Myth: Nothing happens on this campus.
This myth is easily busted. Walk across campus and you will see that this is a vibrant community. Signs posted along the walkways announce an array of upcoming events, as do the marquees. The Quad and Bronco Student Center frequently bustle with social and cultural activities. Our basketball teams draw enthusiastic fans at Kellogg Gym, and guest speakers address an array of subjects. The campus calendar lists events and activities for virtually all interests.
Cal Poly Pomona historically has had an image problem as a “commuter campus” – but that is changing. About a fifth of our 20,000 students now live on or near campus, and more student housing is in the pipeline. Those students, as well as commuters, have a multitude of opportunities to thrive outside the classroom:
- There are 291 registered student clubs that plan activities and social meetings every week.
- The First Friday series features a blowout event each month with foam dances, cultural events, sporting activities, concerts, comedians and much more. Attendance averages more than 900.
- The ASI Bronco Events and Activities Team hosts more than 100 events a year that are free and open to the entire campus.
- Nearly one in five students participates in the intramural sports program, which includes basketball, softball, flag football, soccer, tennis, and the new table game Hantis.
- And it’s not all games. More than 25,000 students, faculty and staff participate in educational programs offered by the Office of Student Life, academic departments and colleges.
Social engagement is a significant factor related to student success because it helps students build strong support networks, increasing their likelihood to graduate.
“I have truly benefited from my outside-classroom experiences, which have opened doors of opportunity for me,” says Jasmine Forte, a senior who is studying business and dance. “I have been able to network, as well as have an overall great college experience by being involved in clubs and campus programs.”
Still, too much of a good thing can be detrimental, especially if outside activities interfere with academic progress.
“I had to learn to balance my time in class and my time in outside interests,” says Michael Diaz Lemus, a senior psychology major. “One of the ways I did just that was through the use of myBAR. It keeps track of my activities, which has helped me to think about what I want to be involved with. In this one program I found a way to keep everything organized.”
The bottom line is that graduate schools and employers value students who are engaged in life outside the classroom. To help track those activities, the Division of Student Affairs (in conjunction with the Graduation Initiative) has devised myBAR, an online tool that helps students document their co-curricular activities. To learn more about the myBAR project, visit https://mybar.cpp.edu/.
To Submit a Myth to be Busted, visit: https://www.cpp.edu/~gradinitiative/contact.shtml
For more information about Myth-Busters and the Graduation Initiative, visit https://www.cpp.edu/~gradinitiative/index.shtml