Campus: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo -- September 2, 2005

Cal Poly Will Open Its Doors to Hurricane Katrina Students

Cal Poly will be part of the California State University System effort to help college students affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Cal Poly administrators are working today to set up an admission process for Katrina's victims. College students from hurricane areas will be admitted for the fall and winter quarters on a limited, case-by-case basis. The university will re-open the filing period for winter 2006 admission for eligible transfer students until Sept. 15.

"We are doing all that we can to help students realize their goal of completing their college education with as little disruption as possible given the effects of such a horrible tragedy," said Robert Detweiler, interim provost and vice president of academic affairs.

Cal Poly is already heavily impacted in enrollment with some 18,500 students expected for fall quarter, and the university is still weighing the number of hurricane victims who can be accommodated in classes here. But Cal Poly will give special consideration to certain eligible students from Katrina-struck Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama colleges and universities. They include:

  • Students who were previously admitted to Cal Poly but chose to go to another university
  • Transfer students who apply under the university's newly-reopened winter quarter deadline
  • Graduate students from affected areas, who will be allowed to apply to Cal Poly master's programs on a fast track for possible admission in either fall or winter quarters.
Other applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis, especially from California residents.

"We're working really hard to open our doors to as many students as we can and hope that the little bit we can offer, given our current lack of space and resources, will be helpful," said Linda Dalton, executive vice provost and chief planning officer.

All students who are residents of the Katrina-affected areas of Louisiana, Mississippi, or Alabama will be exempt from payment of non-resident tuition at Cal Poly, as spelled out in the just-issued CSU Coded Memorandum on assisting hurricane victims.

Cal Poly's Continuing Education office will also offer "Open University" for qualified students to come to Cal Poly, without matriculating. Students should see page 27 of 2005-07 Cal Poly Catalog for details. Access to courses through Continuing Education is on a space-available basis. For details, visit: http://www.continuing-ed.calpoly.edu/.

Contact: Robert Detweiler, (805) 756-2186

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