Mar 28, 2024  
2012-2013 University Catalog (Revised 2012-10-02) 
    
2012-2013 University Catalog (Revised 2012-10-02) [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Centers and Institutes



Institute for Regional and International Studies

The Institute for Regional and International Studies (IRIS) was established in 1994 as the academic (faculty) component of the International Center. It is an organizational mechanism through which the faculty may promote interdisciplinary teaching and research about the world regions and issues. It is an advocate for second language proficiency as a means to better understand global diversity. It is a scholarly forum for faculty, staff and students, and publishes Global Cal Poly Pomona annually. The Institute organizes and sponsors international conferences and internationally recognized scholars on campus. Visiting scholars share IRIS offices with CPP faculty in the International Center, Building 1, Rooms 101-104.

For further information see www.csupomona.edu/~international, call

International Center

Jerry Chesser, Interim Director

The International Center is the focal point for international activities at Cal Poly Pomona. Located in Building 1, Rooms 101-104, the Center works in cooperation with the colleges, individual faculty, Academic Affairs, student groups and other units on campus. The Center also negotiates and administers Cal Poly Pomona overseas collaborative agreements.

Academic and faculty program initiatives are encouraged through the International Center. The Center encourages, assists, administers and itself develops international projects in which Cal Poly Pomona faculty and staff transfer their expertise. Cal Poly Pomona’s advising, assistance and programming for international students and scholars are a prominent function of the Center. The university’s international student recruiting is organized by the International Center in addition to scholarship programs for international students.

Cal Poly Pomona study abroad, exchange and other overseas opportunities for students are offered through the International enter. Programs are available in all disciplines worldwide, in English as well as other languages. Program length varies from several weeks to an academic year. Center staff assist colleges and faculty in developing and implementing overseas educational programs and provide student and faculty Fulbright advising and information. The International Center maintains an international resource library with VCR, TV, news magazines, and travel and study abroad information. The Center has need and merit-based scholarships for study-abroad to ensure access to all students.

The Director represents Cal Poly Pomona with the Consortium for International Development and in national and international professional organizations. There are close working relationships with community organizations to further Cal Poly Pomona’s international goals and visibility. There are a number of faculty development opportunities available through the International Center, including participation in the Council for International Educational Exchange International Faculty Development Seminars and Fulbright seminars, the International Research Forum, the publication Global Cal Poly Pomona, and others.

For further information see www.csupomona.edu/~international, call 909-869-3267, or fax 909-869-3282.

Kellogg Honors College

Suketu Bhavsar, Director

The Cal Poly Pomona Kellogg Honors College challenges talented students to achieve academic and personal goals. The College provides an intellectually and socially stimulating environment for students of all majors to come together as a community of scholars. Students receive the rigorous education and personal attention that is available in a small university, while having access to the many opportunities that Cal Poly Pomona’s size makes possible.

Students may graduate from the Honors College by participating in special Honors classes; some in their majors and several which satisfy the university’s general education requirements. Students have access to the Honors Commons, a gathering place in which they work and learn together. Special social events are held such as trips to museums, theaters, musical events and many opportunities for the students to get to know one another in a setting outside of class.

Special advising is provided for Honors students. Students are specially mentored to seek out summer research opportunities, scholarship applications, applications for graduate and professional schools, internships, and study abroad programs.

The Kellogg Honors College welcomes applications from students in all majors who have a high school GPA of 3.5. Cal Poly Pomona Freshmen who have maintained a GPA of 3.5 in their first year and transfer students with a GPA of at least 3.5 in their previous institution are also eligible to apply. Students who do not have this GPA but feel that they have other strengths such as leadership skills are welcome to apply and make the case that they will benefit from and contribute to the Honors College. Admission is selective; a faculty committee chooses Honors students based on their application packages. Honors students must maintain a 3.3 GPA to remain in the Kellogg Honors College during their time at Cal Poly Pomona.  909-869-3267, or fax 909-869-3282.

Learning Resource Center

Allison Douglas-Chicoye, Interim Director

The Learning Resource Center (LRC) is located in the University Library, 2nd floor room 2921 and provides a university-wide student service devoted to developing students’ academic achievement through a variety of methods and programs. The LRC is the University’s most comprehensive tutoring service provider, offering free tutoring and related support services through the following programs – Associated Students Incorporated (ASI) Tutoring, the College Reading Skills Program (CRSP), Math and Science Help (MaSH), and the University Writing Center (UWC).

ASI Tutoring

Through the ASI Tutoring Program students can receive free tutoring for most courses taught at CPP. Efforts are made to cover all disciplines at most levels. The tutors are trained and (College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA) certified. Tutoring is by appointment only, most sessions conducted one-to-one.  There is also the option for small group tutoring.

College Reading Skills Program (CRSP)

Participants enrolled in the program receive individualized reading tutoring, academic advising, and may qualify for supplemental financial aid. Services include: Reading Tutorials - developmental and critical reading including speed reading, Study skills, Peer Mentoring, Book Club, Graduate Entrance Exam Preparation, and College Completion Challenge Grant.

Math and Science Help

Provides group tutoring to all students enrolled in introductory and select upper-division mathematics and science courses, as well as preparatory mathematics courses; provides workshops for the Mathematics Diagnostic Placement Test (MDPT). Tutors are trained and CRLA certified. Tutoring is on a drop-in basis for individuals and small groups.

University Writing Center

The University Writing Center offers 30-minute one-to-one tutoring sessions and writing workshops to students across the university, as well as group tutorial sessions to support the Basic Writing courses in the Department of English and Foreign Languages. The Center provides workshops and individual consultation for the Graduation Writing Test, assists with the processing of GWT waivers and coordinates the GWT alternative course – CPU 401 . The UWC also collaborates with the Faculty Center for Professional Development to offer faculty workshops in teaching writing and assignment design.

Contact info: 909-869-3502; LRC@csupomona.edu; www.csupomona.edu/lrc.

AGRIscapes

Dan Hostetler, Director

AGRlscapes is an education and demonstration center devoted to food, agriculture, and the urban environment. The Farm Store at Kellogg Ranch serves as the major marketing outlet for Cal Poly Pomona produced fruits, vegetables, nursery products and meats. This 40-acre complex provides educational opportunities for students within the College of Agriculture in the areas of marketing, production, merchandising and promotion of agricultural products. It also provides the campus and surrounding community with a valuable educational tool to learn about agricultural products and their impact on daily lives.

Apparel Technology and Research Center (ATRC)

Peter Kilduff, Director

The Apparel Technology and Research Center (ATRC) provides outreach services to the apparel and sewn products industry. The Center offers resource information, on-line education, consulting and referral services for technical manufacturing processes, apparel enterprise operation, sourcing, etc. through the ATRC website www.atrc.ag. csupomona.edu/. The ATRC is a self-supporting center funded by industry.

Center for Antimicrobial Research and Food Safety (CARFS)

Shelton Murinda, Director

The Center for Antimicrobial Research and Food Safety (CARFS), participates in research involving microbial foodborne pathogens of public health and economic significance with an emphasis on pathogens associated with muscle foods (meat and meat products). Research focuses on isolation, identification and characterization of pathogens using conventional and molecular-based methods (genetic fingerprinting) and development of on-farm and processing-plant based interventions. Emergence of new foodborne pathogens, increased consumer awareness, and federal recommendations on food safety/public health issues redefine the rules of microbial pathogen quality control in the food industry. CARFS (formerly Center for Antimicrobial Research CAR) was established to meet these corporate demands. The Center’s on-farm food safety goals will be linked to regional/Homeland Security efforts. Future research will also target discovery and application of natural antimicrobial agents.

Center for Turf, Landscape and Irrigation Technology (CTILT)

_______________, Director

The Institute has recently expanded to include expertise in turf and landscape, and has been renamed the Center for Turf, Landscape and Irrigation Technology (CTILT). CTILT provides a focal point for research, and community outreach in the areas of turfgrass, ornamental plant materials, landscape irrigation technology, landscape operations, sportturf and golf course management and preservation of natural resources. The Center will have state-of-the-art facilities for teaching, research, and demonstration for undergraduate, graduate, and professional landscape educational programs.

Equine Research Center

James C. Alderson, Director

The Equine Research Center founded in 1980 complements the program of the W. K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center. The Research Center, unlike the Kellogg Center, deals with all horse breeds and not only the Arabian. The Research Center conducts investigations in the areas of equine nutrition, physiology, and management. The Research Center is a self-supported center funded through national donations with the major contributor being the Oak Tree Racing Association of California. For More information, please contact Holly M. Greene, Research Technician, at (909) 869-2156.

W. K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center, Arabian Horse Program

James C. Alderson, Director

The oldest campus tradition is the Arabian horse show, first started by W. K. Kellogg in 1926, and continued after his ranch became a university campus. Public performances are given on the first Sunday in October through May at 2 p.m. The program, featuring the Arabian as an English, western, stock, trick and jumping horse, is planned and produced by students working with horses they have trained.

The shows are designed to promote interest in the Arabian breed and point out the horse’s versatility, beauty, and intelligence, as well as to offer valuable experience for students in handling horses. The Arabians are utilized in the animal science courses related to the ever-expanding field of light horse production, research and training. The Kellogg Ranch has been one of the world’s outstanding Arabian horse breeding farms, and the university continues the breeding program today, perpetuating the Arabian and making valuable blood lines available to the public. The Kellogg Arabians are a noted attraction for thousands of Southern Californians and tourists who view the show each year.

Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Reggie Nugent, Director

The Center for Enrtrepreneurship and Innovation was formerly established at the College of Business Administration in May 1996. CEI seeks to foster entrepreneurship in both the local and global community; to provide increasing entrepreneurial opportunities for Cal Poly Pomona students; and to deliver innovative entrepreneurship courses to graduate, undergraduate, and extension students. If provides a dynamic combination of education, research, and outreach programs to address the developing needs of entrepreneurs and growth companies. Entrepreneurial ventures and emerging firms are a leading source of new jobs in the United States. Visit the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation website at cba@csupomona.edu.

Center for Information Assurance (CIA)

Daniel Manson, Director

The Center for Information Assurance (CIA) in the Cal Poly Pomona College of Business Administration (CBA) provides advanced research and knowledge in audit, security, and computer forensics. Visit the Center for Information Assurance website at cba@csupomona.edu

Center for Promotional Development (CPD)

Assisting Future and Current Marketing Managers

The purpose of the Cal Poly Pomona Center for Promotional Development (CPD) is to:

Teach promotional strategy at both the undergraduate and graduate level.

Help marketing managers of local emerging businesses to grow their business using promotional strategy that includes sound research, planning, measurement, and evaluation.

Provide Cal Poly Pomona graduate and undergraduate students with a sponsored classroom/practicum experience in developing promotional strategy with a selected local emerging business.

Formerly the Center for Promotional Sales Development, the Center name was changed in 1999 to the Center for Promotional Development.The current Center name reflects a broadening of the Center’s mission. Mission scope has evolved from a sole focus on professional sales and sales management, to a comprehensive focus on the promotional mix.

The Center for Promotional Development is committed to working with students and marketing managers of emerging local businesses to help them acquire the promotional strategy skills necessary to build and grow a successful business.

CPD is administered by an Executive Board of Directors including Professor Ed Klewer, Ph.D., and Professor Delores Barsellotti, Ph.D. CPD is located in the College of Business Administration. Telephone: (909) 869-2400; E-mail address: cpd@csupomona.edu; Fax: (909) 869- 4353.

Industrial Research Institute for Pacific Nations (IRIPAC)

The Industrial Research Institute for Pacific Nations is a non-profit organization engaged in industrial and trade development research with a focus on Pacific Rim nations. The Institute is administered as the international research division of the College of Business Administration. Designed to support the advanced study of international business and to provide specialized educational opportunities for management personnel involved in the Pacific marketplace, the program offers the generation and coordination of research projects for university faculty and students, management and economic development seminars directed at better understanding of those doing business in the Pacific Rim, establishment of a reference and resource center, and publication of research papers. Visit the Industrial Research Institute for Pacific
Nations website at http://cba.csupomona.edu/cba/undergraduate/centers.aspx.

The Real Estate Research Council (RERC)

The Real Estate Research Council of Southern California is the oldest non-profit real estate data organization in the United States. Founded in 1939, the RERC produces a quarterly publication, The Real Estate and Construction Report, which includes data on the economy and real estate markets in the seven urban Southern California countries, and presents the report at a quarterly luncheon. The senior real estate faculty direct studetns who participate in the data-gathering and analysis for the preparation of the quarterly report. Members of the RERC include major development companies, financial institutions, appraisers, investors, mortgage bankers, and other firms and individuals interested in Southern California real estate. RERC is coordinated by faculty in the Finance, Real Estate, and Law Department. Visit The Real Estate Research Council website at http://www.csupomona.edu/~rerc/.

Institute for Great Leaders for Great Schools

Stephen Davis, Director

The institute will be a key regional and state leader in the development and dissemination of research, policies, and practices that support powerful leadership for underperforming and highly diverse public schools in the great Los Angeles region of California. It will serve the rapidly growing need to prepare and support practice-ready administrators in the increasingly diverse schools and communities of the greater Los Angeles region by providing: philosophical coherence, alignment, and a shared vision; direct service to local school and school districts; a clearinghouse for leadership resources; a forum to support research and scholarly work; and support and guidance that will inform local and state policy makers. The institute will also play a central role in the planning, organization, implementation, and assessment of the various educational leadership initiative, programs, partnerships, and activities of the Educational Leadership Program of the College of Education and Integrative Studies.

Center for Lighting Education and Applied Research (C.L.E.A.R.)

R. Frank Smith, Director

The Cal Poly Pomona Illumination Education Program prepares entry level professionals to apply the principles of lighting efficiency and effectiveness to the diverse field of Illumination Engineering and Design. An integral part of the program is maintaining an applied research and development interface between the lighting industry and the University faculty, students, and physical facilities. The goal of the Center for Lighting Education and Applied Research (C.L.E.A.R.) is to significantly enhance the quantity and quality of professional expertise in the field of lighting that would allow individuals to develop and demonstrate implementable lighting technology.

Engineering Institute

Mahyar Amouzegar, Director

The Engineering Institute works on new development for furthering innovations in the College of Engineering programs.

Maximizing Engineering Potential

Milton Randle, Director

Established in 1983, the Maximizing Engineering Potential (MEP) at Cal Poly Pomona is a retention and academic enhancement program for students in Engineering and Computer Science. It is the largest program in the state of California and has a long and successful record of graduating students and placing them in industry. Its purpose is to increase the number and diversity of students graduating in technical disciplines.

John T. Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies

Kyle D. Brown, Director

The mission of the John T. Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies is to advance the principles of environmentally sustainable living through education, research, demonstration and community outreach. The Center uses the term “regenerative” to emphasize the development of systems that restore and revitalize themselves, ensuring a sustainable future. It offers unique interdisciplinary education through its Master of Science degree program, and its undergraduate minor program, which prepare students to integrate regenerative theories and practices into a wide variety of professional fields. Students have the option of residing and/or working at the Center. The Lyle Center has earned an international reputation for its innovative educational programs, and has hosted visiting scholars and students from around the world.

The Lyle Center pursues a comprehensive and ambitious research agenda, focusing on issues of sustainability. It serves as a living laboratory and center for research related to environmental design, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy production, aquaculture, landscape ecology, and human communities.

Situated on 16 acres within the Cal Poly Pomona campus, the Lyle Center is designed to demonstrate regenerative living. Tours are available where students, policy-makers, and the community can observe regenerative design strategies in practice and learn about innovative technologies. The Center showcases a wide array of regenerative principles, including passive-solar building design, solar energy technology, organic agriculture, and native plant community restoration.

The Lyle Center is actively involved in the community, participating in service-learning projects, sustainable community development efforts, and community educational programs. In addition, the Center periodically offers workshops related to regenerative living for community members, professionals, and policy makers.

If you would like to make a reservation for a visit or tour, please contact us at (909) 869-5155 or by email crs@csupomona.edu. For information on current activities, visit our website at www.csupomona.edu/crs.

Center for Training, Technology and Incubation (CTTi)

The Center for Training, Technology and Incubation (CTTi) provides a select group of emerging technology companies with the opportunity to be part of a nurturing environment that accelerates successful growth. CTTi accomplishes this by offering early stage companies resources available to mature companies and allowing them to selectively access the resources as the need arises. CTTi clients work in an environment that fosters communication among entrepreneurs; facilitates collaborations with Cal Poly Pomona researchers and students; and offers office, R&D, wetlab and light industrial space designed to expand with company growth. By design, CTTi helps mitigate many of the greatest challenges faced by emerging companies whether as a resident or affiliate. CTTi is located in Building 220B and can be contacted at (909) 869-4441

Cal Poly English Language Institute (CPELI)

Randall Burger, Director

The Cal Poly English Language Institute (CPELI) specializes in English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) instruction and in academic preparation for international students who plan to continue their higher education in the United States. The ELS program consists of five levels of instruction, from beginner to advanced. The courses are designed to develop the language and study skills necessary for success in an American college or university. Students receive such training on how to: study, take a test, use a computer, research and organize ideas and how to behave in the academic environment. CPELI provides students with basic computer training, TOEFL preparation, and credit-bearing classes for upper-level students. At CPELI the focus is on the student, so staff members are always available to advise students on housing, health insurance, immigration laws, registration requirements, and college placement.

Ahimsa Center

Tara Sethia, Director

The Ahimsa Center in the College of Letters, Arts & Social Sciences focuses on interdisciplinary teaching and learning about nonviolence and its applications at various levels: personal, familial, communal, national and international. The educational programs and outreach initiatives of the Center aim to foster synergistic interactions among students, scholars, educators and the community for the study of nonviolence in thought and action. For more information contact the director, Dr. Tara Sethia, at (909) 869-3868 or by e-mail tsethia@csupomona.edu.

Cal Poly Pomona Downtown Center

Jonnie Owens, Director of Community Outreach

The Cal Poly Pomona Downtown Center exists to serve the Pomona community and to be a center of service learning and outreach for the student, faculty, and staff of the University.

The Cal Poly Pomona Downtown Center’s purpose is to provide a forum for the University to bring education and applied knowledge to downtown Pomona, thereby contributing to the economic revitalization of the city. In turn, the campus receives an ongoing education in the realities and issues faced by the City of Pomona. This collaborative university-community partnership fosters a spirit of creativity, experimentation, diversity, and lifelong learning. For more information contact Cybele Garcia at (909) 869-3868 or Jonnie Owens at (909) 869-4689.

Center for the Study of the Inland Empire (CSIE)

Greg Hunter, Director

The Center will promote interdisciplinary applied research about the Inland Empire. The research generated by faculty and students in the Center will empower public and private communities in Cal Poly Pomona’s service region to make informed decisions on issues related to the region’s social, economic, and political development. CSIE will sponsor 6-7 Faculty Research Fellows whose research will focus on the general issues of: business/economic trends; transportation, infrastructure, and planning; land use/environment; labor market and demographics; and social/political trends. The Center will conduct a survey of regional residents to serve as a source of data, and will sponsor an annual symposium to provide a timely dissemination of findings to the relevant constituencies.

Center for GIS Research (CGISR)

Boykin Witherspoon, Director

In 1998, Cal Poly Pomona established the Geographic Information Systems Literate Campus Initiative with the intention of developing curricula, resources and a research center in support of interdisciplinary geographic education and awareness. Geographic Information Systems and Science is the title given to the disciplines that utilize and test spatial data, computer hardware, and databases that provide information about a location. Supported by 4 campus colleges—Environmental Design, Engineering, Letters, Arts and Social Sciences, and Science– the CGISR facility hosts interdisciplinary GIS instruction, research and projects in disciplines such as geography and anthropology, urban and regional planning, landscape architecture, biology, computer science, civil engineering and electrical and computer engineering. The CGISR contains an instructional lab with 30 workstations configured to run spatial analysis software such as: ESRI, ERDAS, GeoMedia, AutoCAD, Pathfinder Office, and Microstation. Through the Center for GIS Research, CPP offers a unique interdisciplinary minor in GIS as well as a certificate in GIS. For more information about our research projects, courses and facility, please see: www.cgisr.csupomona.edu, or call: (909) 869-4575.

Colorful Flags Program

Renford Reese, Director

The Colorful Flags Program breaks down ethnic mistrust by teaching specific cultural facts and five basic human relations statements in the five most spoken languages in a school community or organizational community (excluding English).

This program has served over 130,000 K-12 students in 17 school districts in Southern California. It has also serviced police departments, social service agencies, and various other organizations. For futher information please contact the Political Science Department or call (909) 869-5338.

Institute for Ethics and Public Policy

David Adams, Director

The mission of the Institute for Ethics and Public Policy is to sponsor events and activities that will encourage broad community discussion of pressing social problems and more issues; to encourage and support creative and effective ways to teach about diverse moral traditions; to foster a community of scholars and students who will critically examine the moral dimensions of our public policies.

Motor Development Clinic

Perky Vetter, Director

Mary Stegemann, Coordinator

The Motor Development Clinic is designed to provide three services:

  1. A movement therapy program for children between the ages of three and 13 who are experiencing movement problems.
  2. Instructional concepts and materials for parents that enable them to supplement the clinic’s movement program at home.
  3. A valuable learning experience for graduate and undergraduate students at Cal Poly Pomona specializing in Adapted Physical Education and related fields.

The basic underlying theme of the Motor Development Clinic is inclusion. The clinic exposes the child to various movement experiences that may also develop such areas as movement confidence, social interaction skills, and enjoyment while participating in movement activities. Due to the clinic experience and personal improvement in motor skills the child may then transfer these skills into his or her own school’s physical education program.

The Motor Development Clinic is the service learning component for adapted physical education in the undergraduate program of the Kinesiology major in the pedagogy option and the graduate credential program. However, students majoring in psychology, liberal studies, and other related fields have also used the clinic as their service learning site. Many of these students are combining their major area of study with adapted physical education as part of their course work. The benefits of the clinic to the university is therefore two-fold: a valuable service learning experience and a site for fulfilling student teaching requirements in adapted physical education. For the community children, the clinic offers a place to learn valuable motor skills.

Center for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (CEMaST)

Nicole Wickler, Director

CEMaST endorses the principle that all school children deserve to receive a comprehensive mathematics and science education that is taught by a caring, competent teacher who uses strategies that best address each student’s learning style or needs. This involves creating high-quality and meaningful professional development opportunities that offer research-based approaches to mathematical and scientific content and conceptual understanding while fostering effective and dynamic teaching strategies. Emphasis is placed on teacher competencies that enhance literacy for English language learners. CEMaST faculty believe that effective teaching is not only a research-based science, it is also a lifelong process, and students should receive instruction that meets their needs regardless of ethnicity, culture, or gender. It works with local schools and districts to develop programs and obtain funding to implement innovative programs, improve teaching techniques, and provide professional development opportunities for teachers of mathematics and science from preschool through grade 12.

For information, visit http://www.csupomona.edu/~cemast/ or contact the CEMaST office at (909) 869-4063.

Center for Macro-Molecular Modeling and Material Design (CM3D)

The mission of the Center for Macro-molecular Modeling and Material Design is to develop collaborate interdisciplinary educational and research opportunities in molecular modeling, surface science, and engineered materials that will graduate students with the agility to adapt in a world that is seeing the traditional separation between science and engineering and engineering disappear.

In order to accomplish its mission, the Center is developing the support infrastructure for teaching and student-centric research initiatives, as well as individual collaborations. This shared infrastructure, which includes both computational and experimental components, enables students and faculty to work at the intersections of their disciplines on collaborations that span multiple departments and colleges.

Desert Studies Consortium

Built in the 1940’s as a private health resort in the Mojave Desert, the former Zzyzx installation was repossessed by the Bureau of Land Management in 1974 and assigned to the Desert Studies Consortium composed of seven California State Universities, including Cal Poly Pomona. With passage of the federal Desert Protection Act in 1994, the Desert Studies Center at Zzyzx was included in the Mojave National Preserve and the National Park Service is now the agency with which the Consortium coordinates its activities.

The Desert Studies Center is under the direction of a Board of Governors composed of one administrator and one professor from each member campus, plus a representative from the National Park Service and two from the general public.

Potentially, the Desert Studies Center can supplement over 100 courses enrolling some 5,000 students annually at the seven Consortium universities whose total enrollment approaches 200,000 students. In addition, 15 to 20 courses are offered to the public each year through Cal State San Bernardino’s Extended Learning program. Since the start of the Center, students, faculty, and other users have averaged about 1,800 a year. Biological and ecological studies mix with more practical investigations of desert land utilization and limitations, including issues of special interest to the National Park Service. Meteorological problems peculiar to the desert environment can be studied readily, including the transport of smog from the Los Angeles basin, 150 miles away, and such practical questions as utilization of power from sun and wind. Desert hydrologic and limnologic studies are conducted, and geology classes study exposed rocks and various geologic processes and landforms. Immediately around the Study Center, as well as farther away, many achaeological sites await investigation.

Besides students and faculty from the seven sponsoring campuses, persons from other universities and groups interested in desert educational activities are welcome to use the Center facilities. For information on Cal Poly Pomona’s participation in the Desert Studies Center, contact Dr. Kristine Hartney, Biological Sciences Department, (909) 869-2446.

Ocean Studies Institute

The Ocean Studies Institute (OSI) is the educational and research outlet for the growing marine programs of five state universities in the southern California area. Those participating institutions include the Dominguez Hills, Fullerton, Long Beach, Northridge and Pomona campuses. Representatives from each campus, consisting of a teaching and administrative faculty member, along with two community members, make up the OSI Board of Governors. In addition, an advisory board representing a cross-section of disciplines adds to the Institute’s community responsiveness.

The Ocean Studies Institute provides an outlet for shipboard instruction to Institute members, as well as the community, aboard the fully equipped and crewed research vessel, R/V Yellowfin.

Through the Institute’s participating intercampus faculty and graduate students, a large reservoir of diverse expertise is coordinated for multidisciplinary projects involving the biological sciences, microbiology, chemistry, geology/earth sciences, economics, geography, archaeology, and engineering.

The five member campuses are located within a 50-mile radius of the Institute’s office, teaching, and research facilities, and the R/V Yellowfin slip in San Pedro. The proximity of the schools allows for easy student accessibility and personal communication between faculty members involved in interdisciplinary projects. For information regarding Cal Poly Pomona’s participation in the Institute please contact Dr. Kristine Hartney, Biological Sciences Department, (909) 869-2446.

Professional Development Institute (PDI)

The PDI exists to provide professional development for the hospitality industry and to expand the College’s outreach to community constituents by providing customized professional development programs and advisory services for hospitality industy members. This includes, but is not limited to, executive training, corporate consulting, association support, research & analysis, conferences and seminars, symposia, and certification programs.