Cal Poly College of Liberal Arts

Happy fall break from the College of Liberal Arts! Wishing everyone safe travels and a well-deserved week of rest and relaxation. ???

Last year, during his summer internship in Washington, D.C., Cristian Ulisses Reyes (Child Development, ’24) worked to improve educational access in underrepresented communities, eventually earning a yearlong fellowship with Today's Students Coalition (TSC). TSC is a national bipartisan collaboration that works to ensure that higher education policies achieve equitable outcomes for all of today’s students. After graduating this past spring, Reyes, a first-generation college student, is pursuing a master’s degree in education here at Cal Poly. He hopes to reshape education policy and expand educational opportunities to others. Read more about Reyes’ accomplishments: https://bit.ly/4ekpPUB

?? Last month, the Indigenous Surfers’ Symposium brought together Indigenous surfers, coastal stewards and activists from across the Pacific. Between Oct. 9 and 11, participants attended a series of events, including an open surf session and Surfrider beach cleanup at Morro Bay. The symposium was collaboratively organized by Cal Poly ethnic studies professor Lydia Heberling, Simon Fraser University professor Nicholas Reo and the yak tit?u tit?u yak ti?hini (YTT) Northern Chumash Tribe. Events centered around art as activism, in addition to coastal conservation and climate futures for Indigenous populations.

??? At the 2024 Sierra Sustainability Summit, the typical debate setting of a classroom or conference hall was replaced by the spectacular surroundings of Yosemite National Park. This event was the brainchild of Shane Patrick (Master of Public Policy, ‘24), who drew inspiration from a recent camping trip. She wanted to create a debate forum that broke the usual mold, giving students the chance to directly immerse themselves in the topic they were discussing. Last spring, speech and debate teams from a dozen universities around the nation gathered in Yosemite to research and propose ideas aimed at making national parks in the U.S. more sustainable and accessible. In addition to the debate portion of the event, students went on guided tours of the park, heard from researchers and administrators and listened to keynote speaker Shelton Johnson. After a successful first Sierra Sustainability Summit, Patrick hopes to find grant funding to continue and expand the competition. Read the full story: https://bit.ly/4hkgX47

Applications for the Baker and Koob Endowment grants are now open! With support from Dr. Warren J. Baker, former Cal Poly president, and Dr. Robert D. Koob, former Cal Poly senior vice president, the endowments support hands-on, project-based learning for students. Eligible projects include but are not limited to, student and faculty travel, research, group projects and conferences. Applications are open to all undergraduate and graduate students and will be accepted through Thursday, Nov. 14.? For more information on how to apply: https://lnkd.in/e5-GGXUW

Last May, a group of anthropology and geography students, faculty and alumni embodied what it means to #LearnByDoing. The group, in collaboration with Pacific Gas and Electric Company, participated in a land excavation near Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant. Their goal was to better understand the community of seven families that once lived there. Among those families were the Yoshidas, who lived in SLO County until they were forced to relocate to a Japanese American incarceration camp in 1942. The property was sold, their home was destroyed and they were unable to return, until last May. Over the course of four days, students in ANT 310: Archaeological Field Methods, worked on their field skills as 33 members of the Yoshida family reconnected with their ancestral home. Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/g77s3Dkv

In celebration of National Transfer Student Week, we got to know Umika Kuroda, the 2024 Graphic Communication Department's 'Outstanding Senior'! Read more about Umika's journey from community college to post-grad life as we celebrate this year’s NTSW theme: “Unlocking Potential: Keys to the Transfer Journey": bit.ly/3YxLNPs

?? Cal Poly’s new 2+2 sociology program, in collaboration with Allan Hancock College, is designed to expand access for local high school graduates looking to earn a degree at Cal Poly! Hancock students who complete a two-year associate degree in sociology can apply to Cal Poly as transfer students. After that, they can earn a bachelor’s degree in sociology by completing another two years of Cal Poly courses. This quarter, over 20 transfer students became Mustangs, and are experiencing a #LearnByDoing education at Allan Hancock College’s campus in Santa Maria, CA. The 2+2 program demonstrates Cal Poly’s continued commitment to serving academically qualified local and transfer students. Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/40bsT2a

?? Congratulations are in order for Maileen Mamaradlo, a psychology student at Cal Poly and recipient of the 2024 California State University Trustees’ Scholar Award!? Mamaradlo is one of 23 students across the CSU System being recognized for their superior academic performance, personal accomplishments, community service and financial need. Mamaradlo moved from the Philippines to the United States in 2015, attending San Luis Coastal Adult School and Cuesta College before transferring to Cal Poly in the fall of 2022. She credits her involvement in various on-campus organizations, including Students with Dependents and the Multicultural Scholars Program, in providing her with a strong support system. Mamaradlo is also a mother to two children who attend Cal Poly.? Read her full story here: https://bit.ly/3YrMklT

Oct. 21 through 25 is National Transfer Student Week (NTSW). ?? The goal of NTSW is to build and support a community for transfer students, simultaneously connecting them with resources to support their academic success!? The Cal Poly Transfer Center will be hosting not one, but two events for every day of NTSW, including Bowling at Mustang Lanes, a LinkedIn Profile Review Workshop, and an afternoon of exploring downtown SLO. To view the full schedule of events: https://lnkd.in/gpxPFZk3