April 21, 2016 - Spring, Volume 1  
  Announcements      Featured Stories       Featured Events      Achievements      Contact      
A Message from the Provost
Spring is nature's way of saying, "let's celebrate!"
 
Indeed, Semester Conversion continues to make good progress, with the curriculum now moving from Academic Programs out to the various Senate review committees and catalog. This is a very complex and time-intensive process and I continue to be amazed at the leadership and commitment that I observe in the faculty, staff, and students who are working together to ensure that we hit critical milestones and meet the overall goal of converting from quarter to semester in Fall 2018.  This month we also launched MyPlanner, the advising tool for Semester Conversion.  We will start by targeting seniors who are within 36 units of graduation. Our seniors will be working on and submitting their Individual Academic Plans (IAP) to establish a pathway through their remaining degree requirements.  The faculty and staff advisors on the planning committee have developed video tutorials, an IAP peer ambassador program and other strategies for both students and other advisors to assist them in using the advising tool.  We have reached a key milestone. My sincere thanks and appreciation to all of you for working together to make student success a priority.   

The celebration continues.  As you know, the potential faculty strike was averted with the tentative agreement reached by the CSU-CFA. The tentative agreement affirms that our faculty are valued and primary contributors to the success of our students.  I want to thank our local CFA chapter and Chapter President D.D. (Dorothy) Wills for keeping the lines of communication open throughout this process.  I am encouraged and hopeful that with the potential strike behind us, we can focus on university and academic strategic planning, faculty searches, and numerous other important initiatives that are vital to moving our campus forward. 
 
When I arrived at Cal Poly Pomona in August, I learned that an interim report was due in November 2015 to the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). Under Claudia Pinter-Lucke's leadership, we submitted the interim report, which addressed topics and areas that were mentioned in prior action letters.  The three topics were: 1) an update and analysis of retention and graduation rates and our efforts in this area; 2) assessment plans and program reviews; and 3) GE assessment.  I am pleased to report that the WSCUC panel wrote the campus in late March and "commended Cal Poly Pomona for the report's depth and breadth and overall thoroughness" and the progress the University has made in addressing its concerns. WSCUC, however, did request that progress on the three topics noted above be included in the institutional report for the offsite review in fall 2018, and an accreditation visit in fall 2019.  This is wonderful news for Cal Poly Pomona. I am confident this recent success, along with the priorities and strategies that will be identified as part by our strategic plan, will earn us a national reputation as the premier metro-urban polytechnic university.   
 
Spring is also a time of award ceremonies and celebrations, culminating with commencement. In addition to recognizing our students, this is a special time of year to select and recognize faculty and staff for their numerous contributions to the campus community.  I want to thank the faculty and staff that have volunteered their time for these special recognition programs.  Please watch for announcements honoring our outstanding staff and faculty.
 
Next week is Administrative Professionals Day. I want to use this occasion to thank the dedicated and hardworking staff who provide invaluable support to the departments and units in our division. Thank you! Your support, advice, and commitment to student success are valued and do not go unnoticed.
 
In closing, I look forward to meeting more of you and attending various events throughout the quarter!
 
Sincerely,
 
Sylvia Alva
Highlights in Academic Affairs

As you may know, in Academic Affairs, we are actively searching for deans in the colleges of Business Administration, Education and Integrative Studies, Engineering, and Science, as well as the Associate Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Economic Development.
 
These searches are coordinated by my office. As outlined by Appendix 14, the search committee members are faculty representatives appointed by the Executive Committee of the Academic Senate, students appointed by Associated Students Incorporated, and staff and administrators appointed by the Provost. 
 
Thank you for your continued participation during the search process.  These visits require a tremendous amount of coordination and involvement by the entire university community.  I know it can be challenging juggling the meetings and open forums for all of the finalists.  I encourage you to provide feedback on the finalists, as your input is very important to the search committee and to me.  Please check the following website   http://www.cpp.edu/~executivesearch for information on open forums and survey forms for the various searches.
 
I want to thank the numerous committee members.  They volunteer countless hours reviewing files, participating in Skype interviews with semi-finalists, and making recommendations on finalists for on-campus interviews.  I look forward to the successful completion of all five searches in Academic Affairs by the end of this academic year.  Please watch for announcements in late spring quarter introducing the new deans and associate vice president in Academic Affairs!
AnnouncementsImportant and Timely Announcements
Nominations are now being accepted for the George P. Hart Award for outstanding faculty leadership.  One-page nomination statements may be submitted by any interested person or organization.  A complete description of the George P. Hart Award can be found at www.cpp.edu/~hartaward/application-process.shtml.  Nominations are due Friday, April 22.
Provost's Award for Staff Member of the Year

The Provost's Award for Staff Member of the Year recognizes a staff member from the division of Academic Affairs who has  distinguished himself/herself in performance of his/her responsibilities to students, the faculty, the division, and the University community.  To nominate a staff member for this prestigious award please visit www.cpp.edu/~academic-affairs/staff-awards.  Nominations are due by Friday, April 29.
FeaturedStories Featured Stories

The Bronco Startup Challenge is a startup competition designed to encourage students from different backgrounds, specialties, and expertise to create a unified vision. From ideation to business plan and beyond, the competition is designed to grow the horizons of innovative students. It is about startups, young and innovative companies who aim to disrupt and change the status quo.

When can you be part of this entrepreneurship experience? May 12th, 2016 at URSA Major 5:00pm - 9:00pm.

We would love to have the CPP community come out to witness and support the ingenuity, innovation, and the ambition of Broncos to make this world a better place.

It has been an incredible effort by our sponsors this year: College of Business, PolyFounders, CEO & Innovation Lab.
 
For more information visit our website:   Bronco Startup Challenge 

Engineering, math, computer science and robots will be on collision courses at two robotics competitions.

More than 1,000 students from neighboring school districts will make precise mathematical calculations, match wits and flex robotic muscles. The first opportunity will come Monday, April 25, at the seventh annual Robot Expo at the Fairplex in Pomona.

Another round of battles will be staged Friday, May 6, in the 10th annual Robot Rally at Cal Poly Pomona.

In the two competitions, students will put the robots through challenges that require using mathematics to program the machines to execute precision turns and also take aggressive and evasive maneuvers. The robots also must cover certain distances and speeds. The students have to understand and work with decimals, fractions, proportions, angle and linear measurement.

FeaturedEvents Featured Events
April 29 

We're delighted to announce the fifth annual PolyTeach event! PolyTeach highlights the creative ways that Cal Poly Pomona faculty and students use technology in the classroom.  We're particularly excited that Dr. Diana Oblinger, President emeritus of EduCause, is this year's PolyTeach keynote speaker.  Please join us Friday, April 29.  For more details and registration, please visit, www.cpp.edu/polyteach.   

The Outstanding Advisor Awards recognize the outstanding efforts on our campus to support student success. The awards recognize individuals and programs that encourage students to establish goals and objectives, that seek practical and innovative solutions to students' problems, and that seek opportunities to grow professionally.  Each year the campus chooses one faculty member in each academic college, one staff member from Academic Affairs and one from Student Affairs, and one program from either Academic Affairs or Student Affairs to receive this award . The recognition ceremony is scheduled for May 12, 2016 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the University Plaza at Building 26.
May 7
Strawberries, tractors and classic cars will fill the fields near Cal Poly Pomona's Farm Store for the 10th annual Strawberry Festival, Tractor & Car Show on May 7, 9a.m.-4p.m.
Please join Provost Alva for a farewell celebration for Dr. Brian Jersky on May 24, 4-6 p.m. at Kellogg House Pomona. RSVP by May 13.
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS RECOGNITION & APPRECIATION RECEPTION
May 26
Academic Affairs staff are invited to attend a recognition and appreciation luau reception on May 26 from 3-5 p.m.  Mark your calendars! Invitation to come.
Achievements Let's Get Loud and Proud!

Dr. Still, a plant science professor, received a grant to study how to make lettuce grow more efficiently.

A grant for $416,343 from the California Department of Food and Agriculture grant will help him identify the genes in lettuce that govern nitrogen and water use. Water has become scarcer with the current drought, and the nitrogen in fertilizers produce greenhouse gas and can cause groundwater pollution, he says.

"The lettuce industry has never had to face these issues, using less water and less nitrogen," Still says.

Lettuce is a $2 billion industry, and most lettuce consumed in the United States is grown in California and Arizona. Growers use different cultivars of lettuce in each of these regions because of the climatological differences between them.

"There is not a 'one size fits all' for lettuce production," Still says.

Learn More
Did You Know?
In the fall of 1938, the Voorhis Unit of Cal Poly (a southern branch of the San Luis Obispo campus) opened in San Dimas with just 80 students and five faculty - all men.  The college offered majors in agricultural inspection, citriculture, deciduous fruits and landscape gardening.  Within a year, enrollment increased to 103.
Cal Poly Pomona  Contact 
Office of Provost and VP for Academic Affairs
 
(909) 869-4382
provost-vpaa @cpp.edu
http://www.cpp.edu/~academic-affairs 

SUBMISSIONS:   Do you have an accomplishment or something that you are proud of in your area that you would like to share with your colleagues?  Please email Andrea Frontino, amfrontino@cpp.edu your submission. Space is limited, we may not be able to include all submissions.