APRIL 2012 NEWSLETTER

FOUNDATIONNEWS

CAL POLY POMONA FOUNDATION, INC.

APRIL 2012

page 15

CONGRATULATIONSTO THE CLASS OF 2012

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Cal Poly Foundation, Inc. has been on the forefront ofutilizing online technology to increase brand aware-ness, reach targeted demographics, and create a virtualcommunity to convey information and resources.

For the past ten years the Marketing Department hasdedicated its efforts to making the online presence ofthe Foundation, which currently includes over twentywebsites and landing pages, an integral part of theoverall marketing effort.

By developing websites that offer functionality and ease of use, Foundation

websites have seen an increase of over1,400% in the past ten years, with over

500,000 visits in 2011.

The success of the online marketing has attracted theattention of other academic and non-profit organiza-tions that have either sought advice and counsel, or im-plemented strategies developed by FoundationMarketing.

“Over the years the main objective has been to con-tinue to learn what is working, and what is not, so wecan always be better with our online presence;” saysAlex Hernandez, Foundation Webmaster, “you can’tjust build it and they will come, it takes constant edu-cation and improvement to make it work.”

While many other organizations were debating theoverall effectiveness and purpose of building a virtualcommunity, the Foundation Marketing Department sawthe potential in creating an online community thatwould serve the needs the of students, staff, and ad-ministrators.

“Ten years ago we had just one website like everyoneelse. It was the thing to do. I wanted it to be more,and do more, so we started to develop ways to make itbeneficial for everyone,” states Edwin Santiago, Direc-tor of Marketing.

Instead of having one Foundation website that tried to

do everything, unique sites were developed for eachdepartment that would focus on the information andfunctionality that catered to that particular audience.As information demand increased, additional sites wereconstructed within certain departments. For instance,Dining Services was divided into separate sub-sites thatfocused on CCMP, the Bronco Student Center, and LosOlivos. Once these niche sites were launched, the mar-keting efforts became more targeted, and more suc-cessful, in reaching a specific audience.

The evolution continued as websites were imple-mented for Kellogg House, Kellogg West ConferenceCenter & Hotel, and the Bronco Bookstore. This pro-vided an opportunity to expand into online retail andprovide cutting edge services to our clientele.

The Foundation sites have been praised for their de-sign, but have also received accolades for componentsthat most people will never see, including maintaininga remarkable 99% reliability rating and meeting all req-uisite standards in order to be Section 508 Compliant.Few sites reach this high standard as it involves metic-ulous planning, coding, and maintenance to reach therequired guidelines developed by the government.Some of these requirements include metadata sourc-ing, comprehensive media tags for photos and videos,compatibility with various web readers that assist thosewith disabilities, and textual requirements. *

The websites also serve as a functional tool for the op-erations of the Foundation by distributing key informa-tion in a timely manner, maintaining access to allupdated Foundation forms, and available reference toall financial reports that allow for compliance and trans-parency.

In conclusion, the past decade has seen tremendousadvances and growth in the implementation of Foun-dation websites. Through a collaborative effort of var-ious divisions, lead by the Marketing Department, thesites will continue to enhance the Cal Poly Foundation,Inc. experience.

*For a complete listing of Section 508 Compliance, goto www.section508.gov

Foundation Websites Hit 600,000+ Mark

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“Over the years, our main

objective has been to continue

to learn what is working, and

what is not, so we can always

be better with our online

presence,” says Alex

Hernandez, Foundation

Webmaster, “you can’t just

build it and they will come; it

takes constant education and

improvement to make it work.

Foundations Favorite Color: Green The California State University is committed to a ‘greener’ tomorrow through classes, water conserva-tion, and innovative sustainable techniques in its dining halls. The CSU is cultivating leaders in the en-vironmental workforce by offering courses designed to foster leaders in conservation, social equity, andeconomic viability of green resources. Campuses are transforming how they develop sustainable pro-grams by creating water initiatives at the various campuses, and continually evaluating how food is pur-chased, served, and disposed.

In spring, 2007, President Ortiz convened a task force of administrators,faculty, staff and students to develop an institutional response to the cli-mate commitment. Since that time, the Foundation has worked diligentlyto aid in the development and execution of this plan.

Foundation staff and departments have pledged to incorporate energyefficiency into their overall operations. Foundation Administration inBuilding 55 has seen a dramatic reduction of paper use for copies with anaverage of 6,500 copies per month – 50% decrease of over 14,000 permonth in 2008! This has cut costs and saves over a case and a half ofpaper monthly.

Willing to invest in technology, and the future, has allowed for these dra-matic reductions. New copiers that are capable of high-speed, double-

sided scanning directly to designated folders and direct fax capabilities help in the overall paperreduction. Also, the creation of an electronic document library for most Foundation forms allows virtualcompletion and filing. Directors and Managers were provided with iPads in an effort to reduce printingout meeting agendas and notes. Links to documents are emailed to attendees prior to meetings wherethey can be uploaded and viewed on portable electronic devices.

Leading the way in paper reduction, in May 2011, the Foundation Employment Services departmentdelivered a presentation at the American Payroll Association (APA) titled, “Technology Use for Best inClass Payroll Performance”. Streamlining its functions, where historically it required 5 or more workdays to process its semi-monthly payroll – including a process that required printing a 100-page reportat least twice a month – to saving reports directly into the Kronos payroll system saving many reams ofreports each year! Also, completing the required I-9 Form and E-Verify is all online, with no paperworkrequired for normal processing or certification.

Foundation Marketing has contributed by consolidating promotions for multiple departments into oneencompassing advertising campaign. It has saved on overall paper usage by creating engaging bannersand posters to convey department messaging in lieu of printing and distributing flyers and brochuresthat were often discarded and ineffective. In order to profile the campus and the Foundation depart-ments to students, parents, faculty, and staff, the campus map was produced that not only provides di-rections, but detailed information about the various Foundation services. The maps are distributedcampus-wide throughout the year and provided to potential students nationally.

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Foundation Dining Services recently began an innovative food waste recycling program being spearheadedby Burrtec Waste Management that diverts compostable waste from landfills and produces compost for a va-riety of uses. Special green food waste containers were provided and currently 12 bags of compostable prod-uct are being diverted daily from our local landfill – and that’s just from Los Olivos! This program is one ofthe first in the area and will be a model for other campuses and businesses to follow.

The Bronco Bookstore has replaced plastic bags with biodegradable tapioca root bags that can break downin weeks, as opposed to years. The bags are made using a lower carbon footprint, created with a processthat uses less petroleum, energy, and water.

Other departments are contributing as well; the University Village Housing has begun a community gardenprogram that will be managed by the students and produce organic fruits and vegetables. While the FacilitiesDepartment has recently converted a paint shed to become a bike station for storage and repairs – all in aneffort to encourage biking around campus.

The Foundation will continue to evaluate and improve its practices and services to better serve the campusand the environment for years to come.

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Thursday, April 19, 2012 Kellogg Distinguished Public Lecture SeriesCal Poly Pomona is proud to present the Kellogg Distinguished Public Lecture Series funded by the KelloggLegacy Project Endowment. We are pleased to announce our second distinguished speaker, Pulitzer PrizeWinning Journalist and Best Selling Author: Isabel Wilkerson.

Join Isabel Wilkerson as she discusses her New York Times’ bestseller, “The Warmth of Other Suns: The EpicStory of America’s Great Migration”

The book brings to life one of the greatest underreported stories of the 20th Century, a migration that re-shaped modern America. Wilkerson interviewed more than 1,200 people, unearthed archival research andgathered the voices of the famous and the unknown to tell the epic story of the redistribution of an entirepeople. She chose to tell the story through three unforgettable protagonists as they make the decision oftheir lives.

Cal Poly University Theatre 6 PM – Reception 7 PM – Lecture

This event is open to the public, but registration is required. http://www.csupomona.edu/~kellogglectures/

April 24-25, Tuesday and WednesdayGRAD FAIR 2012 Hosted by Bronco Bookstore, Grad Fair 2012 is open from 10 am to 6 pm. Save up to $60 during Grad Fair.

April 24, TuesdayALL HANDS MEETING3 pm to 4 pm in Farm Store Classroom. See you there!

“DID YOU KNOW?” Dates in April

April 7 – No Housework Day April 16 – National Stress Awareness Day April 17 – Daffy Duck’s Birthday April 20 – National Pineapple Upside-down Cake DayApril 26 – National Pretzel Day April 30 – National Honesty Day

APRIL 2012 CALENDAR:

On April 12, the 2012 Senior Send Off event will take place at UnionPlaza. Sponsored by the Alumni Association, this yearly tradition

provides graduates with the information they need to maintain theirties to the Cal Poly Pomona family after they have left the campus.Personnel will be on-hand to greet and guide students about themany benefits of joining the Alumni Association and provide freefood, gifts, prizes and a raffle for “Reserved Seating” (8 reserved

seats) for Commencement Ceremony.

Show your CPP pride and RSVP at [email protected] The 2012 Senior Send Off event will be from 5 – 7 PM.

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From Students to Alumni ... You’re Invited!

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Why don’t students want to walk at commencement? Itseems as though we’re always struggling to jump throughthe same hoop every year as we’re drawing together acampaign to increase sales for Bronco Bookstore’s GradFair.

Luckily, as recent graduates, we were able to quickly jog-gle our memories to identify a clear answer.

We enter that first year of college with our minds and spir-its full of curiosity. Every new experience that college in-troduced brought that sensation of tingly butterflies. Thisfeeling was then magnified by the spontaneity of secondand third year.

However, by the fourth year, we were itching with a badcase of Senioritis and by the time we dragged ourselvesto the end of our wonderful collegiate journey, we wereready to GTHO. Ahem, get out.

It was all getting stale and repetitive. The last thing on ourminds was to sit through a tedious ceremony draped in anoversized gown.

A student’s bond with college starts to spiral downward asit progresses. Even after years of impactful experiencesand accomplishments, college has become a dull, neverending chore. The excitement of walking has now beenwarped into an unnecessary task added to their dragginglist.

Now back to the drawing board. We began to explore awide range of ideas in hopes of sprouting enthusiasm forour upcoming graduates. We had to mold the chore ofpurchasing a cap and gown at Grad Fair into a memorableexperience that they’d want to share with their friends andfamily.

Enter Grad Fair Games – a campaign that consists of a se-ries of games and events designed to spark excitementand anticipation for the culmination of our students’ yearsof hard work and dedication: graduation. Grad Fair Games is strategically coordinated to runthroughout the month of April, with events taking place

Darren Isomoto and Lily Ly are socialmedia coordinators at

Cal Poly Pomona Foundation, Inc.

Additional posts can be found online atour blog: www.cppfsocialage.com

s cialageBy: Lily Ly & Darren Isomoto

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every week leading up to Grad Fair 2012. In thismulti-day campaign, upcoming grads are invited toparticipate in two games: “Grad Pong” and “GradHoopla.”

In “Grad Pong,” students are given a chance to tossa ping-pong ball into a cup (yes, just like beer pong)that may reward them with a prize. After sinking thatshot, they can try their luck at “Grad Hoopla,” wherethe aim is to propel a flower-covered hula-hoop overa mannequin donned in commencement attire.

With our third activity, “Photo Booth with BillyBronco,” students are invited to take a picture withCal Poly Pomona’s mascot, who’s suited up in a tra-ditional cap and gown.

As all this is happening, our “Grad Walkers,” fullydressed in graduation attire, mingle amongstcrowds during the school’s peak hours to distributeflyers. This stunt sprouts curiosity and sparks ques-tions about Grad Fair, which results in anticipationfor commencement.

By engaging graduates in lively, hands-on activities,it entices them to share their experience with theirsocial circle, which is why we top off Grad FairGames by complimenting each activity with a socialmedia aspect. Photos from each event will betagged and uploaded onto Bronco Bookstore’sFacebook and Flickr. Videos will also be compiledfor YouTube.

Grad Fair Games ultimately allows our graduates tounwind and live in the moment that they haveworked endlessly for during the past few years. It re-minds them that purchasing graduation merchan-dise and walking at commencement are not justadditional chores to be checked off at the end oftheir list. It’s a celebration of the most importantachievement of their lives.

For more information about Grad Fair Games andGrad Fair 2012: facebook.com/BroncoBookstore.

On Thursday, March 15, Los Olivos dusted off the sham-rock glasses and leprechaun hats to celebrate St.Patrick’s Day. Guests were greeted to traditional Irishmusic as they feasted on delicious Irish dishes thatranged from Shepherds Pie to soda bread.

Students and staff entered the ballooned filled diningarea as staff put on their Irish charm and distributedgreen clover hats to various diners. The crowd contin-ued to grow during the lunch hour as students, staff, andfaculty took advantage of the custom prepared menu.

Other specialty foods included beer battered fish &chips, roasted salmon served with Irish mashed pota-toes, corned beef potato salad, and Bailey’s puddingparfaits.

The special luncheon was a treat for the Los Olivos staff,as they got to celebrate with this fun-loving theme be-fore the close of finals week and the beginning of springbreak, and diners devoured distinctive Irish cuisine.

Los Olivos GoesGreen on St Patrick’s Day

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Can You Guess the Year?

Schoolhouse Rock premiers on ABC with “Multiplication Rock” The Miami Dolphins defeat the Washington Redskins 17-7 in the

Super Bowl to cap a perfect seasonThe Young and the Restless makes its television debutThe band KISS plays its first concert in Queens, New YorkThe comic strip Hagar the Horrible debuts Chicago’s Sears Tower, the world’s tallest building at the time, is finished Skylab, the first American space station, is launched The US Supreme Court approves equal rights for women in the militaryThe songs “Monster Mash” and “Smoke on the Water” go gold Elvis and Priscilla Presley get divorced Pablo Picasso, Betty Grable, and Lyndon Baines Johnson die

Top TEN List

Top 10 Smartest Animals 1. Chimpanzee 2. Dolphin 3. Orangutan 4. Elephant5. Crow 6. Pig 7. Squirrel 8. Pigeon 9. Octopus 10. Rat

Source: www.animal.discovery.com

Words To Live By

A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor's book.~Irish Proverb

The first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 daysof the year – Mark Twain

I always wanted to be somebody, but now I realize I should have beenmore specific. – Lily Tomlin

Fun Facts:

(Answer: The year was 1973)

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Spring has Officially Sprung at the VillageThe University Sustainable Planning & Action Committee, Residen-tial Education and the Facilities team have completed our winterquarter project with the official opening of the Village CommunityGarden! The project was completed on March 15, and opened thefirst week of the spring quarter.

Everyone involved is excited about the Garden and providing freshproduce to our students, as well as, having a ‘hands-on’ projectthat encourages participation and pride. This was made possiblethrough a collaborative effort between multiple departments andwill be a great precedent for future projects.

Re-licensing for the upcoming summer and fall quarters began inmid-March and has kept everyone at the Village very busy.

The staff is excited for a strong finish to the final academic quarterof the year!

Don’t Try to Be Good at EVERYTHINGBut Be the Best at SOMETHING

While many people dream of being good at everything, it makes more sense to focus on becoming outstanding at onething instead.

On the surface, it may seem appealing to have well-rounded talents. But true success occurs when you focus your en-ergy on becoming the best you can be in one specific area or at one particular type of skill. When you do somethingyou are naturally good at and enjoy doing, you increase self-confidence, boost efficiency, and earn a reputation as thego-to person for your particular talents.

It is easy to feel empowered and realize more happiness in life when you do things you’re good at and that interestyou. With that in mind, here are a few tips to help you focus on honing your own talents and skills.

Identify your strengths. Learn to recognize your talents for what they are, and strive to develop skills that will enhance your strengths and addvalue to what you do.

Take note of what others say. Sometimes coworkers or friends are a great resource to identify strengths, especially if you are constantly getting com-plimented on a talent you’ve yet to recognize.

Never talk yourself out of doing something because of a skill or expertise you don’t have. Rather, focus on what you can do.

Practice makes perfect. Remember, there is always room for improvement for everyone, regardless of the skill level. The harder you work atsomething, the better you’ll become.

When we do something we are good at, we are naturally more engaged and fulfilled. While it’s true that strengths andweaknesses make us complete, it’s our strengths that make us successful.

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foundation.csupomona.edu

PUBLISHED BY:

WHAT YOU SPEND ON CAMPUS … STAYS ON

CAMPUS

Surplus funds generated by all Cal Poly Pomona Foun-dation operations go back to the University to provide

financial and facility resources to benefit

students, faculty and staff.

Cal Poly Pomona Foundation. Inc.Ph: 909-869-2912Fx: 909-869-4549

April 24 & 2510:00 am to 6:00 pmBookstore Atrium

Grad YOU ARE INVITED

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Fair ‘12

Cap and gown I I Diploma Frames I I Graduation AnnouncementsSenior Class Rings I I Graduation Sashes I I Ceremony Information

Registrar’s Office I I Senior Portraits & Stage PhotosParking Instructions I I Flower Leis and Bouquets

Alumni Association Benefits I I Special Offers & Prizes

All Grad Fair merchandise will be available after the fair, in store or online.