Campus and Community

News & Notes – Cultivate Summer 2026

Staff and faculty from the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences pose for a photo following the faculty and staff awards banquet.

July 26, 2026

Cal Poly Transitions to Semester Calendar

Cal Poly officially transitioned from its long-standing quarter system to a semester calendar.

The first day of the fall semester is Aug. 24. The move is designed to align Cal Poly with the other 21 California State University (CSU) campuses, simplify student transfers and provide longer class terms that support deeper exploration of course material, expanded research opportunities and greater scheduling flexibility. With the new calendar students will also be able to take a whole semester for study abroad and be available for summer internships around the same time the majority of university students are available. The new academic calendar is expected to enhance collaboration across the CSU system while preserving Cal Poly's hallmark Learn by Doing approach.

New Associate Dean

Associate Dean Andrew Schaffner joined the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences in July.

Schaffner previously served as chair of the Statistics Department and co-chair of the campus-wide Instructional Department Heads and Chairs Council and has held numerous Academic Senate leadership roles, including chairing the Curriculum Committee and Instruction Committee. His nearly three-decade history of collaboration with CAFES spans applied research in food science, nutrition, animal science, dairy science and plant sciences.

The ribbon cutting for the Marderosian Family and Bee Sweet Citrus Automation Lab.

New Automation Lab Unveiled

A ribbon cutting ceremony in June celebrated the opening of the Marderosian Family Foundation and Bee Sweet Citrus Automation Lab in the new Plant Sciences Complex, expanding opportunities for hands-on learning in agricultural technology.

The state-of-the-art lab provides space for students to design, build and test robotics, hydraulic systems, sensors and other emerging technologies, preparing them to address real-world industry challenges. Made possible through the generosity of the Marderosian Family Foundation and Bee Sweet Citrus, the lab will help equip the next generation of innovators to advance the future of agriculture.

The dean of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences stands with alumni during an event at Grimmway Farms.

Cultivating Alumni Connections

Dean Brian Horgan recently joined Cal Poly alumni, industry partners and friends of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences for a networking reception at Grimmway Produce Group in Bakersfield.

Guests connected with fellow alumni, learned about the college's latest initiatives and celebrated the enduring strength of the Cal Poly community and its commitment to Learn by Doing.

Faculty and Staff Award Winners

The College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences celebrated excellence at its annual Faculty and Staff Awards in June, recognizing the dedication, innovation and service of employees who make a lasting impact on the college and its students.

This year's award recipients:

Outstanding staff award: Marnie Perry, Dean’s Office
Outstanding faculty award: Dr. Julie Huzzey, Animal Science
New teaching award: Dr. Ashley Grupenhoff, Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences
Sustained excellence in teaching award: Dr. Scott Steinmaus, Plant Sciences
Outstanding lecturer award: Susan Snyder, Plant Sciences
New scholar award: Dr. Sandy Shen, Experience Industry Management
Sustained excellence in scholarship award: Dr. Charlotte Decock, Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences
Early career staff award: Melissa Lauffer, Dean’s Office
Dean’s award: Dr. Jeremy James, Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences
Outstanding mentor award: Jenn Prentice, Experience Industry Management
Diversity and inclusion award: Dr. Sara Kuwahara, BioResource and Agricultural Engineering