Academic Resources

We recommend getting in touch with your faculty advisor because they’ll be with you throughout your time at Cal Poly. If you don’t know who your advisor is, contact your college’s Advising Center.

Please see below additional resources:

Campus Tutoring

The Writing and Learning Center offers free peer tutoring. Peer tutors are available for one-to-one and small-group consultations. Click here for a list of courses and subjects for which the Writing and Learning Center offers support.

Click here for hours of operation; click here to book a session with a peer tutor (log in required). Booking in advance is recommended, but last-minute appointments are possible as availability allows.

1. For first-year, transfer, and continuing engineering students, the Multicultural Engineering Program offers advising, tutoring, mentoring, workshops, scholarships, a study lounge, and other programs. To apply to be in the MEP,  send an email to mep@calpoly.edu.
2. The Academic Advising Center offers advising and resources for all students, with pages tailored to both transfer and first-year students. Their main page is another good entry point for resources and programs across campus.

Clubs and Organizations

Clubs are a great place to connect with a community and work on things you’re interested in outside of the classroom. A few particular clubs that the Undocumented Student Working Group has a relationship with are:

1. Rising Immigrant Student through Education (RISE) is a student-run organization at Cal Poly that seeks to create a more inclusive environment for undocumented students. To get in touch with RISE, email riseatcalpoly@gmail.com.

Nationally, Pre-Health DREAMers provides support to undocumented students who are pursuing careers in the health and science fields.

Healing and Wellness Resources

Check out these Healing and Wellness Resources

On-Campus: Health, Wellbeing & Advocacy

1. Cal Poly Cares

The Cal Poly Cares Grant is an emergency grant that can help fund critical unmet needs in housing, food, personal care, academic materials, and professional clothing. These grants are targeted for unplanned expenses that require immediate relief (such as travel home for emergency situations.) The Cal Poly Cares Grant program is available to all Cal Poly students.

2. Cal Poly’s Campus Health and Wellbeing Center offers health services, counseling, health education, and general well-being support for the campus community.

• Health Services is an on-campus resource for consultations about any health concerns or question and they provide outpatient medical services at no additional charge to all Cal Poly students. The Health Center administers flu shots and sells at-cost over-the-counter medicine and supplies, including painkillers, cough drops, and bandages.
• Counseling Services serves the campus community through advocacy and the provision of confidential, accessible services. These include hands-on workshops; individual, couples and group therapy; crisis intervention; consultations with parents, faculty, staff; and mental health trainings.
• PULSE (Peers Understanding Listening Supporting Educating) is composed of four teams, each dedicated to a specific area: Sexual Wellbeing (EROS), Mental Wellbeing (REAL), Nutrition (HEAT), and Alcohol & Drug Education (TLC).

3. Student Diversity And Belonging (SDAB) 

• Gender Equity Center: The Gender Equity Center supports and empowers all women identifying students by creating a strong community, educating about feminist, womanist, and mujerista based movements, exploring identities through an intersectional lens, and striving for social justice.
• MultiCultural Center: The MultiCultural Center supports and advocates for underrepresented students by honoring cultural expression, building community, and creating cross-cultural connections. The MCC provides a safe space for studying, cultural expression, identity exploration, identification of resources, and meeting new people.
• Pride Center: The Pride Center supports and advocates for the unique academic and social needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual, and pansexual (LGBTQIAP) students to promote personal growth and success.
• Black Academic Excellence Center: The Black Academic Excellence Center (BAEC) program is committed to supporting the advancement and excellence of Black students and Black student groups within the Cal Poly community. By fostering an inclusive environment, providing academic support, and promoting a positive self-image, our goal is to empower Black students to take full advantage of all the opportunities presented while actively engaging with Black history and culture.
• Men & Masculinity Program: The Men and Masculinity Program engages male-identified students regarding gender-based violence, with the purpose of (1) establishing positive masculine gender norms on campus and (2) responding to men involved in incidences of gender-based violence with restorative support. We do this through education, advocacy, and mentorship. 

4. Disability Resource Center (DRC) cultivates an accessible and inclusive community where students with permanent and temporary disabilities have an equal opportunity to participate in all aspects of campus life. The DRC provides information and support services to Cal Poly students with permanent and temporary disabilities.

5. Food

The Cal Poly Hunger Program ensures that all students have access to nutritious meals each day in order to stay focused on their education at Cal Poly. Any student is welcome to use these free, confidential, no-hassle services:

• The Food Pantry, located in the bottom floor of the Health Center (Building 27), offers a wide variety of packaged and canned foods, frozen meals, and personal hygiene products.
• Meal vouchers are available to any student in need of a hot meal, regardless of their background and financial situation. A list of offices that distribute meal vouchers is available here.

6. Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Support

On-campus, Safer offers confidential advocacy, education, and support resources for addressing sexual assault, sexual misconduct, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. You can schedule a confidential meeting with a Safer counselor here.

Safer also provides more information for undocumented survivors. If you want to learn more about how Safer protects anonymity and about resources available for undocumented immigrants, you can check out their undocumented student section here.

7. Office of Student Ombuds Services

The Office of Student Ombuds Services is a campus resource for all Cal Poly students. The Ombuds staff are committed to hearing about students’ experiences. The office offers a safe place to go for assistance in resolving any university related issue, concern, conflict, or complaint.