Get Involved
For 17 consecutive years, U.S. News and World Report
has rated Cal Poly the best public regional university in the West.
The University is proud to fulfill its responsibility to the State of California and grateful for the backbone of public funding that makes its polytechnic mission possible. California state funding continues to provide solid educational opportunities for our students, and maintain our impressive student-faculty ratio.
But Cal Poly needs your support in order to make sure campus programs continue to be a cut above the rest, and a place where "learn by doing" is alive and well.
Get Involved Today! Here's how.
Become an Advocate
Your support as Cal Poly Advocates willing to take the time to talk to California's legislators and elected officials -- in person or through letters to their offices -- is vital to the university.
Our legislators need to know all 120,000 living Cal Poly alumni, and thousands more university friends, supporters and parents of current students want to see continued and strong state and federal funding for their alma mater.
Click here to go to the Cal Poly Advocates Web site and find out more about how you can help alert elected and government officials to your support for the university.
Become a Member
Alumni Association
Members of campus organizations like the Cal Poly Alumni Association, Cal Poly Parent Philanthropy group, and Cal Poly Student Philanthropy Group and university advisory boards are needed now more than ever.
If you're alumni, consider joining CPAA. Your $45 annual CPAA dues (less for new grads) will support local chapter business networking events that connect alumni to job leaders. Joining CPAA and being active in your local alumni chapter's events is a great way build your professional network, face-to-face and online.
Advisory Boards
Alumni from all professions are also needed on university advisory boards. The dean of each of Cal Poly's seven colleges has a Dean's Advisory Board of industry leaders who give advice on everything from job skills needed by today's employers to curriculum to fund-raising. Many departments within Cal Poly's colleges also have advisory boards and are actively seeking input from professional alumni in their major fields.
Interested? Contact your department -- find them on the Cal Poly University Web Site.
Philanthropy Groups
Cal Poly's University Advancement Division needs both parent and student volunteers for the new Parents For Philanthropy program, and also for the Student Philanthropy Council. Both groups are coming up with creative ways to support Cal Poly.
Your time and talents would be most appreciated by many university groups.
Connect to Cal Poly Networks Online
PolyLink: There are now 14,000 alumni in PolyLink, Cal Poly's free, private social network for alumni, faculty, staff and, coming in September 2009, current seniors. Alumni: Get into PolyLink. Post a job or search for jobs on the private job boards. Job leads are averaging 200 a month -- postings from employers looking specifically for Cal Poly Grads. You'll also be able to email some 30,000 alumni in the alumni e-mail database, post class notes, browse through more than 700 alumni photo albums. Connect or re-connect with old friends and build new career contacts.
Log into PolyLink and you'll find you're already in at least one PolyLink group -- the one for everyone in your major. Ever. See their photos, their class notes, instantly upload your own photos to the group and leave messages.
Be sure to join the PolyLink Alumni Map group -- an interactive Google map of the globe showing all 14,500+ PolyLink members - from New Zealand to the U.S. to the U.K.
LinkedIn: If you're already a part of LinkedIn, be sure to join Cal Poly Alumni groups there. Start with this one: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo Alumni.
Facebook: Are you on Facebook? Find the official Facebook Page for Cal Poly Alumni -- and join thousands of alumni fans. (Click the 'Become a Fan' link you'll find there.)
Become a Mentor
Also vital is your support as mentors to our current students. Alumni and employers know: Cal Poly grads can get the job done on day one.
Mentoring from alumni and professionals are the reason why. Cal Poly students are required to complete internships and heavily encouraged to complete co-ops and gain on-the-job experience. Are you in a position to offer a co-op or internship? Contact Cal Poly Career Services to advertise your openings and look for student employees -- at no cost to you. Consider coming to a Cal Poly job fair or recruiting day. Career Services organizes and hosts recruiting events regularly.
Could you speak at a Career Services workshop for students? Offer advice on how to dress for success and navigate a business lunch with clients? Offer tips on how to write great resumes or interview well? Career Services also hosts periodic workshops for students on topics like these and others. Contact Career Services if you want to speak at a workshop.
Live far from campus but want to mentor students online? Cal Poly Alumni can sign up to mentor students directly through the PolyLink Mentoring Group. Join the group and be available to take questions from current seniors.
Alumni: If you're already part of PolyLink, click here to visit the PolyLink Mentor database (login required).
If you are an Alumni and want to get into PolyLink and volunteer to mentor, click here to confirm your identity and get your first-time PolyLink ID code.
Donate -- Online or Off
Like all other top universities across the nation, Cal Poly is increasingly depending on private financial support to maintain many programs, acquire the latest equipment and technology, endow professorships and fund scholarships for the best and brightest students.
Your support in any of these areas -- time, mentoring, membership, or financial donations -- will enable Cal Poly to move forward into a second century of excellence.
Visit the Giving Web Site to find out how to make a donation to Cal Poly -- or click on the link below to donate online now.
