RFSA Events

Recent Events

 

RFSA Special Event – San Luis Obispo County Elections Ballot Observation 

On Thursday, November 7, members of the RFSA were invited to meet with Elaina Cano, San Luis Obispo County Registrar to learn about and view the process. Transportation was provided from the Cal Poly Dairy Unit parking lot to the County Government Center.

Fall Quarter 2024 Program and Luncheon at the Justin and J. Lohr Center for Wine and Viticulture,

Our featured speaker was Dr. Cole McDaniel from the Architectural Engineering department who shared his passion for designing buildings strong enough to survive serious damage during earthquakes.

Vice President Jeff Nadel introduced Cole McDaniel, Faculty member from the Architectural Engineering Department, who has expertise in Performance Based Earthquake Engineering. Cole provided a presentation on earthquakes and the effects of seismic activities on buildings.  He explained the shaker device that determines natural frequencies of buildings.  He and his students have been testing buildings on campus for the last 10 years and are currently involved in the changes made to the Cal Poly concrete library building to address structural irregularities and refurbish study space for students.  Cole answered numerous inquiries from the attendees during and after his informative presentation.

Upcoming Events 

 

Past Events

 

Spring Quarter 2023 Program and Luncheon at the William and Linda Frost Center for Research and Innovation, March 29, 2023

Retired faculty and staff had lunch in the BRAE Complex before touring the William nd Linda Frost Center for Research and Innovation, the four-story, 2.32-acre complex with cutting-edge laboratories dedicated to undergraduate research for CSM, CAFES, and CLA; faculty offices, and multi-function classrooms that opened its doors to the campus community in Spring quarter. The tour was led by Frost Fund Director and Dean Emeritus Phil Bailey. 

Winter Quarter Program and Luncheon at JUSTIN and J. LOHR Center for Wine and Viticulture, February 23, 2023

On February 23, 2023, retired faculty and staff heard from Terrance Harris, Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Management, who provided an overview of  university recruitment efforts and Cal Poly admissions criteria. Highlights included:

• Cal Poly has a five-year compact with the State of California to increase enrollment one percent every year for five years. The governor has promised to provide funding for this compact.
• Fall 2022 turned away 50,000 applicants, 20,000 of whom had 4.0+ GPA's, because of space and competition. This year had the highest profile of students in academic excellence and diversity (highest percentage of female, minority, and first generation students).
• Cal Poly receives revenue for 18,000 FTE enrolled students. Total enrollment is 23,000-24,000 which includes out-of-state and international students.
• Other campuses in the CSU system accept about 50% transfer students, whereas Cal Poly accepts between 15-20% and will be working on becoming more transfer-friendly.
• Another goal is to become 25% Hispanic oriented. Only two campuses in the CSU system are not.
• Fall 2023 had 73,000 applications with space for 6,200 undergraduate students.Cal Poly does not use the SAT or ACT as admission criteria, but rather a comprehensive review of the applicant's GPA, classes, extracurricular activities, work experience, sports, and leadership.
• There is a demographic cliff now, with fewer births between 2008-2011 resulting in fewer high school students and increased competition for students system-wide.
• The Office for Strategic Enrollment Management is constantly striving to meet the needs of the campus and the community.

Fall Quarter Program and Luncheon at Kennedy Library, September 20, 2022

On September 20, 2022, retired faculty and staff learned about the $73 million Kennedy Library transformation project scheduled for completion in Fall 2025, with move-in during 2026. While noshing on a delicious complimentary luncheon hosted by Library Services, attendees heard from Dean of Library Services Adriana Popescu about this much-anticipated renovation which will feature an energy efficient, sustainable design with improved student study spaces and more.The project, Popescu said, will receive $68 million in funding from the Chancellor's Office; the remaining amount must be funded by the University.

In June 2023, the current library will close. During the renovation, some services will move to Crandall Gymnasium.

Goals for the library's transformation include:

• Connect + Enrich: Strengthen campus community, internally and externally.
• Showcase + Celebrate: Showcase work that embodies Learn by Doing, the Teacher-Scholar model, and collections.
• Strengthen Learn by Doing: Support student, faculty, and staff success.
• Optimize Building Performance: Reduce operating costs while increasing thermal comfort; upgrade building systems; reduce energy use; improve lighting and daylight; increase usable space without building an addition.

Zach Smith, Vice President for Advancement, spoke to the group about identifying donors interested in funding a "Reading Room in the Sky," which will require an addition $5 million. Spanning the library's fourth and fifth floors, this unique space would celebrate Cal Poly's beautiful surroundings while adding 3,000 square feet of new seating.

To lend financial support to the Library's transformation, click here. To view the slides Popescu used in her presentation, including an artist's rendering of the "Reading Room in the Sky," click here.

Spring Quarter Tour and Luncheon at the JUSTIN and J. LOHR Center for Wine and Viticulture  - April 21, 2022

Our Spring Quarter Program was held on April 21, 2022, at the JUSTIN and J. LOHR Center for Wine and Viticulture, Building 156, Mt. Bishop Road, Cal Poly Campus.

The program began  at 11 am with a tour of the new JUSTIN and J. LOHR Center for Wine and Viticulture, led by Andy Thulin, dean of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences; Benoit Lecat, Wine and Viticulture department head; and Jim Shumate, winery manager. The tour included the viticulture lab, fermentation hall, enology lab and research analysis lab, barrel rooms, sensory lab, and the Dean's Conference Room.

The JUSTIN and J. LOHR Center for Wine and Viticulture is the largest completely donor-funded capital project in the history of the CSU and will enhance the Wine and Viticulture program at Cal Poly for years to come. The complex includes a state-of-the-art 5,000-case bonded winery complete with a fermentation hall, bottling room, barrel rooms and research labs. The adjacent E. & J. Gallo Winery & Family Building includes viticulture, enology and sensory labs, shared offices for faculty and students and an expansive conference hall.

Following the tour, participants enjoyed lunch together provided by the Agricultural Engineering Society (AES) student BBQ group, and tasted two student-made wines--one a blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot; the other a blend of 61% Petit Verdot and 39% Petite Sirah.

Winter Quarter Program and Luncheon at Cal Poly CIE - February 16, 2022

RFSA's Winter Quarter Program and Luncheon was held February 16, 2022, at the Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), 872 Higuera Street in downtown San Luis Obispo. The CIE helps students and community members acquire the tools, develop the skills, and cultivate the mindset of an entrepreneur. The event included a walk-through of the facility, a presentation by the CIE's executive director, John Townsend, and a complimentary lunch courtesy of the CIE.

Townsend presented an in-depth overview of the CIE, which occupies 15,000 square feet at the Higuera Street location. The Center works to transform students into resourceful and innovative leaders by enriching talents and enabling dreams. As one of the top interdisciplinary undergraduate entrepreneurship programs in the nation, the CIE functions as a strategic economic development engine throughout San Luis Obispo County. The CIE has launched 110+ companies, has over 100 companies in the pipeline, and has created 1000+ jobs. The faculty consists of 3 tenured, 5 adjunct, 25 faculty fellows, and 2 innovation leads (CLA, CSM).

Lunch and Tour of Vista Grande - October 14, 2021

At the Fall Program on October 14, 2021, members of the Cal Poly Retired Faculty and Staff Association listened to a presentation by Campus Dining Director Jess Dozier while enjoying special made-to-order box lunches. Dozier provided information on the newly remodeled Vista Grande Dining Complex.

The three-story building, located adjacent to the Performing Arts Center on Grand Avenue, offers indoor and outdoor seating, six unique dining venues (including one supporting students with food allergies and special dietary considerations), lounge space and game tables. The facility boasts LEED Gold certification for sustainable, resource-efficient design. The six nutrition-focused restaurants provide fresh, healthy, made-to-order food options for all diets and lifestyles to 7,500-9,000 customers per day. There are currently thirty food service locations on campus providing 20,000 meals per day. Completion of the remodels to Building 19 and the University Union food facilities will increase the number of food locations to forty.

After lunching and listening to Dozier's presentation, guests were divided into three groups and escorted on a tour of the facility by a member of the Campus Dining staff.

From all accounts, the program was well-received by those who attended. One guest remarked that the event was "fantastic," that he "learned a lot," and that he was "super proud" of the Food Services facilities and staff.

April 22, 2021

The Cal Poly Retired Faculty and Staff Association's Spring Quarter Program, conducted virtually, featured a presentation and discussion with College of Science and Mathematics Dean Emeritus Phil Bailey, director of the Frost Fund and former associate vice president for Academic Affairs. Bailey shared images of the ongoing construction of the William and Linda Frost Center for research and Innovation. Attendees learned about this historic gift to the University as well as other construction projects taking place at Cal Poly. During COVID-19, Cal Poly continues to move forward with the construction of facilities that will play an important role in the future of the University. The program was emceed by RFSA President Bill Kellogg and included a Question and Answer session facilitated by RFSA Vice President Jim Murphy.

After Dean Bailey's presentation, members voted to add a new position to the RFSA Board: Coffee Hour Facilitator. Members also voted to elect Lisa Hensley to fill this new Board position. Congratulations, Lisa!

February 18, 2021

The Winter Quarter Program, conducted virtually, focused on the COVID-19 pandemic in San Luis Obispo County, including Cal Poly. A panel consisting of Katelyn Mazer from the San Luis Obispo county Public Health Department; Aydin Nazmi, a faculty member in the Food Science and Nutrition Department and member of the Cal Poly COVID-19 testing task force; and Vice President for Student Affairs Keith Humphrey spoke with attendees on topics related to COVID-19. The program was emceed by RFSA President Bill Kellogg and included a Question and Answer session facilitated by RFSA Vice President Jim Murphy.

October 8, 2020

The Fall 2020 Program, held virtually, featured Cal Poly President Jeffrey D. Armstrong giving a campus update on the start of the Fall quarter and the challenges facing the university, including funding, increasing diversity, and slowing the spread of COVID-19. President Armstrong was joined by epidemiologist and nutrition professor Aydin Nazmi, who described how the university is continuing to expand its testing and infection monitoring capabilities and the protocols that have been put in place for contact tracing, quarantining, and support for infected students.  The program was emceed by RFSA President Bill Kellogg and former president Rich Equinoa, and included the opportunity for participants to spend some time in break rooms connecting with fellow retirees.

June 28, 2020

June Jubilee, held virtually. The afternoon was filled with messages of appreciation from President Jeffrey D. Armstrong, new Provost Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, and Retired Faculty and Staff Centennial Scholarship recipients Maximilian Plotzeneder and Madison Shepherd, with a special musical compilation by the Cal Poly Music Department. New RFSA officers were elected, including V. L. Holland, Programs Vice President, and Elaine Ramos-Doyle, Newsletter Editor.

February 27, 2020

At this luncheon, held at the Elks Club, Guest speakers President Jeffrey D. Armstrong and Vice President Keith Humphrey provided a campus update with particular emphasis on the role of Student Affairs in delivering high-impact programs and services that advance student learning, development and success.

November 6, 2019

This luncheon in the lobby of the Performing Arts Center featured Cal Poly Professor of Photography and Video and independent filmmaker Sky Bergman. Sky discussed her work with her nationally recognized film, Lives Well Lived, and her plans for future projects. Lives Well Lived is a feature documentary film that celebrates the incredible wit and wisdom of adults 75 to 100 years old who are living their lives to the fullest.

October 17, 2019

Retired faculty and staff took a field trip to visit The Getty Center, which is known for its architecture, gardens and view overlooking Los Angeles. Participants enjoyed a 45-minute tour of the Getty Center, and took in the permanent and temporary exhibits, including a Notre Dame Cathedral display.

June 2, 2019

Sponsored by Cal Poly University Development, attendees enjoyed an excellent lunch and the Cal Poly Choirs' Spring Concert, "For the Beauty of the Earth." The Jubilee was hosted by President Jeffrey D. Armstrong and his remarks included an announcement that the minimum amount contributed by current and retired faculty and staff to fund a scholarship endowment has been reduced to to $12,500. An endowment can be funded by an individual, or by a group of individuals. Retired Faculty and Staff Centennial Scholarship recipient Madeleine Ciano also made a presentation.

May 15, 2019

Held at the Cal Poly Dairy Innovation Institute on campus, this program featured a tour of the Cal Poly Strawberry Center and a presentation by Dr. Peter W. Shearer, the Strawberry Center's entomologist. The only organization in the United States dedicated solely to strawberry research and education, the Strawberry Center has access to 10 acres of prime farmland on campus for purposes of field research and demonstration, including certified organic land, all within walking distance of the main campus.

February 27, 2019

Guest speakers at this luncheon were Dr. Phil Bailey, Director of Frost Endowment, and Dr. Kathryn Rummell, Interim Dean, College of Liberal Arts. Dr. Bailey provided an overview of the Science and Agriculture Teaching and Research Complex, the 100,000 square-foot building that will house culinary, sensory, food safety, product development and food and nutrition labs. Dr. Rummell provided an update on the CLA. We also heard from Matt Harsh, Director, Center for Expressive Technology, and David Gillette, Co-Director of the Liberal Arts and Engineering Studies Degree.