Translate

Poly Parent News: May 2020

This Month's Newsletter

Message from Our Team
COVID-19 Updates
Spring Commencement 2020 Updates
University Housing Move Out Information for Former Residents
Campus Health and Wellbeing Group Therapy Offered Virtually
TRIO Achievers Accepting Student Applications
New York Times: What Students Are Saying About Remote Learning
Resource Spotlight – Disability Resource Center’s Disability Tapas
Upcoming Dates, Deadlines and Events
Campus Contact Information

Message from Our Team

Summer break is in sight as we are gearing up to celebrate the Class of 2020! As soon-to-be graduates finish their last quarter this June, we trust that they will stay connected and continue to hone the Learn by Doing attitude Cal Poly has instilled in them. We are proud of the tenacity and resiliency of our graduates and all of our students, this quarter especially. If you are interested in receiving commencement-related updates and information, be sure to sign up for commencement emails.

Over the summer, our team looks forward to connecting with incoming students and supporters during SLO Days. We are excited about the recent launch of Mustang Family Insights, an online webinar for parents and supporters to stay updated on current university information and resources. View the May 26 session featuring Vice President for Student Affairs Keith Humphrey and stay tuned for an opportunity to register for our next session on June 9.

We appreciate all the seasoned Cal Poly parents and supporters who serve as resources for this enthusiastic incoming class. Your feedback, insights and questions are always welcome! We encourage you to reach out to us anytime at calpolyparent@calpoly.edu with ideas on how we can make Cal Poly a more welcoming and accessible to everyone.

Stay in touch over the summer; we hope to be together soon!

Sincerely,

The Parent and Family Programs Team

COVID-19 Updates

Cal Poly is actively monitoring the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19). We are proactively engaged in pandemic planning with our public health partners, including the County of San Luis Obispo Public Health Department and the CDC. The university is following the guidance of the CDC and our local health officials. For the latest updates, resources and information from the university, please visit coronavirus.calpoly.edu and be sure to review the FAQ page.

Spring Commencement 2020 Updates

Planning a virtual commencement celebration? Stay tuned for an important email from Cal Poly on Friday, June 12, for a special pre-recorded tribute to graduates featuring campus leaders and special guests. You won’t want to miss this! More details coming soon.

In addition, the university is preparing special Grad Packs that will be mailed graduates' current physical address the week of finals and yard signs templates to easily download and print. Get ready to celebrate!

Sign up to receive commencement emails and stay informed about this year's virtual celebration. We also encourage you to visit commencement.calpoly.edu to view the Spring 2020 updates and FAQs. In addition, please follow the Commencement Office on Facebook and Instagram to stay up-to-date on the latest news and announcements.

Please note that at this time, we are still in the process of planning a future in-person celebration for the Class of 2020 and do not have any details to share at the moment. When we do, we will share them right away. For additional information, please visit commencement.calpoly.edu.

University Housing Move Out Information for Former Residents

Former residents that left items in their room due to COVID-19 can now schedule a move-out appointment to retrieve their items. Please encourage your student to utilize their Housing Portal to select from scheduled move-out arrival and departure times over a period of weeks. Strict social distancing guidelines will be in place for the duration of your visit.

Students should not return to campus immediately, or without an appointment at any time, as there will be limited staff due to rotating schedules. They will not be able to let you into your room, and the locks have been changed.

Retrieving Student Items

If your student is interested in returning to Cal Poly to retrieve their items:

Sign up for a time in their Housing Portal. Please plan your travel; we cannot accommodate residents who arrive outside of their scheduled arrival time.
Campus staff will be on hand to open rooms for your student. We will not be re-issuing keys, and the keys you may still have will not open your space.
Please bring no more than two additional people with you from your permanent residence.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) will be required, so please bring a cloth face covering and plan to wear it while in all buildings. Campus will also be taking strong social distancing measures to ensure the continued health and safety of our community.

Pack and Ship + Pack and Store

Cal Poly has secured some options to pack and ship or pack and store your belongings. If you are interested in having your items shipped to you or stored, at your cost, you may contact one of the following three moving companies. These companies will only be retrieving items from residents’ rooms on June 15-19.

Campus Storage, LLC: 310-500-5420

College Boxes: 866-269-4887

Damage Charges

Damage charges are typically posted to student accounts by late July. Unless otherwise communicated by RA staff, charges for cleaning, damages, or room reconfigurations will be split evenly between all assigned residents of the room or apartment.

Residents will be notified of charges through their Cal Poly email and may request a review of any charges assigned.

Room Configurations

Before you head out, be sure to move your bedroom back to its original configuration. Use the layouts below as a guide. Please note: Room layouts can vary, even within the same community. When you reset your room, the furniture should not block doors, windows or closets. Mini-fridges should be left on the floor (not the furniture) and be plugged directly into the wall (not the surge protector).

Campus Health and Wellbeing Group Therapy Offered Virtually

Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, in order to maximize student access, all group therapy for Spring 2020 will be offered in virtual formats. Group Therapy is when a group of no more than 8-10 students meet with 1-2 therapists for 60-90 minutes. We offer a variety of groups including Therapy groups (i.e., support groups, psychoeducational groups, interpersonal process groups) and Drop-In groups. Some groups are time-limited with a specific focus, while others are broader and open-ended.

Please visit the Campus Health & Wellbeing’s main website for more information about groups currently offered at Counseling Services. If your students are interested in a group that is not currently being offered, please encourage them to email Dr. Paul Carbajal, Groups Coordinator, at pcarbaja@calpoly.edu

How does your student join a Therapy Group?

If they are a current client, please encourage them to speak to their current therapist about joining a group.

If they are not a current client, please encourage them to call to schedule an "Initial Consultation" and mention their interest in joining a group to the therapist.

If the group your student is interested in is still accepting new members and follows their recommended treatment plan, the therapist will advise them to schedule a “Group Screening" appointment, a 20-30 minute meeting with the relevant group facilitator to further answer any specific questions they may have about the group and to ensure that the group is the right fit.

TRIO Achievers Accepting Student Applications

TRIO Achievers program, also known as Student Support Services (SSS), is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education and has been a part of Cal Poly services to students since 1984. We aid at least 258 active students every year. Students who participate in the program come from every academic department and major on campus. To participate in the program, students must meet eligibility guidelines that are based on household income, parent's education, or student disability.

TRIO Achievers are now accepting applications for 2020-2021 academic year. Applications are online and will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis until the program is full. We encourage all qualified students to apply.

Services provided to students include academic advising, tutoring, career information, help with financial aid concerns, workshops, and help understanding academic policies and procedures. At Cal Poly we work closely with the Financial Aid Office, Registrar, Student Academic Services, Multicultural Engineering Program (MEP), Academic Skills Center, Career Services, Disability Resource Center, Mustang Success Center and many others.

Out of an abundance of caution and care, the TRIO Achievers office is currently operating virtually and are happy to serve you in the following ways:

Email trioachievers@calpoly.edu for support or all TRIO counselors with questions and requests for virtual appointments:

Ethny Stewart – eastewar@calpoly.edu

Nelitza Morales – nmoral07@calpoly.edu

For additional assistance regarding office operations, email Judy Holloway at jhollowa@calpoly.edu

Resource Spotlight – Disability Resource Center’s Disability Tapas

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.

Disabilities come in many different forms and can vary greatly. Join the Disability Resource Center (DRC) for some snack-size information and interactive discussions on a variety of disability-related topics.

Presentations are geared toward faculty and staff (students are also welcome), and offered every Wednesday, 11:10-12:00 PM, via Zoom https://calpoly.zoom.us/j/491400215. For guidance on how to attend via Zoom, please visit Join a Zoom Meeting).

May 6 - Supporting Students with Traumatic Brain Injury & Post-Concussive Symptoms
May 13 - How to be a Disability Ally - Strategies for Identifying & Addressing Ableism
May 20 - Social Media: Guidance for Posting Accessible Content & Positive Disability Messages
May 27 - Supporting Students with Autism
June 3 - Supporting Students with Psychological Disabilities Part II

Recordings of Previous Disability Tapas presentations:

For more information and to request accommodations (e.g., ASL interpreter, assistive listening system, audio description of slides), contact the Disability Resource Center at drc@calpoly.edu or ext. 6-1395. We welcome any ideas and suggestions you have for future presentation topics.