Poly Parent News: July 2019

This Month's Newsletter

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Director's Message

We hope your summer is off to a great start and you have plans to spend time with your student and family before fall quarter begins again in a couple of short months.

We look forward to seeing many of you over the summer for SLO Days and many more of you during our fall welcome events. Please stay tuned for Mustang Family Weekend early-bird registration, launching later this month.

Enjoy this month’s edition of Poly Parent News and learn more about our amazing community.

Have a happy summer and safe travels!

Sincerely,
Tessa Stevens Espinoza, M.A. Ed.
Senior Director of Strategy and Engagement

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Save the Date for Mustang Family Weekend – October 25-27

Mark your calendars for Mustang Family Weekend this October 25-27, 2019! Scheduled halfway through fall quarter, Mustang Family Weekend allows families the opportunity to come back to campus and reconnect with the Mustang community for an exciting weekend filled with Learn by Doing experiences and Cal Poly festivities. Jam-packed with academic lectures, interactive presentations, and performing arts and athletics events, this is one weekend you don’t want to miss.

This October, discover your student's home away from home! At Mustang Family Weekend, you and your family will:

  • Explore campus through interactive tours and hikes
  • Engage in Learn by Doing lectures and labs led by esteemed faculty
  • Enjoy special events, live music and fun activities
  • Attend athletic and performing arts events
  • ... and so much more!

Registration is for the entire family and includes: 

  • One weekend parking pass
  • One swag bag filled with exclusive Cal Poly gear
  • Entrance to exclusive weekend events and programming

Registration and more information will be coming soon! Stay tuned at parent.calpoly.edu.

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Find Parent and Family Programs during Mustang Move-In Weekend

Parent and Family Programs is excited to be hosting the following events during move-in weekend. Parent volunteers will be at the events to answer your questions and give their insight as Cal Poly Proud parents of current students. Registration opens this summer!

Gathering on the Green

Sept. 13 | 5-7 p.m. | Baker Lawn

Out-of-state parents, supporters and students are invited to celebrate and relax after move-in. This reception is a great opportunity for families from outside of California to meet and mingle, make connections and share tips on how to best support new students who are far from home. Light refreshments will be provided.

Evening with the President

Sept. 15 | 5-7 p.m. | O'Neill Green

Parents and supporters are invited to enjoy a reception with fellow incoming Mustang families to connect with President Armstrong and celebrate the beginning of your student’s Cal Poly journey. Light refreshments will be provided.

Following the reception, join the campus community to help welcome new students at the Big Fall Welcome in Spanos Stadium at 8 p.m. With your student already in their WOW group, you'll have the unique opportunity to witness the spirited start of fall quarter.

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Looking Ahead to Week of Welcome

Get excited for Week of Welcome 2019 — join the newest class of Mustangs at our nationally acclaimed Week of Welcome from September 15–22, 2019! The eight-day program will familiarize your student with our campus culture and expansive resources, introduce your student to (literally) hundreds of new people, and guide them through their first week of classes. Be part of a Cal Poly tradition that is over 60 years old. Your student won't want to miss WOW 2019!

Make sure your student is prepared for WOW and review the following list carefully:

Move-in and Check-in for WOW Sept 14th 

On-Campus Students: Once your student arrives on campus and has moved-in, have them head to their residence hall at their assigned time (available August 2019) September 14th to check-in.

Off-Campus students: Check-in for WOW is all day September 14th in the UU Plaza. It’s important all students check-in to receive your WOWie wristband and information to necessary to participate in WOW.

Find Your Group

All student must check- in prior to meeting their group in order to participate. WOW groups form the morning of Sunday, September 15th. Your student will receive an email from orientation@calpoly.edu by Thursday, September 14th with their WOW Group number and time. Students must be wearing their WOWie wristband (received at WOW check-in) before they meet their group.

For Sunday, 9/15/19, make sure your student wears their green "Mustang Way" shirt they receive at WOW check-in to grouping and Big Fall Welcome.

There are three grouping times and hundreds of grouping numbers. Group numbers are associated with the hall your student is living in and has a corresponding time. Pay close attention to your group number and its corresponding time in the email your student receives by Thursday, 9/13/19.

Bring $25 cash

Your student’s WOW Leaders have a busy week planned for your student – make sure to have your student bring $25 cash as they explore campus, San Luis Obispo, and the Central Coast during WOW.

Download Cal Poly Now

WOW overview, to do lists, schedule information – and more – all at your fingertips in the Cal Poly Now mobile app, the official app of Cal Poly Student Affairs. Download in Apple and Google stores and search in the app for “Orientation 2019.”

For more information about WOW, contact New Student & Transition Programs at:

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Get Ready for SLO Days

Now that you've registered for SLO Days and looked at your schedule, check out the next steps you should be taking before you join us for your SLO Days session in the summer, as well as driving directions and arrival information.

Learn more about what you need to do to prepare for your session following the links below:

Your SLO Days schedule, arrival information, to-do lists - and more - all at your fingertips in the Cal Poly Now mobile app, the official app of Cal Poly Student Affairs.

Download it now and search for the "Orientation 2019" guide and start planning ahead for your upcoming session.

For more information about SLO Days and WOW, contact New Student & Transition Programs at:

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Spring “Great Grads” Look Back on Struggles, Accomplishments and Forward to Their Futures 

More than 5,100 graduates were eligible to take part in Commencement on June 15 and 16. They will address the world’s problems with innovation, creativity and confidence earned through their Learn by Doing education. Each of this year’s graduates has a unique story of success and perseverance, along with thoughts on how their university experience has shaped them as they prepare to make their way in the world. Meet six outstanding members of the Class of 2019:

  • Mia Alexander might be the Class of 2019’s comeback kid. The sociology major never believed that one day she would be “walking as a Mustang and a graduate of Cal Poly,” nor that a story of lost potential could both turn around and have a happy ending.
  • James Carlson, an environmental earth science major, applied to Cal Poly in 2011 as an economics major but decided to attend Allan Hancock College “to figure out exactly what I was passionate about.” He transferred from Hancock in fall 2017.
  • As a teenager, Aubree Charlesworth couldn’t wait to get out of the classroom; as a future elementary school teacher, she’s eager to get back in. On June 15, Charlesworth will complete the second of her three-stage goal at Cal Poly: receiving her multiple subject teaching credential.
  • Antonio Aguilar Gomez’s trajectory is now clear. After graduation, the computer science major and first-generation college student from Los Angeles will begin his career as a software engineer working for Microsoft Azure — Microsoft Corp.’s growing cloud computing service, in Redmond, Washington.
  • As a high school student in Cairo, Egypt, Sherry Saroufeem knew she wanted to study construction management. She just didn’t know where — certainly she didn't think that it would be halfway across the world at a school known for Learn by Doing.
  • Jorge Valdez already has post-retirement plans: Launching a nonprofit organization “to help as many people from different areas possible” and “maybe one day start a financial planning and wealth management firm that tailors to low-income communities.” The 22-year-old business administration major may have to hurry; he hopes to retire by age 35.

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Cal Poly Dedicates New Community Garden for Campus Community 

More than 50 people, including campus and CSU officials, attended the June 4 groundbreaking for Cal Poly's first community garden. Earlier in June, students prepped the Food Pantry Garden’s site, peeled back a portion of the Health Center lawn, helped assemble the 8-by-4-foot raised-bed plots and mulched the bare ground. Ultimately, the 1,200-square-foot site will have eight plots — rented to 16 individuals — students, staff or faculty members — or campus groups. Cal Poly’s Campus Health and Wellbeing Department, as well as the Honors Program and Facilities’ Energy, Utilities, and Sustainability Department, sponsor the Food Pantry Garden.

In 2018, the CSU Chancellor’s Office awarded Cal Poly $130,000 to support Basic Needs. The funding includes $30,000 for The Sustainable Food Hub Project, which provides accessible services, support and resources such as the Cal Poly Farmer’s Market, the Community Garden and the Cal Poly Food Pantry. Campus Health and Wellbeing and partner groups are using about $5,000 to make the Food Pantry Garden a reality while emphasizing the importance of health and sustainability. “The Food Pantry Garden will be a perfect way to create space for those who want to garden as a hobby and support a great cause,” said Kylee Singh, Cal Poly sustainability coordinator. Learn more about the garden.

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Cal Poly Farmers' Market

Campus Health and Wellbeing continues to host the Cal Poly Farmers Market on the first and third Tuesdays of the month on Mustang Way (near the University Union and Mott Lawn) from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. The market will run from June through November and will feature San Luis Obispo County farmers and Cal Poly vendors. The effort is a part of Campus Health and Wellbeing’s goal to ensure that all students, staff and faculty have access to local, seasonal and nutritious foods. In 2018, the CSU Chancellor’s Office awarded Cal Poly $130,000 to support Basic Needs. The funding includes $30,000 for The Sustainable Food Hub Project, which provides accessible services, support and resources such as the Cal Poly Farmers Market, the Community Garden, and the Cal Poly Food Pantry. The project was developed in collaboration with Cal Poly Sustainability, LocalsOwn, the University Honors Program, Dean of Students, and Student Affairs Technology to embed technological solutions with physical services, resources and support that help the campus community access nutritious food.

Read the full news release.

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Summer Family Fun Days at the Cal Poly Recreation Center

Bring the whole family to the Cal Poly Recreation Center this summer for Family Fun Days every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from June 21 to Sept. 1. Recreation Center members and their families are invited to enjoy the leisure pool, ASI Poly Escapes Climbing Park, sand volleyball courts, basketball courts, and more during their visit. Members may sponsor up to two adult guests and six children per day. Daily entry fees are $5 for children up to 15 years old and $10 for adults. Summer pass fees are $60 for children and $120 for adults. Water and small snack items are permitted. Please note the leisure pool will be closed June 21 and 22 due to a campus hot water outage and the Recreation Center will be closed June 23 due to a campus power outage.

For more information, visit the memberships page, or contact Membership Services at ext. 6-1366 or cpreccenter-memberships@calpoly.edu.

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Resource Spotlight – ASSIST

Cal Poly has a variety of great resources for a diverse student body. Each month we will highlight one that may be beneficial or of interest to your student.

ASSIST.org is an online student-transfer information system that shows how course credits earned at one public California college or university can be applied when transferred to another.

ASSIST is the official repository of articulation for California’s public colleges and universities and provides the most accurate and up-to-date information about student transfer in California. 

If your student is taking courses over the summer at a local community college, advise them to consider the following information on transferring credits:

  • If you want to take a major or support course, check the ASSIST website for an articulation agreement between Cal Poly and the other college.
  • If it's a GE course you want, go to ASSIST, and select the college you will attend. Click on "CSU GE-Breadth Certification List", select by 'Area' and match the Area Titles (not the Area #s).
  • If the course or type of course or college you want to go to is not on the ASSIST list, please check with your Advising Center, major dept advisor or the Evaluations Unit of the Office of the Registrar (805-756-2396). After you have reviewed the ASSIST website and/or you know that an articulation agreement does not exist, you may attempt to obtain the appropriate course substitution form from your major department and obtain the appropriate signatures.

You can find more information and resources here:

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Ever wish there was a how-to guide on parenting college students? While there might not be a manual on raising young adults, there are several helpful resources, articles, and books to help you support your student. Each quarter Parent & Family Programs will recommend a recent and relevant book or article for parents and supporters of students of all identities and backgrounds.

Spring Quarter Reading Recommendation: “Voice Lessons for Parents: What to Say, How to Say it, and When to Listen” by Dr. Wendy Mogel

In Voice Lessons for Parents, Mogel elaborates on her novel clinical approach, revealing how each age and stage of a child’s life brings new opportunities to connect through language. Drawing from sources as diverse as neuroscience, fairy tales, and anthropology, Mogel offers specific guidance for talking to children across the expanse of childhood and adolescence. She also explains the best ways to talk about your child to partners, exes, and grandparents, as well as to teachers, coaches, and caretakers. Throughout the book, Mogel addresses an obstacle that bedevils even the most seasoned and confident parent: the distraction of digital devices, how they impact our connection with our families, and what we can do about it.

Mogel’s now classic book, The Blessing of a Skinned Knee, is a beloved resource for a generation of parents. Voice Lessons for Parents brings her unique brand of practical wisdom to harried parents eager to deepen their relationships with their kids. “Children will lead you on an incredible journey,” writes Mogel, “if they trust you, if you take the time, and if you’re willing to follow.”

Want to start a local Cal Poly parent reading circle? Browse Facebook for the many local Facebook groups created and maintained by current and past Cal Poly Proud parents. Happy reading!

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 Important Dates and Deadlines

July 1 | Last day to edit Summer Institute and Quarter Plus applications.

July 4 | Academic holiday | Independence Day | Campus will be closed.

July 5 | Last day for Quarter Plus participants to secure housing.

July 17 | Last day for pre-season athletes to secure campus housing.

July 26 | Last day of classes for the first five-week summer session.

July 27 | First five-week summer session students move out.

July 28 | Second five-week summer students move in.

July 28 | Summer Institute students move in.

July 29 | Summer Institute classes begin.

July 29 | Second five-week session begins.

August 2 | Transfer and graduate student housing assignments are viewable in the portal.

August 3 | Housing fees are viewable in the portal.  Annual, quarterly or monthly feeds due Sept. 1

August 3 | First-year student housing assignments are viewable in the portal.

August 15 | Last day for new students to cancel campus housing without financial penalty. You can find the cancellation form in the portal.  The $500 initial payment is non-refundable for transfer students.

August 16 | Last day of 8-week summer session classes.

August 16 | Last day of 8-week summer session classes.

August 17 | Last day for continuing students to cancel campus housing.  You can find the cancellation form in the portal.  The $500 initial payment is non-refundable for transfer students.

August 19 | Quarter Plus classes begin.

August 21 | Summer Institute students move out.

August 22 | Summer eight-week session students move out.

August 30 | Last day of Summer quarter classes. Last day of second five-week session.

August 31 | Second five-week session summer students move out.

September 1 | Annual, quarterly or monthly payment due for 2019-20 year.  A $25 charge applies to late payments. (See fee schedules for payment amount.)

September 2 | Academic Holiday | Labor Day | Campus administrative offices closed.

September 3 | Cal Poly Distribution Services begins accepting mail for Fall 2019 campus residents.

September 3-5 | Finals for 10-week summer session students.

September 7 | 10-week summer session students move out.

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Upcoming Events

July 15-16 | SLO Days Session 1

July 18-19 | SLO Days Session 2

July 20-21 | SLO Days Session 3

July 25-26 | SLO Days Session 4

July 27-28 | SLO Days Session 5

July 27 | Festival Mozaic Master Class | Performing Arts Center Pavilion | 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

July 29-30 | SLO Days Session 6

August 1-2 | SLO Days Session 7

August 8-9 | SLO Days Transfer Student Session

August 16-17 | SLO Days Quarter Plus Student Session

September 13-14 | September SLO Days (Special Exception Required)

September 15 | Week of Welcome (WOW) begins

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Important Campus Phone Numbers

Admissions | (805) 756-2311
Career Services | (805) 756-2501
Commencement Office | (805) 756-1600
Counseling Services | (805) 756-2511
Disability Resource Center | (805) 756-1395
Financial Aid Office | (805) 756-2927
Health Services | (805) 756-1211
Mustang Success Center | (805) 756-6211
Parent and Family Programs | (805) 756-6700
Student Accounts | (805) 756-1428
University Housing | (805) 756-1226
University Police Department | (805) 756-2281

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