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Cal Poly SLO Days begins every incoming student’s integration into Cal Poly.
In July and August, incoming freshmen and transfer students participate in Student Life Orientation Days or SLO Days. This two-day orientation session helps attendees preview campus life, make friends and learn Cal Poly’s community values.
Mustang News created a guide to SLO Days for incoming students.
What incoming students can expect
Every incoming undergraduate attends SLO Days, the first half of a two-part orientation series preceding the Week of Welcome.
SLO Days is an immersive summer orientation experience designed to connect students with their peers and the Cal Poly community. Incoming students will have the opportunity to engage with campus resources, gain valuable insights into academics and get a firsthand glimpse into life at Cal Poly.
SLO Days check-in will be located in the yakʔitʸutʸu courtyard. First-time freshmen will stay overnight in the yakʔitʸutʸu dorms with meals provided in 1901 Marketplace.
Director for New Student and Transition Programs Dale Stoker advised that students bring a sleeping bag, pillow, athletic clothes, warm layers for the evening, a change of clothes and toiletries.
During the day, students will attend presentations on various topics including academic success, mental health and paying for college.
Stoker said processing sessions are held after presentations on more personal or difficult topics, such as discussions on mental health or diversity.
The processing sessions and all group activities will be led by SLO Days leaders, current Cal Poly students trained on diversity, equity, and inclusion, campus resources, and how to lead small group discussions.
Evening activities will include “SLO Down Activities” in the University Union Plaza with lanyard making and a silent disco event. “SLO Nights” will allow incoming students to see the Cal Poly Recreation Center. A movie night in the yakʔitʸutʸu courtyard will close out the evening.
Transfer SLO Days offers its first in-person SLO Days session
This summer also marks the first year transfer students are offered an in-person session to engage in group activities, campus tours and discussions about on-campus resources.
Stoker said he has received feedback that transfer students do not feel like they receive the same cultural exposure that first-year students experience at Cal Poly.
“It’s talking about how we talk about diversity, equity and inclusion,” Stoker said. “We do it with first years. We don’t do it much with transfers, and that really starts to divide our community. We really want to [give] all students the same exposure to our core community values through orientation.”
Advice from a returning SLO Days leader
Returning SLO Days leader and computer science junior Charlie Jansen advised that students bring water and snacks throughout the day.
When Jansen attended SLO Days as a student, he said he did not interact much with other students in his group. Looking back, Jansen said he wishes he had because SLO Days is a great way for students to meet people in their major and academic college.
“I know talking to new people can be scary,” Jansen said. “Just remember that everyone in your group is there for the same reason as you. This is pretty much everyone’s first time on campus [and] first time experiencing Cal Poly, so you’re all in the same boat.”
How to register
To register for SLO Days, incoming students can navigate to the orientation events tab in their Cal Poly Portal.
From July 1 to Aug. 9, incoming students can choose from 11 in-person SLO Days sessions. Each session is designed to accommodate 450 students and costs $190.
For those seeking a remote option, a single virtual one-day session will be held on Aug. 13. This session caters to about 300 students and cost $50. Stoker noted this option is typically chosen by out-of-state, international and low-income students.
Unlike SLO Days for first-time freshmen, Cal Poly’s transfer student orientation has a two-part approach.
For the first part, transfer students can choose between a virtual session held on July 26 or an in-person experience on July 27. Both one-day options accommodate around 400 students and are priced at $50.
Following this initial introduction to Cal Poly, transfer students participate in a second one-day session on Aug. 7 or 8. This second, major-oriented session promotes a smooth transfer transition by connecting students with their academic college advisors just before class registration begins on Aug. 12, according to the Cal Poly website.
About the orientation team
There are 45 SLO Days leaders, eight orientation leadership team members, two graduate students, four staff, a small media team and a customer service team all helping to run SLO Days.
Stoker said that SLO Days leaders are well-versed in being the first point of contact for incoming students.
“You can’t be here all summer and walking miles every day and out in the sun if you don’t really love Cal Poly,” Stoker said. “I know that’s what they are going to bring to this experience and [make] sure first years and supporters feel welcomed.”
Since SLO Days might be the first time incoming students have been to campus since they committed, the orientation team aims to set a positive outlook for the upcoming year, Stoker said.
“[Incoming students] come in with a lot of questions, excitement [and] anxiety,” Stoker said. “We really get to set that tone and help them start their Cal Poly journey with resources and new excitement.”