Business Continuity Program
Prepare for the Unexpected
Cal Poly’s Business Continuity Program ensures that essential university functions can continue with minimal disruption during and after an emergency. Business continuity planning focuses on how to maintain or rapidly resume critical services when normal operations are interrupted — whether by a power outage, cyber incident, natural disaster, or any other emergency.
Mission Essential Functions
| Mission Essential Function | Description | Sample Divisions or Units |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Recruitment and Admissions | Manages the processes of attracting, evaluating, and enrolling new students to meet the university's enrollment goals. |
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| Agricultural Care & Facilities | Supports hands-on learning and research through the maintenance and operation of agricultural lands and facilities. |
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| Classes (Academic Colleges) | Ensures the delivery of educational programs and courses across various disciplines. |
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| Emergency Services | Ensures the safety and security of the campus community through preparedness, response, and recovery efforts. |
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| Facilities & Infrastructure | Maintains and operates the physical campus environment, including buildings, grounds, and utilities. |
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| Fiscal Services | Manages the university's financial operations, including budgeting, accounting, and financial reporting. |
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| Food Services | Provides dining options and nutritional resources to the campus community. |
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| Grants & Donations | Facilitates external funding through grants and philanthropic contributions to support university initiatives. |
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| Healthcare & Counseling | Offers medical and mental health services to promote the well-being of students. |
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| Housing | Manages on-campus residential facilities and supports students living on campus. |
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| IT Services & Communications | Provides technological infrastructure and support, as well as internal and external communications. |
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| Leadership | Guides the strategic direction and administration of the university. |
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| Payroll | Administers employee compensation, benefits, and related financial services. |
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| Procurement & Contracts | Oversees purchasing, vendor relations, and contract management to ensure compliance and fiscal responsibility. |
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| Reputation Management | Maintains and enhances the university's public image and relationships with stakeholders. |
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| Research | Supports scholarly activities, research initiatives, and compliance with regulatory standards. |
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Every business unit plays a role in supporting the university’s resilience. Business units that perform essential functions are required to maintain a current Business Continuity Plan (BCP) to guide their recovery and continuation efforts.
What is a Business Continuity Plan (BCP)?
A Business Continuity Plan (BCP) is more than just a checklist — it is a living strategy for resilience.
At its heart, a BCP:
- Identifies critical processes that must continue or resume quickly after a disruption.
- Assigns clear accountability by listing key personnel and their backups.
- Engages the team in collaborative brainstorming to develop coping strategies and tactics that keep operations moving under pressure.
- Plans how to adapt operations if resources are lost (devolution) and how to rebuild when conditions stabilize (reconstitution).
Cal Poly divisions and units think through how to adapt if resources are lost and how to rebuild when conditions stabilize. This creative planning ensures that business units remain flexible, resourceful, and focused during emergencies.
At Cal Poly, business unit BCPs are living documents — reviewed and updated regularly to reflect changes in staffing, operations, and risk.
To support BCP development, Cal Poly uses Kuali Ready, a business continuity planning tool designed specifically for higher education institutions. Many CSU campuses utilize Kuali Ready for their continuity planning efforts.
Authorities and Standards
Cal Poly’s Business Continuity Program is built on nationally recognized best practices and systemwide policies.
We follow guidance from the Federal Continuity Directives (FCD 1 and FCD 2) issued by FEMA. Our programmatic policy is outlined in Campus Administrative Policy 383. The California State University System requires every CSU campus to maintain an active continuity program. This policy reflects requirements set forth by the State of California Executive Order S-04-06 and the California Emergency Services Act.
In addition, Cal Poly’s Business Continuity Planning Committee (BCPC), composed of senior campus leaders, provides oversight and approval of continuity plans to ensure alignment with university priorities.
Support and Resources
DEM provides guidance and support to help business units create and maintain effective Business Continuity Plans.
Once developed, each business unit’s BCP undergoes formal review and approval to ensure plans are complete, current, and aligned with university-wide priorities. Approved BCPs are then deposited in Cal Poly’s Business Continuity SharePoint repository, which is available by permission to BCPC members.
Access the Business Continuity SharePoint Repository →
If your business unit needs assistance with developing or updating its Business Continuity Plan, please contact DEM at dem@calpoly.edu.