An inside look at living, studying and working at Cal Poly.

Inside Cal Poly

Throughout the summer A&amp;F staff from each unit have been hard at work completing projects, upgrading classrooms, planning events and preparing the campus for the coming year. Whether that work was making room for student success or saving the campus nearly $8 million, it was anything but a quiet couple of months.&nbsp;



Here are 10 quick updates from our 10 units.



Facilities Management and Development



This summer the FMD teams have made significant progress on a number of capital projects and substantial headway on the space optimization initiative.



Building 15 &amp; Student Success Center



Building 15 has been converted into a vibrant center for student affinity groups and construction has begun on the Student Success Center in the adjacent space. The 35,000 square-foot center will include student support amenities like career services, scholar programs, student diversity and belonging centers, as well as multipurpose classroom and event spaces.



Student Housing Over the summer, crews completed the foundation work—including footers and columns—and connected major infrastructure such as water, sewer and storm systems. These accomplishments pave the way for the first modular units to be stacked starting in mid-October. The first tower is slated for completion in Summer 2026.



Public Safety



A lot has happened within the Public Safety ranks over the summer. On July 25, following a national recruitment Robert Plastino was sworn in as the next chief of the Cal Poly Police Department. He brings more than 27 years of experience with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s office where he oversaw more than 250 staff in the department’s north county and south county operations.



Directly following Plastino’s swearing he then swore in officers Lance Wilson, Amanda Bird, Miguel Tamayo, Matt Davis and Michael Maguire as well as K-9 Dex.



K-9 Dex followed the retirement of K-9 Zeus after 7-1/2 years of serving the Cal Poly community.&nbsp;



On top of that TAPS is launching a second day-time Mustang Shuttle bus this fall to help better service the student, faculty and staff moving around campus. &nbsp;



Performing Arts Center



Looking back on the 2024-25 season, the Performing Arts Center proudly welcomed nearly 10,000 students to free school matinee performances and supported more than 300 events, drawing a total audience of over 100,000 patrons.



Now the Performing Arts Center team is gearing up to support an exciting 2025–26 season that truly offers something for everyone. The lineup includes four Broadway touring productions, international dance companies, orchestras, theater, comedy, distinguished speakers and family-friendly events.



Cal Poly Arts will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a stellar season featuring more than 35 performances, including major names like Morgan Freeman, Patti LuPone, and The Book of Mormon. Tickets are on sale now at <a href="https://pacslo.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">pacslo.org</a>.



Strategic Business Services



This past June Strategic Business Services (SBS) closed out the year with the announcement from the Chancellor&#8217;s Office that Cal Poly’ procurement team was the top performing for Medium campus with $7.7 million in cost savings.



To go along with that amazing stat, the SBS team continued working in partnership with Facilities in support of the construction of student housing program.



They wrapped up 18 successful months since implementing CSUBUY on campus and in that time have established Cal Poly as a system leader.



Throughout this summer the Risk Management team has worked closely to help integrate processes and systems with the Cal Poly Solano Campus including implementing a Driver Safety Program.



University Housing



More than 8,900 new and returning students and their supporters begin arriving this week for Mustang Move-in.&nbsp; New students move in Sept. 11-12. Continuing students arrive Sept. 15-16. 



Housing is seeking volunteers and forming Mustang Welcome&nbsp;Teams to help welcome residents, guide them through their move&nbsp;and answer questions.&nbsp;Volunteers get $50 credit on their PolyCard for each&nbsp;shift&nbsp;worked and a welcome team t-shirt.



While preparations are in place to ensure a smooth experience, the campus community should expect significant traffic and parking impacts.&nbsp;<a href="https://afd.calpoly.edu/parking/parkingoncampus/visitingthecampus/events" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">View all event information on the Transportation and Parking Services webpage</a>&nbsp;for the least disruptive routes and&nbsp;parking. &nbsp;



On top of move-in, work continues on the Future Housing Project and the first modulars for Building A are anticipated to arrive in late fall. A viewing area is being prepared to enable the campus community to see the progress of construction. Cameras have also been set up on <a href="https://dash.evercam.io/v2/projects/whiti-pajdl/whiti-blnzw?is_left_sidebar_enabled=true&amp;is_app_bar_enabled=true&amp;is_camera_tabs_enabled=true&amp;is_clean_mode=false&amp;is_xray_active=false&amp;live=true">Truckee Road</a> and <a href="https://dash.evercam.io/v2/projects/whiti-pajdl/whiti-edrlg?is_left_sidebar_enabled=true&amp;is_app_bar_enabled=true&amp;is_camera_tabs_enabled=true&amp;is_clean_mode=false&amp;live=true&amp;is_xray_active=false">Klamath Road</a> to allow for viewing online.



Audit and Consulting Services



Audit and Consulting Services (ACS) continues to collaborate across campus and with the CSU Audit and Advisory Services team. Over the last year ACS has performed work related to the integration of Cal Poly Maritime Academy, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Cal Poly Partners Workday implementation and hired its first student assistant.



ACS has served as a liaison for various CSU led audits including, Faculty Assigned Time and Additional Employment, Construction (Building 19), Executive Travel and Hospitality and Accessible Technology Initiative, as well as many other data analytics and special engagements.



Going forward, ACS looks to continue building on its data analytics and artificial intelligence work to improve project performance and metrics tracking. ACS will also be presenting to management/leadership teams throughout all functional areas to communicate previous, current and future work, and to educate on the services ACS provides.



Financial Services



After nearly 20 years of service to Cal Poly, all in Financial Services, Dee Q. Louie retired this summer. Always prudent and thinking ahead, Louie notified his colleagues of his pending retirement two years ago! He did so to allow plenty of time to cross train each member of his team. Known for his institutional knowledge and deep understanding of accounting policies; his patience, kindness and thoughtfulness, Louie will be sorely missed by his coworkers.



Following that news, the other summer accomplishments pale in comparison.



The Financial Services team closed out the fiscal year for Legal financial reporting was – as always – a success.



Work to integrate the&nbsp;Cal Poly Solano Campus into the Financial Services processes and team meetings continued.



They kicked off annual physical inventory cycle, closed out COVID-19 FEMA claims, resulting in reimbursement of over $1 million and made progress on the 2023 and 2024 winter storm FEMA claims.



Operational Business Support



In support of the successful CSUBUY rollout, the Operational Business Support (OBS) team continued training on the new system. This included multiple CSU-wide trainings with thousands of attendees. &nbsp;&nbsp;



The A&amp;F Server Migration over the past couple of months has been a success. This work completed the migration of the Cross Departmental drive from physical and outdated servers to SharePoint.



Progress has been made in modernizing OBS workflows and forms. By increasing the utilization of AdobeSign and ImageNow, OBS is continuing to streamline workflow to support efficiency, organization and transparency of work processes.



ITS



This summer ITS has been hard at work on a campus-wide network upgrade. The Common Network Initiative (CNI) — is a CSU-funded project to upgrade network equipment in all state-owned buildings across campus. The upgrade will improve the campus community’s everyday experience online with faster speeds, more reliable connections and better support for all the devices. The new equipment will help make those activities smoother and more dependable.



As a result, speed and access to the entire campus wi-fi was improved by&nbsp;upgrading 5,400 wireless access points.&nbsp;



Throughout this process ITS was able to keep the wireless networks up and running 99.9% of the time during the last academic year.



On top of that heavy lift, the team also completed&nbsp;upgrades to 76&nbsp;classrooms, representing over $1.2 million in classroom investment.



Cal Poly Partners



Work continued on the Vista Meadows faculty and staff housing development this summer. The most significant activity has been the asphalt concrete paving and overlay on Grand Avenue. Rough grading is nearly complete, underground wet and dry utility installation is in progress, and the Allen block retaining wall phase is now underway. Final permits for house construction are anticipated in the fall.



Work to reimagine the student dining experience and bookstore operations at the Cal Poly Solano Campus made big strides over the summer. The Commercial Services team has been onsite throughout summer rebranding two dining venues and ensuring facilities were up ready for the return of students. The Marketing and Communications team has been busy updating and creating a new website for the Cal Maritime Corporation.

Cal Poly police officer hugs a colleague during a ceremony while a police K-9 wearing a vest lies on the floor chewing a toy.

Ten Updates from Ten Units, Summer Edition

At Cal Poly, we emphasize open, fair and inclusive procurement – ensuring that the best goods and services are purchased to meet campus needs. We actively partner with Small Businesses (SB) and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises (DVBE), as well as promote opportunities with other diverse businesses, including LGBTQ, minority and women owned.



Our Procurement Services team – a department within Strategic Business Services – carefully manages every purchase to support the university’s goals for quality, efficiency and sustainability.



Covering everything from facilities to housing and commencement to Swanton Pacific Ranch, the procurement team helps to support the university’s mission.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="480" src="https://insidecp.calpolypartners.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/974e0b3b45bbcf314a5c942100b7f5b97d7873b0-4000x1875-1-1024x480.jpg" alt="A green and gold graphic with the words PROCUREMENT SERVICES SPENT $27 million with local business AND ACHIEVED $24 million in cost savings" class="wp-image-3032" srcset="https://insidecp.calpolypartners.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/974e0b3b45bbcf314a5c942100b7f5b97d7873b0-4000x1875-1-1024x480.jpg 1024w, https://insidecp.calpolypartners.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/974e0b3b45bbcf314a5c942100b7f5b97d7873b0-4000x1875-1-300x141.jpg 300w, https://insidecp.calpolypartners.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/974e0b3b45bbcf314a5c942100b7f5b97d7873b0-4000x1875-1-768x360.jpg 768w, https://insidecp.calpolypartners.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/974e0b3b45bbcf314a5c942100b7f5b97d7873b0-4000x1875-1-1536x720.jpg 1536w, https://insidecp.calpolypartners.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/974e0b3b45bbcf314a5c942100b7f5b97d7873b0-4000x1875-1-2048x960.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Over the past year the procurement team managed $208 million in total spending, with $27 million of that spent with local SLO County businesses. And through it all, they achieved $24 million in cost savings.



To help give a better picture of the breadth of purchases that they make on an annual basis, the team put together a very short list of some of the supplies, equipment and odds and ends that they purchase and rent throughout the year.



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>475,200 rolls of bathroom tissue, made from 100% recycled paper.</li>



<li>12,960 rolls of hand towels, made from 100% recycled paper.</li>



<li>1,275 foam mattresses tested for both comfort and sustainability.</li>



<li>90,000 linear feet – roughly the length of 300 football fields – of fencing, between Cal Poly and Swanton Pacific Ranch.</li>



<li>325 portable toilets rented to support events like WOW and Commencement.</li>
</ul>



These numbers not only align with Cal Poly’s goals, but they also highlight the essential efforts that keep the university running smoothly. By aligning our procurement choices with our values, we ensure that every dollar spent contributes to the well-being of students, the campus and the surrounding community. For more information about our procurement system and partnership opportunities, visit the <a href="https://afd.calpoly.edu/procure-to-pay/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Procurement Services webpage</a>.

Modern building with pink flowers, lumber stacked, two people walking with coffee, text "BY THE NUMBERS.

By the Numbers: Doing Business with Cal Poly

The much-anticipated transition of Information Technology Services (ITS) into Administration and Finance (A&#038;F) is nearing the final stages of this journey.
With this shift, A&#038;F and ITS look forward to joining efforts in the pursuit of becoming a more service-oriented unit, with increased offerings and exceptional administrative support to the campus community.
Service was smooth throughout the transition and faculty and staff should continue to use their current ITS contact for support.
With the move also came a change in leadership as Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer Bill Britton was promoted to special assistant to the president. In his new role he will support campuswide efforts to expand corporate engagement, leveraging recent changes to the CSU policy on Commercial Endorsements.
A national search for a new chief information officer is underway. In the meantime, Alison Robinson will be serving as interim chief information officer. Alison will serve as a member of the A&#038;F Senior Leadership Team and will also be a member of the President&#8217;s Cabinet.

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ITS Joins Administration and Finance

Cal Poly Corporation recently closed on the purchase of a new off-campus building and has partnered with Gensler, a global architecture, design, and planning firm, to research the best use of the space.
The facility will enable the campus community to expand over the next decade in alignment with the 2035 Master Plan and will create the opportunity to increase classroom spaces in the university core.
Cal Poly Mustang Business Park at 4800 Morabito Place, offers 46,000 square feet of workspace over two stories as well as a 3,800 square foot video production studio that features a two-story tall green screen.
Originally built in 2013 as the home of Rosetta Marketing Group, the facility will offer staff several upgrades and benefits, including: free parking, technology upgrades, more flexibility with hoteling space and the ability to come and go, easy access to San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport, a full kitchen alongside large meeting and collaboration spaces.
Planning and programing work for the facility has been underway since last spring. A project working group has been formed and is tasked with creating a plan and pathway forward for the building to ensure that a thoughtful approach is taken, and every available avenue is researched.
Results of the 14-week study will be announced soon. The project completion date is estimated for early 2024.

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State of the Art Off-Campus Workspace Coming

In the ever-evolving landscape of higher education, universities like Cal Poly must manage a multitude of assets.
Risk Management protects assets such as physical infrastructure, people and our institution&#8217;s reputation. They also play a pivotal role in identifying, assessing and mitigating the risks that threaten these assets. They examine various aspects of university operations, identifying potential threats and vulnerabilities.
Whether assessing risks related to campus activities, safety protocols, or financial matters, their aim is to create a safer and more secure environment for everyone associated with Cal Poly. 
One of the key responsibilities of Risk Management is securing insurance coverage to protect the university and its community members.
Risk Management plays an active role in various events and programs such as the design village and logging competition, ensuring safety. They manage a wide range of insurance policies, including specialized ones such as aviation and rodeo policies, which are tailored to the unique risks faced by Cal Poly. Certain events or programs can require evidence of insurance from Cal Poly or the California State University (CSU) when organizing events or services. Risk Management ensures that these requirements are met.
Risk Management also oversees driver safety, an essential aspect of campus operations. They identify individuals driving for university business and in university vehicles, and provide training and additional safety measures.
Accident and incident reporting is another crucial function, not to be confused with workers&#8217; compensation, which falls under the purview of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS). Risk Management and EHS have a close partnership to collectively strategize and ensure the safety of all individuals on campus. Transparency and collaboration between these two entities are crucial for managing risks effectively.
A strategic initiative within Cal Poly&#8217;s Risk Management is to create the Youth Protection Program.
The CSU is in collaboration with the organization Praesidium, this program specializes in the protection of vulnerable populations with a focus on individuals under the age of 18 who come to the campus. The Risk Management team is taking proactive steps by building a Youth Protection Committee, comprising members from across the campus community. This committee will bring diverse perspectives to create solutions applicable to the entire university, especially in the context of youth-serving programs.
Risk Management at Cal Poly is more than just ensuring financial stability; it&#8217;s about protecting the university&#8217;s future, its reputation and the safety of all those connected to this vibrant academic community. Their proactive approach to risk assessment, insurance management and innovative programs like the Youth Protection Initiative demonstrates their commitment to creating a safer, more secure Cal Poly for all.

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Safeguarding Excellence: The Role of Risk Management at Cal Poly

Cal Poly Department of Emergency Management (DEM) shot to prominence in early 2020 as it quickly activated the campus Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and for more than two years helped guide the university through the COVID-19 Pandemic.



Under DEM’s leadership and guidance, Cal Poly developed over 170 COVID-19 Safety Plans, including for distributing face masks, implementing and coordinating isolation, providing vaccinations, maintaining surveillance testing sites and processing over 210,000 saliva surveillance tests with systems that were developed by Cal Poly faculty and staff.



Now, two years removed, the department continues its “All Hazards, All Phases” brand of Emergency Management by coordinating the university’s preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation efforts, with respect to disasters and other catastrophic events.



A department within Cal Poly Public Safety, DEM is led by Anthony Knight, the executive director of Public Safety and Emergency Management, and Emergency Services Managers Megan Harrington, Jennifer Marsano, and Dave Lee. Amongst their many responsibilities is working with campus divisions and units to develop and maintain Business Continuity Plans (BCPs) that ensure functions, systems and operations will resume following a catastrophic event.



As with any of DEM’s planning products, these BCPs are based on the university’s campus Hazards and Vulnerability Assessment and Business Impact Analysis and will integrate with exercise and improvement cycles, communication strategies, and training guidelines for campus.



In everyday terms the purpose for continuity planning is to develop a framework and strategies for coping with incidents, including how core critical functions could be maintained so operations and services can continue even while services may be disrupted.



This helps when a disaster does happen. The planning has already been done and processes are put into place so staff know what to do to mitigate disruptions and don’t have to create solutions in high-stress situations. This allows Cal Poly divisions and units to respond with a degree of autonomy and allows for another layer of emergency response and resiliency before the Cal Poly EOC is activated.



These plans consist of a directory of essential personnel and business contacts, a prioritized list of critical functions together with the essential staff, equipment and support activities identified for each function, lines of succession and delegations of authority, alternate operating facilities, procedures for safeguarding vital records, and testing and training exercises.



Under the second iteration of the university’s Business Continuity Planning campaign, DEM hopes to assist all Cal Poly divisions and units in building their respective plans. Ultimately, Cal Poly will have over 50 BCPs to serve all Community Members, making Cal Poly the safest campus within the California State University system.

Two emergency responders wearing red vests use phones while working at laptops in a busy office.

Ensuring Cal Poly Continues to Run During an Emergency

Justin Vastine has been a part of the Cal Poly community for more than seven years and has recently taken on the position of director of Operations for Administration and Finance.
Previously, he served as the director of Student Financial Services where he managed the Student Accounts office and University Cashier’s office. Vastine also worked in the retail management sector after receiving his bachelor’s degree from California State University, Long Beach and his MBA from California State University, Fullerton.
“Due to this, I often like to think of myself as a product of the CSU,” Vastine said.
With his connection to the CSU system, Vastine made a goal when he joined Cal Poly to visit all 23 CSUs. Currently, he has visited 17 of them.
During his time with SFS, Vastine said he enjoyed working with students by helping them understand and pay for their education. Now as the director of Operations, he is excited to get started.
“I am extremely excited to become the director of Operations to hopefully make a larger impact on Administration and Finance as a whole, and share with our Cal Poly community the great work that our division does on a daily basis,” Vastine said.
A goal of Vastine’s is to ensure that the community notices the reach of A&#038;F and that the division&#8217;s individual units understand how they impact student success. He is also excited to work on operational effectiveness throughout the division by assisting individual units to enhance their efficiency in serving the Cal Poly community.

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Tag: Administration and Finance