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

Inside Cal Poly

Did you know? In 2022-23, Mustang Shuttle completed almost 51,000 rides! Averaging 228 rides a day across both day and night, Mustang Shuttle is the preferred, safe and convenient way to travel on campus.



Mustang Shuttle is a free program powered by SLO Safe Ride and founded in partnership with ASI, University Housing, Cal Poly Partners and Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS). The shuttle is also an ADA-friendly bus, inclusive to all Cal Poly community members.



The daytime Mustang Shuttle runs five days a week, starting at 7 a.m. and ending at 6 p.m. It loops through campus every 30-45 minutes and makes seven stops.



The nighttime Mustang Shuttle runs seven days a week, starting at 6 p.m. and ending at 12:30 a.m. It loops through campus every 10 minutes, with service between 9-10 p.m. every 25 minutes, and making 10 stops.



Don’t miss a ride! Catching a ride is easy with the Mustang Shuttle app, which allows users to track the location of the daytime gold and nighttime green shuttles and see accurate arrival times.



<a href="https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/0x0suj08654ly6a43fzt3/1271-OTH-Mustang-Shuttle-Comms-2023-24-Final.pdf?rlkey=g7t48ov3pxesutqrifcxtw9gm&amp;dl=0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Take a look at this help infographic</a> to learn why Mustang Shuttle is the best way to get across campus. Then, <a href="https://afd.calpoly.edu/parking/safetyprograms/#mustang-shuttle" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">download the app for free</a> from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

Cal Poly Mustang Shuttle bus parked in front of a modern glass building with palm trees in the background.

Tracking Mustang Shuttle Ridership Success

With the growing popularity of electric scooters, skateboards, one wheels and other micro-mobility devices, has come increased safety concerns and complaints from Cal Poly community members about near collisions and close calls with pedestrians.
Did you know that skateboards, scooters, electric scooters, one wheels and similar micro-mobility devices are prohibited on campus? To help everyone get around campus safely and legally, we put together five tips to ensure you’re navigating campus safely.
1. Always wear a helmet 
It’s important to protect your most valuable asset, your head! The data on how well these polystyrene beauties protect you noggin is overwhelming. So, whether you call it a brain bucket or skid lid, let’s all call it a good idea to wear one whenever you’re riding around.
2. Go old school, and walk it 
Electric scooters, skateboards, one-wheel and other similar micro-mobility devices are not allowed on campus, which makes sense. The campus is on a hillside and there are roughly 20,000 people trying to get around this small city that we call Cal Poly. Instead opt for walking. On top of getting your steps in, walking allows you a moment to slow down, think and do other fun things like meeting new friends or taking in your surroundings.
3. Be on the lookout 
Make sure you always know your surroundings. If you’re solving the world’s problems with your BFF while walking to class be sure to look around and be alert of your surroundings in case anything out of the ordinary happens. And look both ways when using crosswalks. Which leads us into our next tip.
4. Use crosswalks 
When crossing the street, always use crosswalks. And always make sure traffic is slowing before fully committing to crossing.
5. Follow the signs 
Even when you’re on your bike or walking, you have to obey the signs. Stop at stop signs and slow down at yellow lights. Traffic signs are for everyone. Cal Poly is a busy place, and the road is shared with bicyclists, drivers, and pedestrians, all trying to get to their destination safely. 
Let’s all share the road and the responsibility of getting around safely.

Young man wearing "CAL POLY" sweatshirt and helmet riding a bike with a black crate on a sunny bike lane.

Five Tips on Getting Around Campus Safely

Transformation can unlock untapped potential, drive innovation and lead to improvements, efficiencies and successes. It often requires vision, determination and a willingness to embrace change, ultimately reshaping the way we think, act and interact with the world around us.



Cal Poly has witnessed several transformations throughout the years as the university has built a better and brighter future through development and expansion of campus initiatives that have opened doors for the broadest number of prospective students and employees.



This transformative work led to Cal Poly being recognized by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education for our dedicated efforts to teach about climate change, being named one of the top 10 campuses in the CSU for Financial Statements, and earning a 16th Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award.&nbsp;Not to mention our Distribution Services team being named Mail Center of the Year, and Mark Reyes being honored with the Outstanding Staff Member Award by the National Association of College and University Mail Services.



Transformation is all around us, but we might not always know it.&nbsp;In a series of testimonials from each unit, we hope to capture the transformative work happening throughout the division. First, we will hear from David Valadez on some impactful changes in Financial Services.



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With a seemingly small change, such as making a financial analyst meeting more accessible, David and his team structurally transformed how people on campus get connected to financial information, how this information is disseminated and as a result has increased our financial transparency.



This transformation is what will keep Cal Poly at the forefront and ahead of changes and disruptions such as market shifts, technological advances and changing student expectations. The university will need to continue to adopt new strategies, concepts and pedagogies to meet the changing needs of society to create environments that are cohesive and adaptable.



To increase access to the arts, the Performing Arts Center became a certified Sensory Inclusive venue with KultureCity.&nbsp;With this certification, the PAC is now better prepared to assist guests with sensory sensitivities, often experienced by individuals with autism, dementia, PTSD, and other similar conditions, in having the most comfortable and accommodating experience possible.



This certification recognizes our commitment to being a welcoming space for everyone to enjoy the arts.



Last year, Public Safety launched several new programs to help increase transparency and trust through the Public Safety Advisory Committee, convenience with Mustang Shuttle daytime routes, and general safety with the Rave Guardian app.



Improving the student experience is the primary focus behind everything that we do, and Financial Services made huge strides this past year in doing just that. By integrating student payments for 529 accounts and international payments, the team was able to improve the students’ ability to make payments quickly and easily to their student account.



While these changes created more efficient processes for students and their supporters, we are also focused on improving work processes for staff and faculty.&nbsp;Cal Poly will transition to CSUBUY in early 2024. This CSU-systemwide program will simplify the procure to pay system with a straightforward way to purchase goods and services and covers every step from requisition to payment.



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This is very exciting, and the procurement team has been working very hard on the implementation.



The list of these transformative changes goes on.



To enhance the student and employee experience, Campus Dining expanded its partnership with Chartwells Higher Education, gaining resources, expertise, and financial support in line with the Cal Poly Master Plan.



We&#8217;ve made diversity, equity, and inclusion a top priority, with division-wide diversity action plans.



We&#8217;ve also expanded Feed Cal Poly to address on-campus basic needs, inviting donations to the Cal Poly Basic Needs Initiative.



These efforts have structurally, programmatically, and philosophically transformed our campus, fostering a better student experience. We&#8217;re committed to ongoing transformations into the 2023-24 academic year.

Students walking near bike racks, dancers in colorful traditional clothes, a woman painting, modern interior of a building.

Power of Transformation

Cal Poly has broken ground on a 16,200-square-foot expansion of the Technology Park to provide additional space to engage with industry and other partners in support of student success and to meet local workforce and innovation needs. 
This project will expand on the existing Technology Park facility with the construction of a new two story building adjacent to the existing Mount Bishop Road complex. The new addition includes a mix of fully finished offices and spaces ready for custom tenant improvements. 
To help the university move forward in meeting its sustainability goals, the new facility is being built to Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) Silver certification standards. 
The new facility will create avenues to increase collaboration between the university and industry and make it easier for park tenants to draw from the expertise of faculty and students. The expansion will also provide space for faculty startups and opportunities for students to engage in sponsored research and development activities with companies that reside in the Tech Park. 
The expanded park will increase the space available to Cal Poly industry partners, further aligning the university’s mission of student success with the industry’s workforce and innovation needs. Cal Poly’s industry partners will be able to leverage specialized infrastructure and laboratories and develop lasting relationships with the future workforce. 
To reflect the Cal Poly student body degree paths, the Tech Park focuses on attracting businesses and startups in the public health, cybersecurity, agriculture and biotechnology and software industries. 
The new Technology Park building is scheduled to open in August 2024.

Construction site with soil compactor, dirt piles, fencing, trees, and buildings in the background.

Technology Park Expansion

No one has a better food recommendation than Michelle Sardina. Joy lights up her face as she speaks about all the different types of cuisines she enjoys. If you have a craving, she has a place in mind for you to try.



Starting at Cal Poly in 2014, Sardina has worked in multiple departments across campus including University Housing and now in Procurement Services. She started as an administrative support assistant and now works under the job title, Buyer II. It’s obvious through her smile that she absolutely enjoys her work.



A native of the Philippines, Sardina and her family made the trip west over a decade ago. Leaving her Civil Engineering career, she has found her home here at Cal Poly.



Michelle recently pulled up a seat and took some time to talk about life and that things that bring her joy.



Q: What is the most important lesson life has taught you?



A:&nbsp;Everything is temporary, even hardships. Coming here was hard, it was a major life change. Not a lot of opportunities during the recession when I moved. At times something feels like the end of the world, but it&#8217;s all temporary.



Q: What do you do when you are not at work?



A:&nbsp;I have three kids, so they keep me busy. My daughter moved out, and my son attends UCSB. I have one left at home in high school. My husband and I try do things with the kids. Family is important to me, so I like to make time for them.



Q: Do you have any hobbies?



A:&nbsp;I crochet, I make baskets and right now I’m working on a table runner. I like to create things with a function, I don’t want something that just takes up space. I also like zentangle art, coloring is very relaxing.



Q: What is your favorite animal? Why?



A:&nbsp;Dogs. I’ve never had a pet before. However, now I have a dog named Mochi. Mochi is a Maltese shih Zu mix. She was my kids’ but, I take care of her.



Q: What did you want to be when you grow up?



A:&nbsp;I thought I wanted to be a lawyer. I was enrolled in philosophy and law until my mom changed my courses. She worked at the university and because I was good at math, she enrolled me into engineering courses. So, I am a licensed civil engineer thanks to her. Turns out that I loved it and I even am thinking about converting my degree through the grad school at Cal Poly.



Q: What’s your favorite food?



A:&nbsp;Pasta, I love eating pasta especially at this restaurant in Los Angeles. It’s called Uovo, and I like driving down there for my birthday.

Woman in a yellow and blue patterned shirt sitting in an office chair by a desk with a computer and plants.

We Asked, Michelle Sardina Answered.

The Dan Lassanske Memorial Rose Garden is being relocated from its spot just north of Alex G. Spanos Stadium to a new home to make room for a future stadium project. To help preserve the rose garden’s character and maintain the peaceful nature and intimacy of its setting, Facilities Management and Development has been working with SWA landscape architects on three possible locations in the O’Neil Green area for their new home. In the meantime, the roses have been repotted and are currently residing in a greenhouse.

Wooden sign on black metal gate reads "Dan Lassanske Rose Garden 2019" with garden path and roses visible behind.

Dan Lassanske Memorial Rose Garden Relocation

In any given year Distribution Services receives more than 200,000 packages, not including letter mail, and ensures that every item is delivered to the correct student.



At the same time, Distribution Services staff moves roughly 50,000 packages to specific departments throughout Cal Poly.



Behind all the work — the receiving, sorting and staging, the driving or walking to deliver packages in a timely and accurate manner — is a team of professionals who take great pride in their role on campus.



Distribution Services is comprised of nine full-time staff, supported by two student employees, who work at University Surplus, and about 25 student staff in mail centers in campus resident halls. The team is headed by Distribution Services Manager Scott Coffman. Departmental Operations is run by Tina Creel, Dave Pimentel, Mark Reyes, Andrew Eto and Dan D’Entremont. Supervisor Greg Hinchman leads Greg Llamas and Marcus Armstrong in Residential Operations.



The team was recognized by the University Logistics and Supply Chain Association in 2020 for the multi-phase reimagining for the residence hall distribution apparatus. This included the opening of Pacheco Post, implementing package lockers, virtual mailbox technology and adopting a hub-and-spoke model of carrier delivery. Team members made these improvements during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing their hard work in even the most difficult of times.



In addition, last year Distribution Services started a summer storage program to create a convenient way for current student residents to store items over the summer in a distribution facility for a fee. Then, before fall move-in, the team moved the stored items into residents’ new rooms.



To further enhance the student experience, the team began a ship-to-room service, designed to help new incoming students with a large amount of items during fall move in. This service allows new students to ship their items to Cal Poly before their move-in date, and the Distribution Services team places them in the students’ new residence.



In addition to their services, Distribution Services has recently become the home of the University Surplus, which is responsible for the end-life of university-owned items, including the resale, reuse, repurpose and recycling of such items. Coordinated by Steve Conroy, University Surplus picks up items that are no longer needed from departments, such as furniture or computers, and facilitates pickups with customers who have purchased surplus items. 
Their efforts to help the campus community with complex situations are continuous. During fall quarter, Mark Reyes, who works in the warehouse, spearheaded an effort to assist the Cal Poly Food Pantry in moving donated food from a store to the pantry during the holiday season. With the support of his coworkers, he has continued to help with other pickups this quarter.



To learn more about Distribution Services, visit its <a href="https://afd.calpoly.edu/distribution/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">website.</a>

Group of nine people smiling in a warehouse, one holding a ULSCA award trophy. Many wear Cal Poly branded clothing.

Distribution Services Delivers Quality Work

Words and photo by Lily Rivas



Starting Sept. 15, we begin our celebration of Latinx Heritage Month. This month is dedicated to the contributions and influence of Latinx Americans to the history, achievements and culture of the United States. Latinx Heritage Month first began under President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968 and was known as Hispanic Heritage Week. The month was then expanded by Ronald Reagan to span 30 days, starting on Sept. 15 and concluding on Oct. 15.



To some, it might seem odd to start and finish this celebration in the middle of two months instead of during one consecutive month. However, Sept 15 is a significant date as it is the anniversary of the independence for Latin American countries Guatemala, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua. Hispanic Heritage Month is now recognized as Latinx Heritage Month to represent the all the identities of different Latinx Americans. Latinx includes non-binary, gender non-conforming and gender-expansive people.



Here at Cal Poly, we celebrate the diversity and achievements of our students who come from all backgrounds. This is no different for our Latinx students, faculty and staff. On campus we can express our culture and strengthen our community through various clubs and organizations.



“I appreciate all the ways that Cal Poly tries to make their students feel seen and heard,” second-year English student Bili Chavez said. “It’s nice knowing that the school cares for its students and want to give us as many resources as possible This past year I have used the Multicultural Center on campus, and I really can’t wait for the Latinx Center to open.”



Student Diversity &amp; Belonging (SDAB), a collective of campus resource centers within Student Affairs, will be holding various events across campus during this month. SDAB will host their annual Fall Welcome on Sept. 29, which includes a free meal, music, information about resources, and an opportunity for Mustangs to interact with their community. The department looks forward to hosting several more events such as a virtual cooking night.



Another significant event happening on campus this Fall is the grand opening of Cal Poly’s Latinx Center. This new addition to the campus will provide a space that will engage in intentional and intersectional advancements to celebrate culture while supporting and empowering Latinx students. The hope of this center is to strengthen the community at Cal Poly



“It brings me great joy to announce the establishment of the Latinx Center on our campus,” Vice President for Student Affairs Keith Humphrey said. “This center will serve as a place for students to build community and lifelong bonds and participate in cultural traditions and learning that expand their personal and professional development.”



When open, the Latinx Center will host a range of programs during Latinx Heritage Month, including the State of Latinx each Fall. The center plans to engage in critical dialogue with panel and speaker series throughout the year that are rooted in the diverse needs and experiences of Latinx students. These educational programs will help spread awareness and knowledge about the Latinx student experiences. Cal Poly welcomes its continual growth toward becoming a Latinx serving institution.



What it means to be Latinx can be many different things to any individual. For some, it’s all about the food. The rich flavors and spices in dishes that have been passed down for centuries since the Aztecs and the Mayans, instills many memories for Latinx individuals. For others, it might be the bold and lively colors from the textiles or embroidery that we wear. The language, the music, and the dances can also be thought of. At the end of the day, Latinx for many people is about family. Family is at the center of our culture, and it is thanks to our ancestors who passed down our customs, traditions and values.



“Being Latina means resilience, strength and celebration,” third-year architecture student Sarah Mojica said.&nbsp;“It means being apart a legacy of people who fought for their rights, the conservation of their culture and families. It’s a constant reminder of who I am and where I am from. Being Latina empowers me to be bold and brave and to honor those trailblazers before me. Being Latina means joy, liveliness and color. It means music streaming from my windows, aromas of food ascending from the kitchen and laughter filling up any room. Being Latina inspires me to strive for more and to be brave in any endeavor I choose to take.”



What it means to be Latinx is not about one individual aspect, it is a culture derived of so many different parts. People might think of certain things like food, family and traditions. Now while all this is important, we cannot simplify the Latinx identity or culture. Being Latina for me is not something I say or think of lightly. It is who I am and represents where I come from. Being Latina is not something I can turn off and on, my identity is so pervasive in my everyday life that it affects the way I speak, what I eat and how I interact with the world around me. I love Latinx Heritage Month because I feel that my culture and my people are recognized. I appreciate Cal Poly because here I know that Latinx students belong.



Lily Rivas is a communication studies third year, resident advisor in yakʔitʸutʸu and communications assistant in the Cal Poly Corporation Marketing and Communication office.

Five people sitting at an outdoor table with drinks under a large umbrella, with food trucks and others in background.

Latinx Heritage Month, and What Being Latina Means to Me

One of the most underrated superfoods has to be the humble tomato. Mixed into salsa, thrown into salad, or poured into pasta sauce, tomatoes tend to fly under the radar when used in different meals. However, this superfood holds incredible health properties you won’t want to miss out on.



While most people think of it as a vegetable, tomatoes are actually categorized as fruits. These fruits contain high levels of beta-carotene, an antioxidant that supports the immune system and helps maintain healthy skin and tissue lining. One medium-size tomato contains 50% of the recommended daily dose of vitamin C and no saturated fats!



The pigment that gives them their deep red color is called lycopene. This antioxidant attacks radicals which, if allowed to build up, can cause cell damage and trigger cancer. The amount of lycopene in a tomato varies according to the variety, but the deep red tomatoes are the best- they contain 50 mg of lycopene per kilogram. Cooking the tomatoes can help concentrate the lycopene.



Tomatoes also contribute to a healthy heart. The high vitamin C levels enable oxygen to be transported around the body and to the heart more efficiently. The highest concentration of vitamin C is found in the jelly-like coating around the seeds so shy away from scrapping them out when cooking.



Tomatoes are one of the easiest and most rewarding fruit to grow in your garden. However, if you’re like most people who grow tomatoes, you know the struggle of having waaayyyyyy too many tomatoes on your hands. Not to worry, here are 28 things to do with too many tomatoes:



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Red tomatoes scattered around the text "Healthy from my head tomatoes" and "August Superfood" on a white background.

Tag: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo