California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

For the liberal arts college in Claremont, California, seePomona College.

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Former name	California Polytechnic School Vorhees Unit (1938–1956) California Polytechnic School Kellogg-Vorhees Unit (1956–1966) California State Polytechnic College, Kellogg-Vorhees (1966–1972)
Motto	Discere Faciendo(Latin)
Motto in English	"Learn by Doing"
Type	Publicpolytechnic university
Established	1938(1938)
Parent institution	California State University
Accreditation	WSCUC
Academic affiliations	Space-grant
Endowment	$166.5 million (2022)
President	Soraya M. Coley
Provost	Terri Gomez
Academic staff	1,330 (Fall 2017)
Students	29,704 (Fall 2020)
Undergraduates	27,909 (Fall 2020)
Postgraduates	1,795 (Fall 2020)
Location	Pomona , California , United States 34°03′23″N117°49′18″W
Campus	Large suburb,1,438 acres (582 ha)
Newspaper	The Poly Post
Colors	Blue, green, and gold
Nickname	Broncos
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division II–CCAA
Mascot	Billy Bronco
Website	www.cpp.edu

California State Polytechnic University Pomona(Cal Poly Pomona), is apublicpolytechnic universityinPomona, California.It is the largest (by student body) of thethree polytechnic universitiesin theCalifornia State Universitysystem.

Cal Poly Pomona began as the southern campus of the California Polytechnic School (today known asCal Poly San Luis Obispo) in 1938 when the Voorhis School for Boys and its adjacent farm in the city ofSan Dimaswere donated by Charles Voorhis and his sonJerry Voorhis.Cal Poly's southern campus grew further in 1949 when it acquired theUniversity of California, W.K. Kellogg Institute of Animal Husbandryfrom theUniversity of California.UC's W.K. Kellogg Institute of Animal Husbandry was located in the neighboring city of Pomona, California and had previously belonged toWill Keith Kellogg.Cal Poly Pomona, then known asCal Poly Kellogg-Voorhis,and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo continued operations under a unified administrative control until they became independent from one another in 1966.

Cal Poly Pomona currently offersbachelor's degreesin 94 majors, 39master's degreeprograms, 13teaching credentials,and a doctorateacross 9 distinct academic colleges.The university is one among a small group ofpolytechnic universities in the United Stateswhich tend to be primarily devoted to the instruction of technical arts and applied sciences. Cal Poly, Pomona is aHispanic-serving institution(HSI) and is eligible to be designated as anAsian American Native American Pacific Islander serving institution(AANAPISI).

Its sports teams are known as theCal Poly Pomona Broncosand play in theNCAA Division IIas part of theCalifornia Collegiate Athletic Association(CCAA). The Broncos sponsor 10 varsity sports and have won 14 NCAA national championships. Current and former Cal Poly Pomona athletes have won 7 Olympic medals (3 gold, 1 silver, and 3 bronze).

History

See also:History of the California Polytechnic in San Luis Obispo, California.

Let it be theCornellof the Pacific... where any person can find instruction in any study.

Myron Angel, founder of the California Polytechnic School, San Luis Obispo, CA. January 7, 1899.

Cal Poly at Pomona stands on the former Arabian horse ranch of cereal magnateW.K. Kellogg.

Events leading to the foundation of present-day Cal Poly at Pomona began with the ending of the Voorhis School for Boys near Walnut CreekinSan Dimas, Californiaand its acquisition by theSan Luis Obispo-based California Polytechnic School in 1938.

The California Polytechnic School was founded as avocationalhigh school when California GovernorHenry Gagesigned the Polytechnic School Bill on March 8, 1901, after its drafting by school founder Myron Angel.Voorhis School, on the other hand, had been established in 1928 as a private vocational school which providedelementary schoolingfor underprivileged boys and operated under the Christian religious principle, "education coupled with the Kingdom of God".Its founder Charles B. Voorhis andheadmasterJerry Voorhismaintained the school opened throughout the worst years of theGreat Depressionbut persistent economic pressures forced them to transfer control toCal Poly San Luis Obispoin 1938.

Voorhis School became the Cal Poly-Voorhis Unit and its educational offerings were raised to the same level as Cal Poly San Luis Obispo's, then a two-year college.The horticulture program was moved to the new satellite campus and the two units operated as one institution spanning two locations under the leadership of president Julian McPhee.

Aerial view of campus

During World War II most of the student body was called to active military duty; enrollment declined and the campus closed in 1943.Reopening after the war, Cal Poly-Voorhis Unit operated in San Dimas until 1956 when it moved toWill Keith Kellogg’s formerhorse ranchin the neighboring city ofPomona, California.Acknowledging its Kellogg legacy, Cal Poly-Voorhis Unit changed its name to Cal Poly Kellogg-Voorhis Unit and offered six programs in agriculture.The inaugural class of 1957 at the new campus consisted of 57 students graduating with bachelor’s degrees in a ceremony held at the Rose Garden in Pomona and religious services at Voorhis Chapel in San Dimas.Also in 1957, Cal Poly Kellogg-Voorhis introduced theCollege of Engineering,the second academic unit after theCollege of Agriculture.TheCalifornia Master Plan for Higher Educationadded the two Cal Poly campuses to the new California State College system in 1961 and Cal Poly Kellogg-Voorhis Unit opened its doors for the first time to 329 female students.President McPhee retired in 1966, and Cal Poly split into two different and independent universities. The partnership between the two campuses remains with their involvement in the annualCal Poly Universities Rose Float.

To better reflect its new ties to the California State College system, Cal Poly Kellogg-Voorhis changed its name to "California State Polytechnic College, Kellogg-Voorhis" in 1966 and became the 16th campus to officially join the CSC system.Robert C. Kramer assumed presidency of the independent campus in 1966 (second overall as the university recognizes McPhee as its first) and California State Polytechnic College, Kellogg-Voorhis finally adopted its present-day name California State Polytechnic University, Pomona on June 1, 1972.

In 1998, Cal Poly Pomona received criticism when it planned to grant an honorary degree toRobert Mugabe.Mugabe's negative humanitarian record as president ofZimbabweled to protests from staff, faculty and students, ultimately forcing the university to rescind the plan.

Cal Poly Pomona underwent further growth in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, with the construction of theCLA Building(demolished in 2022),academic facilities, expansion to theCal Poly Pomona University Libraryand the addition of programs such as theLyle Center for Regenerative Studies,theI-Poly High Schooland theU.R. Broncoundergraduate research program. Under then-presidentJ. Michael Ortiz,Cal Poly Pomona launched its first comprehensive capital campaign in fall of 2008 to increase its permanent endowment. Nevertheless, the negative economic effects caused by thelate-2000s recessionresulted in increased student fees, reduced enrollment availability, eliminated two athletic programs and introduced a mandatoryfurloughcalendar for most of its employees.

Name

See also:Campus naming conventions in the CSUandCalifornia Polytechnic State University#Name.

The campus office of public affairs recognizes two official names for the university: "California State Polytechnic University, Pomona" and "Cal Poly Pomona".However, "Cal Poly" has also been used to refer to Cal Poly at Pomona, as both itself andCalifornia Polytechnic State UniversityatSan Luis Obispo, Californiawere one institution spanning two locations from 1938 to 1966.Cal Poly's office of public affairs recommends not to abbreviate the university's name merely as "Cal Poly".In the years when theUniversity of Californiawas in charge of Kellogg's donated estate in Pomona (1932–1943), the names "University of California, W.K. Kellogg Institute" and "W.K. Kellogg Institute of Animal Husbandry University of California, Pomona", came into use to describe the site.Although Cal Poly Pomona is now part of theCalifornia State University,its naming convention does not follow that of most campuses within the system (for example, the CSU campus in San Diego bears the full official name "San Diego State University"and the CSU campus inFullertonuses the name "California State University, Fullerton")."Pomona State University" and "California State University, Pomona" are seldom used and are not in the university's graphic standard's manual.

Former seals and logos

• 
  Former seal used by the university during theUniversity of Californiayears (1932–1943).
• 
  Former seal used by the university from the mid-1980s to the summer of 2018

Campus

Cal Poly Pomona

Downtown Los Angeles

class=notpageimage|

Cal Poly Pomona is located about 30 miles east ofDowntown Los Angeles.

Cal Poly Pomona is located partially within the limits ofPomona,a largely suburban city that is part of theLos Angeles metropolitan area.The city of Pomona is located in the eastern portion ofLos Angeles Countyand borders the neighboringcounty of San Bernardinoto the east. The university's 1,725 acres (698 ha) campusmake it the second largest in theCalifornia State Universitysystem,a figure which includes various facilities scattered throughoutSouthern Californiasuch as a 53-acre (21 ha) ranch inSanta Paula, California,25-acre (10 ha) campus at the former Spadra Landfill (now known as "Spadra Ranch" ),and theNeutra VDL Studio and ResidencesinSilver Lake, Los Angeles.The university is currently negotiating the transfer of the 302 acre Lanterman Developmental Center from the State of California. The land is to be used for academic purposes and expansion of the Innovation Village and also shared by theCalifornia Highway Patrol,theCalifornia Air Resources Boardand theCalifornia Conservation Corps.The transfer of the land is part of the Governor's 2015–2016 Proposed Budget.

Old horse stables

Although part of theLos Angeles metropolitan area,the university is in close proximity to two other large metropolitan and culturally-defined regions, theInland EmpireandOrange County.The university has a tier 1 area, defined as a geographical admissions region surrounding the campus, roughly bounded by theSan Gabriel Mountainsto the north, the city ofChino Hillsto the south,Interstate 605to the west, andInterstate 15to the east.Cal Poly Pomona's campus buildings vary in age and style from theMission RevivalKellogg Horse Stables and the Kellogg House (suggesting theSpanish colonial architectural heritageofSouthern California) built in the 1920s; the modernist box-like portion ofthe librarycompleted in 1969; to contemporary dormitories, engineering, science and library-expansion facilities completed in the early 21st century.Manor Houseserves as the official residence of the university president.

Leisure and recreational locations include arose gardenwhich dates back to the Kellogg horse ranch years; the Kellogg House designed by Los Angeles-based architects Charles Gibbs Adams,Myron Huntand Harold Coulson Chambers in the 1920s; and a 1.3 acres (0.53 ha)Japanese gardenbuilt in 2003 and designed byTakeo Uesugi.Kellogg's House features grounds which were initially landscaped by Charles Gibbs Adams but were later completed byFlorence Yoch & Lucile Council.Cal Poly Pomona's George and Sakaye Aratani Japanese Garden is one among three under management by institutions of higher education in the County of Los Angeles, the others being theEarl Burns Miller Japanese GardenatCal State Long Beach,and the Shinwa-En Garden atCal State Dominguez Hills.At the center of the campus and atop Horsehill are the buildings of theCollins College of Hospitality Managementand Kellogg West, a hotel and conference center and home of the student/faculty-run Restaurant at Kellogg Ranch.

At the northwest part of the campus is the VoorhisEcological Reserve,which serves as a 31 hectares (77 acres)wildlife corridorcontainingCoastal Sage ScrubandCoast Live Oaktrees among others.Contrasting some of these architecturally prominent facilities, there are variousportable buildingson campus which are used to accommodate the growing enrollment of recent decades. Cal Poly Pomona operates theInternational Polytechnic High School,a college preparatory high school located on campus.

The letters "CPP" made of concrete are located on Colt Hill overlooking the campus. The letters "CP" were initially added in 1959, with the second "P" added in 2004 to distinguish it from the Cal Poly campus in San Luis Obispo.

Between 1993 and 2022, Cal Poly Pomona's dominant landmark was afuturist-styledadministrative facility known as theCLA Buildingwhich was designed byAntoine Predockand opened in 1993. The building's peculiar shape (standing out by a triangular-shaped "skyroom" atop its eight-story tower) became a symbol of the university; in addition, its close location to film studios based in the Hollywood borough of Los Angeles have prompted its inclusion in motion pictures such asGattacaandImpostor.In 2013, the California State University Board of Trustees voted to demolish the building and replace it with a new academic/faculty complex because of severe seismic risks, as determined when now reviewed in the context of more recent seismic research than was required by building codes at the time of its original design and building permit.Despite the fact that numerous other buildings on the CPP campus are much older, which brings into question their adequacy as they too sit on the same presumed fault line, only the CLA building was to be completely demolished by the end of summer 2022.

Cal Poly Pomona's new South Campus

NotedmodernistarchitectJames Pulliamonce served as campus architect and instructor and designed the Bookstore, W. Keith and Janet Kellogg Art Gallery, Interim Design Center (IDC) and Student Union building which architectural historianDavid Gebhardregarded as the best building on campus.

Academic and research facilities

TheW. K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Centeris an academic and research facility serving one of the 22 terms and conditions to the donation of the Kellogg ranch by maintaining Kellogg's purebredArabian horsesand their breeding program. Another academic facility highlighting the Kellogg legacy is the Horse Stables (also known as University Plaza) which contains a small research library specializing in equine studies along with offices for student services and various campus organizations.

Cal Poly Pomona's Voorhis Ecological Reserve

Conceived in 1995 by then university president, Bob H. Suzuki, and initially financed byNASAand theEconomic Development Administration,the Innovation Village is a 65-acre (26 ha) public/private partnership research and business facility at the southern edge of the campus. Major tenants include theAmerican Red Cross,Southern California Edison,and theNASACommercialization Center.The project is currently at the halfway mark of building and leasing 1,000,000 square feet (93,000 m²) of the projected total building space. Once complete, it is estimated that the project would employ 2000 to 3000 people and provide half a billion dollars of economic benefits to the local, regional and state economies.

Campus sustainability and transportation

The mainquadat Cal Poly Pomona

The university has actively sought to reduce carbon emissions and energy usage on campus. In November 2007, Cal Poly Pomona became a signatory member of theAmerican College & University Presidents Climate Commitment.Among other things, this committed the university to ensure that within one year, it would purchase or produce at least 15% of the institution's electric consumption fromrenewable sources.The university, along with other members in the CSU, is also a member of theCalifornia Climate Action Registry.and lists onThe Princeton Review'sGuide to 375 Green Colleges.As a part of the campus' Climate Action Plan to reduce its carbon footprint, the campus offers incentive parking for students and faculty participating in its Rideshare program.The carpooling initiative gives users the opportunity to park in reserved spaces located closer to campus buildings.

Cal Poly Pomona's institute for sustainability education is theLyle Center for Regenerative Studies.The center was built adjacent to an old landfill and conducts research in the areas of sustainable technology and agriculture. As an example ofCradle to Cradle Design,it uses solar-powered dormitories, aquaculture ponds, and organic gardens while providing environmentally-sustainable housing accommodation for 22 graduate students. In 2010, with the installation of a 210,000 kW hoursCPVsystem byAmonix,the center became the firstcarbon neutralfacility in theCalifornia State Universitysystem.The center is part of Agriscapes, a 40-acre (16 ha) research project that showcases environmental and agricultural sustainable practices including methods to grow food, conserve water and energy and recycle urban waste. Agriscapes is home of the Farm Store at Kellogg Ranch which sells locally and campus-grown foods and products. Cal Poly Pomona campus also contains a rainforest greenhouse, a Californiaethnobotanygarden, and an aquatic biology center collectively known as BioTrek, which provides environmental education to all academic levels.

The entire campus community is served by a free campus shuttle system known as "Bronco Express". The shuttle system has 3 lines and is run by the office of Transportation Services.In addition, PTS also offers a shuttle service known as "Metrolink" which provides both students and faculty a direct connection from the Pomona North and Downtown PomonaMetrolinkstations to theCLA Building.

Foothill Transitlines 190, 194, 195, 289, 480, 482, and 486 serve the campus daily while Silver Streak only serves weekdays from 7AM to 7:17PM and will be later expanded to 9PM.

Seismic risks and other challenges of campus development

Although it is believed that the San Jose Fault (indicated by USGS as having a presumed period of 130,000 years) runs through campus, and geotechnical investigations have been conducted, there is uncertainty regarding its precisetypeand location. The CLA Building has been said to suffer from "structural flaws" that do not seem to have been clearly publicized, except that they had been "most notably, water intrusion", which continues to be portrayed inaccurately as a "structural flaw". In 2005, the university filed a lawsuit against a contractor, for which it was compensated $13.3 million in an out-of-courtsettlement.Amid these concerns, in September 2010, CSU's board of trustees approved a proposal to have the building razed.

Hideo Sasaki's architectural firm, Sasaki Associates, Inc., found in the February 2010master planthat the campus'sseismic risk,uneven terrain, lack of parking spaces, small classrooms, and pedestrian-unfriendly roads are major constraints for future campus development. It also indicated the lack of identity, an undefined sense of arrival, and a desire to build a stronger on-campus community, among others, as recurrent themes among campus's users. Nonetheless, the firm highlights campus ethnic diversity, its location-climate, and the natural beauty of campus, among others, as positive aspects of the physical campus as well as the campus life experience. It may be appropriate for the CSU

Organization and administration

Cal Poly at Pomona is one ofthree polytechnicsin the 23-memberCalifornia State Universitysystem.The CSU system is governed by a 25-memberboard of trustees,including one faculty trustee, one alumni trustee, and two student trustees, and has authority over curricular development, campus planning, and fiscal management.The university system is currently governed by ChancellorMildred García,who assumed the office in 2023.

The chief executive of the Cal Poly Pomona campus is PresidentSoraya M. Coley.

Cal Poly Pomona is a member of theAmerican Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU)

University Educational Trust (UET)

The University Educational Trust (UET) was a501 (c)(3)tax-exempt organization serving as a source of external fund-raising, funds-management and revenue-distribution at Cal Poly Pomona.According to meeting minutes from 2011, the "Cal Poly Pomona University Educational Trust (UET) Board of Directors, the Chancellor's Office and University Administration made the decision to dissolve the UET and transfer all of its net assets to the Cal Poly Pomona Foundation, Inc."

Endowment

Cal Poly Pomonafinancial endowmentwas valued at $85.6 million as of 30 June 2016.In fall 2010, Cal Poly Pomona embarked on its first comprehensive fundraising campaign.Early major donors helped raise more than half of the campaign's goal of $150 million before its formal launch. They included an anonymous benefactor who pledged $12 million,and $2 million from 1980 alumni Mickey and Lee Segal.Just before the campaign launch, on July 26, 2010, theW. K. Kellogg Foundationawarded a $42 million challenge grant to the university to increase educational access to underrepresented communities, making it the largest cash gift in the history of theCSU system.On February 28, 2011,Panda Expressfounders Andrew and Peggy Cherng announced a $2.5 million pledge to Cal Poly Pomona'sCollins College of Hospitality Management.The university expects that its permanent endowment at the conclusion of its first comprehensive campaign will top $100 million.On June 15, 2021, philanthropistMacKenzie Scottmade a $40 million cash gift to Cal Poly Pomona, making it the largest donation or grant to Cal Poly Pomona given by an individual.

Academics

Main article:Cal Poly Pomona academics

Main entrance of theCal Poly Pomona University Library

Cal Poly Pomona's academic offerings have evolved throughout the years. Prior to the ownership shift to Cal Poly SLO in 1938, the Voorhis School for Boys in San Dimas had been providing educational offerings in "music, bookkeeping, agriculture, library work, carpentry, nature study, machine shop, and printing" coupled with Christian religious fundamentals to an all-male student body with poor, underage boys.In 1938, the campus became the agricultural branch of Cal Poly SLO when a small staff was transfer from San Luis Obispo along with group of agricultural inspection students.Thus, Cal Poly at Pomona (then just Cal Poly) began offeringAssociate's degreesin 1938 andBachelor's degreesin 1940 when, despite legislative opposition from pro-University of Californiamembers inSacramento,president Julian McPhee asked allied members Armistead B. Carter and Daniel C. Murphy to introduce the bill when two opposing members were not present to vote.Following the governance breakup with the San Luis Obispo in 1966, and as outlined by the 1960California Master Plan for Higher Education,Cal Poly Pomona continued "offer[ing] undergraduate and graduate instruction through the master's degree in the liberal arts and sciences and professional education, including teacher education."Currently, Cal Poly Pomona promotes a "learn by doing" philosophy, where an essential part of the curriculum is hands-on application of knowledge.

Merriam-Webstermentions that "polytechnic", a word first known to have been used in 1798, is derived from the Frenchpolytechniquewhich contains theGreek-roots"poly" (English:many) and "technē" (art). Thus, Merriam-Webster defines "polytechnic" as, "relating to or devoted to instruction in many technical arts or applied sciences".Cal Poly Pomona's polytechnic approach, and learn-by-doing philosophy, encourages students in all programs to get real-world experience and skills necessary to join the workforce upon graduation.

In addition, the university is among six other institutions of higher education in California that have been designated a "Center of Academic Excellence" by theDepartment of Homeland Securityand theNational Security Agency(NSA).While all majors are encouraged to participate inco-opopportunities andinternships,all students must do a senior research project.

The 300,000 sq ft (28,000 m²)Cal Poly Pomona University Libraryserves "as the central intellectual and cultural resource of the campus community" and contains 2.4 million items and serves as an important center for academic research.Built in 1969 for $4.2 million, the library underwent a major renovation and expansion completed in the summer of 2008 at a cost of over $46 million.The library participates in theOnline Computer Library Center(OCLC) Enhance program which allows it to correct or add information to bibliographic records inWorldCat.

Distinctions

With approximately 5,000 students, its college of Engineering is the second largest in the California State University system.The university has the largest Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, and Construction Engineering programs in the CSU, and is the only campus to offer an Engineering Technology focus.

Just behindCal State Fullerton,the university has the second largest Business Administration major in the CSU with nearly 5,000 students. Its Hospitality program is the largest in the CSU and one of the largest in all of the US, with approximately 1,000 students enrolled. Overall, the university holds the fourth largest business college in the CSU.

Rankings

Further information on college-specific rankings:Cal Poly Pomona academics § Rankings

Academic rankings
Master's
Washington Monthly	57
Regional
U.S. News & World Report	3
National
Forbes	142
WSJ/College Pulse	389

According toU.S. News & World Report's 2023 "Best Regional Universities West Rankings," Cal Poly Pomona is ranked 3rd in the western United States for regional public schools whose highest degree is a Master's, 2nd in Top Public Schools, 4th for Most Innovative School, 6 in Best Undergraduate Teaching, 4 in Top Performers on Social Mobility (tie) and 25 in Best Value School. The same report ranked the College of Engineering for 9th out of undergraduate engineering schools in the U.S. where doctorates are not offered, with national program rankings of:

• Computer Engineering:2nd
• Civil Engineering:4th
• Aerospace Engineering:5th
• Electrical Engineering:3rd
• Mechanical Engineering:3rd

2024 USNWR Graduate School Rankings
Program	Ranking
Public AffairsPrograms	166
Part-timeMBA(tie)	160

According toU.S. News & World Report's 2022 "Best Regional Universities West Rankings," Cal Poly Pomona is ranked 14th in the western United States for regional public schools whose highest degree is a Master's, 3rd in Top Public Schools, 3rd for Most Innovative School, 6 in Best Undergraduate Teaching (tie), 7 in Top Performers on Social Mobility (tie) and 37 in Best Value School. The same report ranked the College of Engineering tied for 11th out of undergraduate engineering schools in the U.S. where doctorates are not offered, with national program rankings of:

• Civil Engineering:4th
• Computer Engineering:3rd
• Electrical Engineering:4th (tied)
• Mechanical Engineering:9th

According toU.S. News & World Report's 2021 "Best Regional Universities West Rankings," Cal Poly Pomona is ranked 2nd in the western United States for regional public schools whose highest degree is a Master's, 3rd for Most Innovative School, and tied for 10th overall (including private schools).The same report ranked the College of Engineering tied for 11th out of undergraduate engineering schools in the U.S. where doctorates are not offered, with national program rankings of:

• Aerospace Engineering:3rd (tied)
• Civil Engineering:6th
• Computer Engineering:4th (tied)
• Electrical Engineering:8th (tied)
• Industrial Engineering:2nd
• Mechanical Engineering:8th

Money Magazineranked Cal Poly Pomona 15th in the country out of more than 700 schools it evaluated for its 2020 Best Colleges ranking.The Daily Beastranked Cal Poly Pomona 159th in the country out of the nearly 2000 schools it evaluated for its 2014 Best Colleges ranking.

InForbesmagazine's 2019 list of "America's Best Colleges", Cal Poly Pomona was ranked number 273 among the 650 best public and private colleges and universities in the nation. In the 2012 "PayScale College Salary Report" conducted byPayScaleof bachelor's graduates without higher degrees, Cal Poly Pomona ranked 19th among public universities in the country with a starting median salary of $46,800 and a mid-career median salary of $93,000. This places Cal Poly Pomona the fourth highest in California and the second highest in the CSU, while besting every UC with the exception of Berkeley and San Diego.

In December 2014Kiplingerranked Cal Poly Pomona 94th out of the top 100 best-value public schools in the nation, and 11th in California.Furthermore, Cal Poly Pomona is considered one of the top investments for educational value, with a 2013 net 30-yearreturn on investment(ROI) of $917,100 according toPayScale.This ROI is the third highest in the CSU and 113th highest of the 1,511 US colleges and universities that were ranked, besting most UC campuses.

Admissions

Fall Enrolled Freshman Statistics (Fall 2022-Fall 2011)

	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015	2014	2013	2012	2011
Applicants	49,721	41,226	38,026	39,726	36,660	34,919	32,917	33,857	32,801	31,465	28,143	23,946
Admitted	27,439	25,105	24,689	21,687	20,340	19,225	19,474	13,307	17,014	16,636	14,685	13,191
% Admitted	55.2	60.9	64.9	54.6	55.5	55.1	59.2	39.3	51.9	52.9	52.2	55.1
Enrollment	3,655	3,463	4,323	3,694	3,863	3,786	4,204	2,707	3,658	3,257	3,120	3,249
Average GPA (out of 4.0)	3.78	3.69	3.57	3.55	3.51	3.49	3.52	3.50	3.42	3.43	3.41	3.32
75th percentile composite SAT (out of 1600)			1240	1260	1260	1240	1160	1102	1068	1059	1071	1057
25th percentile composite SAT (out of 1600)			1010	1020	1020	1010	900	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
75th percentile composite ACT (out of 36)			27	27	27	27	27	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
25th percentile composite ACT (out of 36)			19	19	19	20	20	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

TheCarnegie Foundation for the Advancement of TeachingandU.S. News & World Reportdescribe Cal Poly Pomona's admissions process as "selective".TheCSU systemlists Cal Poly Pomona among 16 of its institutions with higher admission standards for first-time freshmen.For the Fall of 2016 there were 32,917 first-time, first year applicants: 19,474 were admitted (51.9%) and 4,204 enrolled (an admissions yield of 21.6%).The middle 50% range ofSATscores was 440-560 for reading and 460–600 for math, while the middle 50%ACTComposite range was 20–27.Of the enrolled freshmen, 25.6% had a high school GPA of 3.75 or higher, while the average GPA was 3.45.

Freshmen applicants who graduate high school outside Cal Poly Pomona's Tier 1 area (known as Tier 2 applicants) are rank ordered by eligibility index and granted admission based on a year-specific cutoff score.Since academic year 2010–2011, Tier 1 applicants may no longer be guaranteed admissions based on the CSU Eligibility Index and may be subject to similar criteria as Tier 2 applicants.

Demographics

Undergraduate demographics as of Fall 2020

Race and ethnicity	Total
Hispanic	49%	49
Asian	22%	22
White	14%	14
Other	6%	6
Foreign national	5%	5
Black	3%	3
Economic diversity
Low-income	46%	46
Affluent	54%	54

Cal Poly Pomona is an ethnically and culturally diverse university, self-described as "Champions of Diversity",College Prowlerstates that "Cal Poly is themelting potof theCal States". As of 2018 Cal Poly Pomona has the third largest enrollment percentage of Asian Americans in the Cal State System.

Cal Poly Pomona has over 1,000 visa-bearing international students.

Impaction

During the fall admissions filing period, theCSUdesignates academic programs where more applications are received than can be accommodated by the campus, and designates them as "impacted".At Cal Poly Pomona, impacted academic programs include: Animal Health Science, Animal Science, Aerospace Engineering,Chemical and Materials Engineering,Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering,Architecture,Psychology, Sociology, Communication, Biology, Biotechnology, and undeclared programs.As such, applicants are rank ordered by eligibility index regardless of local admissions area and are accepted as space permits.Cal Poly Pomona students who wish to change majors to an impacted program must meet supplemental requirements required for that major. Requesting a change to an impacted major must be received by the end of the initial filing period for the term for which new majors are being accepted (i.e. By February 28, 2010, for summer 2011; November 30, 2010 for fall 2011; June 30, 2011 for winter 2012; or August 31, 2011 for spring 2012).

Student life

Student suites at Cal Poly Pomona

Aliso Residence Hall

Housing

Cal Poly's Bronco Recreation and Intramural Complex (BRIC)

With an on-campus housing capacity of 3,519 students, Cal Poly Pomona has the fifth largest housing system in theCalifornia State University.In 2016, 39% of first-year students and 10% of all students live in college housing.

There are threeresidentialstyles on the Pomona campus. The oldest housing facilities consist of six residential halls, known as theTraditional Halls,located on University Drive. The four older red-brick halls are namedAlamitos,Aliso,Encinitas,andMontecito,each providing accommodation for up to 212 residents. The other two housing halls (CedritosandPalmitas), were the result of a 1968 development and each has room to accommodate up to 185 residents. These two halls were described as eligible for theCalifornia Historic Registeras "a significant example of the work of highly noted Southern California architectural firm,Smith and Williams".

Newer residential complexes include theUniversity Villageand theSuiteswhich offer apartment-style living to non-freshman students. TheResidence Halls, Traditional Halls,and theSuitesare managed by the Division of Student Affairs, whereas theUniversity Villageis managed by the Cal Poly Pomona Foundation.Phase I of the construction of the Suites, housing 420 students, was completed in 2004 and Phase II, housing 622 students, opened in 2010.

In an effort to reduce commuting and raise academic performance and retention, starting with the 2010–2011 academic year, freshmen from outside the Tier 1 Local Admissions area (the area roughly bounded by the San Gabriel Mountains and Chino Hills to the north and south and the 15 and 605 freeways to the east and west), will be required to live on campus.

Currently, there have been ongoing efforts to grow the residential community on campus. In 2017, construction began on two new residential halls (SicomoroandSecoya) along with a new dining hall (CenterpointeDining Commons), which are intended to replace the aging and seismically unfit residential community along University Drive. The newResidence Hallsopened to select first-year residents in January 2020. TheResidence Hallscan house 980 residents and are only open to first-year students.

Students on a walkway leading to theCLA Building

Bronco Student Center

Main article:Bronco Student Center

Bronco Student Center

The Bronco Student Center is a student activity center for meetings, conferences, meals, recreation, and shopping for students and alumni on the campus of Cal Poly Pomona in Pomona, California. This is where ASI student government offices are located, as well as other various student run departments like facilities and operations, Recreation, Programming and Marketing (RPM), Business Services, Games Room Etc. (GRE).

LGBT-friendly campus

According to the Advocate College Guide for LGBT Students, Cal Poly Pomona is one of the nation's best campuses for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students.The university offersgender-neutral housing,a pride center for LGBT students, the club oSTEM (out in STEM) and Pride Alliance for faculty and staff members.

Campus media

Campus events are covered by thestudent newspaper,thePoly Post.The Bronco Sports Show is a quarterly television broadcast capturing the highlights and statistics from Bronco Athletics along with other featured events around the campus.PolyCentricis the university's official online magazine. PolyCentric features news, announcements of campus events, spotlights on various departments, and resources for faculty and staff. A web site also provides a comprehensive archival search for past articles and photos.

Bronco Pep Band

Main article:Bronco Pep Band

The Bronco Pep Band is a student-run band at Cal Poly Pomona. The band is a group within theathletic department.It follows the tradition of other student-run bands in the sense that it focuses on its members' individuality. The band attends athletic events during the year to encourage the school's athletic teams and audience support/involvement. The pep band is entirely voluntary and all students at Cal Poly Pomona or anyone else in the area are free to join.

Greek life

Greek Life at Cal Poly Pomona consists of 16 fraternities and 11 sororities governed by the Greek Council. From the total maleundergraduatepopulation, 2% are enrolled in fraternities and 1% of women in sororities respectively.In 2005, Lambda Phi Epsilon pledge Kenny Luong died from injuries suffered during a brutal football game between members of the fraternity and those pledging to join it.

Rose Parade float

Main article:Cal Poly Universities Rose Float

Cal Poly Pomona together withCal Poly San Luis Obispohas participated in theTournament of Roses paradesince 1949; winning the Award of Merit in their first year. From 1949 to 2005, the floats have won 44 awards. This joint program is one of the longest consecutive running self-built entries in the parade, as well as the only "self built" floats designed and constructed entirely by students year-round on both campuses. The Rose Float tradition continues today and marks the partnership between the two Cal Poly campuses.

Athletics

Main article:Cal Poly Pomona Broncos

Voorhis Vikings

Before the university moved from San Dimas to Pomona, the college had a handful of athletic teams named the"Voorhis Vikings".They were composed mostly of homeless and orphaned boys of all races who were cared for at the Voorhis School during the ten-year period it operated.Despite this historical background, the university's current athletic programs are named the Broncos.

Cal Poly Pomona Broncos

Cal Poly Pomonavarsity teamscompete in theCalifornia Collegiate Athletic AssociationofNCAA Division II.Teams are known as theCal Poly Pomona Broncosand field 10 sports for men and women for the fall, winter, and spring quarters. Cal Poly Pomona's most recent national championship came in2010 Division II basketball tournamentwhen the university'smen's basketball teamdefeatedIndiana University of Pennsylvania65–53 in the title game. The Broncos are currently the most successful program in the CCAA having achieved 60 CCAA and 14 NCAA National Championships.University athletes have also claimed individual championships inwomen's tennis(1980, 1981, 1991, and 1992). Besides being located in close proximity to each other,Cal State LAand Cal Poly Pomona have competed heavily as conference rivals. The Broncos excels in Women's basketball in the California Collegiate Athletic Association.

Team national championships for the Broncos include the following:

• Baseball:1976, 1980, 1983
• Men's cross country: 1983
• Men'sbasketball:2010
• Women's basketball:1982, 1985, 1986, 2001, 2002

Notable people

Main article:List of Cal Poly Pomona people

• 
  Jonathan Bornstein
• 
  Dr Disrespect (Hershel Beahm IV)
• 
  Kim Rhode
• 
  Hilda Solis
• 
  Forest Whitaker
• 
  James Williamson
• 
  Larry Wilmore
• 
  Jim Zorn
• 
  Jack Dangermond

Ken Maddox(California State Assemblyman)

See also

• California Master Plan for Higher Education

References

Sources

• Cal Poly: The First Hundred Years.San Luis Obispo, California: California Polytechnic State University. 2001.ISBN0944197663.
• Angel, Myron(1907),History of the California Polytechnic School at San Luis Obispo, California,San Luis Obispo, California:The Tribune (San Luis Obispo)
• Gerth, Donald (2010),The People's University: A History of the California State University,University of California, Institute of Governmental Studies,ISBN978-0-87772-435-3
• Kennedy, Robert E. (2001),Learn by Doing – Memoirs of a University President: A Personal Journey with the Seventh President of California Polytechnic State University.,San Luis Obispo, California: California Polytechnic State University
• Parkinson, Mary Jane (2001),The Romance of the Kellogg Ranch,Hong Kong, People's Republic of China: South Sea International Press, Ltd,ISBN978-0-9777088-0-2,OCLC72525130
• Pflueger, Donald(1999) [1991],California State Polytechnic University, Pomona: A Legacy and a Mission,Spokane, Washington:Arthur H. Clark Company,OCLC43853707
• Powell, Horace B. (1956),The Original Has This Signature—W.K.Kellogg,Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey:Prentice-Hall, Inc.

External links

• Official website
• Cal Poly Athletics website