California Polytechnic State University

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California Polytechnic State University
Motto:	Discere Faciendo (Latin: "To Learn by Doing")
Established:	March 8, 1901
Type:	Public Land-Grant University
Endowment:	US$186 million (2006)[1]
President:	Warren J. Baker
Faculty:	1,203
Students:	19,777
Undergraduates:	17,488
Postgraduates:	987
Location:	San Luis Obispo, California
Campus:	Suburban, 9,678 acres (39 km²)
Colors:	Green and Gold
Nickname:	Mustang
Mascot:	Musty the Mustang
Affiliations:	California State University Big West Conference Great West Football Conference
Website:	www.calpoly.edu
See Cal Poly's quickfacts [2]

California Polytechnic State University, commonly called Cal Poly, is a nationally ranked public university located in San Luis Obispo, California, USA. Cal Poly is part of the 23-campus California State University system, and it is the second largest land-holding university in California.^[2]

Cal Poly offers a full spectrum of degrees from seven colleges. Specifically, the university's highly respected engineering, architecture, and agriculture colleges are consistently ranked at the top of their respective categories. In U.S. News & World Report's 2008 America's Best Colleges report, Cal Poly has been ranked as the #1 public-master's university in the Western United States for the 15th year in a row. The College of Engineering was also ranked as the #1 public undergraduate engineering school (ranked 4th overall in undergraduate engineering) in the US whose highest degree is a master's. Commensurable with its academic reputation, Cal Poly is a highly selective undergraduate university, with 2007 acceptance rate of 43%. Also, the university is often regarded as the premier campus within the California State University system, while directly competing for new students with several University of California campuses. There are over 117,000 living alumni of Cal Poly, and in fall 2007, 19,777 people were enrolled.^[3][2]

Cal Poly is a member of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) and the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges. Cal Poly is one of three California State Universities that participate in the Big West Conference. Cal Poly is known for its "learn by doing" philosophy.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Overview 1.2 Relationship with Cal Poly Pomona 1.3 1960 Football team plane crash 1.4 Female admissions 2 Organization 2.1 Cal Poly Corporation 3 Campus 3.1 Expansion 3.1.1 Proposed Expansion 3.1.2 Current construction 3.2 Commuting 4 Academics 4.1 Colleges 4.2 Ranking 4.3 Admissions 4.4 Tuition 4.5 Endowment 5 Student life 5.1 Residence halls 5.2 Greek life 6 Athletics 7 Songs 7.1 Fight Songs 7.2 Alma mater 8 See also 9 Notes 10 External links

[edit] History

[edit] Overview

Cal Poly was established in 1901 when Governor Henry T. Gage signed the California Polytechnic School Bill. The California Polytechnic School was built adjacent to San Luis Obispo and held its first classes on September 30, 1903, offering secondary (high school) courses of study. The first incoming class was 20 students. The school continued to grow steadily, except during a period from the mid 1910s to the early 1920s when World War I led to drops in enrollment and drastic budget cuts forced fewer class offerings.

In 1924, Cal Poly was placed under the control of the California State Board of Education. In 1933, the Board of Education changed Cal Poly into a two year technical and vocational school. The institution began to offer Bachelor of Arts degrees in 1940, and was renamed the California State Polytechnic College in 1947 to better reflect its higher education offerings. In 1960, control of Cal Poly and all other state colleges was transferred from the State Board of Education to an independent Board of Trustees, which later became the California State University system.

The college was authorized to offer Master of Science degrees in 1967. From 1967 to 1970, the school’s curriculum was reorganized into different units (such as the School of Science and Math, the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and the School of Architecture, which was created in 1968). Cal Poly's FM radio station, KCPR, also began as a senior project in 1968. The state legislature changed the school’s official name again in 1971 to California Polytechnic State University. Since the 1970s, the university has seen steady enrollment growth and the construction of many significant buildings on campus. Cal Poly celebrated its centennial in 2001, and kicked off a $225 million fundraising campaign, the largest fund raising effort ever undertaken in CSU history. The Centennial Campaign raised over $264 million dollars from over 81,000 donors, more than tripling the university’s endowment from $43 million to $140 million. Cal Poly’s endowment is in the top 10% of higher education endowments nationwide. Cal Poly was ranked 268 out of 746 colleges and universities ranked in the Chronicle of Higher Education's endowment rankings of 2005.

[edit] Relationship with Cal Poly Pomona

Cal Poly Pomona began as a satellite campus of Cal Poly in 1938 when a completely equipped school and farm were donated by Charles Voorhis of Pasadena, California and his son Jerry Voorhis. The satellite campus was initially called the Voorhis Unit. The W.K. Kellogg Foundation then donated a 812 acre (3.3 km²) horse ranch in Pomona, California to Cal Poly in 1949. Located about one mile (1.6 km) from the Voorhis campus, the two became known as the Kellogg-Voorhis unit. The Kellogg-Voorhis unit broke off in 1966, becoming the fully independent University, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Since 1949, the San Luis Obispo and Pomona universities have cooperated on creating a float for the Rose Parade. The float program is one of the longest consecutive running self-built entries in the parade, as well as the only "self built" floats designed and constructed entirely by students year-round on both campuses.

[edit] 1960 Football team plane crash

Main article: Cal Poly football team plane crash

On October 29, 1960, a chartered plane carrying the Cal Poly football team, hours after a loss to Bowling Green State University, crashed on takeoff at the Toledo Express Airport in Toledo, Ohio. Twenty-two of the forty-eight people on board were killed, including sixteen players. Former Cal Poly football player John Madden knew many of the players and coaches on board the aircraft. Because of the tragic accident, John Madden will not fly but prefers traveling by tour bus.

[edit] Female admissions

Cal Poly opened as a coeducational school, and it had 40 men and 12 women in its incoming class of 1904. However, in 1930, females were barred from the entire school. Female students were again admitted in 1956 (27 years later). The university remains coeducational today.

[edit] Organization

As of 2008, the president of Cal Poly is Warren J. Baker who has been the president since 1979.^[4]

[edit] Cal Poly Corporation

The Cal Poly Corporation is a separate non-profit 501(c) corporation operating in concert with the university. Its primary role is to furnish non-academic services for the university such as eateries, the bookstore, and endowment administration. This arrangement is relatively common at many of California's public universities. The corporation was founded in 1941, and it was known as the Cal Poly Foundation until February 1, 2006.

[edit] Campus

Cal Poly owns more land than any other California university. There are 9,678 acres (39 km²) in total. The lands are used for student education, mainly agriculture. The lands include the main campus, two nearby agricultural lands and two properties in Santa Cruz County.

Part of the Cal Poly property is the Swanton Pacific Ranch, a 3,200-acre (13 km²) ranch located in Santa Cruz County, California outside the town of Davenport. The ranch operated for educational and research opportunities. The ranch encompasses rangeland, livestock and forestry operations for the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental sciences. This ranch fosters Cal Poly’s teaching philosophy of “learn by doing” with emphasis on sustainable management of these agricultural practices.

[edit] Expansion

The Cal Poly Master Plan calls to increase student population from approximately 17,000 students to 20,000 students by the year 2020-2021. In order to maintain "Learn by Doing" philosophy and low class size classes, the master plan calls for an increase in classrooms, laboratories, and professors.

[edit] Proposed Expansion

The Center for Science and Mathematics 

Will replace aging "spider" Science Building 52 with a new 250,000-square-foot (23,000 m²) structure. It will add new laboratories, classrooms, and studios to support the expanding population of the university. It is planned to be the largest and most technologically advanced structure in Cal Poly once constructed. In addition a Centennial Park will be constructed adjacent to the structure. COSAM

Recreation Center Expanion 

Will expand the Recreation center and double its usable size. Two new gym rooms, additional leisure pool, synthetic turf for sports complete fields, triple the size of exercise and weight training rooms (from 7,000 sq ft (650 m²) to 21,000 sq ft), and a multi-activity center are planned additions to the recreation center. (Student Vote passed on 28 Feb 08. Construction begins Fall 2008) Rec Center Expansion

[edit] Current construction

Poly Canyon Village 

The largest single housing project on any campus in America. They are apartments which will double the amount of students living on-campus, lower price of surrounding housing, and decrease automobile traffic in Cal Poly. The project also aims to include retail space and become the "hub" of Cal Poly. This on-campus housing is designed for second year students. First phase of housing will be open in Fall of 2008.

Engineering/Architecture Renovation and Replacement 

Include a new building which will provide 46,000 square feet (4,300 m²) of space of classrooms, laboratories, and rooms for student related needs/activities.^[5]

[edit] Commuting

Campus parking is limited. In its most recent survey of available parking spaces on campus, the Cal Poly University Police reported 2,615 general purpose parking spaces, 1,635 dorm resident spaces, and 6,621 total spaces.^[6] In its facilities Master Plan, the university admits that while more parking spots will be added, the actual ratio of parking to students will decrease since enrollment is expected to increase sharply.^[7] To resolve the disparity, the Master Plan calls on the university to reduce the demand for individual vehicle parking. As part of that plan, the university has constructed additional dorms and has tried to make campus life more enjoyable. However, many students would prefer not to live on campus for a variety of reasons, including the campus-wide ban on alcohol and mandatory meal plan. Recently, the school launched a public information campaign called "Options", which seeks to educate students on commuting alternatives, though it is not clear that the campaign has had any effect. Recent increases in parking costs and gas prices has caused a massive increase in the use of bicycles and buses.

Bicycle racks are available throughout the campus, but the off-campus student population is mostly centered in areas either close enough to walk or areas judged to be too far to ride a bicycle. The city's SLO Transit bus system provides service to and from campus. Since the buses are partially subsidized by student tuition, Cal Poly students can ride for free.

[edit] Academics

[edit] Colleges

The university currently offers bachelor's and master's degrees in seven colleges:

• College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences
• College of Architecture and Environmental Design
• Orfalea College of Business
• College of Education
• College of Engineering
• College of Liberal Arts
• College of Science and Mathematics

[edit] Ranking

According to U.S. News & World Report's 2008 America's Best Colleges report, Cal Poly is ranked #1 in the Western United States for public schools whose highest degree is a Master's. The College of Engineering was ranked the #1 public undergraduate engineering school, while ranking #4 overall, in the US whose highest degree is a Master's. The engineering college had edged out other elite public institutions (U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy) to earn this ranking. ^[8]

Among public schools whose highest degree is a master's, specific engineering programs were ranked:

• Electrical Engineering: #1 ^[9]
• Computer Engineering: #1^[10]
• Mechanical Engineering: #1^[11]
• Industrial Engineering: #1^[12]
• Aerospace Engineering: #2 (behind the U.S. Air Force Academy)^[13]
• Civil Engineering: #2 (behind the U.S. Military Academy)^[14]

In a 2006 poll conducted by the leading architecture and engineering journal DesignIntelligence, Cal Poly was voted the number three architecture school in the nation. The landscape architecture program was ranked in the top ten.^[15][16]

Cal Poly’s City and Regional Planning graduate program ranked highly in the Planetizen 2007 Guide to Graduate Urban Planning Programs.^[17]

[edit] Admissions

Cal Poly has a selective admissions process. For the fall of 2007, Cal Poly received a record number of applications for the 13th year in a row. They had over 35,000 students apply and approximately 15,200 students were admitted (43% acceptance rate). The average high school GPA of admitted freshmen was 3.80. The average SAT 1 score was 1215 (based on reading and math scores only).^[18]

Students are required to declare a major when they apply for admission and each candidate is judged against others applying to that major. Because of this, there are differences in the percentage of students admitted between majors. To prevent students from applying for an easy major and transferring to another major, the transfer process has been made difficult. In many cases, student wishing change majors end up moving to another university.

[edit] Tuition

California state law guarantees free education for all residents by not charging tuition at schools in the California State University System. However, all CSU's charge fees to make up for this.^[19] The fall 2007 fees for the average student were $1,681 per quarter.^[20]

[edit] Endowment

Cal Poly’s endowment more than tripled during its Centennial Campaign from US$43.1 million to US$140.1 million. It is now the largest in the CSU system, representing one-fifth of all endowed funds in the 23-campus system. Growth is attributed to gifts and prudent stewardship.

[edit] Student life

[edit] Residence halls

There are four styles of residence halls on the Cal Poly campus. The five North Mountain halls are the oldest on campus and were constructed during the 1950s. The Sierra Madre and Yosemite halls were finished by 1968, the six Red Bricks were built in the 1960s, and Cerro Vista was completed in 2003. Construction on a new on-campus apartment complex, Poly Canyon Village, began in 2006.

Each of the residence halls represent a different living community on campus. The six red-brick halls are the Living-Learning Program halls for the different colleges of Cal Poly. The five North Mountain halls are organizationally a part of the engineering Living-Learning Program. The Sierra Madre and Yosemite halls are the First-Year Connection Program halls and focus on freshman-oriented transition programs. All buildings house students of all majors. The Cerro Vista Apartments is the Sophomore Success Program community and helps students transition into independent living. The total on-campus population is 3,600 (as of 2006), but will grow to over 6,300 after the Poly Canyon Village Apartments are completely opened in fall 2009. Half of Poly Canyon Village Apartments will be open in the fall of 2008.

[edit] Greek life

Since 1949, Greek organizations have been present at Cal Poly. The Greek community consists of three governing councils at Cal Poly: United Sorority and Fraternity Council, Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Association.^[21]
The 2007 Fall rush was record breaking for Cal Poly, the Greek community grew by approximately 940 freshman students.^[22] The IFC campus average in March 2006 was 40, after 2007 Fall rush the new IFC Fraternity average is 64.

There are currently:
11 USFC Fraternities/Sororities
18 IFC Fraternities
1 IFC Colony (Sigma Pi)
1 IFC interest group (Delta Lambda Phi)
8 Panhellenic Sororities
1 Panhellenic Interest Group (Alpha Epsilon)

[edit] Athletics

Cal Poly fields 20 varsity sports. The school's mascot is the Mustang. Sports teams participate in the NCAA's Division I. Cal Poly athletics generally compete in the Big West Conference, with football and wrestling being the exception. Cal Poly's wrestling team is a member of the PAC-10 Conference. Prior to joining Division I in the mid 90's, the school won 35 national championships.^[23] Football plays in the Great West Football Conference. Their football team is notable for being the first Great West Football Conference participant in the Division I-AA (now known as FCS) playoffs. The football team plays rival UC Davis in the annual Battle for the Golden Horseshoe. The Mustang Maniacs are Cal Poly's spirit group. They support the team both away and at home. The Mustang basketball team had its most successful year in 2007, when the team came within one win in the Big West basketball tournament of getting into the NCAA basketball tournament

The schools best program, in recent years and in the '80's, is the women's volleyball team. On November 19, 2007 the team captured its second straight Big West Title by posting a 15-1 conference record and a 23-8 record overall. The program made it to the third round of the playoffs for the first time since 1985 before losing to Standford in the Sweet 16. The team also went 23-6 in 2006.

Notable Athletes:

Football:
Jordan Beck, LB - Class of 2005 - Currently on Denver Broncos
Kyle Shotwell, LB - Class of 2007 - Currently on Indianapolis Colts
Chris Gocong, LB - Class of 2006 - Currently on Philadelphia Eagles

[edit] Songs

[edit] Fight Songs

Ride High, You Mustangs Listen Ride High, You Mustangs, Kick the frost out, burn the breeze, Ride High, You Mustangs, Those bow wows we'll knock to their knees Hi! Ki! Yi! Ride High, You Mustangs Chin the moon and do it right Ride High and cut a rusty Fight! Fight! Fight! - Harold P. Davidson

Yea Poly Listen On Pacific shores, 'neath Bishop Peak Along the serene San Luis Creek Lies our alma mater, grand as can be! Many a foe will stalk her ground But we, mighty Mustangs, won't be found But valiantly marching to victory! Strike up the band for all to hear! For our alma mater, sing and cheer! Ride high and she'll never fail! Banners of green and gold will raise And so will the echoes of her praise For Cal Poly will prevail! YEA POLY! -Music by John Higgins, Lyrics by Joshua B. Parker

[edit] Alma mater

All Hail Green and Gold Listen All Hail, Green and Gold, May your praises e'er be told Of friendship, and of courage And stalwart sons of old! All Hail, Green and Gold, In your name we shall prevail, So to California Polytechnic, Hail! Hail! Hail! -Harold P. Davidson

[edit] See also

• List of California Polytechnic State University alumni
• Alex G. Spanos Stadium
• Center for Coastal Marine Sciences
• Leaning Pine Arboretum
• Mercy Bowl
• Cal Poly Mustang Band

[edit] Notes

[edit] External links

• Cal Poly Alma Mater and Fight Songs

v • d • e California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, California Colleges College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences · College of Architecture and Environmental Design · Orfalea College of Business · College of Education · College of Engineering · College of Liberal Arts · College of Science and Mathematics Student Life Roses Parade · Mustang Daily · KCPR · ASI · Mustang Athletics · Mercy Bowl · Cal Poly Mustang Band · Week of Welcome · Cal Poly Open House · Cal Poly Homecoming · Alumni Campus Facilities Performing Arts Center · Cal Poly student housing · Poly Canyon · Poly Canyon Village · Alex G. Spanos Stadium · Robert E. Kennedy Library · Center for Coastal Marine Sciences · Leaning Pine Arboretum

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Coordinates: 35°18′06″N, 120°39′35.35″W