March 2017 Newsletter

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Minimize Stress During Finals Week 

As Winter Quarter finals approach, your student may be feeling a heightened amount of stress regarding classes, tests, and projects. Cal Poly offers several different resources to help minimize students’ stress levels and promote healthy study habits. 

• The Robert E. Kennedy Library’s Take5 program hosts events that bring crafts, painting, snacks, and even animals to your student to help them destress throughout the quarter! To learn more about their upcoming activities, CLICK HERE.
• ASI hosts PAC Finals Fun on the Monday of finals week from 9am-4pm where students can find a relaxing place to study in the Performing Arts Center and enjoy free food, drinks, and scantrons. 
• Counseling Services is available for your student during regular business hours and a 24-7 line is offered (805-756-2511). To learn more about self-care tips to offer your student, CLICK HERE.
• For a full list of all the academic resources that Cal Poly offers such as study sessions, supplemental workshops, and tutoring, CLICK HERE.

Remind your student of the following tips for managing their stress: 

• Incorporate some “downtime” into your daily routine; go for a walk, listen to music, read for pleasure
• Begin practicing relaxation techniques; meditate, practice breathing exercises
• Don’t ignore your body; eat well-balanced meals, exercise, get adequate sleep each night 
• Take positive steps to change what you can; prioritize, break large tasks down into smaller ones, organize 

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Transportation Options for Your Student  

With spring break approaching, many students need to organize a way to get home and back to campus. Cal Poly students utilize a variety of transportation options for getting to and from campus, including the following: 

• Amtrak trains offer rides from San Luis Obispo to both Northern and Southern California, and offer a pick-up stop on campus. For more information on Amtrak, click here.
• The San Luis Obispo regional airport offers flights daily to Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Phoenix. For more information on the San Luis Obispo regional airport, click here.
• For quick, short trips off-campus, Zipcar is a good option! For more information, click here. 
• If you’re having troubles getting specific flights, check out other nearby airports including Santa Barbara Municipal Airport, San Jose International Airport, and Fresno Yosemite International Airport
• An additional option for students is to arrange rides with fellow students on Facebook. There are many pages created where students can arrange rides with their fellow Mustangs who are heading in a similar direction. To check out the Cal Poly Ride Share group on Facebook, click here. Cal Poly Ride Share is also available as an app (titled Poly Rides) for Androids and iPhones. 

For more information on other transportation options around Cal Poly and the City of San Luis Obispo, click here.

 

  

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How to Have a Fun and Safe Spring Break

Many students plan to go on various trips during spring break, whether traveling just a few hours away from home to visit friends, or planning a trip to another part of the world. No matter what your student’s plans are for spring break, here are some safety tips you can share with them: 

• Let a friend or family know your itinerary, destination locations, and contact information for others you are traveling with 
• Wear sunscreen, whether at the beach or in the snow
• Keep your phone charged; consider carrying an extra portable power bank
• Designate a safe driver, both to and from any destination(s)
• Consider carrying a small travel first aid kit 
• Always know what you are drinking, and never leave your drink unattended 
• Let your friends know where you're going and when you'll be back. Utilize the TapShield personal safety app.  The safety app is available free to all Cal Poly students, faculty and staff. 
• If you see a questionable situation, be an active bystander and check in. If you're not comfortable intervening yourself, ask someone who is.
• For more information on personal safety tips, visit UPD’s website, HERE.

Lastly, let your student know that they should never participate in something they don’t feel comfortable with. If they ever find themselves in an uncomfortable situation, let them know it is always okay to speak up, say no or find something better to do. If your student is staying in SLO over the break, check out a list of fun, sober activities around town they can do HERE.

Additionally, the Center for Service in Action hosts an Alternative Breaks trip over the spring break each year, providing students with a chance to make a difference during their break. Cal Poly students have the opportunity to serve their global community while exploring outside their positions of privilege. For more information about the program, CLICK HERE.

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Open House is Around the Corner! 

You're invited to Cal Poly's Open House April 6 - 8, 2017. This annual event showcases the Cal Poly campus to new students, their families, and the community while offering a glimpse to life as a Mustang.

Visit Parent & Family Programs at several of the events throughout the weekend including Parent Coffee House on Friday night and Morning Cup with the President on Saturday morning. For a full list of weekend events, CLICK HERE.

You can also keep up with Open House news and updates on the Facebook event page. 

All admitted students will be receiving an email invitation from the Admissions Office that has a link to register.  Registration must be done through this link by the admitted student. If you need the invitation resent to you please email ecoms@calpoly.edu.

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Stay Connected with Cal Poly Apps

There are many useful apps, accessible on both iPhone and Android devices, which can help both you and your student navigate campus and SLO, access resources and news, and promote personal safety:

• Cal Poly App: The official Cal Poly app allows students to access all of the tools found on their Poly Portal via their smartphone. With an interactive campus map, information about the dinning locations, pick-up times for the University Police Escort Vans, and many other useful tools, this is a must-have app for students and visiting parents and families. 
• SLO Bus Tracker App: This app allows students to check the San Luis Obispo city bus schedule and routes, including up-to-the-minute updates of a bus’s location.  
• TapShield App: TapShield is a safety app that encourages information-sharing between the Cal Poly Community and University Police to build safer communities. Think of TapShield as a social safety network for the campus community and wherever they want to go. 
• Open House: Stay tuned for more information about this year’s Open House Guidebook app. This app contains useful information about Open House such as parking, Wi-Fi, maps, schedules, and much more. 
• Disability Resource Center (DRC) Remind App: Remind allows DRC staff to send one-way, group text messages to any students who choose to subscribe. These group text messages will contain DRC information about a variety of topics, such as upcoming DRC events, notetaking, Alternative Media, technology, testing, and more. 
• Mustang News App: This app allows students to get an electronic edition of the official Cal Poly newspaper on their phone or tablet. The Mustang News app provides users up-to-date news about the Cal Poly campus and the San Luis Obispo community. 

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Resource Spotlight – Gender Equity Center 

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 interested to your student.

 

The Gender Equity Center (GEC) supports and empowers all women identifying students by creating a strong community, educating about feminist, womanist, and mujerista based movements, exploring identities through an intersectional lens, and striving for social justice. Some of the reoccurring events and resources they offer include the following:

WomenKind: Creativity & Empowerment: Build community and safe space to be creative and explore empowerment, womanhood, and social justice.

OWN (Original Women's Narratives): OWN is a play created by and for women, highlighting intersecting identities to empower women to share their own voices and in doing so experience the power of storytelling for themselves. For more information, click here.

Gender Equity Movement (GEM) Training: A fun and interactive five week training open to all students interested in learning more about gender, feminism, positive masculinity, and social justice. 

Wilderness Mamas: An outdoor group for woman-identified students. Join us for nature excursions to build friendships and empower ourselves to be active. Open to all fitness and ability levels, no experience required. 

Women’s HERStory Week: During March, the GEC collaborates with various campus departments and programs to celebrate women’s experiences, empowerment, history, and future all year long. Women’s HERStory Series looks different every year, and has included celebrations of women in the arts, highlighted global issues, guest speakers, performances, workshops, and fun activities.

CLICK HERE to request a subscription to the Cross Cultural Centers Newsletter to stay up-to-date on upcoming GEC events.

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Upcoming Events – March 

Wednesday, March 1^st 7-10pm in Mott Gym (042-0102)
     Women’s Basketball v CS Fullerton 

Thursday, March 2^nd 11am-12pm in the H.P. Davidson Music Center (045-0218)
     Cal Poly Student Instrumental Recital 

Thursday, March 2^nd 7-10pm in Mott Gym (042-0102)
     Men’s Basketball v CSUN

Thursday, March 2^nd 8-9:30pm in Spanos Theatre (044-0227) 
     Cal Poly Theatre and Dance Department presents "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee"
     Additional shows: Friday, March 3^rd and Saturday, March 4^th at 8pm

Saturday, March 4^th 7-10pm in Mott Gym (042-0102)
     Men’s Basketball v UCSB

Saturday, March 4^th 7-10pm in Mott Gym (042-0102)
     Cal Poly Choirs’ Winter Concert 

For Athletic event tickets, CLICK HERE. For Performing Art Center event tickets, CLICK HERE.

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Important Dates & Deadlines

February 21 – March 28 | Spring Quarter Registration (REMINDER: Tuition fees are due at time of registration)

March 1-8 | On-campus housing application opens to current freshmen March 9 | On-campus housing application opens to all continuing students

March 16 | Fee due date for Spring Quarter (if not financial aid deferred)

March 20 – 24 | Winter Quarter Finals

March 25 – April 2 | Spring Break

March 27 | 1st financial aid disbursement

March 28 | Financial aid deferred fees due

March 31 | 1st direct deposit refund for excess financial aid

April 3 | Spring Quarter class begin 

April 3 | Last day to petition to walk in Spring Commencement 

April 6 – 8 | Open House

April 19 – 20 | Spring Career Fair

April 27-28 | Spring Commencement Fair

For more important dates, deadlines, and calendars, CLICK HERE. 

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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

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