Wednesday Weekly: May 31, 2023
Connect with Us
2. Faculty Office Hours and PDF version
3. Follow the POLS Department on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Linkedin
JUMP TO...
- Upcoming Events
- Department News
- Student Spotlight
- Alumni Spotlight
- Fellowship Opportunities
- Internship and Volunteer Opportunities
- Paid Job Opportunities
- Other Opportunities
- Student Scholarships and Prizes
- Clubs
- Educational Opportunities
- Campus Events and Opportunities
- Faculty Office Hours and Advising
- Archives
Upcoming Events
POLS Spring Dinner
June 1st, 6pm - 9pm, Ventana Grill- Pismo Beach
Tickets are $25 per person. Cash Only. Tickets will be sold at the door. Email Paula for details.
Click here for Spring Dinner FAQ's
POLS Club Presents: Bonfire Social
June 2nd, 6:30pm, Avila Beach
Take a break from studying and preparing for finals. Join the POLS club for our final meeting on June 2nd for a Bonfire Social. We hope you can join us for a s'more or two! Please reach out to the POLS Club if you have any questions. RSVP or sign-up for a ride to the event. Carpool slots are limited, so sign-up early and a board member will be in contact with you.
Department News
Last Chance to Enroll in Pi Sigma Alpha
There are numerous benefits to becoming a member of Pi Sigma Alpha, not only limited to formal recognition of high academic achievement. Joining Pi Sigma Alpha means becoming a lifelong member of a community of political scientists, attorneys, community organizers, and business leaders. It gives students access to opportunities to share research through the National Student Research Conference and our writing awards, access to scholarships, and the opportunity to promote political science education on campus. Membership also includes the right to wear regalia, like an honor cord or graduation medallion. Students with a minimum 3.0 GPA in political science classes are eligible.
To accept your invitation, go to: https://pisigmaalpha.myhonorsociety.com/accept Register by using the e-mail address on file with your university and entering the following Invitation Code: VYTCK46d
Deadline is June 2nd
Paideia Staff Needed
Paideia Journal of Political Science is looking for staff for the 2023-24 school year! If you are interested in joining the Volume 11 team, please fill out the Google form here: https://forms.gle/vBB9zqtmum5Lj42z8
POLS Club Election
It's election season! Want to beef up your resume for graduate school? Get more involved on campus? Run for office and serve on the Political Science Club board! We have several positions open and ready for new leaders. Fill out the google form at the link below. Reach out to the POLS club if you have any questions. Voting for candidates will happen from May 26th - June 2nd.
Summer Classes
| Session | First day of classes | last day of classes | final exam schedule |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Week | 6/26/23 | 9/1/23 | 9/5/23 - 9/7/23 |
| 8-Week | 6/26/23 | 8/18/23 | 8/21/23 - 8/23/23 |
| First 5-Week | 6/26/23 | 7/28/23 | Last Class Meeting |
| Second 5-Week | 7/31/23 | 9/1/23 | Last Class Meeting |
- POLS 112- American and California Government- Professor Kline
- Virtual Class, Asynchronous - 8 Week (6/26/23 - 8/18/23)
- Waitlist
- POLS 230- Basic Concepts of Political Thought- Professor Kline
- Virtual Class, Asynchronous - First 5-Week (6/26/23 - 7/28/23)
- POLS 245- Judicial Process- Professor Andrews
- Virtual Class, Asynchronous - First 5-Week (6/26/23 - 7/28/23)
- POLS 308- Political Violence and Conflict Resolution- Professor Leithner
- Virtual Class, Asynchronous - First 5-Week (6/26/23 - 7/28/23)
- Waitlist
- POLS 325- Global Political Issues- Professor Leithner
- Virtual Class, Asynchronous/Synchronous Hybrid, TR 8:10am - 12pm - First 5-Week (6/26/23 - 7/28/23)
- POLS 332- World Food Systems- Professor Hurt
- Virtual Class, Synchronous/Asynchronous Hybrid, TR 12:10pm - 4pm - Second 5-Week (7/31 - 9/1/23)
- POLS 341- American Constitutional Law- Professor Arrington
- Virtual Class, Asynchronous, Second 5-Week (7/31/23 - 9/1/23)
- Waitlist
Spring Dinner FAQ's
What is Spring Dinner?
Every year, the POLS department holds a Spring Dinner as our end-of-the-year social event, especially to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of our graduating seniors. The Spring Dinner used to be a well-known (through word of mouth) and popular event before Covid. The hiatus we took during Covid has turned it into a rather unfamiliar, or even mystified, thing for many students. We are doing what we can to get this department tradition going again—there will be a balloon arch, small gifts for graduates, …and a bar :)
What kind of food will be served?
Dinner this year will be a Santa Maria themed buffet which consists of Tri-Tip, BBQ Chicken, Vegetarian Enchiladas and a handful of side dishes.
Will alcohol be served?
If you are 21+, Yes! There will be an open bar with beer, wine, and champagne with a two to three drink maximum. Have a drink on us and hang out with POLS professors, staff, and friends!
What should I wear?
Party casual, nothing too formal.
What will the ambiance be like?
This is a fun and relaxed environment to celebrate the end of the school year with our students.
What if I’m late to dinner because of class?
Don’t worry! Many of our students may need to come a little late because of class. If you have class, ask your professors if you can leave early to attend Spring Dinner. We have the event staggered so people can get there and mingle between 6-6:30pm. The buffet will be put out at 6:45pm and the awards ceremony won't start until 7pm to 7:15pm to give all our students wiggle room to drive to Ventana Grill.
I can’t afford a ticket, but I’d like to attend.
The POLS Department has set aside tickets for students that can’t afford a ticket. If you’d like to pick up one of these tickets, please email Paula (prygg@calpoly.edu) or stop by the POLS office (47-14).
POLS Hallway Bookshelf
If you find yourself in the POLS faculty hallway (47-11), take a look at our bookshelf. You are more than welcome to take any of these books home with you!
World Food Systems
POLS 333: World Food Systems is now POLS 332 and is no longer an Upper-Division B course. If you were planning to take the course to satisfy that requirement, you will have to find a different course to satisfy your UD B requirement.
Wondering Who Your Concentration Advisor Is?
**When declaring your concentration, make sure you are using the correct concentration form. The appropriate concentration form will list the name of your concentration on the top of the page. You will find all POLS concentration forms here.
MAJORS
AMERICAN POLITICS: DR. MICHAEL LATNER
GLOBAL POLITICS: DR. ANIKA LEITHNER
PRE-LAW: DR. MATTHEW MOORE
INDIVIDUALIZED (ICS): DR. HELENE SHANRUO NING ZHANG
MINORS
POLITICAL SCIENCE: DR. MATTHEW MOORE
GLOBAL POLITICS: DR. CRAIG ARCENEAUX
LAW & SOCIETY: DR. MATTHEW MOORE
For more information on how to declare your major, please visit our concentrations page
Student Spotlight
**Come back next week**
Alumni Spotlight
Fellowship Opportunities
Capital Fellows Programs
The Capital Fellows Programs are nationally recognized public policy fellowships which offer unique experiences in policy-making and development in each branch of government.
Capital Fellows are placed at some of the highest levels of California state government and assist state legislators, senior-level executive staff, and court administrators with a broad range of public policy issues and projects and are typically given assignments with a significant amount of responsibility and challenges.
Rooted in experiential learning and public service, Capital Fellows spend 10-11 months as part of a cohort working in a Legislative, Executive or Judicial Branch office. Click here for more information.
Internship and Volunteer Opportunities
ASI Student Government- Executive Cabinet Membership
Joining ASI Student Government is a great way for you to stay connected, informed, and have a say in representing the needs of your fellow students.
Applications are open until filled, and you can APPLY HERE.
The Washington Center- Academic Internship Program
Click here for more information
Professor Shelley Hurt is the Cal Poly faculty liaison. Please contact her with any questions.
Launch a Career You'll Love.
You have the power to design your own professional path, but you still need to know what you want and how you’ll get there. That’s where a summer or semester in the nation’s capital with The Washington Center (TWC) comes in.
TWC’s Academic Internship Program is a holistic experience designed to help you gain the experience, skills and network you’ll need to succeed, all while earning academic credit.
Program Dates
| CHECK-IN | INTERNSHIP PERIOD | CHECK-OUT | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2023 | January 18, 2023* | January 23 – April 28, 2023 | April 29, 2023 |
| Summer 2023 | May 31, 2023* | June 6 – August 4, 2023 | August 5, 2023 |
| Fall 2023 | August 23, 2023* | August 29 – December 1, 2023 | December 2, 2023 |
Application Deadlines
| EARLY DEADLINE* | REGULAR DEADLINE | |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 2023 | October 12, 2022 | November 2, 2022 |
| Summer 2023 | February 15, 2023 | March 15, 2023 |
| Fall 2023 | March 29, 2023 | April 26, 2023 |
Paid Job Opportunities
Summer Campaign Job Opportunities to Protect the Environment:
Want to spend your summer building skills that will help you launch your career, while working on urgent issues you care about like protecting the environment and our public health?
Work with Environment California and the Fund for the Public Interest on a grassroots campaign to Save the Bees! Find out more and apply here!
Fund for the Public Interest is seeking hard-working individuals with a passion for social change to fill citizen outreach and Field Manager positions across the country this summer. With offices in selected cities across the country this summer, we are hiring full-time staff, with leadership opportunities available, to work on issues like stopping plastic pollution and getting pesticides out of our food supply.
Get experience with the leadership and campaign skills and build connections needed to launch your career
Educate and engage citizens on pressing issues
Build membership and raise money for environmental and social change groups
Find out more about summer jobs to protect the environment here
Summer 2022, Campaign event with the Fund, Environment California, and Assemblymember Isaac Bryan to Save the Bees
Nonprofit Career Opportunities- Environment America
Do you want to work on the most profound challenge of our time? Apply to work with Environment America, we’re working to protect the planet. We’re working to stop the worst effects of climate change, to end water pollution and we’re fighting to protect our special places from mining and drilling. Our team is tackling these issues on multiple fronts. If Congress is gridlocked, our team is organizing to advance our issues at the state, local, legal or corporate levels.
Environment America is hiring entry-level staff to start immediately and to start in summer 2023. For more information, feel free to contact Ian Giancarlo at igiancarlo@environmentamerica.org.
Other Opportunities
Dr. Wade Talk - The New Culture of Sex on Campus
June 1st, 6:15pm, Bldg. 6 Rm. 124
We (SAFER, FSL, and CLA) are excited to share that Dr. Lisa Wade will be giving a talk this Thursday via Zoom at 6:15 pm titled, "American Hookup: The New Culture of Sex on Campus." Although the talk is going to be in Zoom, we are also going to have food available for those who want to watch together in Philips Hall (6) in room 124. If you prefer to watch on your own, you can use this Zoom ID: 871 1246 3211.
"An accomplished scholar, award-winning teacher, and public sociologist, Dr. Lisa Wade is well known for delivering conversational yet comelling translations of sociological theory and research."
Student Scholarships and Prizes
**Come back next week**
Educational Opportunities
The University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
At the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS), you can explore your passions and develop your potential — your way. Our small, supportive community within a world-class university provides access to internationally known faculty, extensive opportunities, and a vast alumni network all dedicated to your success. https://seas.umich.edu/
U.C. Berkeley Political Science Department PhD Program
Are you considering applying for a PhD in Political Science?
https://polisci.berkeley.edu/graduate-program
California State University, San Bernardino Masters Programs
M.A. National Security Studies
The two-year M.A. program provides a comprehensive curriculum with foundations in strategy and strategic studies for students interested in pursuing careers with the U.S. government or with private companies. M.A. program alumni serve in many different career fields, including defense, security, intelligence, and counter-terrorism. For more information, click here.
M.S. National Cyber Security Studies
The two year M.S. program is one of the few graduate programs in the country that is devoted to the study of U.S. national cyber security. M.S. program alumni serve in many different career fields, including defense, security, intelligence. For more information, click here.
University of Oregon Masters in Education Policy and Leadership
University of Oregon a new master of science degree in Education Policy and Leadership. The program combines theoretical grounding in education policy and leadership studies, advanced methodological and analytic training, and applied and practical knowledge in students' individual areas of topical interest. You can reach out to epol@uoregon.edu for questions or visit their website.
Cal Poly Orfalea College of Business Graduate Programs
Campus Events and Opportunities
Support Mustangs Struggling with Food Insecurity through Feed Cal Poly
Feed Cal Poly makes it easy for all faculty, staff, students and supporters to donate to Mustangs in need. Food insecurity is a very real and persistent problem on campus. Support of the Cal Poly Basic Needs Initiative through donations to Feed Cal Poly helps ensure all Mustangs have access to the resources they need to succeed. The Feed Cal Poly website makes donating quick, easy and accessible, with no limit on donation size. Simply login and follow the steps. Students with dining memberships also have the option to donate unused dining dollars through the Mustang Meal Share Program. All donors will receive a receipt for tax purposes. Watch for the Feed Cal Poly tent at events throughout campus for more ways to get involved and support fellow Mustangs.
Food Resources
The Cal Poly Food Pantry is open to all students - no questions asked. Cal Poly community members who are experiencing food insecurity or instability are welcome to shop at the Food Pantry, Monday through Friday 8:30am - 5pm.
Our mission is to work with a network of community partners to alleviate hunger in San Luis Obispo County and build a stronger community. Cal Poly hosts a SLO Food Bank Pick Up site open to all on the 4th Tuesday of every month on Mott Lawn.
CalFresh is like financial aid for food! The CalFresh Team helps determine if you are eligible for up to $204 per month to spend on groceries and at farmers' markets.
Students can receive up to $75 per quarter to assist with meals on campus at Vista Grande, Campus Market, Red Radish, Mustang Station, and PCV.
Transportation Resource
A service to help Cal Poly students travel home affordably and comfortably with other members of our student community. In October, Ryde was launched with 3 Cal Poly students and we’ve since welcomed 2,200+ Cal Poly students to our community and helped them travel 160,000+ miles across California while saving them $14,700+ in gas!
Ryde helps students connect with other riders and drivers in the community. Want to learn more about us?
Faculty Office Hours and CLA Advising
POLS Department Spring 2023
Faculty Office Hours and PDF version
Graduate School Advisor
POLS Department announcing new position, Graduate School Advisor, Professor Shelley Hurt, who has successfully steered many Cal Poly students to great success in graduate schools across the country from UC Berkley to Columbia University, to the London School of Economics in Britain. She is now providing advice to all interested POLS students who wants to pursue their education at the M.A. or Doctoral level in pursuit of a broader horizon of career opportunities.
Email her or drop by during her office hours (47-11C) on Tuesdays from 1-5pm.