as interim chief of staff in the Office of the President, along with multiple terms as a faculty fellow in the Office of the Provost and the Office of the President.

In addition, Dr. Fernflores chaired a task force charged with studying conversion from quarters to semesters in consultation with campus constituents in 2012. For that effort, she studied the conversion process at several universities, including CSU Los Angeles, Rochester Institute of Technology, and Ohio University, learning from each process what might work for Cal Poly.

Dr. Keen has been involved in several curricular reform and assessment efforts in his 20 years at Cal Poly. He has chaired the Computer Science and Software Engineering Curriculum Committee and served on the College of Engineering Curriculum Committee since 2009, becoming chair of the latter in 2019. He also serves on the Academic Senate Curriculum Committee and previously was a member of the General Education Governance Board. He has been recognized for his efforts in the classroom as an awardee of the 2020 Distinguished Teaching Award.

For this project, Dr. Fernflores and Dr. Keen can be reached at semester-conversion@calpoly.edu. They welcome your thoughts and questions on this important effort.

As we move through this important transition, I am grateful to Dr. Fernflores and Dr. Keen for their willingness to serve in these roles. I am confident they will be excellent, thoughtful stewards of our conversion to semesters.

Sincerely,

Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dear Colleagues,

We are writing to follow up on President Armstrong’s note to campus this morning. While all three of the initiatives outlined in the president’s message will have implications for Academic Affairs, today we would like to share additional information about our university’s move to a semester calendar and what it means for our division. This is a major undertaking that will require careful, focused and intensive attention and resources. Over this four-year process, we will work to assist faculty and staff in having resources to aid them in preparing for their classes and operations to transition.

As we proceed through this historic transition, it is important that we all be flexible in our approach and open to new ideas. This is an opportunity to review and discuss our curriculum, simplify academic pathways for our transfer students, as well as continue to support and enhance the Teacher-Scholar Model and Learn by Doing — all while retaining the variety of our learning outcomes. Most importantly, we ask that everyone approach preparing for this transition with the success of our students top of mind.

To meet Chancellor Castro’s expectation that semester conversion be implemented by the start of the 2025-26 academic year, we anticipate the process to be as follows. Over the remainder of this academic year and into next summer, we will gather best practices in converting from quarters to semesters from other CSU campuses that recently made the change. We will also identify our own unique challenges to semester conversion in all divisions and develop creative strategies and plans to overcome those challenges. We should be prepared to have a conversion plan in place by spring 2022 so that in the summer, we can lay the groundwork for conversion process to begin in fall of 2022.

Over the 2022-23 and 2023-24 academic years, we will need to map our curriculum to the semester system and design our current and new courses to account for this change. In the 2024-25 academic year, these changes will be reviewed in close partnership with the Academic Senate and additional stakeholders and our catalog will be updated.  We are open to considering potentially streamlined curricular review processes where appropriate, as well as additional strategies that will enable the campus to be successful in this effort.

We understand there will be many questions and concerns regarding this change and this will be a campuswide effort. As our plans solidify and the work progresses, we will continue to share information on the transition and provide ways for our campus community to engage in the process. As Chancellor Castro stated, this is a decision that has been made in order to achieve student success, equity on campus, and institutional efficiency. There will be challenges on this road, but we have every confidence in our university community to meet and rise above them. 

Sincerely,

Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Thomas D. Gutierrez, Ph.D.
Chair, Academic Senate
Professor, Physics Department

Andrew J. Thulin, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences

Christine Theodoropoulos, AIA, PE
Dean, College of Architecture and Environmental Design

Amy S. Fleischer, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Engineering

Philip J. Williams, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Liberal Arts

Damon M. Fleming, Ph.D., CFA
Dean, Orfalea College of Business

Dean E. Wendt, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Science and Mathematics

Dear Students,

I am writing today to share information about Cal Poly’s Writing and Learning Initiatives Office, which offers a comprehensive menu of academic resources that I hope you will utilize throughout your time at Cal Poly.

Free Tutoring in any Subject – Peer consultants offer free tutoring to all Cal Poly students. You can work one to one or engage in small-group tutoring sessions with trained undergraduate and graduate consultants on activities, assignments, writing projects, or exams. The sessions are student-centered and based around specific questions and needs that you bring to the session. Get connected through the Writing and Learning Center: https://writingandlearning.calpoly.edu.

Supplemental Learning Workshops and Study Sessions in STEM Courses – Supplemental workshops and study sessions provide support for specific STEM courses in a collaborative learning environment. These peer-led weekly meetings are designed to improve general learning strategies and increase opportunities for interactive engagement with course materials. For more information, and to access the online Study Strategies Library, check out the Academic Skills Center: https://asc.calpoly.edu/.

Support for the Graduation Writing Requirement (GWR) – Writing and Learning Initiatives Office staff can address questions about the GWR, and peer writing tutors at the Writing and Learning Center are available to help you prepare GWR-related documents that demonstrate your proficiency in writing for academic and professional purposes. Learn how to fulfill this upper-division graduation requirement at https://writingandlearning.calpoly.edu/gwr.

I encourage you to take advantage of the programs and services offered through the Writing and Learning Initiatives Office. To learn more, visit writingandlearning.calpoly.edu or email writingandlearning@calpoly.edu.

Sincerely,

Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to announce that Dr. J. Kevin Taylor has agreed to serve as the interim dean for Extended Education, effective today, September 13. Kevin will serve in this role through August 2022, or until the permanent dean appointment is made. During this time, he will continue in his current role as director of the School of Education. 

Kevin has served as director for the School of Education since 2015 and was previously department chair for the Kinesiology and Public Health Department. He has been recognized for his innovative and engaging approach to teaching as a recipient of Cal Poly’s Distinguished Teaching award and in 2015 was honored as the inaugural Learn by Doing Scholar Awardee.

Kevin earned his Ph.D. in teacher education, physical education from the University of South Carolina, his M.S. in physical education from Central Washington University, and his B.A. in sports studies from Northumberland University Newcastle, England.

We will be launching a search for the permanent dean for Extended Education this quarter; more details will be forthcoming.

I am confident that Kevin’s background as director and department chair, his commitment to diversity and social justice, and his experience in working collaboratively across campus will make him an excellent leader for Extended Education. Please join me in congratulating Kevin on this new role.

Sincerely,

Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dear Campus Community,

I am pleased to share with you that Dr. Damon Fleming has been selected as the new dean for the Orfalea College of Business. Dr. Fleming will begin in this role on August 2, 2021, succeeding Interim Dean Al Liddicoat.

Dr. Fleming currently serves as dean and professor of accounting of the Fogelman College of Business and Economics at the University of Memphis. Previously, Dr. Fleming spent nearly 13 years on the faculty of the Fowler College of Business at San Diego State University where he was professor of accounting, Ernst & Young Faculty Fellow, and William E. Cole Director of the Charles W. Lamden School of Accountancy.

Dr. Fleming’s teaching areas include financial reporting, financial statement analysis, accounting research, management accounting, and accounting judgment and decision making. He was selected as the Most Influential Faculty Member four times by the annual Outstanding Student graduating from the SDSU Master of Science in Accountancy program and earned two Fowler College of Business Outstanding Faculty Contribution awards from his colleagues for teaching innovation and effectiveness.

Dr. Fleming earned his Ph.D. in business (accounting) from Virginia Tech and his B.S. and M.S. degrees in accounting from San Diego State University. Prior to entering academia, Dr. Fleming worked in venture capital focusing on due diligence and valuation. He is a CFA charterholder and certified management accountant.

I would like to thank Dr. Liddicoat for his leadership and willingness to step into the interim dean role. Beginning July 1, he will serve as vice president for the new division of Human Resources and Academic Personnel. He has been serving as interim executive director for these two areas since November 1, 2020, and has done an excellent job in enhancing and optimizing the efficiencies and efforts of both teams. I am confident that he will be an effective leader of this new division at Cal Poly. Dr. Liddicoat will continue to serve as interim dean for OCOB through August 1.

Thank you to all the members of the consultative search committee for their work throughout this process and to everyone who engaged with our finalists during their visits. I look forward to working with Dr. Fleming and am confident he will be an excellent leader for the college.

Sincerely,

Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dear Colleagues,

I am writing with updates on leadership transitions happening in both Academic Affairs and Research, Economic Development, and Graduate Education (R-EDGE). Earlier this month, I shared an update on Strategic Enrollment Management, which you can find here.

Vice Provost for International, Graduate, and Extended Education Brian Tietje will be leaving Cal Poly to become dean of the College of Business at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. June 3 was Brian's last day on campus and he will be officially retiring from Cal Poly on July 1. I am grateful for Brian’s 22 years of service to the university and his excellent stewardship of our international and extended education programs, notably our world-renowned study abroad programs and our summer sessions that serve thousands of Cal Poly students each year.

Assistant Vice Provost for International Programs Cari Vanderkar will continue to lead the International Center. Information concerning leadership in Extended Education will be provided in the coming weeks; we plan to launch a nationwide search in the fall.

As many of you likely know, Elizabeth Lowham, interim dean of Graduate Education, has been serving as administrator in charge for the division of Research, Economic Development, and Graduate Education since April. Elizabeth will be continuing in this role through the upcoming months; we are planning to launch a nationwide search in the fall. I look forward to continuing to work with Elizabeth, as well as our future vice president for Research, Economic Development, and Graduate Education, to support this division that is crucial to supporting the continued important role research, scholarship, and creative activities play in the implementation of the teacher-scholar model and in Cal Poly’s role in the creation of new knowledge and problem solving.

Please join me in congratulating Brian on his new role and in thanking Cari and Elizabeth for their strong leadership in service of our Cal Poly community.

Sincerely,

Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dear Colleagues,

As the spring quarter comes to a close and we look forward to celebrating the Class of 2021 graduates this weekend, I would like to thank all of you for your hard work over the past academic year and your commitment to the success of Cal Poly’s students, faculty, and staff.

As a community, we have made Cal Poly and the CSU proud. I hope that all of you can take a moment and remember what you and your colleagues have been able to achieve collectively and how we have still come together in community over a period of time where we could not often be together in the same space.

Our students, our colleagues, our state, and beyond deserve the best that we as a university have to offer, and there is and likely always will be much more work to be done. Even so, I remain convinced that we will always aim to show up and act as the best possible versions of ourselves. Similarly, it is my sincerest encouragement that we continually give ourselves and each other the grace to be human.

Thank you all again for everything you are doing. You have made my first year at Cal Poly special and I am excited for our work together in the future.

Sincerely,

Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dear Colleagues,

I am writing today with an update on leadership transitions in the division of Strategic Enrollment Management.

Effective today, June 1, Assistant Vice Provost Terrance Harris will serve as interim vice president for Strategic Enrollment Management. Jim Maraviglia, who will be retiring at the end of June, will serve in the role of special assistant to the provost for the month to assist with this transition.

Terrance’s cabinet level appointment will be through December 31, 2021, or until a permanent vice president for Strategic Enrollment Management is named, whichever is sooner. We will be launching a national search to fill this position in the coming weeks.

I would like to thank Terrance for agreeing to step into this important position. He has been a crucial member of our university for 17 years and I look forward to working closely with him in this role. I also want to thank Jim for his 30 years of leadership, his critical role in growing the Cal Poly brand that we have all come to know and appreciate, and his continued willingness to serve the university. Please join me in congratulating both Terrance and Jim!

Sincerely,

Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dear Campus Community,

We hope the spring quarter has started off well for all of you. We are writing today to inform you of a change to the academic calendar for the start of the fall quarter 2021.

The first day of classes in fall quarter will be Monday, September 20, 2021. This is a change from our originally scheduled start date of Wednesday, September 15. Visit the Office of the Registrar's website for official university calendars.

Important Fall Dates:

Monday, Sept. 13: Fall Conference begins for faculty and staff

Tuesday, Sept. 14 – Wednesday, Sept. 15: University Housing move-in for first-year students

Wednesday, Sept. 15 – Sunday, Sept. 19: Week of Welcome (WOW)

Monday, Sept. 20: First Day of Instruction

Monday, Nov. 22 – Sunday, Nov. 28: Academic Holiday - Thanksgiving

Friday, Dec. 3: Last Day of Classes

Monday, Dec. 6 – Friday, Dec. 10: Finals Week

Campus parking will be significantly limited during University Housing’s move-in on Sept. 14 –15. More information about this matter will be provided closer to the event date.

Continuing students with housing contracts will have their dates and fee rates adjusted to reflect the new move-in date. University Housing will communicate with students that have already submitted their housing application. As always, University Housing will work with on-campus residents who may need to move in outside of established move-in dates.

Additional information on how this change may affect various university functions and events will be shared by departments. Please visit the department websites for updates and information, including:

University Housing

New Student and Transition Programs

Sincerely,

Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Keith B. Humphrey, Ph.D.
Vice President for Student Affairs

Dear Faculty and Staff:

As winter quarter comes to a close, we are writing today to thank you for your ongoing commitment to student success and to provide some important updates in preparation for spring quarter. This communication includes information on the following:

• Faculty/Staff Support for Ongoing Testing and Safety Protocols
• Student COVID-19 Testing Compliance
• Campus Pass Updates
• SSO Restrictions for Students in the Testing Compliance Group
• Key Dates for Spring Quarter

Faculty/Staff Support for Ongoing Testing and Safety Protocols

To help support your efforts in ensuring a safe learning experience for our students, please see the COVID-19 Faculty/Staff Toolkit, which includes resources and links to important testing compliance information. Sample syllabus language that addresses testing compliance and SSO restrictions is available on the CTLT website. A Canvas module with COVID-19 testing and safety protocols that you may consider adding to your program or course Canvas sites will be accessible via Canvas Commons before the start of spring quarter. Additionally, should you encounter a distressed student, be reminded to consult the CSU Red Folder, which is scheduled to be available via single-click access under My Apps on the portal at the start of spring quarter.

Student COVID-19 Testing Compliance

Protocols will follow previous quarters: students will not be required to test over spring break but should be prepared to upload a test pre arrival and/or test upon arrival. Ongoing testing for spring quarter is required of students who live on campus and/or are enrolled in face-to-face courses in addition to students who meet other criteria as outlined in the Presidential Order. Students may have circumstances that impact their ability to participate in testing, for which an exemption process is in place. More details are available on the Testing Compliance and Testing Compliance Exemption Policy webpages.

Campus Pass Updates

Like fall and winter quarters, the campus pass remains in effect. In addition to the current passes, a new blue pass alerts instructors, employers, and campus service providers of a student’s non-compliance with testing protocols. Students receive a blue campus pass when they have not completed a test by their deadline but have reported no COVID-19 symptoms via their daily screening. The blue campus pass limits students’ access to on-campus university testing sites and health and safety services; it does not grant access to other campus spaces or services. More information on the campus pass is available on the COVID-19 Self-Screening webpage.

Instructors and campus service providers may turn away students with no pass in addition to those with red, yellow, and blue passes. If a student presents a blue pass on the first day of classes, please consider recording their attendance before asking them to go get tested; line drops based on a blue pass on day one of the class should not occur. After the first class session, students turned away from a face-to-face class session because of their pass status are subject to the instructor’s course attendance and make-up work policies. Note that having a blue pass does not fall within the university’s attendance guidelines for excused absences. Please consider accounting for campus pass absences in course policy statements.

SSO Restrictions for Students in the Testing Compliance Group

Single Sign-On (SSO) restrictions for non-compliant students who are required to participate in ongoing testing were originally scheduled to launch on the first day of spring quarter. However, the date has been extended to ensure students can communicate with instructors, add or drop courses, and access important course materials during the first week of spring quarter. SSO restrictions will launch April 6, with warning messages initiated on March 30 to help students prepare for potential restrictions. Information on SSO restrictions is available on the SSO Lockout Recovery webpage.

Students who are restricted from university applications, classes, and services have been instructed to notify instructors and/or campus supervisors before restrictions are applied; they also have been encouraged to talk to instructors during the first week of classes to learn more about how SSO restrictions will impact their course access. An absence, including any late or missed work, due to non-compliance SSO restrictions does not fall within the university’s attendance guidelines and is subject to the instructor’s course attendance and make-up work policies.

The university will not notify faculty if their students are SSO restricted. Please take students at their word if they say they are locked out of campus applications. Should a student contact you through a third-party channel due to campus SSO restrictions, be reminded that university policy states, “campus email is an official method of campus communication to students and may be used as the sole method of communication for some campus matters.”  

Key Dates for Spring Quarter

Wednesday, March 17: The blue campus pass went live to allow students to practice and prepare for spring quarter testing and safety protocols.

Wednesday, March 24: Testing compliance groups will update to reflect spring quarter course enrollment and/or other on-campus commitments.

Sunday, March 28: On-campus testing sites will be open to support student compliance. More information is available on the Student Testing webpage.

Monday, March 29: Blue campus pass restrictions will begin for students who have not completed a test by their deadline but who have reported no COVID-19 symptoms via their daily screening.

Tuesday, March 30: SSO restrictions warning messages will begin for non-compliant students who are required to participate in ongoing testing to help students prepare for/avoid restrictions.

Tuesday, April 6: SSO restrictions will begin for non-compliant students.

In closing, thank you again for your commitment and contributions to the health, safety, and success of Cal Poly students.

Sincerely,

Office of the Provost

Dear Colleagues,

As we move through the winter quarter and continue to plan for the future, I would like to share an update on our planning for the fall 2021 quarter. Last week, I shared our plans for the summer and you can find that message at https://provost.calpoly.edu/messages.

Throughout the last year, the health and safety of our community has been our highest consideration. This is no different as we plan for the fall. We are continuing to monitor public health conditions and the vaccination processes in our community in close coordination with San Luis Obispo County Public Health as these considerations will be crucial to how fall operates.

We are currently planning for a majority of our courses and services to be in-person for the fall quarter. Given the time involved in planning and preparing for the start of the new year and the added work of moving from virtual operations back to in-person, we must plan for the possibility of greater in-person operations. If we do not plan for in-person courses now, our ability to fully serve our students will be unnecessarily limited. More details will be forthcoming on the criteria and process used to approve in-person courses in the fall.

This planning allows us to have the best chance of preparing courses and experiences that have value for our students, and, if public health conditions dictate, we will be ready to pivot to virtual operations. Our campus has proven that we can make that change.

We recognize that, even in the most positive health conditions that allow for greater in-person courses and services, there may still be students, staff, and faculty who cannot participate in person for health reasons. We will ensure that these members of our community are accommodated. We have shown our abilities to be gracious, flexible, and understanding with each other, and we must continue to manifest these qualities.

Thank you all for your work, your patience, and your understanding. It is a true pleasure to be working with you all.

Sincerely,

Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dear Colleagues,

In the 2020 Cal Poly Campus Survey on Sexual Violence sponsored in partnership by the Office of Equal Opportunity and Campus Health & Wellbeing, 25% of students reported that they would disclose to a faculty member about an experience of sexual violence. It is important that you have the resources you need both to respond to disclosures of sexual violence, and to develop safe and trusting relationships and environments for our campus community.

Trauma-informed care acknowledges the widespread impact of trauma on our community and seeks to create environments that are intentionally healing-centered and avoid unintentional re-traumatization. Faculty are uniquely positioned to receive disclosures of sexual violence, and should be attentive to curating trauma-informed classroom environments.

Safer has developed a resource hub for faculty and staff regarding responding to disclosures of sexual violence with care, curating trauma-informed virtual environments, and integrating primary prevention techniques into your curricula, programming, and daily lives. Below you will find resources to help you learn more about trauma-informed care as you develop virtual content for your courses: 

• Schedule a 15-20 minute specialized presentation from Safer for your department. 
• Schedule a 1:1 consultation with our Prevention Specialist to integrate primary prevention into your curricula. 
• Review Safer's one-sheet on Trauma-Informed Best Practices here. 
• View Safer's webinar on Trauma-Informed Virtual Environments here. (passcode: qqjjV^6k) 

Access all of the above and more at Safer's new resource hub for faculty & staff partners. 

The CSU Systemwide Policies Prohibiting Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation, Sexual Misconduct, Dating and Domestic Violence and Stalking each require that any employee who knows or has reason to know of allegations or acts that violate the policies must promptly report all known information to the Title IX Coordinator Maren Hufton, the Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity at equalopportunity@calpoly.edu or (805) 756-6770.

Sincerely,

The Office of the Provost

Dear Colleagues,

I hope that the winter quarter has been progressing well for you and that you are staying healthy. I am writing today regarding the university’s plans for summer 2021.

We are planning for courses in the summer to be mostly virtual, leaving open the possibility for some limited in-person offerings. Please note that any in-person courses proposed will need to be approved through the same process used during this academic year.

As we have done in the past, the summer will consist of four sessions: two five-week options, an eight-week, and a ten-week option. Important dates related to the summer can be found at https://registrar.calpoly.edu/calendars_deadlines. Information regarding cost of attendance and financial aid for the summer will be forthcoming.

In concert with this message, the Office of the Registrar will be reaching out to the academic departments to begin the process of building out our summer schedules. Thank you to all in the Office of the Registrar, the departments, and the colleges for the work in this planning.

Thank you all again for your continued excellent work in support of our students and colleagues. Your commitment is inspiring and much appreciated.

Sincerely,

Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dear Colleagues,

As we find ourselves underway in a new quarter it is important to reflect on the fact that members of our community may be observing religious holidays.

Based on the Campus Academic Policy on Class Attendance and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, it is Cal Poly’s policy to provide the opportunity to students, faculty, and staff to observe the holidays set aside by their chosen religious faith. For students, religious holidays are considered an “excusable” reason to be absent from class. For faculty and staff, supervisors should make appropriate accommodations to ensure their employees have the opportunity to express and exercise their religious beliefs. Faculty and staff requests for time off for religious observances may be approved as vacation time, a personal holiday, or could include a schedule change in some circumstances.

Faculty and staff should be sensitive to the observance of these holidays so that students who absent themselves from class on these days, or during specific times of the day, are not disadvantaged.  As major assignments are planned, it may be helpful to refer specifically to a religious holiday calendar like the one found at http://www.interfaith-calendar.org. It is the responsibility of those students who wish to be absent to make the necessary arrangements in advance with their instructors. 

I encourage faculty to work together with their students constructively to find the best feasible solution for each instance. Please also keep in mind that for this year it is possible that some students are now located in different and distant time zones, so that the timing issues may vary. Without a simple, equitable, and dignified way to determine the validity of individual claims, the claim of a religious conflict should be accepted at face value. Please consider the ways in which these planned absences can be fairly and respectfully accommodated.

As an institution, we are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and our practices must conform to our commitments. Working together we can continue to build an environment that supports and fosters these values.

Thank you,

Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dear Colleagues,

In light of recent events in Washington D.C. and in communities around the nation, please be mindful of how the current and cumulative impact of these events may be affecting your students and colleagues.

If you have not already done so, please consider reaching out to your students to acknowledge the difficulties and stresses that they may be feeling. I encourage you to work with any student who may be having trouble focusing on classwork and related activities and to offer support through Cal Poly resources. There are several resources available to students, including Cal Poly Counseling Services, the Office of the Dean of Students, and Student Diversity & Belonging.

Similarly, please also check in with colleagues. This is a good opportunity to remind ourselves to demonstrate empathy, patience, graciousness and appreciation for each other at all times, and especially when there is uncertainty and difficulty abounding.

Finally, I hope you all remember to take care of yourselves during these challenging times. If you need support, please remember that the campus’s Employee Assistance Program is available free of charge to all faculty and staff.

Sincerely,

Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dear Colleagues,

Happy New Year and welcome back for our winter quarter! I hope that you all had a relaxing winter break and you were able to connect with your friends and loved ones. I am truly appreciative of all your work during fall quarter. We could not have gotten through the quarter without each and every one of you.

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to doing the best for our students and colleagues. As a community, we have demonstrated the ability to do what may at times seem unlikely or impossible. Just as importantly, we will continue to navigate the challenges and opportunities that we face with patience, grace, resolve, excellence and an unmeasurable amount of good will and yes, even sometimes a sense of humor.  

I look forward to working with you over this quarter in service to our students and colleagues. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at cp-provost@calpoly.edu if there is some way that the Office of the Provost can be of assistance to you.

Thank you all again for your continued excellent efforts.

Sincerely,

Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dear Colleagues,

On Thursday, February 11, our campus community will participate in the fifth annual Teach In – a daylong series of virtual talks and workshops centered around equity and social justice designed to inform and inspire. These virtual events will be open to all members of our community and as always will feature numerous speakers and presentations from students, staff, and faculty from across the university.

As you plan for the winter quarter, I encourage you to allow your students to attend the Teach In events as a whole class activity or to consider offering extra credit for an assignment based on student participation or learning at one of the presentations. I also encourage you to attend the Teach In events with your students or as your schedule allows. For supervisors, thinking about ways to allow staff to attend some sessions is also encouraged.

For more information about the Teach In, visit https://cla.calpoly.edu/teach-in. The full schedule will be available soon.

Thank you all for your consideration and a special thanks to everyone who has worked to plan for this day of events, or plans to present. Your commitment to improving our culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion is much appreciated.

Sincerely,

Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dear Colleagues,

I am writing today to provide an update on our campus plans for the winter quarter.

We are still planning to begin our winter quarter classes, with a small percentage of in-person courses, on January 4. However, in the winter quarter, finals will be fully virtual. This will give students the option to leave campus following the final day of classes and allow for students to be away from campus for at least 16 days ahead of the start of the spring quarter on March 29.

Please know that, given the ever-evolving public health conditions and the possibility of changed local, state, and federal guidelines, it is possible that there will be more changes that are announced over the winter break. We will share new information via email as well as through the https://coronavirus.calpoly.edu/ and https://www.calpoly.edu/roadmap websites.

More information on COVID-19 health and safety guidelines and how they may affect your courses or work is available at https://academicaffairs.calpoly.edu/frequently-asked-questions. You may find these helpful to review ahead of the start of the winter quarter.  Additionally, faculty members may benefit from syllabus statements and other instructional resources at https://ctlt.calpoly.edu/.

Thank you again for all of your hard work.

Sincerely,

Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dear Cal Poly Faculty Members,

Tomorrow, The Office of the Registrar will be sending the below reminder to all students regarding the deadline for them to change their grading basis for any of their fall 2020 classes. Students received a similar reminder regarding the deadline on November 10 and more information is available to them at https://registrar.calpoly.edu/.

If possible, please consider reminding your students of this deadline during your classes or communications with them in the coming days. Please do your best to ensure that students’ current grades are updated, so they may make informed decisions on whether or not to change their grading basis.

Thank you all for your time and hard work this quarter. Please know that your work and the care you have shown for your students and colleagues are much appreciated.

Thank you,

Office of the Provost

Hello,

This is a reminder that you have until 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, November 24, 2020 to change the grading basis of any of your fall 2020 classes. Please verify your selected grading basis by reviewing your class schedule in your Student Center.

If you previously selected the “Graded” option, you may change to “Credit/No Credit.”

If you previously selected the “Credit/No Credit” option, you may change to “Graded.”

Fall 2020 grading basis change requests will not be processed once the November 24 deadline has passed. This is a firm deadline.

Please remember that undergraduate students must earn a C- or above to receive a grade of Credit in a Credit/No Credit course. Graduate students must earn a B- or above to receive a grade of Credit.

If you are pursuing a Blended program, please note that a Cal Poly student is either an undergraduate or a graduate student at any one time, and you are subject to the rules of your official standing. If you have not officially switched to graduate standing yet, you are subject to the CR/NC rules for undergraduate programs and undergraduate students.

Before making a change:

1.Thoroughly review the CR/NC allowances outlined in the frequently asked questions on the Fall 2020 – Term Information webpage.

2.Familiarize yourself with the CR/NC allowances set by your undergraduate major or Master’s program. PLEASE NOTE: Several majors/Master’s programs have set different CR/NC allowances for fall 2020 and summer 2020. Review this information carefully.

3.Speak with your advisor. If you are in Academic Probation status or Academic Disqualification status, you should reconsider your choice to take a course CR/NC. If you are taking a class for grade forgiveness, you must select the “Graded” option.

Thank you,

The Office of the Registrar

Dear Colleagues,

As voting in this year’s presidential election will conclude on Tuesday, November 3, I am writing today to share some resources with you should any issues or concerns related to the election arise in your work with students.

No matter the result of the presidential election and other elections, our students will likely be feeling a broad range of emotions in the coming weeks. Recognizing this, I’d like to remind you of some helpful resources offered by the Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology (CTLT).

The CTLT page on Acknowledging and Responding to Distressing Events includes general suggestions for responding to events, such as the election, that may bring up a range of emotions for students. Additionally, the CTLT’s information on Strategies for Addressing Behavior that is Detrimental to the Learning Environment provides general recommendations for how faculty can address a variety of scenarios in their classes, while reflecting an awareness of students’ rights to freedom of expression.

The Office of the Dean of Students has also created an Election Guide that offers resources for our community during the 2020 election, including information about post-election processing virtual spaces for drop-in discussion where students can discuss the outcomes of the recent election. If you do not plan to hold class meetings on or around Election Day, I encourage you to reach out to your students to ensure they have the support they may need.

Support for faculty and staff is equally important. Please remember that the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides confidential counseling services to all Cal Poly employees and their families. To speak with a counselor at any time, please call their 24-hour support hotline at 800-367-7474. More information about EAP's confidential services is available at this website.

As always, I thank you for your dedication to our students and community. I know this has been a challenging quarter for everyone, and I encourage you to remember to tend to yourselves in the coming weeks.

Thank you,

Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dear Students,

I am writing today to share information about Cal Poly’s Writing and Learning Initiatives Office, which offers a comprehensive menu of academic resources that I hope you will utilize throughout your time at Cal Poly, and especially as you engage in virtual learning this year.

Free Tutoring in any Subject – Peer consultants offer free tutoring to all Cal Poly students. You can work one to one or engage in small-group tutoring sessions with trained undergraduate and graduate consultants on any activity, assignment, writing project, or exam. The sessions are student-centered and based around specific questions and needs that you bring to the session. Get connected through the Writing and Learning Center: https://writingandlearning.calpoly.edu/center.

Supplemental Learning Workshops and Study Sessions in STEM Courses – Supplemental workshops and study sessions provide support for specific STEM courses in a collaborative learning environment. These peer-led weekly meetings are designed to improve general learning strategies and increase opportunities for interactive engagement with course materials. For more information, and to access the online Study Strategies Library, check out the Academic Skills Center: https://asc.calpoly.edu/.

Support for the Graduation Writing Requirement (GWR) – Writing and Learning Initiatives Office staff can address questions about the GWR, and peer writing tutors at the Writing and Learning Center are available to help you prepare GWR-related documents that demonstrate your proficiency at writing in an academic setting. Learn how to fulfill this graduation requirement at https://writingandlearning.calpoly.edu/gwr.

The university invests in ensuring that students get the academic support they need to succeed, and we hope that you will take advantage of the programs and services offered through the Writing and Learning Initiatives Office. To learn more, visit writingandlearning.calpoly.edu or email writingandlearning@calpoly.edu.

Sincerely,

Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dear Colleagues,

On behalf of the CSU, all members of the campus community are invited to the CSU Graduation Initiative 2025 Convening on Friday, October 23, 2020, 10:00 to 11:15 a.m. via livestream.

This is the first year that the annual convening will be open to all employees of the CSU. You are all invited to join virtually and learn more about the systemwide efforts and progress toward meeting the Graduation Initiative 2025 (GI 2025) goals.

Register for the Graduation Initiative 2025 Convening here.  If you plan to attend, please register by Friday, October 16.

The convening will feature students, faculty, and staff sharing inspirational stories of how daily efforts around GI 2025 are transforming students’ lives. The CSU will also share the latest data and measure progress toward eliminating equity gaps and helping more students secure the proven, lifelong benefits of a CSU degree.

Thank you,

Office of the Provost

Dear Colleagues,

To help answer questions regarding in-person and virtual classes, COVID-19 safety guidelines, and additional issues related to our current teaching, learning, and working environment, the Office of the Provost has created a new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) webpage at https://academicaffairs.calpoly.edu/frequently-asked-questions.

This page will be updated throughout the academic year as more questions come up and we have more information to share. The link to this page has also been posted on Cal Poly’s Coronavirus website and the Roadmap website so our campus community can find answers to their questions and the information they need.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Keegan Koberl at kkoberl@calpoly.edu.

Thank you,

Office of the Provost

Dear Students,

Given the wildfires and extreme heat conditions across our state, PG&E, the electrical provider for Cal Poly and much of the state, is preparing for the possibility of enacting Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS). In a PSPS, PG&E turns off electricity in certain areas in the interest of public safety.

Cal Poly’s Department of Emergency Management has worked closely with PG&E over the past few years to prepare the campus for the possibility of a proactive power shutoff. Based on our most recent conversations with PG&E and San Luis Obispo County officials, we understand that Cal Poly and San Luis Obispo County are at low risk of experiencing a PSPS event.

I know that many of you are taking virtual classes from your residence outside of San Luis Obispo County, and you may be in areas that have previously been affected by PSPS events or are at higher risk of experiencing one in the future. I have asked your instructors to be flexible and understanding with students who may be affected by these power shutoffs. Similarly, if San Luis Obispo experiences a PSPS you may not be able to reach your instructor for this period of time.

If you are alerted that your area may experience a PSPS event when you are scheduled to have a class or an assignment deadline, please let your instructor know as soon as possible. This will be helpful to your instructors as they work to assist and accommodate you.

You can learn more about the PSPS program through this link: https://www.pge.com/en_US/safety/emergency-preparedness/natural-disaster/wildfires/public-safety-power-shutoff-faq.page.

Current PG&E power status by area can be viewed online at https://m.pge.com/#outages.

Thank you for your attention to this during an already challenging time. I hope you all continue to stay healthy and safe.

Sincerely,

Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dear Colleagues,

Given the wildfires and extreme heat conditions across our state, PG&E, the electrical provider for Cal Poly and much of the state, is preparing for the possibility of Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS). In a PSPS, PG&E turns off electricity in certain areas in the interest of public safety.

Cal Poly’s Department of Emergency Management has worked closely with PG&E over the past few years to prepare the campus for the possibility of a proactive power shutoff. Based on our most recent conversations with PG&E and San Luis Obispo County officials, we understand that Cal Poly and San Luis Obispo County are at low risk of experiencing a PSPS event.

However, since many of our students are taking virtual classes from their residence outside of San Luis Obispo County, it is important to remember that our students may be without power for what may be an extended period of time if they are affected by a PSPS event. Please keep this possibility in mind if students are unable to attend a virtual class meeting or are delayed in submitting assignments.

I have sent a note to students today as well, asking them to inform their instructor as soon as possible if they are alerted that their area may experience a PSPS event when they are scheduled to have a class or an assignment deadline.

You can learn more about the PSPS program through this link: https://www.pge.com/en_US/safety/emergency-preparedness/natural-disaster/wildfires/public-safety-power-shutoff-faq.page

Current PG&E power status by area can be viewed online at https://m.pge.com/#outages.

You have all been incredibly flexible, understanding, and gracious with your students and colleagues, and I appreciate your continuing to show these traits as our state faces yet another challenge.

Thank you all again for your work.

Sincerely,

Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dear Colleagues,

As we find ourselves underway in a new quarter it is important to reflect on the fact that members of our community may be observing religious holidays.

Based on the Campus Academic Policy on Class Attendance and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, it is Cal Poly’s policy to provide the opportunity to students, faculty, and staff to observe the holidays set aside by their chosen religious faith. For students, religious holidays are considered an “excusable” reason to be absent from class. For faculty and staff, supervisors should make appropriate accommodations to ensure their employees have the opportunity to express and exercise their religious beliefs. Faculty and staff requests for time off for religious observances may be approved as vacation time, a personal holiday, or could include a schedule change in some circumstances.

Faculty and staff should be sensitive to the observance of these holidays so that students who absent themselves from class on these days, or during specific times of the day, are not disadvantaged.  As major assignments are planned, it may be helpful to refer specifically to a religious holiday calendar like the one found at http://www.interfaith-calendar.org. It is the responsibility of those students who wish to be absent to make the necessary arrangements in advance with their instructors. 

I encourage faculty to work together with their students constructively to find the best feasible solution for each instance. Please also keep in mind that for this year it is possible that some students are now located in different and distant time zones, so that the timing issues may vary. Without a simple, equitable, and dignified way to determine the validity of individual claims, the claim of a religious conflict should be accepted at face value. Please consider the ways in which these planned absences can be fairly and respectfully accommodated.

As an institution, we are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and our practices must conform to our commitments. Working together we can continue to build an environment that supports and fosters these values.

Thank you,

Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dear Colleagues,

Over the last year, Cal Poly successfully transitioned our Learning Management System (LMS) from PolyLearn-Moodle to Canvas. As has been announced many times over the past year, Canvas will be Cal Poly’s sole LMS beginning in the fall quarter.

Some key developments accomplished during the summer:

• All PolyLearn-Moodle courses from fall 2019 through spring 2020 were moved to Canvas, and courses from summer 2020 will be moved in October. Faculty can back up any of their other PolyLearn-Moodle courses and import the content into Canvas (instructions available on the Canvas Support Site).
• All third-party plugins that were available in PolyLearn-Moodle are now available in Canvas: iClicker Office, Google, Zoom, Math Type, and YouTube.
• The following resources have been made accessible and secure through a partnership with the Information Security and Accessibility offices:
  • Additional plugins (Flipgrid, Piazza, Akindi for CSM, and Portfolium Assessment for Honors) were added this summer by the CTLT team.
  • Several publisher integrations (MacMillian Learning, McGraw Hill Connect, Pearson Learning, Pearson MyLab & Mastery, WW Norton, and Cengage Learning) have been completed. Several additional publisher integrations (Follett Direct and WileyPLUS) are in the works. For updates on publisher integrations, please see the Canvas Support website. 

In support of the CSU Accessible Technology Initiative (ATI), Canvas delivers many unified accessibility improvements for faculty and students.

• Highlights include: assistive technology and screen reader support; flexible user settings (e.g., fonts, colors, contrast, sizing); streamlined keyboard and navigation; and accessibility enhancements to all core Canvas modules (e.g., calendars, gradebooks, quizzes).
• Faculty may also complete the self-paced online course, Creating Accessible Canvas Content.

The university’s contract with Canvas includes robust faculty support through 24/7 phone and online chat assistance, as well as online guides for instructors and students. In addition to the Canvas support tools, the Cal Poly Canvas support team provides resources to assist users, please visit canvassupport.calpoly.edu or email canvassupport@calpoly.edu for more information.

The Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology provides support to all faculty, whether you are teaching in person, you are new to teaching virtually, or you want to enhance your instructional skills. The CTLT has helpful resources available for Instructional Continuity, Online Assessments, and Secure Exams. The CTLT also offers a variety of workshops, self-paced online courses, video consultations, online resources, and email support.

Thank you to everyone in the CTLT for their work to make this a successful transition.

Sincerely,

Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dear Faculty and Staff,

The university, in partnership with SLO County Public Health, faculty, staff and epidemiology experts, has been working together over the past several months on ways to slow the spread of COVID-19 within the campus community and to create equitable pathways forward for those who choose to learn and work remotely or on campus. These measures center on the health and safety of individuals and communities and how they interplay with each other. After all, what we do as individuals has a ripple effect on those around us. 

Today we want to share with you the steps we are taking with students to help ensure a safer campus community. 

PROACTIVE SURVEILLANCE STRATEGIES

COVID-19 Self-Screening: This self-screening tool is a way for students to monitor their personal health, assess symptoms related to coronavirus, and receive immediate guidance. The outcome of the daily self-assessment will determine if students are permitted or not to enter facilities on campus that day. All students using campus facilities and enrolled in face-to-face classes must complete a daily self-screening. Students should be prepared to display their daily pass on their phone or electronic device before entering a classroom or any other campus facility. Faculty or staff members should request to view the pass upon a student’s entry to their classroom or any other campus facility. Students who do not pass the self-screening will be directed to Campus Health and Wellbeing for further evaluation, including possible testing. Students who are required by SLO County Public Health to quarantine or isolate will not be able to receive a pass until their quarantine or isolation period ends, preventing their access to campus facilities.

For more information, please click here.

Baseline Testing Assessment: As you already know, students living on and off campus who plan to participate in campus activities such as classes, work, and services are required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test result before coming on campus, or by the first day of class on Sept. 14, whichever comes first. This form of asymptomatic screening helps to establish and assess the prevalence of the pandemic within a large group of people. More than 90 percent of residential students completed the verification process prior to their arrival on campus, while those who were unable to verify their results were directed to Campus Health and Wellbeing for testing prior to their scheduled move-in time. Off-campus students will begin this process today as part of their entrance requirements to campus and we hope to see the same high rate of participation. This is an important measure to implement at the time when several thousand students are arriving in the community. Additional on-site testing may be required based on data from the initial results.

Ongoing Surveillance Testing: This methodology tests sample groups of the student community on a routine basis, both residential students and those living off campus enrolled in face-to-face classes. A special focus will be placed on off-campus students engaging in structured organizations like fraternities and sororities, student-athletes, and band.  Students who are in a group that requires further testing will be directed by Campus Health and Wellbeing for further instructions. Any pass obtained from their COVID-19 self-screening tool will change to deny them access to classes or campus facilities until they have completed additional testing. 

Symptomatic Testing: Cal Poly is committed to the ongoing, continued testing of symptomatic students and confirmed close contacts of positive cases for diagnostic purposes. Currently enrolled students can obtain free testing at Campus Health and Wellbeing and are encouraged to schedule an appointment ahead of time by calling 805-756-1211.

Additional details about these testing strategies can be found online here.

REACTIVE SUPPORT AND CARE STRATEGIES

Isolation and Quarantine: The university has set aside 180 spaces in campus apartments for residential students who need to isolate or quarantine outside of their assigned residential community.  Meals, student support, and regular health checks will be provided to students in on-campus isolation or quarantine.  Students living off campus should isolate or quarantine at the direction of SLO County Public Health. Anyone directed to isolate or quarantine will not be able to complete the daily symptom screener and obtain a pass to campus. Complete details about isolation and quarantine can be found online here.

Exposure Investigation: The university continues to work closely with San Luis Obispo County's Public Health Department (SLOPHD), the City of San Luis Obispo and local medical resources.  In concert with SLOPHD, we will continue to closely track students who have been exposed in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19 to others and to support students in their medical care.

The university will stay in contact with students to provide support and coordination for housing and health education, as well as provide regular mental and physical health checks for the students in on-campus isolation or quarantine. Faculty may be contacted as needed to provide accommodations to students in isolation or quarantine.  We encourage the students living off campus to follow the direction of SLO County Public Health.

Holding Students Accountable to Requirements and Orders: The university requires members of the campus community to comply with all COVID-19 related protocols when on campus, including physical distancing, proper wearing of face coverings, and following local ordinances related to gatherings. All students are expected to comply with these protocols. Failure to follow the campus protocols will result in student conduct action, which could include suspension or expulsion. The Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities, within the Office of the Dean of Students, will oversee the enforcement of COVID-19 related expectations.

If you see someone who may not be complying with public health orders, you can report the incident here. This includes students who do not comply with classroom regulations.

For more information on strategies to assist with compliance in your classrooms, offices and facilities, including open Office Hours with representatives with OSRR to learn more about this process, visit the OSRR website.

DISEASE TRACKING AND INFORMATION

Data Dashboard:  Since spring, we’ve been sharing updated Cal Poly-specific case counts on the coronavirus website. In an effort to provide more information about how our campus community is doing, we have created a COVID-19 tracking dashboard with more comprehensive data such as the number of positive tests for on- and off-campus students who are tested at Campus Health and Wellbeing, the total number of recoveries, and much more. Please visit the coronavirus webpage for daily updates. The county will also track case counts for on-campus students only. 

Thank you for doing what you do best – bringing Learn by Doing to life and creating the graduates that California and our world desperately need. If you have any questions regarding these strategies and resources, please reach out to vpsa@calpoly.edu.

Sincerely,

Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Keith B. Humphrey, Ph.D.
Vice President for Student Affairs

Dear Colleagues,

I hope you and your loved ones are staying safe and healthy. Thank you all for your work to prepare for the fall quarter and to welcome our incoming and returning students to a new academic year. I would also like to thank you for the warm welcome that has been extended to me. I am writing today to provide you with information on how our division will approach the fall quarter. These decisions were made in consultation with Cal Poly’s Emergency Operations Center and in accordance with guidance from the state, the Chancellor’s Office, President Armstrong and executive leadership, the division of Research, Economic Development and Graduate Education, and county health officials. Links to key sources are noted below:

 • California Department of Public Health Guidance on Higher Education

 • CSU Guidance on Fall 2020 University Operational Plans

 • Cal Poly's Approved Fall Plan, as shared by President Armstrong

 • Guidance on Research from the Division of Research, Economic Development and Graduate Education

Fall Instruction and Research

We currently are planning to offer approximately 12% of our courses in person this fall, and only laboratory and activity courses that have already been approved by the CSU Chancellor’s Office and are on the Registrar’s schedule as in-person courses will be offered in person. Students who are required to take an in-person class, but cannot or choose not to take the class in person, will be accommodated. These accommodations may differ between colleges, but all students will be provided with reasonable on-time pathways to graduation. Please check with your college if you receive these types of requests for accommodations from a student and you are unsure what to do.

Please keep in mind that there is a possibility that, based on public health conditions in our county, we may need to pivot from in-person instruction to virtual at any time. Should this occur, facilities currently used for in-person instruction would remain available to faculty for remote teaching presentations or demonstrations.

Meetings with your students outside of approved in-person course times, including office hours, should be done virtually. All student clubs and organizations will not be permitted to conduct in-person activities in the fall quarter and will not have access to any indoor spaces or facilities, and all events during the fall must be virtual. Research will remain primarily remote as well, with some exemptions as outlined by guidance from the Division of Research, Economic Development and Graduate Education.

Campus Facilities

Please remember that many indoor spaces on campus are closed while our county remains on the state’s watchlist. These include the Kennedy Library, the University Union, and computer labs. The library is offering its services virtually, as well as contactless book pickup, and ITS has services available for students, faculty, and staff both for those on campus and for those who are working, teaching, or learning remotely. Additionally, ITS has created a map identifying areas on campus where outdoor WiFi is available.

I would like to reiterate that all employees in the Academic Affairs division should continue to telework if it is feasible to do so. For staff members, please do not return to campus unless you have received the proper approvals from your supervisor or department chair and you have made yourself familiar with the safety procedures as outlined by your college or unit. For faculty members, you do not need to receive approval to return to campus, but it is advised that you let your department chair know about your anticipated use of office space. Faculty and staff members with private offices will continue to have access to these spaces if they need to come to campus. If you plan on using a shared office space or area on campus, please be sure to check with the manager of that space for their specific policies for keeping the area clean and safe to use. More information regarding procedures for returning to work may be found at https://afd.calpoly.edu/hr/fall-work-plan.

Health and Safety Precautions

All Cal Poly faculty and staff members will receive a personal protective equipment (PPE) packet that includes a face covering and face shield. Designees from all colleges and units have been contacted and will be responsible for distributing the PPE out to their areas. Please check with your college or unit if you’re unsure who will be coordinating distribution for your area. More information may be found at https://afd.calpoly.edu/emergency/resources/coronavirus/ppe.

To help inform your students of the university’s COVID-19 safety and prevention guidelines, please consider adding a statement to your syllabi explaining these guidelines and the possible consequences for not following them. Recommended syllabus statements are available through the Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology.

More information about student conduct expectations and how to address students not adhering to university protocols will be shared next week. Additionally, all students are being required to take an online training on COVID-19 safety and prevention, and have been asked to complete this training before coming to campus or before classes start on Monday, September 14, whichever is sooner. 

The university is requiring all students living on campus or participating in on-campus activities, including classes, to present a negative test result for COVID-19 taken within the 72 hours prior to arriving on campus. More information about testing requirements and resources can be found at https://coronavirus.calpoly.edu/covid-19-testing.

For more information about our planning for the fall quarter, please visit https://www.calpoly.edu/roadmap. For updated local confirmed case numbers and additional health information, visit https://coronavirus.calpoly.edu/.

Thank you all for your work and please stay safe and be well.

Sincerely,

Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dear Colleagues,

As you may know, due to the extreme heat conditions in California, the manager of the state’s power grid has called for rotating outages statewide to protect the stability of the grid. All utilities in the state, including PG&E locally, may be required to turn off power in rotating outages.

Please be aware that these rolling outages may affect you, as well as students currently in California. If you are teaching a summer term course, collaborating with student researchers, or working with students in any other way, please take these possible outages into consideration if students are unable to attend a virtual class meeting or are delayed in submitting assignments.

For those who are teaching, if you expect or experience an outage that will affect scheduled class meeting times or deadlines, I ask that you do your best to minimize potential disruptions to your students’ learning.

Thank you all for your consideration and attention to this during an already challenging time. Please do take good care of yourselves and know that your efforts are appreciated.

Sincerely,

Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dear Colleagues,

Today I am proud to be officially starting in my role as provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs at Cal Poly.

I am looking forward to meeting you all over the coming weeks and months; both over Zoom and in person when we are able to do so. When I interviewed for this role earlier in the year, I could see your dedication to our students, your fellow faculty and staff members, and to Cal Poly. I am excited to be part of this community and to be working toward the continued success and improvement of the university.

While we have multiple challenges ahead, we also have incredible opportunities as faculty and staff to support our students through these ever-changing times — as well as prepare them to enter the workforce and a new chapter in their lives in a world that is so different from when they began their time at Cal Poly. We also have the opportunity to continue to address the challenges facing our community, and the world, through our work, our teaching, and our scholarship.

I appreciate all the work that my predecessor, Mary Pedersen, and you all have already done to help us take advantage of the opportunities and meet these challenges. We are in a strong position to succeed together.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at cp-provost@calpoly.edu to introduce yourself, tell me about your work, and what you’re most excited about. I am thrilled to be here and to be working with you all.

Thank you,

Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs