In his final video message, President Ortiz thanked the campus community for the honor and privilege of serving at Cal Poly Pomona, highlighted rankings that the university recently earned, praised a student with a milestone accomplishment, and shared an initiative to help students with the cost of textbooks.

Diverse: Issues in Higher Education magazine ranked several Cal Poly Pomona departments highly for their diversity and graduation rates. The architecture department was first in the nation in awarding undergraduate degrees to minorities, and the university also ranked high in four other categories. Hospitality management ranked fourth, while agriculture and engineering finished fifth in their respective categories, and business administration took ninth.

Food science and technology student Haley Smolinski became the first Cal Poly Pomona student to be selected as an intern at the W.K. Kellogg Institute for Food and Nutrition Research. She spent the first part of this year as a product development intern in the company’s Global Snacks division in Michigan.

Faculty members and the University Library have teamed up to help lower spending on textbooks through the Affordable Learning Initiative. Started in 2012, the program relies on e-books, textbook rentals, library reserves and online services. It saved students $1.8 million in the 2013-14 academic year.

In other news:

• The Renaissance Scholars Program is holding its annual toy drive to help foster children this holiday season. Drop off a toy donation at the Bronco Student Center any day this week.
• Staff Council is holding its annual Holiday Gathering on Wednesday on the eighth floor of the CLA building. Appetizers and beverages will be served, and stuffed animals collected for the City of Pomona’s “Santa Cop” program. In addition, attendees can send a holiday card to military personnel serving overseas.
• The men’s cross country team finished 16^th at the NCAA Division II National Championships in Louisville, Ky., on Saturday. It’s the second consecutive year the team has appeared in the championships.
• The men’s and women’s basketball teams went undefeated on their weekend road trip. The teams both beat Cal State East Bay and Cal State Monterey Bay.
• The baseball team starts its season at Dixie State on Feb. 6, but will hold its home opener on Valentine’s Day.

President Ortiz finished by wishing everyone the best this holiday season and expressing thanks on behalf of himself and his wife, Betty, for the memories and friendships over the years.

To read the entire video message, download a PDF of the transcript.