Sept. 10, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Stacia Momburg
805-756-6260; smomburg@calpoly.edu

Cal Poly Ushers in New Academic Year

At Annual Fall Conference, President Armstrong Highlights Key Goals

SAN LUIS OBISPO – Cal Poly officials ushered in the 2012-13 academic year today during Cal Poly’s Fall Conference General Session, which featured a keynote address by President Jeffrey D. Armstrong.

Armstrong welcomed back faculty and staff and outlined several key goals for Cal Poly in the near future.  

He urged a recommitment to Cal Poly’s Learn by Doing tradition. In his address, he asked that faculty and staff “be open to change, open to new discoveries about how to improve, always striving to make things even better, resolutely committed to excellence.’’

Armstrong said Cal Poly’s six-year graduation rate, which currently is 76 percent, needs to move up dramatically in the next decade, and eventually exceed 90 percent.

He also announced that the university will formally explore converting to a semester system, which he said has the potential to help further enrich Cal Poly’s Learn by Doing curriculum.

During Monday’s session, student body president Katie Morrow presented The Mustang Way initiative, a statement written by students for students outlining a five-step commitment to pursue knowledge; create an atmosphere of mutual respect; participate in the Cal Poly community; support one another while accepting personal responsibility; and face actions and decisions with perseverance and honor.

Fall Conference continues all week and includes college and department retreats, meetings, orientations and receptions. For more information, visit http://fallconference.calpoly.edu/.

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