Welcome A&F Update — Fall 2019

Quarterly Update

Tuition payment plans for students, License Plate Recognition for the campus, and our preparations for a potential power outage, welcome to the A&F Update for fall 2019.

In this issue, we’ll explain the next steps for the launch of License Plate Recognition, what the university is doing to prepare for a possible PG&E public safety power shutoff and the great work that Sustainability is doing to lower Cal Poly’s environmental footprint. We’ll also introduce you to the new online feedback form.

All of these stories as well as updates from the budget office, the construction sites and the Master Plan, can be found here.

As we move forward with these updates I would love to hear your feedback, questions or concerns. Please don’t hesitate to reach out and share your thoughts.

New Locksets Will Increase Campus Security

In response to growing concerns about classroom safety during an emergency, Facilities Management & Development is wrapping up a pilot program to upgrade the locksets in all campus teaching spaces. The upgraded locks allow faculty and students to secure the classroom and shelter in place during an emergency or active shooter event. Locks have been installed in classrooms and teaching labs and are scheduled to be upgraded in department offices, meeting rooms or research labs by the end of fall quarter. For additional details and an instructional video, visit https://afd.calpoly.edu/facilities/about/news/lockset.

Tuition and Fee Payments Now Available

Students can now spread the cost of their tuition and fees over a three-month payment plan. This fall quarter, Student Accounts offered a Term Payment Plan that will help students pay their tuition and fees.

This payment plan is a first at Cal Poly and will greatly assist in promoting student success. Students will now be able to better plan and spread their financial obligation over the three months of the quarter.

In the effort of creating a culture of world-class service, Student Accounts has worked to provide more options for students and their families so they can focus more on their studies.

Sustainability Update

Cal Poly was recently recognized for its sustainability achievements from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) with the receipt of the Gold STARS rating. Cal Poly is 1 of 124 institutions across the nation to achieve this rating. STARS, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System, measures and encourages sustainability in all aspects of higher education.

Over the last two years, Cal Poly has completed a number of large- and small-scale projects that have taken the university closer to its sustainability goals and assisted with its commitment toward climate neutrality.

Recent projects include:

• Completion of a 5-megawatt Gold Tree Solar Farm, which provides 25 percent of Cal Poly’s electricity needs and will save $17 million over the course of 20 years,
• Received LEED Operations and Maintenance Silver Certification on three buildings- Cotchett Education, Advanced Technology Laboratories, and the Construction Innovation Center.
• Integrated sustainability into the Strategic Plans for Facilities Management and Development, Administration and Finance and the university.

Other improvements include:

• Increasing the infusion of sustainability into course offerings in the university catalog,
• Started on-campus community gardens to support the Food Pantry and student basic needs,
• Zero Waste for food service and waste management has been incorporated at a growing number of university events.

New Administration and Finance Feedback Form

Administration and Finance wants to hear from you, and thanks to the help of Network and Technology Services, giving feedback is easier than ever. Near the end of summer, a feedback form on the A&F Homepage was launched to allow students, parents, faculty, staff and alumni alike to leave a written message with their thoughts and concerns as well as their complaints and compliments. Available at the bottom of the A&F Homepage, the feedback form will be used to gain a more thorough understanding of the campus climate and to serve as a direct conduit to leadership within Administration and Finance.

Vista Grande Construction Update

The Vista Grande Dining Complex construction has been in full force and gaining steam over the past few months. Work finishing up the exterior of the building continued throughout the summer, with the installation of the glass store fronts and exterior stucco.

Most of the work at this time is occurring in the interior of the building with the installation of electrical and mechanical systems, as well as the completion of the interior fire proofing and metal stud walls. Drywall is also being installed throughout the building, with some wall finishes and painting complete on the lower level of the building.

Two pizza ovens, the cornerstone of the new pizza venue, were delivered to the building, though they have yet to be installed. The Level 1 built-in freezer and cooler have been installed, and site concrete planters and retaining walls are in the process of being built.

The remodel of the Vista Grande Dining Complex will provide a variety of programming opportunities and meal plan options. Stay tuned as more details are unveiled. Vista Grande Project Website

Campus has been abuzz with a variety of other construction projects facilitated by Facilities Planning and Capital Projects including beach volleyball complex, University Union Neighborhood, William and Linda Frost Center for Research and Innovation. To see a full listing of projects and detail, please visit https://afd.calpoly.edu/facilities/planning-capital-projects/project-news/.

Lorlie Leetham to Retire Spring 2020

After 23 years on campus, the last five serving as the Cal Poly Corporation executive director and associate vice president of commercial services, Lorlie Leetham will be retiring next spring. A licensed CPA, Leetham joined Cal Poly as an accountant in the fiscal services department in 1996. She went on to serve Cal Poly in a number of different capacities over the years, including assistant director and then director in Fiscal Services, assistant vice president of Fiscal Services and Auxiliary Reporting, and finally in her current role with the corporation. She is looking forward to more flexibility and free time – for family, friends, recreation, travel, self-care, and some business pursuits. “I am extremely fortunate to have landed at Cal Poly when I did, and to have had the opportunities that came my way. It is hard to leave the people and the great work we are doing here, but I am excited about the next chapter in my life.”

A&F Welcomes Angela (Angie) Kraetsch

Angela Kraetsch joined Cal Poly on September 23 as the associate vice president for financial services. Kraetsch brings more than 19 years of experience in progressive responsibility for accounting, budget, financial management and oversight. She was the director of finance for the city of Santa Clara and had direct responsibility for municipal services, budget, treasury, payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable, purchasing, warehouse, general accounting, audit and Stadium Authority. In her role, she stewarded a budget of over $1 billion and served as chief financial officer for Silicon Valley Power, the city-owned electric utility, as well as the treasurer for the Santa Clara Stadium Authority. Kraetsch is a graduate of Troy State University and is a certified public accountant (CPA). We are glad to have Angie join our team. To schedule an appointment with Angie, please contact Cari Wilson at 6-7422 or cwilso63@calpoly.edu.

Budget Update

The University Budget and Finance Office is finalizing the 2019-20 annual budget plan for Cal Poly. This was the first year that all university divisions entered their base budget plans through Questica, Cal Poly’s new budget and reporting tool. This tool will allow for improved budget transparency reflecting distribution of funds in support of priorities and budgetary needs and will facilitate improved budget reporting and monitoring.

The California state budget was approved on June 27, 2019, appropriating General Funds of $3.98 billion, a $332.9 million increase for the California State University System (CSU). The increase in base funding will support mandatory costs, continued investment in the Graduation Initiative 2025 (GI25), and an increase in resident full-time equivalent students across the CSU of approximately 10,000. CSU funding allocations can be found at the CalState.edu website.

Of the funds allocated to the CSU, Cal Poly received $14.5M in general fund base support, and $3.1M in one-time funding. Most of the funds allocated are designated for a specific purpose, with a modest amount allocated for discretionary purposes. The below is a summary of Cal Poly’s base allocations:

In a continued effort to enhance transparency, the Budget and Finance Office has created a Financial Transparency website. This site provides a variety of financial information including university budgets, student fee allocations and a variety of financial information. The page also provides expenditure activity for prior years through Questica OpenBook, a financial transparency and visualization software. This site will continue to be developed and enhanced, and the 2019-20 Operating Budget will be posted as soon as it is finalized.

Cal Poly Master Plan Update

The university published the final draft of its new Cal Poly Campus Master Plan last June following a thorough and intensive study that looked into future enrollment, research, residential growth and more.

The plan emphasized the importance of student and staff housing, new and expanded academic opportunities, and creating a compact campus core.

The revisions to the Master Plan reflected the robust dialogue between the planning team and university leadership, as well as the campus and community as a whole.

The Master Plan is a long-range planning document that looks to the next 20 years, and serves as a guide to ensure short-term projects are done in coordination with the university’s long-term plans, while melding together Cal Poly’s Learn by Doing culture with its commitment to environmental, social and economic sustainability.

The Master Plan Environmental Impact Report (MPEIR) is nearing completion and will be circulated to the campus and community in November.

The Master Plan document is available to view in full at https://masterplan.calpoly.edu/.

License Plate Recognition

This summer, Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS) piloted License Plate Recognition (LPR) software that will make the parking operation more sustainable and improve the parking experience for the campus community.

LPR is now fully introduced to the campus community as of fall quarter 2019. Physical permits are no longer necessary and your license plate will now serve as your permit. This requires accurate license plate information in your parking account to remain compliant. Anyone with a parking permit will need to ensure that the vehicle they drive to campus is linked to an active permit in their parking account.

To register your vehicle and link it to your active permit, log into your parking account. Instructional videos are available on the LPR webpage for assistance.

TAPS is collecting your physical parking permit for recycling. Drop off your permit in Building 36 and you'll automatically be entered into a raffle for fun prizes during fall quarter!

For more information about LPR, visit parking.calpoly.edu/LPR.

Public Safety Power Shutoff Program

Following some of the most destructive wild fires in California’s history, PG&E has announced an expansion to its Public Safety Power Shutoff program. Under this program, the utility plans to proactively turn off power to portions of its service areas when they are affected by weather that make ideal wildfire conditions.

Under the specter of a multi-day outage, Cal Poly’s Department of Emergency Management (DEM) has been working with leads from throughout campus to create a plan for the many complex problems that a power shutoff would create.

The plan covers every aspect of campus life including how each academic department will deliver instruction, how students will be housed, fed and communicated with, as well as how livestock will be cared for.

DEM also wants to make sure that the Cal Poly community is safe. There are many resources available to help families prepare, including following DEM on social media for news and tips, and visiting prepareslo.org to learn how to plan for and what to do during an emergency.

DEM will continue to keep the Cal Poly community informed. If you have any questions, please reach out to DEM@calpoly.edu or (805) 756-6675