Cal Poly College of Liberal Arts

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San Luis Obispo, CA
Cal Poly College of Liberal Arts

Arts, humanities, communications and social sciences at the heart of Cal Poly.

The College of Liberal Arts (CLA) is home to 17 departments offering programs in the arts, humanities, communications and social sciences rooted in a philosophy of Learn by Doing. The CLA’s leadership in interdisciplinary endeavors and its entrepreneurial spirit encourages students to push boundaries and innovate through multidisciplinary projects and teams. With its deep roots in creative thinkin

g, human understanding and innovative action, the CLA gives all Cal Poly students the tools to thrive in a complex, multicultural world.

09/04/2026

Cal Poly ranked No. 10 among public universities and No. 38 overall in the nation in TIME Magazine’s inaugural America’s Best Colleges List! 🙌

TIME’s new rankings emphasize U.S. universities’ excellence in student outcomes, learning environment and attractiveness. The analysis also emphasizes the value an institution contributes to student success while avoiding historical institutional reputation indicators.

Cal Poly is one of four public California universities among the Top 40 (along with UC Berkeley, UCLA and UC San Diego), receiving a 95.11% score for student outcomes.

Our placement among the nation’s top 40 universities and top ten public institutions underscores the university’s continued focus on providing a high-value, hands-on public education that prepares graduates to lead in their field and make an impact.

Read More: https://ucm.calpoly.edu/news/cal-poly-ranks-top-10-time

09/03/2026

On Monday, Cal Poly and Allan Hancock College held a kick-off reception in Santa Maria to celebrate the launch of the Business Administration Pathway Program, welcome its inaugural cohort and recognize the continued success of the Bachelor's Pathway in Sociology. 🎉

These collaborative programs allow students to work towards Cal Poly bachelor’s degrees by completing Cal Poly coursework at Allan Hancock College’s Santa Maria campus. Courses are offered in formats designed to support students balancing education, work, family and other responsibilities.

“This program has opened the doors, like the floodgates,” said Sarah Lopez, a student from the Bachelor’s Pathway in Sociology. “[For] parents like me, you know, I live here, everything’s here. It’s just more convenient.”

Students enrolled in the Pathway Programs are Cal Poly students, with access to Cal Poly tools such as academic advising, library resources, career support and more. These pathways are designed to expand access to Cal Poly degrees and prepare students for careers in business, public service and a range of related fields.

The event brought together students, faculty, staff and leaders from both institutions to recognize the ongoing partnership and the opportunities it creates for Central Coast students.

09/02/2026

Did you recently complete your dream internship? Tell us about it! 💭

Share your intern experience for a chance to be featured on our social media (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and X): https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/KK7AiFK1KG

Showcase how you to potential employers, alumni and incoming students!

📷 : Anna Abelgas, a Communications Intern at Apple (top left); Caroline Kelleher, a Geographic Information Systems Analyst at SLO County's Office of Emergency Services (top right); Alexander Levine, a Communications Intern at Amazon (bottom left); Hannah Carr, an Intern at the District Office of Assemblymember Ash Kalra (bottom right)

08/28/2026

Cal Poly's Access, Community and Equity (ACE) Program expands opportunities for first-generation and low-income students to engage in transformative experiences like research, global learning, service, internships and special projects. 🌎

The program, supported by the Dean's Excellence Fund, helps to remove barriers and improve access by providing stipends of up to $1000, in addition to mentoring and community.

Hear from three students who are a part of the ACE Program:

"My ACE-funded experience affected my academic trajectory at Cal Poly and/or future employment by being able to attend the Society for Research in Child Development Conference in early 2025. While I was initially nervous attending the conference, the experience allowed me to leave the environment feeling more confident in not only my public speaking abilities, but also in myself and knowing [that] psychology was the right major for me," Naomi Patel (Psychology, '26) said.

"Receiving the funding to support my travel to Trinidad and Tobago significantly shaped my academic experience, as I was able to engage in very hands-on and culturally responsible research. In my experience, I have had a difficult time imagining myself beyond the classroom, and this opportunity helped me see that possibilities can be limitless, allowing me to see myself not just as a student, but as a scholar," said Dede Onuwaje, a fourth-year Ethnic Studies and Communication Studies major.

"[ACE] allowed me to participate in my first comparative literature conference and share my work in front of a crowd of my peers, as well as other scholars in the comparative literature field. I was able to practice a new style of writing that was appropriate for a conference and synthesize my work in an effective manner. This experience was very valuable for my academic and personal journey as it built my confidence in the quality of my research and my public speaking skills," said Jaedyn Mohr, who is in the English Department's Blended B.A. and M.A. Degree Program.

Learn more about the ACE Program: https://cla.calpoly.edu/research-innovation/ace

08/26/2026

Attorneys in the Margins (AITM) is a pre-law launchpad, devoted to empowering Cal Poly students from marginalized communities by bridging the gap between undergraduate education and legal careers. ⚖️

Founded by Aniyah DuBose, an incoming third-year political science and sociology student, the organization is built around the principle “Just Us, For Us, By Us,” a reflection of their commitment to justice, identity, access and community. Unlike traditional organizations that focus on information-sharing, AITM is action-oriented, outcome-driven and centered on equity.

They are dedicated to offering firsthand access to meaningful opportunities and shared experiences within the legal field, and ultimately, helping students reach their goals with clarity and confidence. Their programming includes resume building support, LSAT prep and LinkedIn development.

AITM also connects members with attorneys, judges, JD candidates and other legal professionals to provide the insight, mentorship and real-world exposure needed to navigate undergraduate life and thrive in the legal profession.

Are you in a CLA-related club? Fill out the form at the link in our bio for a chance to be featured on our social media platforms! 🐎

08/24/2026

Cal Poly’s first fall semester is officially here! Happy first day of class, Mustangs ☀️

08/21/2026

As Cal Poly switches to the semester system this fall, courses and meetings will start at the hour or half hour – ending the tradition of “Cal Poly Time.” 🕒

According to Cal Poly’s Academic Senate Chair and Experience Industry Management professor Jerusha Greenwood, meeting start time variation due to “Cal Poly Time” scheduling was a major reason for the change.

“If a meeting time for a class goes from 9:10 to 11:00 and a meeting might start at 11 o’clock, there’s no opportunity for a student or a faculty member who has an 11 o’clock start meeting to get from class to the start of that meeting because the meeting starts on the hour,” Greenwood said.

This sentiment was confirmed by a survey conducted by the Academic Senate, which found that nearly half of 381 faculty members favored the change, according to the resolution approved in early June.

“[ASI representatives] viewed it quite favorably,” said Kris Jankovitz, author of the resolution and Kinesiology professor. “This is what better prepares them for professional life because the world operates on a common clock.”

Read the full Mustang News article: https://mustangnews.net/academic-senate-cal-poly-time-ending/

08/18/2026

Welcome, WOWies! 👋

Here are a few resources and opportunities available to students in the College of Liberal Arts:

Access, Community and Equity (ACE) Program – awards stipends supporting student participation in undergraduate research, global learning and internships.

CLA Underrepresented Students Network (CLA USN) - peer mentoring program designed with underrepresented students in mind; a place to talk with peers who can identify with shared experiences.

CLA Multicultural Scholars Program (CLA MSP) - offers programs and services to create a diverse and inclusive educational community.

Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) - supports faculty research and creative activities while engaging undergraduate students in faculty-led scholarship.

CLA Ambassadors – a dynamic and knowledgeable team of students who actively represent the CLA in visible public relations roles, participating in events such as Open House, campus tours and alumni events.

CLA Student Diversity Committee – advises the dean, identifies issues, recommends goals and advocates for initiatives and programs that advance the college towards its vision.

View the full list of resources, and the rest of Mustang Media Group's campus guide, Go SLO 2026: https://issuu.com/mustangdaily/docs/go_slo_2026

08/13/2026

Two interdisciplinary teams of Cal Poly students were named as finalists in the Paperboard Packaging Alliance’s (PPA) 2026 Student Design Challenge. 📦

Team Dāt:
• Tyler Innes
• Marissa Johnston (Food Science, ’26)
• Izack Padilla (Industrial Technology and Packaging, ’26)
• Edison Chow
• Halina Herc (Graphic Design, ’26)
• Aviv Kesar (Graphic Design, ’26)
• Samantha Heintz (Graphic Design, ’26)
• Advisors: Irene Carbonell, Javier de la Fuente and Linh Toscani

Team Tempus:
• Audrey Walch
• Lillian Darby
• William Barton
• Annabelle Howell
• Natalia Celebrini (Graphic Design, ’26)
• Jordan Forer (Graphic Design, ’26)
• Advisors: Irene Carbonell, Javier de la Fuente and Linh Toscani

The 2026 Design Challenge asked students to design an influencer PR box for a new luxury confectionary brand. Submissions had to contain and protect the retail product while elevating the user experience through an engaging, memorable unboxing moment.

Graphic Design students from ART 437: Graphic Design III collaborated with students in ITP 408: Fiber-Based Packaging to create their design projects.

“The Student Design Challenge pushes students across North America to reimagine packaging through a sustainability lens,” said Heidi Brock, President and CEO of the American Forest & Paper Association. “It connects classroom learning with real-world innovation, transforming creative ideas into recyclable, paper-based solutions.”

This year’s winners will be announced at the Paperboard Packaging Council's 2026 Fall Meeting in Orlando, where finalists will present their projects live to industry executives and packaging manufacturers across North America.

08/12/2026

Cal Poly’s Technical Association of the Graphic Arts (TAGA) is a forum for students seeking a better understanding of how emerging technologies impact the graphic arts industry. ⚙️

TAGA is an international professional association devoted to advancing the science and technology of the graphic arts and related industries. Their role is to support and guide students to acquire hands-on experience in graphic communication, including skills in technical writing, project management, industry outreach, public speaking, design and reproduction.

Students work on illustrations that are featured on TAGA’s social media platforms, on their website and in their annual technical research journal. Each year, they present their journal at TAGA NextGen Conference, a premier event that recognizes the most prestigious and comprehensive advancements in graphic arts sciences and technologies.

“I joined [in] Spring 2026, hoping to collaborate with a group of passionate designers and researchers that allow me to refine my technical and leadership skills,” said Pixie Camacho, a rising fourth-year graphic communication major.

Are you in a CLA-related club? Fill out the following form for a chance to be featured on our social media platforms: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/SDrqGBRw4a 🐎

Address

1 Grand Avenue
San Luis Obispo, CA
93407

Telephone

+18057562359

Website

https://www.cla.calpoly.edu/

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