College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences
The College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, formerly the College of Agriculture, is the fourth largest undergraduate agriculture program in the nation. The college includes over 3,500 students in 18 majors, and awards 650 baccalaureate degrees each year, launching students into the No. 1 industry in California.
The program uses over 6,000 acres for agricultural instruction in San Luis Obispo, which includes rangeland, orchards, vineyards, greenhouses, the Leaning Pine Arboretum and dairy processing plant.
A new beef center was recently completed at the Chorro Creek Ranch and new facilities are under construction for an animal nutrition center. A major donation was also made for a new meats facility that will break ground in 2007.
“The biggest change for us this year is that we’ve expanded the name of the college since we have such a broad diversity of programs,” said David Wehner, dean of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences.
College of Architecture and Environmental Design
The College of Architecture and Environmental Design is home to over 1,500 students, making it the largest program of its kind. It offers seven degree programs in five departments.
The college facilities include a 12-acre outdoor experimental construction laboratory in Poly Canyon, a media resource center, and a photographic presentation facility.
Two new department heads will be joining the college this fall; Henri deHahn from the University of Kentucky, as the new architecture department head, and Alan Estes from West Point, as head of the architecture engineering program.
A new construction management building is underway in place of the old air conditioning building and is expected to be completed in fall 2008, said Ray Ladd, associate director of advancement for the College of Architecture and Environmental Design.
Progress on the four-story building can be seen via a webcam at www.construction.calpoly.edu.
Orfalea College of Business
The Orfalea College of Business, named after Paul J. Orfalea, founder of Kinko’s, provides degrees to over 2,500 students in six different concentrations. The college has continually ranked in the top 10 for “Top Western Regional Comprehensive Universities” in U.S. News and World Report’s: America’s Best Colleges.
The Orfalea College of Business is adopting a new marketing and identity plan this year signified by the new slogan: “The brightest minds make the best company.”
The slogan is accompanied by a new logo, designed by Cal Poly students, that incorporates the designs of Cal Poly and the Orfalea College of Business.
“We wanted to make sure we were communicating with firms that hire our students,” said Dave Christy, dean of the Orfalea College of Business. “We’re trying to imprint the idea of Cal Poly and business together.”
College of Education
The College of Education allows students to attain multiple and single subject credentials as teachers, school counselors, special educators and administrators in agriculture, English, home economics, mathematics, physical education, biology, chemistry, physics and social science.
This fall the college has several new faces walking the halls. Glen Casey from the Agricultural Education and Communication department will serve as interim associate dean and Louis Rosenberg has accepted the Cotchett Endowed Professorship position for a two-year term. Rosenberg has developed a new Educational Technology program available to students beginning this fall.
The College of Education is also taking a leading role in the Math and Science Initiative that is sponsored by the Chancellor’s Office.
College of Engineering
Ranked third in the U.S. News and World Report’s 2005 “Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs,” the College of Engineering is the largest of the seven colleges with 4,800 students.
One of the original three colleges at Cal Poly, the College of Engineering has grown from five labs and two disciplines to 11 engineering degree programs and over 80 labs, totaling 160,000 square feet.
The college has a new dean this year, Mohammad Noori, and is expecting to open two new engineering buildings. The Bonderson Project Center will open this fall next to the library and Engineering 4 will open in February 2007.
“We’re looking forward to the continuation of exciting projects in every area,” said Amy Hewes, director of publications and communications for the college.
Among those projects are the Pico-satellites built by aerospace engineering students that will be deployed for the second time in December 2006.
College of Liberal Arts
As one of the most selective liberal arts colleges in the nation, the College of Liberal Arts includes programs in arts, humanities, social sciences, communications and interdisciplinary studies and boasts 2,950 students.
Many new programs, department chairs and professors will be joining the College of Liberal Arts this year. A major in ethnic studies is being added and chaired by Victor Valle. A new Latin American studies minor is in the work-s; modern languages and literature has a new department head; Brian Kennelly; and there are 15 new professors in the college.
The Mustang Daily will also be celebrating its 90th year of production.
College of Science and Mathematics
Recognized by the National Science Foundation for innovative science programs and Ph.D. programs, the College of Science and Mathematics includes 10 academic programs serving 1,800 students.
This year the college has a new $1.2 million Center for Coastal Sciences built over the Avila Beach Pier that will include indoor and outdoor tanks, displays, research centers and classrooms. The building will house 18 different classes in biology, environmental science, computer science and chemistry including general education and specialty courses.
“Quite a few students have the ability to get hands on experience out there,” said Mark Moline, the director of the center and biology professor.
The center is built directly over the water at the end of the pier to allow for over the water labs. Whales and other ma——–rine life can often be seen from the building.
“It’s like going to sea without the waves,” Moline said.