1901
On March 8,
Governor Gage signs the California Polytechnic School Bill to furnish to young people of
both sexes mental and manual training in the arts and sciences, including agriculture,
mechanics, engineering, business methods, domestic economy and other branches as will fit
the students for non-professional walks of life. Myron Angel, a local journalist, is the
driving force behind the founding of the school.
1902
In June, Leroy Anderson is appointed as the first Director of the school.
1903
On January 31,
the cornerstone for the Administration building is laid. The first Dormitory is built soon
after the Administration Building. Land is designated for student farms and construction
begins on farm buildings. On September 30, the first classes are held. Total enrollment for the first year
is 20 students. The California Polytechnic School offers secondary (high school) level
Courses of Study, which takes three years to complete.
1904-05
Enrollment
rises to 52 students (40 men and 12 women).
In May, the first Annual Farmer's Institute and Basket Picnic is held. Members of
the community are invited to the campus to see projects completed by students.
1906
On June 15 the
first commencement exercises are held with eight students receiving certificates.
1908
After serving as vice-director since 1907, Leroy Burns Smith is appointed
Director of Cal Poly.
1909
The first
student Body association is formed to govern athletics, publications and social events.
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1913
The Annual
Farmer's Picnic is combined with the Decennial Celebration, with special trains scheduled
to bring 3,000 visitors to the campus.
The time necessary to complete the Course of Study is lengthened from three years
to four years.
1914
In June Robert
Weir Ryder is appointed Director.
1916
An Academic Department from college preparatory work is added to the three
original departments of Agriculture, Engineering/Mechanics and Household Arts.1916Compulsory
military training for men is instituted in response to state legislation. Military
discipline and uniforms are required in the dormitories as well as the classrooms.
1916
The Polygram, the school newspaper, begins publication. The paper is issued every
two weeks.
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1917-21
Enrollment
drops as a result of World War I, while remaining students participate in war relief
projects. 147 students join the armed forces. California Polytechnic School provides
special education opportunities for several hundred disabled war veterans.
1920
A Commercial Department is established to offer courses in bookkeeping, typing
and advertising.
1921
Nicholas
Ricciardi is selected President by the Board of Trustees.
1922
A four-year course of study in printing begins.
1923
Drastic budget
cuts force a reduction in the number of classes offered. Only classes in agriculture,
mechanics and printing remain. Female students are admitted only to printing classes.
1924
Margaret Chase, Vice President of the School, is appointed acting President for
the remainder of the academic year after the resignation of Nicholas
Ricciardi.
1924
A committee of
15 local businessmen is formed to study the Schools objectives and direction. Cal Poly is placed under direct control of the State Board of Education. The San Luis
Obispo Local Committee of 15 and the State Board of Education choose Benjamin R. Crandall
as President. (Cal Poly¹s first)
1926
Classes in the Academic, Household Arts and Commercial Departments are restored.
1927
The School
adds a two-year Junior College Division to the Four-year secondary vocational program.
Engineering/Mechanics is the principal course of study and Aeronautics is added to the
Junior College Division.
1929
Women students are barred from the entire School beginning in 1930.
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1931
The
Agriculture Department is transferred to the direct supervision of the State Bureau of
Agricultural Education. Under direction of Bureau Chief Julian McPhee, the Polytechnic
School becomes the state headquarters of Future Farmers of America and the centralized
institution of training of vocational agricultural teachers.
1933
The State Board of Education drastically reorganizes the school, abolishing the
Junior College Division and the high school courses designed for university transfer. The
mission of the School is changed to a two-year technical and vocational school.
1933
The first
Annual Poly Royal is sponsored by the Future Farmers of America.1935The school receives funds from pari-mutuel betting at horse races held at county
fairs throughout the state.
1935
Amelia Earhart
visits the campus.
1938
The Voorhis Unit of California Polytechnic School is founded when a two-million
dollar school and farm completely equipped were deeded to the School by Charles B. Voorhis
of Pasadena and his son, Jerry Voorhis. On September
4, after a six year hiatus, the school paper is published again. Formerly The Polygram, it
is now entitled El Mustang.
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1940
The
School is authorized to grant Bachelor of Arts degrees when a fourth year of instruction
is mandated by the State Board of Education.
1940-43
Cal Poly implements emergency
training programs in industrial arts for special wartime jobs for men and women.
1942
The
first baccalaureate exercises are held.
1943
The school serves as state
headquarters for the Food Production War Training Program, providing instruction to more
than 120,000 farmers.
1945
Immediately
after the war, enrollment expands to 800 students, primarily veterans. By 1949 there are
2,909 students enrolled, causing a major housing shortage on campus and in the community.
1947
The California Polytechnic School is
renamed the California State Polytechnic College and begins offering a fifth year of
instruction in teacher education.
1949
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation donates an 812-acre horse ranch in Pomona to the College, which is
located about one mile from the Voorhis campus. By 1950 the joint operation of the two
campuses is known as the Kellogg-Voorhis unit.
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1956
Female
students are again admitted to the College after 27 years.
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1960
On
October 29 a chartered plane carrying the Cal Poly football team crashes on takeoff at the
Toledo, Ohio, airport. Twenty-two of the forty-eight persons aboard are killed, including
sixteen players, the team¹s student manager, and a Cal Poly football booster. Twenty-two
others are injured. Control of Cal Poly and all other
state colleges is transferred from the State Board of Education to an independent Board of
Trustees.
1963
The
Computer Center is established.
1966
On June 30 President McPhee retires. The Kellogg-Voorhis campus at Pomona is split from Cal Poly and becomes a separate college.
Enrollment reaches 7.739 students (2,086 women and 5,653 men).
1967
On April 10 the campus newspaper¹s
name is changed to the Mustang Daily, although the paper is only published three times a
week. On
May 1, Robert E. Kennedy is named President by the CSU Board of Trustees. The curriculum is reorganized into
four units: School of Agriculture, School of Engineering, of Applied Arts, and School of
Applied Sciences. Cal Poly is authorized to grant Master of Science degrees.
1968
The
School of Architecture is created. Fall quarter enrollment rises to 9,711 students (2,796
women and 6,915 men).
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1970
The
curriculum is reorganized into seven units: School of Agriculture and Natural Resources,
School of Architecture and Environmental Design, School of Business and Social Sciences,
School of Communicative Arts and Humanities, School of Engineering and Technology, School
of Human Development and Education, and School of Science and Mathematics.
1971
Cal Poly¹s official name is changed
to California Polytechnic State University by the state legislature.
1978
The
Clyde P. Fisher Science Building is dedicated on July 28.1979On February 1 President Kennedy
retires.
1979
Warren
J. Baker is named President by the CSU Board of Trustees on May 22.
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1981
The Robert E.
Kennedy Library opens on January 5.
1986
The curriculum is reorganized into seven new units; School of Agriculture, School
of Architecture and environmental Design, School of Business, School of Liberal Arts,
School of Engineering, School of Professional Studies and Education, School of Science and
Mathematics.
1986
15,450
students are enrolled spring quarter (6,700 women and 8,750 men).
1988
New buildings for Agricultural Science and Foundation Administration are
completed.
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1990
The last El
Rodeo yearbook is issued.
1993
A new state-of-the-art Recreational Sports facility opens.
1996
Construction
of the Cal Poly Arts Center is completed. Enrollment reaches 17,000 in the fall quarter (7,373 women and 9,627 men).
1999
College
of Engineering Advanced Technology Laboratories opens.
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2000
The 47-acre
Recreation Sports Complex opens, 9,000-space parking structure opens
2001
Cal Poly Celebrates its Centennial
2004
Cal Poly’s University Center for Teacher Education becomes the university's seventh college: The College of Education.
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