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Building an Inclusive Classroom: Digital Humanities (DH) and Critical Disability Studies (CDS) in the Francophone World
No full textThe purpose of this co-authored article by a teacher and student is to contemplate the feminist implications of infusing Critical Disability Studies and Digital Humanities into the traditional humanities classroom. Furthermore, this article implements strategies for inclusive and flexible pedagogy. This article will contribute a case study for an interdisciplinary project of academic rigor, while mitigating student wellbeing through mechanisms of classroom autonomy
Effects of Supplementation With Amino Acid Fortified Rice-Based Protein Versus Whey Protein On Nitrogen Balance and Postprandial Plasma Amino Acid Profile
No full textPlant-based diets continue to grow in popularity, but effective plant-based protein powder that produces similar effects to the gold standard of protein supplementation, whey protein, has yet to be developed. Leucine is a branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) that has become popular for its effects in enhancing and supporting muscle protein synthesis. Muscle protein synthesis can contribute to a more desirable body composition in terms of improving insulin sensitivity and preventing diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus. Leucine is notably lower in plant-based food products compared to animal-based counterparts, contributing to the lack of efficacy in plant-based protein powders’ capacity to produce results akin to animal-based protein powders. In this pilot study, eighteen college-aged females consumed either a rice protein (RP), amino acid/leucine-enhanced rice protein (RP+), or whey protein (WP) powder once a day for 8 days. Blood amino acid profile, body composition, dietary patterns, urinary nitrogen, urinary specific gravity, and nitrogen balance were assessed and compared between the three treatment groups. Results revealed significant differences from baseline to post-intervention for glucose, urinary specific gravity, nitrogen balance, total amino acids, essential amino acids, and leucine across all participants. Furthermore, differences between treatment groups were observed for total amino acids, essential amino acids, and leucine content, specifically between RP and both RP+ and WP groups. No significant difference was revealed between the RP+ and WP groups, illustrating the successful fortification of plant-based protein to achieve similar results to whey protein in terms of anabolic and MPS potential from improved amino acid profiles in the blood
Building Confidence, Building Careers: An Industry-Informed Evaluation of a High School AEC Camp
No full textThis study assesses the effectiveness of the Girls Build Summer Academy, an architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) summer camp for high school girls, and similar programs by gathering and analyzing feedback from industry professionals. The research aims to identify which program elements most successfully inspire interest and build foundational skills for young women considering careers in architecture, engineering, and construction. An anonymous survey was distributed to AEC professionals, some who were familiar with the program. The survey included multiple choice, rankings, and open-ended questions to evaluate areas for improvement and future curriculum development. Findings revealed strong support for interactive learning experiences, particularly hands-on construction activities and mentorship from women in the field. Respondents emphasized the importance of incorporating both technical training and soft skills for fostering teamwork, leadership, and communication. Some also recommended adding exposure to emerging industry technologies like Building Information Modeling and including more trade-specific skills. The data highlights the importance of designing youth outreach programs that reflect both student needs and industry evolving standards. By including industry-informed feedback in the program development, the curriculum can better prepare underrepresented students for success in AEC fields and contribute to more women entering AEC professions
Skip the Grid: Off-Grid Solutions for Navajo Families
No full textSkip the Grid is a service project executed by California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) students, Heart of America, and SOLV Energy to provide sustainable power solutions to Navajo families in need. Within the vast, remote landscapes of the Navajo Nation, over 32% of households lack electricity, creating significant challenges for daily life. The 2025 Skip the Grid trip marked Cal Poly’s fourth consecutive year partnering in this impactful initiative. An interdisciplinary team of 20 students from 6 different areas of study, work collaboratively, preparing for months to ensure a successful installation trip in Chinle, Arizona. Over the course of four days the team installed solar panels, battery systems, and refrigerators in 40 homes. Our efforts changed the lives of over 100 children, allowing them the ability to study at home, wake up on time for school, and eat fresh food year-round. Additionally, we visited 5 different local schools to educate children about solar power and future careers in construction. Skip the Grid provides a “Learn by Doing” approach that fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, provides an experience that broadens students\u27 perspectives, and changes lives
Designing and Building a Tomato Storage Shed for SLO City Farm
No full textThis paper details the design, budgeting, and construction of a tomato shed built by a student team for City Farm SLO during the Spring 2025 quarter. The project aimed to deliver a practical, affordable, and long-lasting structure to support tomato harvesting and storage operations. The team prioritized a design that balanced functionality with simplicity, all while working within a tight budget. The design phase involved multiple iterations in response to changing site conditions and client input, requiring the team to remain flexible and responsive throughout the process. Key milestones included developing an initial layout, sourcing materials, and modifying features as construction advanced. The project highlighted the importance of teamwork, adaptability, and clear communication as the team overcame on-site challenges. Ultimately, the completed shed provided a valuable hands-on experience in project-based construction and meaningful community engagement
Preconstruction Services for Land Conservancy San Luis Obispo Deck Replacement
No full textThis senior project centers around a preconstruction collaboration between Semmes & Co. and the Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo (LCSLO) for a new deck at the Santa Rita Ranch house in Templeton, CA. The existing deck was in poor condition and not ADA compliant, prompting the need for a safe, accessible, and aesthetically pleasing replacement. This project supported the nonprofit by providing volunteer-based preconstruction services, including quantity takeoffs, a detailed material list, scope breakdown, labor estimates, scheduling, and logistics planning. Material options and scope variations were presented to LCSLO in a flexible pricing proposal using a Time and Materials (T&M) format with a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) option. Though delays prevented direct field involvement, this project served as a hands-on experience in collaborative design, estimating, and contractor-client communication. The work highlights key lessons in navigating plan sets, estimating efficiency, and coordinating among stakeholders during early project development. These insights reflect both technical growth and practical understanding of real-world construction processes
Skip the Grid: Installing Solar Systems for Residents of the Navajo Nation in Arizona
No full textAn interdisciplinary service-learning program called Skip the Grid provides solar energy systems to Navajo Nation homes without consistent access to electricity. A group of 20 California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) students from different majors that include Construction Management, Mechanical Engineers, Business, and Electrical Engineers traveled to Arizona from March 23rd to 27th, 2025, to install Goal Zero solar energy systems on over 40 homes from the Navajo Nation. This project was made possible through the generous support and collaboration of SOLV Energy, Heart of America (HOA), Goal Zero, Chinle High School, and Cal Poly. These solar systems help give access to light and energy to many families and students as many of them find it difficult to complete their assignments without electricity. This project was all about giving back to the community while learning valuable skills in safety, installation, communication, and learning the culture of the Navajo Nation. The team created and followed a detailed safety and pre-task plan to ensure smooth operations throughout the three-day installation period. This project served as a reminder that small efforts can create lasting impacts and for the first time, these families now have access to consistent lighting, device charging, and refrigeration
AS-987-25 Resolution in Support of Cal Poly\u27s Undocumented Community and Community Members from Mixed-Status Families
No full textResolves that the Academic Senate of Cal Poly affirm its support for the undocumented members of the Cal Poly community and for those who are members of mixed-status families; and it further resolves that the Academic Senate reaffirms its request that Cal Poly continue to act per the CSU Chancellor’s directive published July 29, 2016, and continue to support members of the Cal Poly community who are undocumented or are members of mixed-status families through resources provided by the Office of University Diversity and Inclusion and the Dream Center; and further resolves that this resolution be distributed to the CSU Board of Trustees, the CSU Chancellor, the Chair of the CSU Statewide Academic Senate, Chairs of campus Academic Senates, and the California State Student’s Association (CSSA)
AS-996-25 Resolution to Amend the Grading System to Include the A+ Grade
No full textResolves that the Academic Senate of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo supports amending the grading system to include the A+ grade with the following caveats: the grading scale will continue to award 4.0 grade points to the grade of A or above; and the use of the A+ grade will go into effect with the Fall 2026 term
Analyzing the Safety Effects of Edge Lane Roads For Motor Vehicle Users
No full textThis thesis builds upon a prior study that analyzed the safety effects of Edge Lane Roads (ELRs) within the U.S. context, addressing gaps related to collision, traffic volume, and speed data. An ELR is a roadway configuration that accommodates two-way automobile traffic within a single center lane while providing edge lanes for vulnerable road users (VRUs), i.e., bicyclists or pedestrians. Although the concept of a single shared lane for opposing traffic often raises safety concerns among the public, ELRs have demonstrated potential to control speeds, optimize roadway space, and improve traffic operations on low-volume roads.
To evaluate safety outcomes, this thesis applies the project-level empirical Bayes before-and-after method, focusing on crash data and exposure measures (traffic volumes and counts) before and after ELR installation. The dataset was organized into six categories: received data; only sites with 5 years before and 3 years after installation; removal of terminal, off-facility, and near installation crashes; pedestrian and cyclist data; and motor vehicle (MV) only crashes. Results from a naïve comparison of crash frequencies were compared with those from the EB approach. Findings suggest that ELRs may reduce crashes involving both motor vehicles and VRUs on low-volume roads where conventional designs often lack sufficient safety features. Prior studies indicate that roadway width is a key factor influencing crash frequency, and that narrower lanes or alternative designs such as ELRs can improve safety by lowering speeds and increasing driver attentiveness. Nonetheless, further analysis is needed to evaluate the performance of ELRs across different roadway types and jurisdictions. A comprehensive database of ELR installations, including site-specific characteristics and treatment details, is maintained at www.edgelaneroads.com. To ensure comparability, this thesis utilized crash data from multiple jurisdictions consistently, with detailed inclusion criteria outlined herein.
The EB before-and-after analysis, conducted using the 2010 Highway Safety Manual–recommended approach, showed that ELR conversions yielded a crash modification factor (CMF) across an 8-year evaluation period at sites throughout the U.S. A CMF below 1.0 indicates a reduction in crashes and a safety improvement. The overall CMF was 0.67, suggesting a 33% reduction in crashes. However, sites with higher volumes and wider center lanes presented challenges, as increased vehicle interaction within the shared center lane may reduce effectiveness. When results from this study were combined with those of a previous study, the aggregated analysis across 28 ELRs demonstrated a 42% crash reduction using EB compared to 24% with the naïve before-and-after method. This consistency indicates that regression-to-the-mean bias is minimal, as ELRs are typically not installed at high-crash locations. Therefore, naïve comparisons may be sufficient for preliminary assessments, though EB remains the more reliable method.
Overall, these findings suggest that ELRs can significantly improve roadway safety. Importantly, no head-on collisions were reported at any ELR site, countering common public concerns that two-way traffic within a single lane would increase such crashes. Nevertheless, past agency experience has shown the importance of public outreach and education to build support and ensure the long-term success of ELRs. This thesis represents the most comprehensive and up-to-date evaluation of ELR safety performance to date and provides guidance on key factors—including roadway volumes, lane widths, and public engagement—that should be considered when implementing ELRs in other jurisdictions