Academic Affairs Connections Fall 2018 vol.1

Office of the Provost Fall 2018 vol. 1

Provost's Message

Dr. Sylvia Alva

Now that we are on a semester calendar, I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank each and every one of you for coming together as an entire campus and implementing a very successful conversion. Together, you made a very complex process seem easy. The reality is that it was anything but easy. We know that there will be a few "bumps in the road" but I am very pleased with how smoothly things are moving along. Great job! On week 10, what would have been the last week of the quarter, Academic Affairs will be hosting a special Q2S celebration please RSVP by clicking here: Eventbrite.

There is a lot happening on campus. Deciding what news and topics to include in the Academic Affairs newsletter can be a difficult task - deciding which articles make it into the newsletter and which ones get cut or held back for another issue or communique. Guided by the new university strategic plan and our pursuit of excellence as an inclusive polytechnic university, the focus of this issue is on diversity, inclusiveness, and excellence. As we move from strategic planning to strategic doing, it is not enough to have and embrace these ideals and aspirations. We have to, well, take strategic actions. In terms of strategic doing, we need to put concrete plans and strategic in place. This issue provides a few examples of how, through our collective and shared efforts, "Cal Poly Pomona will be the model for an inclusive polytechnic university."

Welcome New Administrators to Academic Affairs:

Dr. Sep Eskandari was appointed Associate Provost effective June 18, 2018
Dr. Laura Massa was appointed Associate VP for Academic Programs effective June 25, 2018
Dr. Terri Gomez was appointed Associate VP for Student Success effective July 1, 2018

In closing, I look forward to seeing you around the campus or at one of the many special campus events scheduled for this fall.

Academic Planning

Dr. Sep Eskandari

We started work on the Academic Master Plan ( http://www.cpp.edu/~academicplan/) over a year ago and established an inclusive, collaborative, consultative, and transparent process with ample provisions and opportunities for campus input into the academic master plan. The initial phase of the planning process included ten working groups composed of over 120 faculty, staff, students, and administrators. These working groups provided the essential vision and framework for the a cademic master plan. Later phases of plan development were

iterative and included town hall events, focus group meetings, and information gathering sessions with faculty, students, staff, and administrators. At every step, the feedback received was analyzed and emerging consensus was incorporated into the evolving draft of the academic master plan. This semester, we will hold additional college meetings to further discuss and refine the action steps identified in the plan.

A key goal of the academic master plan was to arrive at a collective, Cal Poly Pomona definition of a "polytechnic" education. To this end, our collective efforts have defined eight (8) elements that, when

applied together and in a synergistic fashion, give strong expression to what it means to be an inclusive polytechnic university. These elements are captured in the diagram shown to the right.

It is important to note that the eight elements of an inclusive polytechnic university serve as the academic foundation for the new campus logo, which is shaped in the form of an octagon. Informed by the eight essential elements of a polytechnic education, the new logo upholds and honors the traditions of our inclusive polytechnic university, yet boldly looks forward to all the opportunities that the future holds for Cal Poly Pomona.

Class Scheduling

The O ffice of Academic Planning is responsible for coordinating class scheduling ( http://www.cpp.edu/~academicplanning/resources/ ). Ms. Lam Le and Ms. Myrna Ochoa are new members of the team and are happy to provide help and support to the colleges and departments. To improve our class scheduling processes, as well as to better serve the campus community, we will host ongoing training and information sessions for all class schedulers. Look for an announcement later in the semester for an upcoming training session.

Faculty Affairs

Dr. Martin Sancho-Madriz

An inclusive polytechnic education inspires creativity and innovation, embraces local and global challenges, and transforms lives. Students engage in the elements of an inclusive polytechnic education through their academic and co-curricular experiences. Faculty Affairs is committed to helping shape these experiences by supporting and developing faculty members beginning at recruitment. Our goal is to improve the diversity, quality, and size of applicant pools for faculty positions. The campus is recruiting 51 future faculty members that will begin in Fall 2019. Currently, the recruitment plans of 37 searches have been submitted and approved. Searches that received all approvals are added to our new online Open Positions page: http://www.cpp.edu/~faculty-affairs/open-positions/index.shtml. Each listing has a link with the full posting, including an "Apply Now" button that takes prospective applicants to the Interfolio portal for online submission of applications and required documentation.

The approved searches have received additional funding of up to $5,000 to supplement funding by the colleges with the specific goal of implementing active measures to reach underrepresented and women candidates. Strongly diverse and inclusive pools will provide the search committees an opportunity to evaluate a wide array of candidate's accomplishments and experiences that would complement the equally rich backgrounds of the student body. Together, a rich mosaic of diversity in the faculty and student body will synergistically motor the elements of an inclusive polytechnic education to spin in harmony; resulting in graduates that are transformed to address challenges on a local and global level.

After one year as Interim Director of Academic Personnel, Rosalinda Velasco has accepted a position as Interim AVP of Human Resources and Co-Chief Diversity Officer at Cal State San Bernardino, starting October 1st. We appreciate Rosalinda's dedication and service during her time at Cal Poly Pomona and congratulate her on this opportunity. We have been busy in Faculty Affairs working on recruitment of a new Faculty Affairs Analyst as well as an interim for the position vacated by Rosalinda, announcements are expected soon.

Student Success

Dr. Terri Gomez

The Office of Student Success has several exciting projects

happening this fall. From October 4 through November 9, students will be able to participate in Advising Month activities, which will promote the importance of advising and our Take 30 campaign to encourage students to take 30 units per academic year to stay on track to graduation. Advising Month culminates with the 2018-19 Day of the Advisor Conference. The theme is "United for Student Success: Creating Intentional Equity and Inclusion through Advising," and will feature a keynote address from Dr. Sumun Pendakur, Chief Learning Officer and Director of the USC Equity Institutes at the USC Race and Equity Center.

We are also partnering with Institutional Research, Planning, and Analytics, Enrollment Services, and faculty and staff from across campus to rollout EAB (Educational Advisory Board analytics) Student Success Collaborative for spring 2019. This tool will support advising practice across campus and provide additional opportunities to proactively support student success.

Cal Poly Pomona (CPP) welcomed 84 incoming freshmen to the inaugural Early Start Bronco Scholars Program during the summer term. Students lived on campus for three weeks and commuted for two, taking Introduction to Ethnic Studies, math and writing courses. Students also engaged in out-of-the classroom activities that complemented their coursework and prepared them for the transition from high school to college. The program not only provided students with academic support, but gave them the opportunity to build friendships and connect with the campus community.

Also during the summer term, 89 incoming transfer students checked into the two-day PolyTransfer Summer Transition Program. Students had two full days of workshops and engaged in group activities, culminating in a group presentation. Faculty also provided lectures on writing, communication and transitioning into a new campus environment. The 2018 PolyTransfer cohort is ready and excited to tackle the academic rigors and a brand-new campus.

Lastly, 34 First Year Experience (FYE) courses are engaging with the 2018 CPP Common Read, So You've Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson. Kimberly Gottula, a third-year industrial engineering student, nominated the book. Annually, the FYE Committee selects the CPP Common Read to provide incoming first-year students (freshmen and transfer) with a common academic experience - a book to read during the summer and fall, followed by programming during the academic year.

Academic Programs

Dr. Laura Massa

The Office of Academic Programs is excited to have welcomed Dr. Olukemi Sawyerr as Interim Assistant Vice President for Academic Innovation. In this role, Dr. Sawyerr is to promote innovative approaches to Cal Poly Pomona's inclusive polytechnic education. Dr. Sawyerr will work with faculty and staff to advance a culture of innovation and evidence-informed practice in teaching and learning.

In addition, the Assistant Vice President of Academic Innovation is responsible for leadership and oversight of the Student Innovation Idea Lab (iLab), the Center for Community Engagement, and Kellogg Honors College. These areas provide key support for student development in the eight elements of an inclusive polytechnic education.

Learn Through Discovery Initiative

The Learn Through Discovery Initiative is part of the implementation of an Inclusive Polytechnic Education. Guided by Cal Poly Pomona's Strategic Plan and Academic Master Plan, the initiative aims to provide every Cal Poly Pomona student with a unique polytechnic experience and with the ability to articulate this experience. A task force appointed by the Executive Committee of the Academic Senate is currently inventorying existing curricular and co-curricular polytechnic experiences available to Cal Poly Pomona students and developing a plan to engage students, faculty, staff, and administrators. For more information on the Learn Through Discovery Initiative please visit the website. If you are interested in participating on the Task Force, please submit a request to the Academic Senate at: http://www.cpp.edu/~senate/forms/senate-committee-interest.shtml and indicate in the brief statement of qualifications your interest in serving on the Learn Through Discovery Task Force.

Research Innovation & Economic Development

Dr. Sadiq Shah

External Funding for Student Success

Cal Poly Pomona recently received grant awards from various agencies that will engage students in the research experience and advance doctoral programs. The recently received awards in support of the inclusive Polytechnic education are:

Dr. Alex Rudolph, Department of Physics received a $4.2 million award from the National Science Foundation for a "Collaborative Research: A Bridge to Physics and Astronomy Doctorates for students with Financial Need."
Dr. Paul Beardsley, Biological Sciences as a PI, and Co-PIs Drs. Arlo Cane, Angela Shih, Victoria Bhavsar, Viviane Seryanian received a $1.5 million award from the National Science Foundation for "Polytechnic for All STEM Undergraduate Success Via Inclusive Institution."
Mr. Richardo Quintero, Mary Claire and their team received three awards for a total of $4.3 million for the "Upward Bound Programs," from the U.S. Department of Education.
Dr. Celeste Salinas received $437,773 for the "Children's Center" from the California Department of Education.

Other faculty are also actively engaged in securing external funding that will create opportunities for hands-on learning at an inclusive polytechnic university. For further information visit the Office of Research, Innovation, & Economic Development's web site.

Summer Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activities

This past summer, the Office of Undergraduate Research organized over 100 student weekly research seminars led by Faculty Coordinator Dr. Preeti Wadhwa. Seminar topics ranged from sustainable food production systems to research ethics and cybersecurity. The seminar series concluded with the 4th Annual Creative Activities and Research Symposium on August 16th. There were over 80 student presentations that included oral, poster, and a special poetry session by the Pomona Valley Review. Participating programs were the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE), NIH Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE), and NSF REU Big Data Security and Privacy.

Enrollment Management & Services

Betty Huff

Enrollment Management and Services (EM&S) has been engaged in technology-focused planning to support the inclusive polytechnic education goal of Cal Poly. Providing effective tools for planning and achieving their goals is a way that EM&S assists students. Two projects are currently underway with 2019 planned implementation dates.

The Registrar's Office is in the early stages of bringing Smart Planner to the campus. Smart Planner is a planning and scheduling tool that interfaces with PeopleSoft and performs automated course selections, creates real-time dashboards, and assists first-year, current, and transfer students in achieving their graduation goals on time. It creates an individualized, optimized career study plan based on a student's declared major, the published schedule of classes and typically offered course information in the course catalog in alignment with the student's current transcript.

The Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships, partnering with the Office of Student Success, is evaluating a web-based educational tool for students to gain financial literacy. Branded as a CalPoly service to students and families and available 24/7, the software provides ten modules focused on core financial topics and addresses financial education competencies. Each of the modules are formatted with easily digestible sound bites, dynamic videos, quizzes, social media sharing capabilities, and practical knowledge checks that allow students to track their progress. The software has the ability to allow advisors to evaluate student progress in real time. Students receive a tailored educational experience that adapts to their time-frame with modules such as: Foundations of Money; College and Monday; FAFSA; Loan Guidance; Debt and Repayment; and Spending and Borrowing. Several of the modules are available in Spanish.