Cultivate Summer 2020

FROM THE DEAN

As I write this letter, we are planning for about 13 percent of fall quarter classes to be held in-person with the rest being held virtually. We just received approval for first-year students to be housed on-campus in learning communities that have been adapted to ensure state and county prevention guidelines can be met. Faculty and staff will primarily be working remotely, except as needed. And students, faculty and staff will all be accommodated should they not feel comfortable living or working on campus. We will continue to closely monitor local health conditions and adjust our plans as needed.

There remains much uncertainty, but as we prepare for the academic year’s demands, we have not lost sight of our longer-term mission: delivering a world-class Learn by Doing education. In this issue you’ll read more about how the Cal Poly community has continued to do just that when faced with these unprecedented challenges.

The CAFES community — faculty, staff and students alike — have faced this pandemic with typical Mustang spirit. It wasn’t easy, but our faculty have been ingenious in figuring out ways to facilitate hands-on learning at home; our staff have worked tirelessly to provide the backbone of support; and our students have embraced these difficult times with the can-do attitude that brought them to Cal Poly in the first place.

As we look ahead to fall, I know that together we can thrive as one Cal Poly community.

ANDREW J. THULIN, DEAN

College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences