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

Inside Cal Poly

Fleet Services continues to make headway on strategic goals all while helping to make campus more sustainable and efficient.



In the past three years the team’s biggest impact has been the transition to electric. In that time more than 100 internal combustion vehicles have been replaced by electric. This year, Fleet Services hopes to convert at least 50 more.



“These vehicles will be newer and therefore more reliable, and will require less maintenance and upkeep, so the cost per hour and per mile will be lower,” Fleet Manager of Facilities Management and Development Adolfo Siqueiros said. “This will be a concrete example to our students that we’re being proactive with the way we think about our assets, in this case, vehicles.”



Cal Poly has the largest fleet in the CSU, almost double the size of the next campus. Fleet Services’ strategic objectives include fleet centralization, analyzing vehicle utilization, reducing the age of the fleet, and focusing on sustainability by reducing the campus’ carbon footprint. Over 200 of Cal Poly vehicles are electric, with more on the way.



On the efficiency front, Fleet Services is deploying a fleet management software package.



Fleetio will facilitate and automate the maintenance and inspection process, vehicle cost, utilization, financial reporting and communication to the different shareholders of our vehicles, and much more. There hasn’t been this type of automation at Cal Poly until now.



The Fleetio app will be available to everyone who has a campus vehicle. The driver can use the app to make appointments. An email will be sent out about what services are due, if there is a breakdown, or if a golf cart has a low battery or a flat tire, for example. All one has to do is get on the app, and the message will go directly to Fleet Services.



You can <a href="https://www.fleetio.com/go" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">download the Fleetio app</a> from the Apple Store or Google Play.

All Things New with Fleet Services

Central to Cal Poly is the well-known “Learn by Doing” philosophy that allows students to acquire knowledge and skills through active engagement and self-reflection in the classroom, lab and in the field. Such a hands-on learning environment can produce a lot of student success but also requires a great deal of safety and precaution.



Enter&nbsp;<a href="https://afd.calpoly.edu/ehs/">Environmental Health and Safety</a>&nbsp;(EHS). This specialized group works hard to create a safe and healthful workplace so that faculty members can provide an environment for students to learn interactively. Alas, constructing such a dynamic and knowledgeable department is not so easy. With time and dedication from leaders like David Korpan, the director of EHS, the department was able to hire new specialists that will bring their unique expertise to the Cal Poly campus.



Industrial Hygiene Program specialist Aubrey Arain, pictured above comes to us all the way from Kalamazoo, Michigan where she previously worked at Oakland University. Arain specializes in occupational health and will be focusing on industrial hygiene programs including laboratory safety, chemical safety, hearing conservation, radiation safety, ergonomics, and biohazard safety. She is looking forward to serving Cal Poly’s wonderful community and is excited about the amazing hiking opportunities in the SLO area!



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://cdn.sanity.io/images/vm929t16/production/fea80c0868fb9ab8262301d99ec8201532788cbd-250x329.jpg?w=675&amp;h=888&amp;fit=crop" alt="Melonee Cruse - Safety Specialist"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Melonee Cruse &#8211; Safety Specialist</figcaption></figure>



Safety Specialist Melonee Cruse joined the team during the pandemic. An expert in university safety with a focus is on fall protection, control of hazardous energy and confined space. She’s responsible for compliance with OSHA safety programs and conducting reviews and audits of university construction sites. Other OSHA programs she oversees include forklift safety, hot work permits, heat illness, laser safety and construction safety. Cruse previously worked at Mt. San Antonio College, Harvey Mudd College and USC.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://cdn.sanity.io/images/vm929t16/production/c34005f3975310e75ffa67313ac6bac84c2a582b-250x349.jpg?w=675&amp;h=942&amp;fit=crop" alt="Erin Winett - Environmental Protection Program Specialist"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Erin Winett &#8211; Environmental Protection Program Specialist</figcaption></figure>



Erin Winett previously lived in Southern California but just moved to SLO to be near family and enjoy the Central Coast. She recently joined EHS as the Environmental Protection Program specialist in which she supports the university’s Environmental Compliance Programs related to hazardous waste, wastewater discharges and air emissions. Prior to her role at Cal Poly, Winett worked for HTS Environmental Services/Triumvirate Environmental Services, as an EHS director for their California locations. She is excited for the new challenges and opportunities that working at a university will produce.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://cdn.sanity.io/images/vm929t16/production/35038a592a857a1fafb3228ddeb5336fbdb9501e-250x341.jpg?w=675&amp;h=921&amp;fit=crop" alt="Mike Landvog - Fire Safety Specialist"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mike Landvog &#8211; Fire Safety Specialist</figcaption></figure>



Mike Landvogt joined EHS in February as the university’s fire safety specialist. He lives in Santa Maria and previously worked at UC Santa Barbara as the campus deputy fire marshal. He will work on fire prevention activities, including the testing and repair of the campus fire alarms and sprinkler systems, implementing fire code requirements administered by the Office of the State Fire Marshal, and conducting fire drills.



These new staff members will work to create and develop written Environmental Health and Safety Programs to help the campus community be more aware of hazards and safety precautions. These programs will provide the necessary tools and information to operate safely in the workplace or classroom. Each program will also have metrics that can easily be collected and understood to help identify problems and risks.



EHS ultimately strives to offer collaborative customer service that in turn can help the campus achieve its goals. With these new staff and developed programs safety will become easier and more digestible for everyone.

New Staff Increase EHS Offerings

October is finally upon us which means that it is officially sustainability month! What better way to kick off the month than with a little introduction into all thing’s sustainability and recycling on campus?



Cal Poly is constantly working towards being a “Zero Waste” university. This means minimizing waste, reducing consumption, and ensuring that products are made to be reused or recycled. This requires effort from each and every member of the campus community.



You don’t have to be an expert in sustainability practices to get started. In fact, there are a few ways that you can improve your habits quickly and effectively.



The Refuse, Reuse, Recycle (RRR) campaign is an easy, free and accessible training created to teach students, staff and faculty how to recycle and compost on campus properly. The training consists of a video series, interactive flash cards and a club that students will soon be able to join to further support recycling initiatives. You can access this training&nbsp;<a href="https://sway.office.com/cyuAuFFZNMWxYhqn?ref=Link">here</a>.



Cal Poly also has a Zero Waste Ambassadors program which brings like-minded student volunteers to campus events to help peers recycle and compost the correct way. These ambassadors work towards zero waste efforts by hosting tablings to educate students, improving signage that promotes sustainable practices, and coming up with new innovative initiatives like CP thrift.



While you’re at it, make sure to look out for the CalRecycle grant campaign “<a href="https://inside.calpoly.edu/sustainability-to-launch-recycling-campaign/">Recycling – It’s time well spent!”</a>. This campaign highlights the amount of time recycling saves in terms of breaking down waste which can take hundreds of years to decompose. This campaign will be highly active during Sustainability Month where the team will be hosting info sessions and contests.



Lastly, in honor of sustainability month, Green Campus is hosting many events to promote sustainability efforts on campus. A few of these events include a garden workday from Campus Health and Wellbeing and the University Honors Program on Oct. 16, a clothing and goods swap on Oct. 19, a Surfrider Voice Above Water screening, and more. Register and learn more about these events&nbsp;here.

Sustainability Month Happenings on Campus

Some of Cal Poly’s core values include promoting sustainable practices, ensuring the student “Learn by Doing” experience and constantly looking for opportunities that will benefit the entire campus community. Cal Poly recently joined the new Fleet Partnership Program, a California State University (CSU) system-wide plan that aligns directly with all three of these values. As this new partnership rolls out, the university will reap many different benefits.



The university fleet includes all Cal Poly vehicles from university police cars to lawnmowers. Cal Poly relies on a vast range of vehicles for general campus maintenance, delivering goods, taking care of university animals, supporting the Cal Poly Police Department, and more. The CSU system-wide Fleet Partnership Program works to partner with a manufacturing company in order to provide fleet for all universities at a lower cost with additional added benefits.



According to Lead Procurement Specialist Ashley Sangster, this partnership started as one that would allow universities to purchase fleet vehicles in a cost-effective manner with extra benefits such as extended warranties and discounted machine parts. As the program developed it became deeper with many added sustainability perks. Cal Poly is looking into working with a manufacturer whose sustainability beliefs and values align with the university’s. This will include purchasing a fleet with recyclable content and vehicles that are electric to reduce fuel emissions. This partnership will be beneficial long-term as the university will reduce its overall carbon footprint.



Maintaining a partnership with these manufacturers will also promote the hands-on “Learn by Doing” experience made available to Cal Poly students. It is likely that the chosen manufacturer will offer internships to students who are interested in the industry according to Sangster. Cal Poly students will get to work first-hand with the manufacturing company to enhance their skills. The Fleet Partnership Program will also make scholarships available to different academic departments in order to invest in student success. This relationship between Cal Poly and the manufacturing company will be mutually beneficial as the company will get to build a talent pipeline of talented Cal Poly students for future career opportunities.



This fleet partnership will also work to benefit veterans, provide scholarship opportunities to athletic departments, and allow for vehicle demonstrations so that the campus community can become more acquainted with the fleet.



A partnership program like this one is amongst the first of its kind within higher education. It is far reaching to all different sectors of the Cal Poly community and will foster a relationship that will last quite a while at Cal Poly. Keep an eye out for the reveal of this manufacturing company to learn more about the how it will work with the CSU Systemwide Fleet Partnership Program.

Cal Poly joins the CSU Systemwide Fleet Partnership Program

Mark your calendars mustangs! April 22 is “Earth Day” and Cal Poly will be celebrating. For over 50 years Earth Day has taken place to recognize our planet’s beauty and the importance of protecting it. The holiday serves as a reminder to practice clean and sustainable living.



Sustainability is at the forefront of Cal Poly’s values and is held in the highest regard. The university is an&nbsp;<a href="https://afd.calpoly.edu/sustainability/">award-winning</a>&nbsp;leader in sustainable practices as each campus operation is centered around how to make best use of the available resources. All campus planning considers specific guidelines, principles and policies that work towards achieving different sustainability goals.



To kick off the celebration, Campus Dining will be putting on a special dining event with the theme, “<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/881957119320238">Reuse to Restore</a>” that includes a plant-based menu, sustainable cutlery and an earth-friendly dessert. Starting at 11 a.m. and going until 2 p.m. on April 22, campus community members can head down to the outdoor patio at the Vista Grande Dining Complex to check out vendors such as Vitco Produce, CP Farms and Restore Foodware. There will also be a superfood tasting table with trivia and prizes as well as waste sorting demonstrations to spread good, environmentally friendly habits. Not to mention you can pick up your own free giveaways and enter a raffle!



The&nbsp;<a href="https://afd.calpoly.edu/sustainability/student/green-campus">Cal Poly Green Campus Team</a>&nbsp;will also take part in Earth Day through a&nbsp;<a href="https://afd.calpoly.edu/sustainability/student/green-campus">virtual campaign</a>. This will include posting a cohesive list of the many ways everyone can participate in environmental activism each day of Earth Week. The Green Campus Team&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/cpgreencampus/">Facebook</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/cpgreencampus/?hl=en">Instagram</a>&nbsp;accounts will also promote the events that all sustainability clubs are putting on during Earth Week. The theme of this campaign is “Start where you are” to encourage students to practice environmentalism from wherever they are during the week. There will be yet another opportunity for students to be entered into a raffle if they participate in any environmental activism action items from the comprehensive list or attend a club event. The prizes are all donated by local, sustainable businesses!



Please come join us for some good food, trivia and fun prizes this Earth Day!

Earth Day Celebration at Cal Poly

Join students, faculty and staff in a celebration of the planet during this year’s Earth Week festivities. Hosted by&nbsp;<a href="https://afd.calpoly.edu/sustainability/">Cal Poly’s Energy, Utilities and Sustainability Department</a>, this week will allow participants to network with sustainability professionals, try new foods and learn the best ways to protect the planet.



Below is a timeline of each Cal Poly event. See if you can make them all!



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Careers in Sustainability</h2>



Tuesday, April 23, Chumash Left (Building 65, Room 204), 11 a.m. — 1 p.m.



Attend a panel and networking session to learn firsthand about potential careers in sustainability. Hear from the following panelists:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Jeff Mathieu, senior vice president of <a href="http://www.tetratech.com/">Tetra Tech, Inc</a>.</li>



<li>Kaila Dettman, executive director of <a href="https://lcslo.org/">The Land Conservancy, SLO</a></li>



<li>Alex Henige, CEO of <a href="https://www.restorationpackaging.com/">Reduce. Reuse. Grow. Inc.</a></li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Sustainable Innovations: Create Your Own Cleantech Startup</h2>



Tuesday, April 23, University Union 220, 7 p.m. — 9 p.m.



Don’t miss a night of networking and hearing from panel experts on cleantech startups. Attendees will not only meet with pros, but also learn how to utilize campus resources and secure project funding.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sustainable-innovations-create-your-own-cleantech-startup-tickets-59923738515">Reserve your ticket here</a>&nbsp;to connect with representatives from startups including:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://boltabout.com/">BoltAbout</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.flumetech.com/">Flume</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.getneocharge.com/">NeoCharge</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.restorationpackaging.com/">Restoration Packaging</a></li>



<li><a href="https://fracsun.com/products">Fracsun</a></li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Solar Farm Tour</h2>



Wednesday, April 24, Cal Poly Solar Farm, 10 a.m. — 12 p.m.



Head out to the site of the new 18.5-acre solar farm with Cal Poly’s director of energy, utilities and sustainability for a tour and informational session.&nbsp;<a href="https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=2wING578lUSVNx03nMoq5-ccdYkiqABMjCRGanEkrJVUMkZJVkgxTE5RS0lMMTFUR1g3SjVJWVFMWC4u&amp;fbclid=IwAR2h77tHn0jSUvuQQlOVKa_NdR4hTEOYC_KA5TWeY1THgtwdBqj92R4T1fw">RSVP to save space in the van</a>, as seating is limited. Meeting location details will be emailed the day before the tour.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Stop Food Waste Day</h2>



Wednesday, April 24, by Chef’s Table, 11 a.m. — 1 p.m.



Drop in on the Cal Poly Corporation’s booth to raise awareness of Stop Food Waste Day. Learn about how to reduce your food waste, get info on resources and win some prizes.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Surfrider’s Make Waves Film Fest</h2>



Wednesday, April 24, Building 7 (Advanced Technology Labs) Room 2, 6 p.m. — 9 p.m.



The Cal Poly Surfrider Club is hosting a film festival to highlight appreciating the outdoors, connecting to the natural world and inspiring others to protect the planet for future generations.&nbsp;<a href="http://bit.ly/makewavestickets">Reserve a donation-based ticket</a>&nbsp;for food, live music, raffle prizes, t-shirts, stickers, art and student-made films. All proceeds will benefit Surfrider programs:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.surfrider.org/blue-water-task-force/chapter/34">Blue Water Task Force</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.surfrider.org/programs/ocean-friendly-restaurants">Ocean Friendly Restaurants</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.surfrider.org/programs/rise-above-plastics">Rise Above Plastics</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.surfrider.org/initiatives/coastal-preservation">Coastal Preservations</a></li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Cal Poly Earth Week Festival</h2>



Thursday, April 25, Dexter Lawn, 10 a.m. — 2 p.m.



Join over 30 clubs and organizations from Cal Poly and the San Luis Obispo community&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/656243164835521/">to promote environmental sustainability</a>. Bliss Cafe, ECOSLO, Zero Waste Club and many more will provide food, swag and a time to celebrate the earth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Future of Food with Real Food Collaborative</h2>



Thursday, April 25, University Union 220, 7:00 p.m. — 9 p.m.



The Real Food Collaborative will&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/305497437045493/">host a community potluck</a>&nbsp;while screening the documentary, “The Need to Grow.” Bring plant-based goodies to share to ensure there is enough food for all.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">SLO Earth Day Festival</h2>



Saturday, April 27, Laguna Lake Park, 11 a.m. — 5 p.m.



The&nbsp;<a href="http://earthdayalliance.com/earth-day-2019/?fbclid=IwAR3dl32eRZ77Sx8KQhPAhe-0vxZaP-1JguJYE4nAkAjF1iRQg1jShms0H9U">Earth Day Alliance</a>&nbsp;will host its 29th annual San Luis Obispo County Earth Day Fair &amp; Music Festival, a day full of environmental education and fun. The festival intends to bring the community together, present environmental concerns, offer solutions and inspire action. Learn from dozens of nonprofits, businesses, government agencies and students clubs as they share their causes. Enjoy food and beverages from Beda’s Biergarten and Bliss Cafe. Admission is free to all and kids are welcome. Visit any one of the festival features:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Kid’s Zone</li>



<li>Green Car Show</li>



<li>Eco Market Place</li>



<li>Health Center</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Climate Solution Series Kickoff Celebration</h2>



Tuesday, April 30, SLO Brew, 5:30 p.m. — 8:30 p.m.



The SLO Climate Coalition is bringing together community leaders and non-profit organizations in an effort to achieve community-wide carbon neutrality by 2035. Join other participants for a fun evening of prizes and climate solutions. Network with some of the leaders in our community:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>City of San Luis Obispo Mayor Heidi Harmon</li>



<li>SLO Chamber of Commerce CEO Jim Dantona</li>



<li>Cal Poly Energy, Utilities and Sustainability Director Dennis Elliot</li>
</ul>



Questions? Contact Sustainability Coordinator Kylee Singh at klsingh@calpoly.edu. You can also&nbsp;<a href="https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/2763161/false?fbclid=IwAR2dCsQrCxeRlvEvsf6lgSv7tz8jHVE2k_z79DgtCWloatkyyIRVLYzxj5M#/invitation">volunteer to help make Earth Week a reality by signing up for a shift</a>.

Your One-Stop Guide to Earth Week 2019

There’s no better way to top off a Crunch Wrap Supreme than with a few packets of your favorite signature hot sauce. At least, that’s what you’d think — until you pick up 15 empty packets of it littering your local creeks.



This very thought crossed the minds of 15 student volunteers during this year’s Creek Cleanup Day, an annual event organized by Cal Poly Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) dedicated to removing litter from four creeks near campus.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://cdn.sanity.io/images/vm929t16/production/67e6def4fd93fef06efca74f118c44943bc91163-800x600.jpg?w=675&amp;h=506&amp;fit=crop" alt="Creek Clean Up Table"/></figure>



On Sept. 29, volunteers got their hands dirty scouring litter hot spots near Stenner Glenn, Highland Tunnel, East Creek Road and Poly Canyon Village. After three hours of hard work, they filled their orange buckets with a whopping 40 pounds of trash, including 15 pounds of recyclable material.



The goal of this event is not only to stop harmful debris from entering the local watershed, which ultimately empties into the Pacific Ocean. It is also to raise awareness for the main products being discarded — some of which came as a surprise.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://cdn.sanity.io/images/vm929t16/production/886d0f261c2d08b245d27448507aace3114be9ab-800x360.jpg?w=675&amp;h=304&amp;fit=crop" alt="Creek Clean Up Chart"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Recorded number of each litter item collected.</figcaption></figure>



Students discovered high quantities of common litter items, such as plastic wrappers and cigarette butts, as well as uncommon items, like Taco Bell hot sauce packets and Jamba Juice cups. The group picked up a total of 300 pieces of trash, which equates to about 20 pieces per volunteer.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://cdn.sanity.io/images/vm929t16/production/2aad35d01239e8913862eb0af3caa01cb6f47845-800x1067.jpg?w=675&amp;h=900&amp;fit=crop" alt="Student volunteers search local creeks for trash and debris."/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Student volunteers search local creeks for trash and debris.</figcaption></figure>



Keeping the creeks clean might seem like hard work, but in reality, it’s pretty simple. Next time you dive into a late night Taco Bell feast, just make sure your mild, hot AND diablo sauce packets make it into the nearest trash can (rather than the Pacific Ocean).



Missed out on all the fun clean-up? Don’t worry — EHS is already gearing up for next year’s cleanup. To get in on the action, mark your calendar for Sept. 28, 2019, from 10 a.m. — 2 p.m.



EHS is a department of Cal Poly’ Administration and Finance. Its mission is to assist the campus in providing a safe and healthful workplace through the development and implementation of programs which minimize the risk of occupationally related injury or illness.&nbsp;<a href="https://afd.calpoly.edu/ehs/">To learn more, click here</a>.

Students and Staff Clean Up Local Creeks

Are you ready for move-out day!? For some, this highly anticipated event brings a sigh of relief as the end of a completed year means more sleep, more time and summer vibes. For others, it’s a hard time of see you later’s and transition into a new world for the next three months. Whatever mix of emotions you’re feeling about move out day, here are three easy steps to make the most of your move out experience, while keeping it eco-friendly!



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">STEP 1 — DONATE</h2>



Before you chuck it in the trash, ask yourself if someone else could make use of it! Kitchenware, school supplies, home furnishings, cleaning products, storage containers, working electronics, clean sheets &amp; towels, unopened food products and lightly-used clothing are all things that someone else could use again.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">STEP 2 — RECYCLE</h2>



This includes all paper, glass, plastics, cardboard, aluminum/metal and condiment containers…send them to the blue bin.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">STEP 3 — LANDFILL</h2>



Whatever most definitely cannot be reused or repurposed can go to the trash. Styrofoam, weird items, perishable foods, food-soiled paper, wrappers and plastic film all fit this category.



Wondering where all your piles go after you’ve sorted your room? Take donations to the bin in the lobby, and then deposit recycling and trash outside in labeled dumpsters.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Want to help?</h2>



Green Campus needs help collecting all useable household items (that would otherwise end up in the landfill) as they prepare to sell them on campus at the beginning of Fall Quarter 2018. <a href="http://signup.com/go/EBppwyR">Sign up here</a>&nbsp;for a 2-hour shift from Friday, 6/9 to Friday, 6/16 to help!!

Move-Out Day: The Earth Friendly Way

As Cal Poly’s numbers have grown, so has the demand for parking. There is, however, only so much space available at the university. This situation begs the question what a better use of space is. Is it best used for parking or for furthering the academic mission of the university? The other important consideration is what’s better for the environment and the health of the community. After a year of research and collaboration across campus, the answer came in a new set of transportation and parking policies. They include limiting freshmen from having cars on campus.



With this new policy, incoming Mustangs may wonder how they are going to get around. Their parents and supporters may worry how their students will get home during academic breaks. Below is a variety of suggestions pulled from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/CalPolySLOMustangParents/">Cal Poly SLO Mustang Parents Facebook page</a>&nbsp;to put those concerns aside.

Tag: Environment