September 2016 Newsletter

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Parent VIP Page Content September 2016
A Message from the Director

Greetings parents and supporters!

There is so much to look forward to in the coming weeks. We are so excited to welcome your students and each of you to Cal Poly for move-in weekend and all of the festivities. Continue reading through the articles below for detailed descriptions of our move-in weekend events including Gathering on the Green and Evening with the President. Also, be sure you investigate Poly Parent Adventures - check out the link and details below.

There are so many ways for you to stay engaged and involved even after move-in weekend is over. We encourage you to stay in touch with us! Mark your calendars for Mustang Family Weekend, October 20-23, and if you haven't done so, remember to register to attend (insert link to register)! We also welcome you to join our Cal Poly Proud Parent Volunteer Corps to assist with a variety of events each year. Sign up by emailing calpolyparent@calpoly.edu and stay aware of various events and happenings throughout the year in which we could use your support.

I look forward to meeting you in a couple weeks!

Sincerely,

Tessa Stevens Espinoza
Director, Parent & Family Programs and Commencement

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Register Now for Mustang Family Weekend!
 

If you haven’t already, now is the time to register for Cal Poly’s Mustang Family Weekend 2016, October 20-23! Mustang Family Weekend is strategically scheduled halfway through Fall quarter, allowing families the opportunity to come back to campus and reconnect with the Mustang community. Join us for an exciting weekend filled with Learn by Doing experiences and Cal Poly festivities, including academic lectures, interactive presentations, and awesome performing arts and athletics events. This is one weekend you don’t want to miss. For more information and to register go to:

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A Message to Students from Vice President for Student Affairs, Keith Humphrey

[The following message was sent to all Cal Poly students on 9/21/16]
 
Welcome back, Mustangs!
 
“My name is Keith Humphrey, and I am proud to be your vice president for Student Affairs. My pronouns are he, his, and him.”  This is how I introduced myself to all incoming students, parents, and supporters at summer orientation (now called SLO Days). 
 
During that time, I shared our campus leadership’s hopes: that every student gets to fully engage in Learn by Doing, become deeply involved outside the classroom, build relationships with fellow campus and community members, and learn how to be welcoming of all identities that each member of our community brings to campus.  
 
I also showed this video, and think it is important that you have the opportunity to see it as well.
Watch video.
 
These messages in the video apply to all students, not just new students. What I want to focus on is the personal responsibility each person contributes to an inclusive Cal Poly. We have experienced many incidents around the world that have been difficult to understand, making our individual efforts toward inclusion more important than ever. 
 
As we move into the new academic year, I hope that each of you can make a conscious effort to help contribute to an inclusive campus. It’s why our Counseling Services created more counseling programs for students to nurture their emotional health and wellbeing. It’s why I said my pronouns during my introduction. Doing so sends a message that I support people of all identities. These are a few ways we can open our minds to different people and be supportive of each other, because we should feel welcomed and included at Cal Poly no matter how we identify. 
 
I encourage you to visit the Cross Cultural Centers. They play a part in nurturing a climate of understanding and inclusion through education and student involvement. We have many events for you to get involved with over the year such as the “I am Cal Poly” campaign, Original Women's Narratives (OWN), Queer Dialogues, and Culture Fest. Visit the Cross Cultural Centers’ website for additional events.  
 
We are all capable of making positive changes, and I encourage you all to be part of that change. Let’s be leaders in diversity and inclusion among other universities and leave a legacy that echoes forever. 
 
I look forward to working together with you this year. As a student in the video says, “Inclusion starts with me, and now it starts with you too.” My office hour is still 4–5 p.m. every Monday during the academic year.
 
Let’s keep the conversation going.
 
In community,
Keith B. Humphrey Vice President for Student Affairs Pronouns: he, his, him​

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Get Ready for Cal Poly Move-In Weekend

Move-In Weekend at Cal Poly is truly an unforgettable family experience. Begin your weekend with helping your student settle in their room, meeting their neighbors and roommates, and connecting with university staff. Before your student meets their WOW group, feel free to explore the campus or run some last-minute errands. Then be sure to attend these Parent & Family Programs events just for you, our incoming Cal Poly Proud parents and supporters!

Gathering on the Green
Friday, September 16, 2016 | 4pm | Baker Science East Lawn

All national and international students, parents, and supporters are invited to an out-of-state reception to celebrate after move-in. This is a chance for those outside of California to meet and mingle with each other, make connections, and share tips on how to best support our new Mustangs.

Evening with the President
Sunday, September 18, 2016 | 5:30pm | O’Neill Green

All parents, supporters, and family members are invited to join President Jeffrey D. Armstrong for a special welcome reception. Connect with university leaders and other Cal Poly parents and families on O’Neill Green to celebrate the beginning of your student’s Cal Poly journey.

Big Fall Welcome
Sunday, September 18, 2016 | 7:00pm | Spanos Stadium

Directly following Evening with the President, join everyone in Spanos Stadium for the Big Fall Welcome. With your student already in his/her Week of Welcome group, you’ll have the rare opportunity to witness the spirited start of WOW from the stadium bleachers in the company of other incoming Cal Poly Proud parents and supporters.

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Car or No Car This Year?
 

With the new Student Housing South project starting construction this fall and the R2 parking lot closing, you might discuss with your student the decision to bring a car with them to campus. According to the University Police Department, resident permits will be sold on an annual basis only for the R1 lot, R3 Poly Canyon Village, and R4 Village Drive parking structure. These permits will be available on a first come, first serve basis via waitlist. If your student is interested in using alternative forms of transportation to and from campus, here are a few options:

Free Bus Transportation:

Cal Poly has made arrangements with the City of San Luis Obispo to allow students with a valid PolyCard to use the city bus service for free to encourage ridership. Use your PolyCard at no cost to you.

For more information about San Luis Obispo City bus schedules, click here.

Zipcar Rental:

Fast, convenient, affordable and environmentally friendly, Zipcar provides a self-service, on-demand car sharing program at Cal Poly.

For more information about Zipcar, click here.

Bicycles:

With bicycle paths throughout campus and the City of San Luis Obispo, a bike is a great commuting option with the added health and exercise benefit. For those who bring a bicycle to campus, the University Police Department strongly advises students to register their bicycle online in the case of loss or theft.

For more information about registering a bicycle, click here.

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Important Dates & Deadlines

September 16 | Out-of-State Move-In
September 16 | Out-of-State Parent Reception
September 17-18 | In-State Move-In
September 18 | Evening with the President
September 18-25 | Week of Welcome
September 22 | First day of Fall 2016 classes

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Important Campus Phone Numbers

Admissions | (805) 756-2311
Career Services | (805) 756-2501
Commencement | (805) 756-1600
Health Services | (805) 756-1211
Mustang Success Center | (805) 756-6211
Parent & Family Programs | (805) 756-6700
University Housing | (805) 756-1226
University Police Department | (805) 756-2281

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