"The Collective" - Culture & Institutional Excellence - Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo * Skip to Content * ? my CalPoly login * * Culture & Institutional Excellence previously the Office of University Diversity & Inclusion * About * BEACoN * Building Belonging * Campus Climate * DPN * The Collective * Hiring Guide * Resources * Student Success The Collective All staff and faculty, regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin, who are interested in The Collective are welcome.   Translate "The Collective" "The Collective" is an open community centering underrepresented faculty and/or those who prioritize topics related to equity in their research and service across the entire university. The Collective offers opportunities to gain professional development, find mentorship, celebrate each other, and gather in community with those across campus.  Space for Community and Conversation  This year, we're moving to more of a focus on developing community and allowing faculty to have time to sit together in community, to ask questions and talk to each other. We'll also be adding some different components, as described below, that will be offered more often throughout the semester.  THERE'S A PLACE FOR YOU IN THE COLLECTIVE. Come to write. Come to connect. Come to learn. Come to share a meal. Come to find a mentor - or become one. However you participate, you are a part of the community . Program Components: If you would like to receive regular information about times and locations, please click here to fill out our Interest Form that asks for your contact information and what you'd like to hear more about.  TRADITIONAL MENTORING PROGRAM The Collective Mentoring Program is made up of volunteer faculty and administrators across the university. Look through our Mentor Directory  to see who might be a good fit for you. Additional materials on mentoring coming soon. If you'd like to become a Mentor, please sign up here .   Ongoing PEER MENTOR PODS Small consistent groups of colleagues who meet to share experiences, exchange advice, celebrate wins, and work through the challenges of faculty life together. Peer Mentor Pods create an informal space for connection, mutual mentorship, and the collective wisdom that comes from learning alongside one another.    Weekly WRITING CIRCLES Writing Circles offer dedicated time and supportive community to make progress on your scholarship and writing. Bring whatever you're working on, settle in alongside colleagues, and turn intention into protected time for your own work. Come for the accountability. Stay for the community.    Weekly COMMUNITY LUNCH SERIES Sometimes community is the agenda! Our Community Lunches offer an easy informal way to step away from the demands of the day, meet colleagues from across campus, reconnect with familiar faces, and enjoy conversation (and lunch provided by CIX) together. No preparation. No presentation. Just come as you are.   Twice a semester LEADERSHIP LABS Leadership Labs are interactive conversations designed to help faculty navigate the opportunities, challenges, and unwritten rules of academic life. Together, we'll explore practical strategies for leadership, career advancement, advocacy, boundaries, and creating change - wherever you are in your career.    Twice a semester RESEARCH EXCHANGE Partnering with the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Technology (CTLT) and open to the whole campus, the Research Exchange creates opportunities for faculty to discover what colleagues across Cal Poly are working on, to share emerging ideas, and find connections across disciplines. Come listen to a series of "Lightning Talks" from your colleagues, with time following to ask questions, talk about your work, find collaborators, and celebrate the breadth of scholarship happening within our community.     TBA TEACHING EXCHANGE Partnering with Center for Teaching, Learning, and Technology (CTLT) and open to the whole campus, come listen to brief explanations of teaching techniques from multiple faculty across our campus. Time is given to ask questions and to network and talk with others. We can all learn from each other in this Teaching Exchange.     TBA Cal Poly is a member of the National Faculty Center for Diversity and Development - more information here . Interested in joining The Collective email lists? Interested in presenting on an initiative or program you are leading at one of our Collective meetings? QUESTIONS: Please email us at [email protected] Related Content Cal Poly AANHPI* Initiatives Learn more about Cal Poly *Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Initiatives. Visit the AANHPI webpage BEACoN Program Learn more about the BEACoN Mentoring Program BEACoN Research Scholars I am First-Gen Learn more about first generation staff, resources, and information across the colleges. View First-Gen Resources yak titʸu titʸu yak tiłhini Tribe Learn more about yak titʸu titʸu yak tiłhini, Northern Chumash Tribe of San Luis Obispo County and Region. Learn about ytt Tribe Report an Incident Report a bias incident to the Bias Incident Report Team Report an Incident CONNECT WITH CAL POLY   The Department of Culture and Institutional Excellence is committed to serving the entire Cal Poly campus in policy, practice, and purposeful efforts to cultivate a culture of belonging where each individual feels valued, supported, and empowered, regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Cal Poly is a Minority Serving Institution (MSI) and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI) and an emerging Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). * CP Home * Directory * Campus Maps & Directions * University Store * Calendar * Employment * Campus Policies * Contact Us * Privacy Notice * Web Accessibility Statement * Title IX © 2026 California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, California 93407 Phone: 805-756-1111