1Winter 2014

In this issuethird ISSUE OF THE UNIVERSiTY HOUSING ACADEMIC EZINE

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Successful Academic Transitions

Connections: Study tips to prepare for finals

Academic Links in the llp’s

iCommunityPartners With Cal Poly Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship and HomeSlice

Learning THE IMPACTOF 25-35

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Cerro Vista Apartments home of the Transitions learning community, is home to approximately 1000 Cal Poly students from various academic programs. While this apartment complex provides a unique opportunity for students from various years in their academic careers to live and learn with one another, the connection Cal Poly students feel to their colleges and their peers within similar academic programs are among the strongest bonds on campus.

In order to support these relationships and to unite students across Cerro Vista, the Community Advisors will be hosting a series of College Social Days in the beginning of winter quarter 2014. These social events will be designed to assist students in meeting peers from their college so that students can establish stronger systems of academic support and social connection.

Already, Cerro Vista has created and implemented a study groups program which takes place week-nightly in the back area of

the Cerro Vista Community Center. Using the top ten most ‘popular’ classes taken by Cerro Vista residents, the community advisors have prepared the study space to be quiet and conducive to peer collaboration Sunday through Thursday nights. Each weeknight, the Community Center is filled with hardworking Cal Poly students striving to achieve academic excellence. Many of these students have realized that working with peers is a great

way to achieve a higher level of comprehension with course

material.

The Transitions Community has also delivered 101-series (“how-to” style) programming to help Cerro Vista residents understand the ins-and-outs of independent living;

as well as Fireside Chats with guests from outside

Cal Poly as well as Cal Poly faculty and staff. All of these

initiatives are intended to create a stronger bond between Cerro Vista

residents and the communities to which they belong. These bonds will lead to a more positive student experience and contribute to successful academic performance.

Successful Academic Transitions

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In our Connections buildings staff continue to build partnerships to support themed housing and assist students in balancing academics. Students have the opportunity to live in towers based on their interests and lifestyles, and to find others who share in them. But Connections residents have shown that even with all their various interests, they still make time to study and excel. This year the staff of Connections is doing everything they can to make sure residents stay on top of their academic game.

Finals are what the entire quarter builds up to and can make or break all the work you have completed up to that point. In Connections, students are very involved, in their interests through themes, their academic pursuits and their social experiences at Cal Poly. As students finish up their tests earlier in finals week, those of us who are still studying on Thursday struggle to keep from wandering into distraction.

Here are some tips to help you stay focused even when you feel unmotivated or are distracted by your surroundings.

Connections: Study Tips to Prepare for Finals

Study Now, Don’t Procrastinate: One tip is to make sure to start studying today and not cram. Let’s face it, our entire quarter we have been learning information that can be on these tests and ten weeks of information is not going to stick in your head in a few hours. If you start studying earlier (a.k.a. now), by the time finals week comes around, you will have the time to take in the material and gain the knowledge needed to be successful.

Location: If you can’t concentration in your room, use the study lounge, the UU, or the library; find a place that you can be your most productive.

Take Care of Yourself: The final tip is don’t let yourself fall victim to the all-night mentality. Taking care of yourself, getting enough sleep, eating healthy, etc. is just as important as studying the material. You should treat the night before a final like any other night before school. You will be more relaxed and do much better! It is clear that a healthy, balanced diet, regular physical exercise, and adequate levels of sleep are keys to retaining a sharp mind and a trim waist. The best way to handle stress is to be proactive and avoid it in the first place. By living a well-balanced lifestyle, you can keep your days stress free.

Hopefully these tips will help you prepare to take on your finals. Good luck in your preparations!

Tip One

Tip Two

Tip Three

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The traditional resident hall buildings or Red bricks are home to the Living Learning Program (LLP), which provides students with a unique opportunity to live with other first year students within their academic college at Cal Poly. University Housing staff work collaboratively with the Colleges’ faculty and staff to connect the housing experience and academic learning in order to create greater opportunities for deeper understanding and integration of classroom material with the life learning which occurs outside the classroom. There are six separate residence hall communities within the Living Learning Program- Fremont Hall: College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences; Muir Hall: College of Science and Mathematics; Santa Lucia/ North Mountain Hall: College of Engineering; Sequoia Hall: College of Architecture and Environmental Design; Tenaya Hall: Orfalea College of Business; and Trinity Hall: College of Liberal Arts. Each residence hall provides a variety of unique and impactful programs to support and further students’ academic learning.

Academic Links in the LLP’sVarious Authors

Fremont Hall residents benefit from collaboration with the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences and staff have taken several steps this quarter to incorporate faculty in helping the students in academics. Residents in Fremont have had the opportunity to meet our College of Agricul-ture, Food, and Environmental Science librarian, Dr. Katherine O’Clair, who came into Fremont to share with residents about the resources that the library has to offer over pastries. In addition, we have Dr. Lynn Hamilton, the professor for AGB 101, connecting with residents and conducting her office hours in the building and Dr. Jaymie Noalnd, a ASCI 101 profes-sor, coming in to discuss course material and other relevant topics.

We will continue to reach out to professors that teach popular courses among Fremont residents and invite them to visit and spend time connecting with their students. As you have professors you would like to invite into Fremont, let staff know so they can work with you to reach out. This year we continue to strive for academic success in our community by using the resources of our university to help our students do their best.

Fremont

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Muir Hall works very collaboratively with the College of Science and Mathematics to support the academic growth of first year students. It is very crucial for COSAM first year students to have a well-balanced experience both in and out of the classroom. If you are an upper class-man and would like to be a mentor to first year COSAM students or would like to get involved in events please contact the Coordinator of Student Development (CSD) Sherese Little at es-little@calpoly.edu. If you are a COSAM first year student and would like to know when Muir Hall is hosting an event, have faculty you would like to invite into Muir or program ideas please feel free to con-tact Sherese.

Muir

This year in Trinity, the partnership between the College of Liberal Arts and Trinity Hall is better than ever. Recognizing the importance of providing freshman students with the support and resources they need, the RA’s, CSD, and CLA Academic Advisors, Associate Dean, Career Counselor, Librarian, and Student Academic Success representatives, have put together a wide variety of events to support student success in Trinity Hall. To kick the year off right, they started with a grand progressive dinner for the students to enjoy while all of the academic representatives shared what their departments do and how they can help. Throughout the quarter Trinity residents were also able to participate in the events listed below:

• CLA Jeopardy with the Academic Advisors (pictured above)• PASS (Plan A Student Schedule) Parties (with almost 180 residents in attendance!)• Careers in CLA (during Parents Weekend)• Club Faire and BBQ with the CLA Club Council• Learning to Cook with Professor Dan Eller• Drop-In Hours with the Writing Center • AND MUCH MORE!

Coming soon will also be Trinity’s annual participation in Linked Courses, which are courses that are strictly reserved for only Trinity residents so that way they can live and learn together!

Trinity is proud to see this partnership growing and we hope that all of this hard work enables Trinity residents to succeed at Cal Poly. GO MUSTANGS!

Trinity

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Santa Lucia/North Mountain has imple-mented various academic events and projects to support students suc-cess:

1. STUDY SESSIONS: This quarter we have seen many students stop by the study lounge to prepare for their classes. Study groups have been forming and students are encouraged to stop by the Santa Lucia desk to see what time study sessions are taking place.

2. PASS PARTIES: SLNM recently had two PASS parties on November 6 and 14 with the Mustang Success Center and the Engineering Advising Center respec-tively. Residents were taught how to plan out their schedule for winter quarter and had the chance to meet with academic advisors from Engineering. For those who weren’t able to make the program, feel free to contact the Enigneering Ad-vising Office (805-756-1461, eadvise@calpoly.edu, Building 40-Room 111).

3. ACADEMIC INCENTIVE PROGRAM: Implementation of SLNM’s academic incentive program, Academic Bingo, is underway. RAs have been giving students bingo cards with a list of activities to complete in order to fill in a column, row, diagonal, cross, blackout, etc in order to be entered into the end of the year raffle. Once a student completes a square, they can then talk to their RA to have the square marked off. The program aims to give incentive to students to organize their future and have a successful academic career at Cal Poly.

4. ACADEMIC BULLETIN BOARDs FOR SLNM: Academic information continues to be post-ed throughout the community. Many topics/resources have been covered including: Student Academic Services, Engineering Advising Center, Supplemental Workshops, Study Skills, and Avoiding Academic probation.

As we wrap of fall quarter, the SLNM academic team is quickly preparing for winter and spring. Be on the lookout for more study groups, faculty office hours in Santa Lucia, and a chance to join SLNM’s Honor Society. Continue working on your academic bingo card and feel free to talk to your RA if you have ideas, suggestions, or know of faculty members who would be inter-ested in hosting office hours/study sessions in the halls.

Santa Lucia & North Mountain

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Tenaya offers many popular events in conjunction with Orfalea College of Business. For example, Tenaya Hall and the Orfalea College of Business offers weekly in-hall tutoring in Tenaya Hall’s back study lounge for Orfalea College of Business’s most challenging and popular classes. Tenaya Hall also partners with Orfalea College of Business Executive Partner Program where business leaders and professionals within the San Luis Obispo community spend an evening in Tenaya Hall. Professors in the Orfalea College of Business also take advantage of the opportunity to interact with students outside of the classroom by providing collaborative study sessions in Tenaya Hall’s study lounge.

During winter quarter we welcome a new class of Orfalea College of Business students into the Tenaya Hall Honor’s Society and celebrate those accomplishments with a hall wide Honor’s Banquet. Keep your eyes open for advertisements around Tenaya Hall with dates and more information on these and other upcoming programs. If you are an Orfalea College of Business first year student and have any questions, comments, or suggestions please contact the Tenaya CSD Jeffery Alexander via email at jalexa04@calpoly.edu.

Tenaya

S-e-q-u-o-i-a has been full of late nights blending into early mornings. Many students have found that spending qual-ity time studying is more important than the quantity of time. The back study lounge has been utilized as a quiet space to study, and the study lounge has been utilized as space to work on projects, or study in a more social group environment. Several students have become involved in extracurricular activities to get to know other students and balance their academics with social time. During Fall quar-ter, faculty joined Sequoia residents for a BBQ, a Photoshop Workshop, a PASS Party, and weekly Advising.

Weekly advising will continue next quarter, and we’re looking to bring in more faculty to con-nection with students. Talk with your RA if you know of faculty members who would be interest-ed in coming into the hall to join us for a program, hold office hours or host a study session in Sequoia.

As we head into finals week, continue to make your health and wellbeing a top priority to be in the best state to succeed this last week of the quarter.

Sequoia

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iCommunity partnered with Cal Poly Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship and HomeSlice, a smart phone application that helps aid communication regarding household matters. Co-founders of HomeSlice Shea Brucker, Patrick Montejano, Jeremy Moyers and Caine Fair assisted in welcoming iCommunity residents on move in day and have visited to share their story of innovation and entrepreneurship with residents.

Students in iCommunity also attended the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship’s Elevator Pitch Competition, where Cal Poly students have the chance to pitch an idea to a panel of business leaders for a cash prizes and a trip to EPC finals in Chicago. This January residents can participate in Startup Weekend SLO (SWSLO). This event is held once a year and empowers student and community entrepreneurs to build startups in one chaotic weekend. The ultimate learning experience, SWSLO allows innovators from all disciplines to come together and build businesses in 54 hours.

iCommunity strives to create Polytechnic intersections that encourage residents to imagine, inspire, and innovate. This unique learning community brings together STEM students from various programs with students in arts and sciences to enable students to explore strengths, examine intersections between areas of study and innovate across disciplines. The iCommunity program is located in Gypsum in Poly Canyon Village.

Throughout the year residents in iCommunity take part in group or pod discussions where students can learn about client communication, manage projects and utilize their creativity. Students have the opportunity to delve into the Polytechnic mindset, learn about their personal strengths and see how they can capitalize on their strengths in new innovative ways.

HomeSlice has hit the iTunes App Store!!! HomeSlice exists to solve a real problem, one that we deal with everyday… Roommates! This is not to say that roommates are the problem, but rather that many interactions with them on a day-to-day basis can be emotionally draining and create tension. There is an awesome saying, “A good friend knows all your best stories, and a best friend has lived them with you.” At HomeSlice, word “lived” is taken much more literally. We believe that those we call “roommates” should be our best friends. You all live under one roof, share the same space, and spend more time together than anyone else. These are the people you should be creating memories with to last a lifetime. You know….the kind you would never tell your kids. Our mobile application’s purpose is to foster the roommate relationship. We will change the way roommates interact, making it easier to communicate. We hope you and your roommates enjoy using the app, but also realize that your input and feedback is critical to making HomeSlice the most EPIC app ever made. Please send any feedback you might have to info@homesliceapp.com. A big thank you to all our supporters and cheers to the future!

Partners With Cal Poly Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Communityimagine. inspire. innovate

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Study 25-35 hours a week. It’s the phrase that has been permanently stitched into the minds of all Cal Poly students. We see it every day. Small yellow flags and fliers have been permanently posted on random doors, bulletin boards, and windows all throughout campus. Freshmen heard it countless times their first week of school, and continued to hear it as they went through and finished their first quarter. Various Cal Poly professors and advisors who interact mainly with freshmen avidly try to bring it up in lectures or conversations. Why? Well obviously it’s good to study. But I think these Cal Poly faculty are attempting to begin stitching this early in the Cal Poly experience, because they understand that freshman year is a bigger

deal than most students, especially freshmen, realize. Often it is not until after the students’ first year that they figure out how much time they should have spent actually studying, as was in my case. I wasn’t a bad student as a freshman, but I definitely should have invested more time into learning how to study consistently and efficiently. If I had, I might have been able to start off my sophomore year with a higher GPA and wouldn’t have had to spend so much time learning how to learn. I wish I had taken those yellow flags a tad bit more seriously. The first quarter of freshman year is great. It’s a clean slate. Everything’s new, you get to start over. Say goodbye to your nice 4.27 GPA, that’s history. College is your reality now. But still, you have plenty of quarters to do well in school. It’s freshman year! If ever there was a time to slack off and have some fun it would be now, right? To some extent, I had this attitude when I started off at Cal Poly. I didn’t take my first year as seriously as I should have. Even though there are many years ahead for students after their first year, it is still important to realize this is a quarter of your overall GPA at Cal Poly. A poor performance for your first year could leave you playing catch up during your sophomore year, while trying to raise your GPA. It is also worth realizing that classes will never be easier than they were during freshman year. They get increasingly more difficult as you

learning the

IMPACTOF 25-35by Sam Thompson, Former Resident Advisor

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VILLAGEdive deeper into curriculum at Cal Poly, so it is important to take advantage of the opportunity to obtain the best grades you can in the beginning. Many students may begin college with expectations of how often they will actually need to study to pull an A or B in a class. As it was in my case, these expectations are unrealistic. Sure in high school it was easy to get good grades. Lots of students hardly studied and could still ace tests without a sweat. The truth is college material is significantly more difficult, much more difficult than I had originally thought it would be. On top of this, professors will grade with much more purpose and higher expectations in mind than teachers did in high school. For this reason it is crucial to learn how to study and perform your best in the classroom early on. The learning skills you develop now will carry on and continue to improve all throughout your college career and will be used throughout your career. At some point a student has to sit down and realize that there is no easy way to get through their education. It takes hard work to get from here to there, it doesn’t just happen. Better to learn how to do that work now, rather than later. If I could have done freshman year over again, I would have done it differently. I wouldn’t have changed any of the fun parts. That I did well. But I would have shifted my attitude on how I treated academics and made it a higher priority. I wish I had known then, what I know now… freshman year is truly significant to the student experience and to my future career. It would have been great starting off my sophomore year with a higher GPA and not having to learn how I learn best. This is why I urge you to commit to working hard for your first year at Cal Poly. It is a long term investment that will definitely pay off in the end. Don’t like the grades you got last quarter? Actually try studying 25-35 hours a week. You just might learn something.

During the Fall 2013 quarter, Poly Canyon Village (PCV) is proud to be the home for a larger mix of residents than ever before. This academic year marked the integration of Gypsum’s iCommunity, which houses approximately 500 first-year students, and lays a foundation that encourages residents to “Imagine, Inspire, and Innovate.” The remaining residents of PCV include second-year, transfer, and continuing students. To support such a large group of students, PCV has been fortunate to have outside and in-house presenters who provided unique programmatic opportunities. Specifically, there have been weekly “Mustang Success Tuesday” programs at 6:33 pm. These programs have included outside presenters including the new Mustang Success Center on a continual basis, Career Services, multiple Engineering offices, and many others. In addition to the Tuesday events, on Wednesdays the very popular “Cooking in the Canyon” has been occurring at 7 pm. Each week students at Cooking in the Canyon have learned how to prepare delicious meals that have been taught by groups ranging from the Campus Librarians, to Study Abroad while also making connections to campus resources, and learning tips for success. In addition, there are programs that occur almost daily to support students on their paths to being Mustang success stories. The PCV Staff is thankful for the continued support of outside groups, and looks forward to continuing to make positive learning outlets for Cal Poly students.

Life in the

VILLAGE

T’was the night before finals and all through the hallNot a rezzie was sleeping, not a one at all.

They were all trying for their tests to prepareWith their laptops set up, hoping good grades would be there.

And later students nestled all snug in their beds,With visions of scantrons and essays in heads.The RAs were hoping that they did their bestFor these were important, but not scary tests.So the last thing I’ll say, before out of sight,

“Good Finals For All! And to all a good night.”

-Jacob Nichols, Resident Advisor