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November 2017 Newsletter
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Shining a Spotlight on Student Health Needs • Fall Commencement is Right Around the Corner! • Registration Rotations for Winter Quarter • Changes to Plan a Student Schedule (PASS) • An Evening With Captain “Sully” Sullenberger • Experience SLO Away from SLO • Homecoming is Here! (November 2-5) • Resource Spotlight – Undocumented Student Working Group • Upcoming Events • Important Dates and Deadlines • Important Campus Phone Numbers
Shining a Spotlight on Student Health Needs
Being sick when you’re in college can be challenging.
It’s hard enough to see a doctor when you’re juggling life as a fulltime student and other responsibilities. It’s even tougher when you have to wait two weeks to get the help you need.
According to recent surveys by Campus Health & Wellbeing, this is an all-too-familiar story for Cal Poly students seeking health services, with walk-in wait times routinely ranging from 2 to 3 hours, and early closures after reaching daily patient capacity. Scheduling appointments in advance is another exercise in patience, with wait times of up to two weeks for Health Services and up to 7 days for Counseling Services. While many students reported that they enjoy the quality of service they receive, they often abandon the idea of walking in for health services because they know the wait will be long and end up sicker in the process.
“Shorter wait times, greater availability, and longer hours at the health center would be incredibly beneficial, as the lack of these three things often discourages students from even attempting to be seen,” said Jessica Husband, a student recently surveyed by Campus Health and Wellbeing. “I’ve personally experienced and witnessed others experience the frustration of being referred to outside resources due to lack of appointments, or inability to offer service due to lack of staff. Cal Poly is a highly competitive university, and I see students all the time who put their physical and mental health far below their academics.”
In addition, students often carry health insurance not accepted by medical providers in the San Luis Obispo area, which means the university health center is their only available option for non-emergency visits.
As a result, 67 percent of all students utilized Health Services last year, totaling 32,000 visits – or an average of 250 students served per day. Meanwhile, Counseling Services served 12 percent of all students this past year, above the national average of nine percent for public universities of similar size.
“We take very seriously our role in helping students develop lifelong emotional health,” said Dr. Geneva Reynaga-Abiko, Director of Counseling Services. “Because of the lack of resources available outside the university, our counseling services are often the only choice for students. In many cases, their needs require timely intervention and support, which we hope to continue to provide in the future.”
In an effort to address these needs, Campus Health and Wellbeing recently kicked off a campuswide conversation about improving student healthcare through a proposed health fee adjustment. Since the last fee adjustment in 2009, medical costs have increased by 55 percent, resulting in a staff of just 12 medical doctors and 14 counselors to serve more than 20,000 students this year.
If approved, the adjustment would not impact current students. Instead, it would be phased in over four years, beginning with newly admitted students in fall 2018. Current students, however, would still benefit from any enhancements to healthcare services on campus.
“Investing in improving our Health & Counseling Services is a great way to send the message to students that their physical and mental health is extremely important, and should be a top priority," Husband noted.
The fee adjustment would improve services through additional medical and mental health staff—not facilities improvements or administrative staff. In turn, students can expect to see expanded health center hours into the evenings, more available appointments and a 50 percent decrease in walk-in wait times over the following four years. Counseling services would also improve, with counselor-to-student ratios that exceed national standards, thereby reducing the need to refer students to services away from campus.
Through Nov. 19, students are invited to learn more about this proposal and submit their opinions by attending one of our two open forums or visiting the Campus Health and Wellbeing website. You’re invited to do the same – learn more at chw.calpoly.edu/healthfee.
Fall Commencement is Right Around the Corner!
Is your student graduating this fall? With Commencement quickly approaching, here is some important information to help you and your student prepare for the big day!
Commencement Fair | November 8 – 9 | 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. in the UU Plaza
Students can purchase their cap, gown, and other commencement regalia at the Commencement Fair! They can also meet with vendors for announcements, flowers, and other items as well as campus partners such as Career Services.
Graduation Portraits | November 9 | Appointment Times Vary | Building 52 Room E-29
For more information and to schedule a sitting, please visit Ultimate Exposure website.
Fall 2017 Commencement Ceremonies | December 9 |Recreation Center Main Gym
Graduates will celebrate being Mustangs Forever at their assigned ceremony times, based on programs of study, as listed below:
Saturday, December 9 , 2017 | 9:00 a.m. | College of Agriculture, Food & Environmental Sciences and College of Science & Mathematics
Saturday, December 9 , 2017 | 1:00 p.m. | College of Liberal Arts and Orfalea College of Business
Saturday, December 9 , 2017| 4:00 p.m. | College of Architecture & Environmental Design and College of Engineering
For more information on Fall 2017 Commencement, CLICK HERE. Also, don’t forget to ‘like’ the Commencement Facebook page to get the latest updates!
Registration Rotations for Winter Quarter
Registration for winter quarter is right around the corner, with the first round starting on November 3! Ask your student if they know when they are scheduled to begin registering. Also, encourage your student to have several schedule options planned so they can be flexible during the registration process. While your student may not get their dream schedule of classes starting every day at noon, if they are flexible they will get the classes they needed. Classes starting at 8am or 8pm are not a result of increases enrollment; they are part of the average college experience and something your student will likely encounter. Remind your student that flexibility and patience are key to successful academic performance throughout their time at Cal Poly.
See the registration appointment schedule for winter quarter 2018 below:
- 1st Round Registration Appointments continue through November 28, 2017
- Open Enrollment for All Students: December 12, 2017 - January 3, 2018
- Your student can refer to their PolyProfile on their Cal Poly Portal for their Academic Progress Gauge
Your student can find their specific registration time and date in two locations by following these steps:
Option 1: Student Center
- Log onto your Cal Poly Portal
- Click “Student Center” on the left-hand side
- Your registration appointment will be located in a blue box on the right-hand side
- NOTE: If your registration appointment is not listed, it has not been assigned yet.
Option 2: Academics Tab
- Log into your Cal Poly Portal
- Click the “Academics” tab on the top bar
- You will find your registration appointment under “Academic Schedule” on the right-hand side
- NOTE: If your registration appointment is not listed, it has not been assigned yet.
Changes to Plan a Student Schedule (PASS)
Plan a Student Schedule (PASS) for winter quarter opened on October 23 and your student may have noticed some changes and new features. Open Enrollment continues all the way until January 4 so it is important for your student to understand these changes so they can utilize PASS’s new features effectively as quickly as possible. Review the following changes in order to support your student navigate the registration process:
- There will be enrollment in some lower division courses as freshmen are block enrolled into some major and support courses according to their flow charts. Additionally, to ensure academic progress for all student, some seats have been saved for continuing students.
- There is also a new feature in PASS: Available Seats – Open and Reserved
- During enrollment appointments (registration rotations), course sections may have seats that are reserved for certain students. As a result, Seats Available are shown as follows:
- Open Seats Available – Number of seats available to a student who meets the prerequisite for the course.
- Reserved Seats Available – Number of seats available to a student who meets the prerequisite for the course and the criteria for reserved seats as outlined in Section Notes.
- Note: When there are reserved seats available in a LEC section of a LEC/LAB course, then the same number of open seats in the accompanying LAB section are available only to students for whom seats are reserved in the LEC.
- During enrollment appointments (registration rotations), course sections may have seats that are reserved for certain students. As a result, Seats Available are shown as follows:
If your student has any questions, you can contact their college advising center, which can be found at https://advising.calpoly.edu.
An Evening With Captain “Sully” Sullenberger
Cal Poly will present "An Evening with Captain 'Sully' Sullenberger" at 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 30, in the Performing Arts Center. This one-time event will directly benefit the university's Center for Leadership, which aims to support leadership skill development for Cal Poly students through programs like the Emerging Leaders Series, StrengthsQuest education, and more.
Captain "Sully" Sullenberger is a renowned safety expert, speaker and author who rose to prominence after his heroic actions during the "Miracle on the Hudson." Shortly after takeoff from New York's LaGuardia Airport on Jan. 15, 2009, US Airways Flight 1549 struck a flock of Canada geese and lost all engine power. Sullenberger and fellow pilot First Officer Jeffrey Skiles safely executed an emergency landing on the Hudson River, saving the lives of all 155 passengers and crew on board.
Tickets are now on sale, ranging from $40 to $150, and may be purchased in advance at the Cal Poly Ticket Office from noon to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Tickets can also be reserved by phone at 805-756-4849 or online at leadership.calpoly.edu/captainsully.
Experience SLO Away from SLO
Close your eyes and picture yourself in a quaint downtown, listening to mission bells in the distance and feeling the excitement of a vibrant Downtown farmers’ market.
Let your mind conjure images of palm trees and golden hills, historic buildings and hip restaurants. In this California dream, gorgeous sunsets create masterpieces in the sky, creating a picture-perfect backdrop for nearby vineyards and the Pacific Ocean.
San Luis Obispo is a dream, but it’s also real.
We know you want to be here. But the best way to experience the SLO Life until you arrive is through our new series of 360-degree videos. They can be viewed in a VR headset, on a desktop or a mobile device.
So take a stroll on a downtown trolley, sit at a relaxing outdoor restaurant or take in a Cal Poly football game from the sidelines.
Be here, at sanluisobispo360.com.
Homecoming is Here! (November 2-5)
Bring your friends and family back to San Luis Obispo for Homecoming Weekend, November 2-5! Relive your amazing years at Cal Poly with a trip to Farmers’ Market, visit campus and rediscover Learn by Doing, visit some of your favorite spots downtown during the SLO Chapter Pub Crawl, cheer on the Mustangs at the Homecoming Football Game, and more!
Registration open now! Click here to register.
View the weekend’s schedule of events HERE.
Resource Spotlight – Undocumented Student Working Group
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.
The Undocumented Student Working Group at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo – a working group in the Office of University Diversity & Inclusivity – is comprised of faculty, staff, administrators, and students dedicated to supporting the personal and professional development of undocumented students and creating institutional change. The work of the group is guided by the needs and experiences of undocumented students on campus, including students active with the on-campus student club Rising Immigrant Scholars through Education (RISE).
The role of the Undocumented Student Working Group is to:
- provide support, resources, and a network of allies for undocumented students
- educate the campus community about the needs of undocumented students
- facilitate professional development trainings for faculty, staff, administrators, and students
- inform the administration about how to meet the needs identified by undocumented students and the working group
- act as a liaison between undocumented students and campus community
- work with Cuesta College, Allan Hancock College, K-12 representatives, and other community advocates in the Central Coast Coalition for Undocumented Student Success (CCC-USS) to support undocumented students in the region
- seek financial resources to support undocumented students
Resources
- For a list of student resources including clubs, academic resources, and financial aid, CLICK HERE.
- For Cal Poly, local, and national updates, CLICK HERE.
- For legal information, CLICK HERE.
- To access the Family Safety Guide for Immigrants, CLICK HERE.
- For a list of ongoing FAQs, CLICK HERE.
- For information on giving and how to donate to the student club RISE: Rising Immigrant Scholars through Education, CLICK HERE.
Contact Information
Please e-mail undocu@calpoly.edu or call 805-756-2418 as a first point of contact.
Zulema Aleman (zaleman@calpoly.edu) is a full-time CSU STEM AmeriCorps VISTA focused on coordinating the Undocumented Student Working Group and increasing support for undocumented students.
You can follow updates from the Undocumented Student Working Group on Twitter and Facebook.
The Dream Center
The Dream Center is located in Science (Building 52), Room E-11 and open from 8-5 Monday through Friday.
Upcoming Events
November 1 | Honeybee Sustainability in Today's Environment | 4-5 p.m. at Building 197 Room 104
Dr. Joseph Carson owns a successful honeybee operation in Alaska, with an emphasis on breeding robust strains specific to local environments. He will be giving a presentation on "Honeybee Sustainability in Today's Environment."
November 1 | ASI Trivia Night | 8-10 p.m. in UU 101 (Lower Lobby)
November 2-5 | Homecoming Weekend
November 2 | CLA Speaks: Lauren Rabaino | 11:10 a.m. – 12 p.m. in Building 180 Room 101
November 2 | Men's Basketball v Cal State East Bay | 7-9:30 p.m. in Mott Gym
November 2 | 4,000 Miles | 8-10:30 p.m. in Spanos Theater
Additional showings: November 3, 4, 9, 10, and 11
November 3 | More than a Motto: Cal Poly’s Learn by Doing Conference | 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. in various locations on campus
Register HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/more-than-a-motto-cal-polys-learn-by-doing-conference-2017-tickets-38773378218
View the schedule HERE: https://morethanamotto.calpoly.edu/campusconference
November 3 | Volleyball v UC Santa Barbara | 7-10 p.m. in Mott Gym
November 3 | Hugh Acheson | 8-10 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center
November 4 | Swimming and Diving v Pepperdine (Women) | 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. at Anderson Pool
November 4 | Football v Portland State | 6-10 p.m. in Spanos Stadium
November 4 | Cal Poly Arab Music Ensemble Fall Concert | 8-10 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center
November 5 | MET Live in HD: Die Zauberflöte | 2-6 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center
November 8 – 9 | Fall Commencement Fair | 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. | UU Plaza
November 10 | Volleyball v UC Davis | 7-10 p.m. in Mott Gym
November 10 – 12 | Startup Weekend | ATL Building 7
Register HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/startup-weekend-san-luis-obispo-november-2017-tickets-36876745338
View the schedule and more information HERE: http://communities.techstars.com/usa/slo/startup-weekend/11390
November 11 | Volleyball v UC Irvine | 2-5 p.m. in Mott Gym
November 11 | Football v Sacramento State | 6-10 p.m. in Spanos Stadium
November 11 | SLO Symphony Classics II Concert - An Americana Salute to our Veterans | 8-10 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center
November 12 | Cal Poly Bandfest 2017: Earth | 3-5 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center
November 14 | Tango Buenos Aires | 7:30-10 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center
November 15 | International Education Week | 5:30-7 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center
"Global Gypsies: Representation, Appropriation, and Roma in World Music."
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Carol Silverman
November 15 | Men's Basketball v Holy Names | 7-9:30 p.m. in Mott Gym
November 15 | Champions of Magic | 7:30 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center
The 5 world-class illusionists that make up the Champions Of Magic come to the USA for the first time following 4 years touring the UK with sold out shows, rave reviews and a run in London’s West End.
November 16 | Cal Poly Student Instrumental Recital | 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. in Building 45 Room 218
November 16 | Women's Basketball vs Grand Canyon | 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. in Mott Gym
November 16 | Cal Poly Vocal Student Recital | 7:30-8:30 p.m. in Building 45 Room 218
November 18 | Movement Arts Collective "Carnival of the Animals" | 2-4 p.m. in Spanos Theater
November 18 | SLO Master Chorale An Evening in Vienna | 7:30 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center
November 24 | Women's Basketball vs Robert Morris | 2-4:30 p.m. in Mott Gym
November 26 | Women's Basketball vs San Francisco | 12-2:30 p.m. in Mott Gym
November 28 | Women's Basketball vs Cal State Monterey | 5-7:30 p.m. in Mott Gym
November 28 | Student Piano Recital | 7:30-8:30 p.m. in Building 45 Room 218
November 29 | ELF: The Musical | 7-9 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center
November 30 | Cal Poly Student Instrumental Recital | 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. in Building 45 Room 218
November 30 | An Evening with Captain "Sully" Sullenberger | 8 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center
December 9 | Fall Commencement | 9am, 1pm, and 4pm in the Recreation Center Main Gym
For Athletic event tickets, CLICK HERE. For Performing Art Center event tickets, CLICK HERE.
Important Dates and Deadlines
November 1 | Winter Break housing agreements due
November 1 | Third installment of housing payment plan and dining payment plan for 2017-18 due. Charge of $25 for late payment (see fee schedules for payment amount).
November 1 | Last day to withdraw from fall quarter course(s) or term for serious and compelling reason (5:00 pm).
November 3 | Registration open for first round appointment rotations with a 16 unit enrollment limit.
November 8 – 9 | Fall Commencement Fair | 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. | UU Plaza
November 10 | Academic holiday - Veterans Day Observed – Campus administrative offices closed
November 13 | Winter/Spring 2018 housing application opens
November 20-26 | Academic holiday – Thanksgiving – No Classes
November 23-24 | Academic holiday | Thanksgiving Break – Campus administrative offices closed
November 28 | Ends of first round registration appointments
November 29 | Second round of registration appointment rotations begins.
November 29 | Enrollment unit limit increases to 22.
November 29 | Late registration fee can apply. For information, visit Student Accounts Office.
December 4 – 8 | Fall quarter final examination period
December 9 | Fall Commencement 2017
Important Campus Phone Numbers
Admissions | (805) 756-2311
Career Services | (805) 756-2501
Commencement | (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 & Family Programs | (805) 756-6700
Student Accounts | (805) 756-1428
University Housing | (805) 756-1226
University Police Department | (805) 756-2281
