Digital Commons Network^™

Investigating The Viability Of Voucher Payments As A Development Plan, John Stapakis

Construction Management

California currently has a shortage of affordable housing, and Housing Choice Vouchers, also known as Section 8 housing, are one state funded solution to it. However, even once those in need of affordable housing are approved for vouchers they can have trouble finding suitable housing at a fair market price due to stigmas associated with voucher renters. This project investigates whether developers and property managers can actually use the voucher programs to their advantage to make a profit, or if that stigma is warranted. Developers can design their units in a way that appeals to these renters, and then accept …

Assessing Experiences Of Women In Mep Field And Project Management Roles, Lily K. Brown

Construction Management

Despite increased enrollment of women in construction education programs, the industry is not seeing significant gains in the percentages of women, especially in field and project management roles. This study looks specifically at the experiences of women in the Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) sector working in field and project management. Women in different career stages were interviewed to gain perspective on the state and climate of the industry from a woman’s perspective. The interviews were analyzed for recurring themes and three primary themes that emerged were: 1) women see themselves as able to bring about better team synthesis than …

Exploration Of Mental Health Stressors And Proposing Interventions Among Heavy-Civil Construction Workers, Enrrique Zarate

Construction Management

The mental health of heavy civil construction workers is an often-overlooked issue. Long hours, job insecurity, physically demanding work, and workplace culture contribute to significant stress, anxiety, and other mental health challenges among workers in this industry. This research aimed to assess the mental health conditions of heavy civil construction workers, identify key stressors, and propose effective intervention strategies to improve overall well-being. Using a combination of surveys and interviews, this study gathered both quantitative and qualitative data to gain a comprehensive understanding of workers’ mental health. The surveys provided broad insights into common stressors and overall mental health of …

Treating Ground Water For Agricultural And Individual Consumption, Gabby Miller, Bronson Scott, Michael Clawson

Biomedical Engineering

This project, conducted in collaboration with Cal Poly seniors and Da Vinci High School students, aims to develop a solar-powered groundwater purification system. This system is designed to provide clean water for agricultural use and individual consumption, addressing the growing concerns of groundwater contamination and accessibility needs. The final prototype integrates a gravity filtration system combined with chemical purification, utilizing aluminum sulfate and chlorine to remove particulates, bacteria, and organic compounds.

The research phase involved an extensive review of groundwater contamination issues, existing filtration technologies, and market analysis. Key design constraints included cost-effectiveness, ease of maintenance, and minimal energy consumption, …

Maglock - Electromagnetic Pedal Aid For Amputees, Minh Vo, Matthew Chew

Biomedical Engineering

For this project, we aimed to design components that could easily be swapped out and into vehicles, which would help them accomplish the task of locating and securing a prosthetic foot to a bike and/or car pedal. A common problem among cyclists and drivers with prosthetic legs is their foot slipping off the pedal while in use; these components could be used for other common applications such as cars, bikes, etc. Stakeholders for this product included automotive companies and handicap product distributors. The focused objective is to provide dexterity and quick attach/detach support for cyclists and drivers with lower limb …

Vendor-Managed Inventory: A Case Study, Blake Elijah Hanson

Construction Management

This research project examines the effectiveness of Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) within the context of electrical subcontracting, using a case study based on a recent summer internship at Cupertino Electric Inc (CEI). Employing qualitative research methods, including interviews with industry professionals and personal observations, the study identifies several key factors contributing to the success of VMI and pinpoints areas for improvement. It focuses on material organization, labeling, vendor coordination, and foreman involvement, assessing their impact on job site efficiency and operations. The findings reveal that while VMI helps streamline inventory management and reduce procurement workload, its full potential is often …

Cal Poly Gateway Decathlon Workplan: Transportation Development, Jessie A. Santos

Construction Management

This paper outlines a detailed work plan for the transportation logistics of pre-packaged modular home components, developed for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo's participation in the 2026 Gateway Decathlon competition. The project focuses on the safe and efficient transport of mass timber panels and associated modular elements from the university campus in California to the competition site in Missouri, utilizing standard packaging procedures. This document details a comprehensive strategy for loading and securing the pre-packaged components, emphasizing a systematic approach to mitigate potential risks during transit. Key aspects of the work plan include a thorough material checklist, a breakdown of …

Analyzing Steel Supply Chain Factors With Analytic Hierarchy Process, Edilberto Urena Jr

Construction Management

The global steel supply chain is a critical component of construction and manufacturing industries. It is a fundamental pillar supporting infrastructure development, economic growth, and technological innovation. However, disruptions in supply, price volatility, and logistical challenges necessitate an in-depth evaluation of key factors affecting the steel supply chain. These uncertainties can pose significant risks to project timelines, cost efficiency and sustainability. This study employes the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), a multi-criteria decision-making approach to systematically rank and prioritize factors influencing the supply chain. A literature review identified critical variables, which are then structured into a hierarchical model after the opinion …

Case Study: Cal Poly Housing Program (Cphp) - Student Housing Project At California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, Aidan Michael Toole

Construction Management

Full volumetric modular construction is a building technique that involves the off-site prefabrication of three-dimensional modular units, which are later transported and assembled on-site. California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo and general contractor, Whiting-Turner, are building new on-campus student housing by utilizing full volumetric modular construction techniques. The buildings will be produced in modules that, when put together, reflect the identical design and intent of a site-built building. This paper will analyze the effectiveness of modular construction on a large-scale project and look at the project cost, schedule, and waste impacts from choosing this approach. The main driver …

Modular Construction And Integrated Project Delivery: Cal Poly Slo’S Student Housing Expansion, Nikita Taktarov

Construction Management

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is addressing the increasing demand for on-campus housing through an innovative modular dormitory project. This project, which adds approximately 4,000 new beds, marks a shift from traditional construction methods to a more efficient and collaborative approach using the Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) model. Unlike traditional CSU contracts that place most of the risk on contractors, this model promotes shared responsibility between the university, architects, and builders, leading to better cost control and project efficiency. A key feature of this program is the use of prefabricated construction, where building components are assembled off-site and then transported …

An Analysis Of Factors Affecting Retention Of Skilled Trades Workers At Construction Companies, James R. Walsh

Construction Management

Construction trades are going through a difficult time in recruiting right now and have been for the past 5 to 10 years. More tradesmen and women from the baby boomer generation are retiring and the rate of replacement by younger people is not enough to keep the workforce at the numbers that would be ideal for a healthy construction industry. This paper delves into what companies can do to make work a place that employees want to be and aims to provide strategies companies can use to retain a quality workforce.

Effect Of Wall Assemblies On Wi-Fi 6e Signal Strength, Connor C. Borges

Construction Management

This project investigates the signal strength of Wi-Fi signals through different wall assemblies under the new Wi-Fi 6E standard. The project focuses on measuring the signal strength (-dBm) at three distinct frequencies, 6 GHz, 5 GHz, and 2.4 GHz. The 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies serve as a baseline for comparison with the emerging 6E standard. Wi-Fi 6E offers much higher speeds at the cost of high signal attenuation. The primary objective is to analyze how different construction materials impact Wi-Fi signal strength and to provide comprehensive data on wall assembly attenuation. Wi-Fi 6E signals experience significantly greater attenuation …

Academic Senate - Agenda, 2/25/2025, Academic Senate

Academic Senate Agendas

No abstract provided.

Academic Senate - Minutes, 2/25/2025, Academic Senate

Academic Senate Minutes

No abstract provided.

What’S Empowerment Got To Do With It?: Body Neutrality In The Neoliberal Institution, Michelle Colpean, Cassidy D. Ellis

Feminist Pedagogy

No abstract provided.

Reenvisioning Identities That Precede Us: “Body Acknowledgement” As Social Justice Practice Within A Communication Ethics Course Redesign, Wendy Kz Anderson, Ollivia Webster, Nicole Yang, Cass Bryant, Taylor Herr

Feminist Pedagogy

We infuse this conversation of “body neutrality” through social justice responsiveness (compassion, equity, and accountability of body/presence privilege) by specifically attending to intersections of race, gender, and body mindset built into our identities. In reimagining the term “body-neutrality” through identity engagement, we introduce the term “body acknowledgment” as an active interpretative state. As a co-authored pedagogical “co-conspiring” for racial justice (Houdek and Ore, 2021, p. 92), we (instructor, teaching assistants, and previous students) offered a course redesign centering social justice strategies to address the following question: How can dialogue about intersectional communication work toward redesigning learning with difference and develop …

Executive Committee - Agenda, 2/18/2025, Academic Senate

Academic Senate Agendas

No abstract provided.

Academic Senate - Agenda, 2/11/2025, Academic Senate

Academic Senate Agendas

No abstract provided.

2023/2024 Robert E. Kennedy Library Annual Report, Robert E. Kennedy Library

Library Publications and Administrative Reports

This past year presented unique challenges as we continued to navigate the changes brought by the Kennedy Library Transformation Project. We successfully relocated our collections and services to temporary locations, to accommodate the massive work to renovate our 44-year-old building. While this transition brought about changes in our physical space, it underscored the unwavering dedication and adaptability of our staff and the resilience of our library community. This annual report highlights the innovative ways we continue to serve our students and faculty throughout the transformation. As you turn the pages of the report, you’ll learn about:

• Unwavering Support for Learning …

Mustang Living: A Guide To Student Housing, Anna L. Casper

Journalism

It is not an easy transition for college students to go from living in a place they have called home, to struggling to secure a reliable and affordable home as a college student who moved away from home for the first time. This significant milestone should be a task that is rewarding and exciting, rather than life-altering and stressful. When envisioning a way to heal the chaos of house searching in San Luis Obispo, "Mustang Living" would be a dedicated section of Mustang News, available in both print and digital formats, designed to serve as a comprehensive resource for students …

From Football To Construction: Transferring Leadership Competencies For The Era Of Construction 4.0, Payson W. Campisano

Construction Management

This study aims to explore the intersection of leadership competencies developed through football and their applicability to the construction industry, with a focus placed on the emerging leadership needs in Construction 4.0. Drawing on insights from interviews with current and former student-athletes who study or studied construction management at the California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, the research highlights the transferability of key leadership qualities from football, such as resilience, teamwork, and critical thinking, to the cognitive, interpersonal, business, and strategic domains of leadership within construction management. Building on the work of Yang, Sunindijo, and Wang (2020), who …

Information For Authors, Amy R. Gavello, Julia Taylor

The Forum: Journal of History

No abstract provided.

Editors, Amy R. Gavello, Julia Taylor

The Forum: Journal of History

No abstract provided.

Charlottesville And Confederate Monuments: How The Civil War And Its Aftermath Continue To Affect Race Relations In The United States, Jesse Lozano

The Forum: Journal of History

No abstract provided.

Scientific Racism: Insight Into Its Influence On Colonialism, Kenneth Macro

The Forum: Journal of History

No abstract provided.

How A Femme Fatale’S Cinematic Reception Affected Her Social Perception: The Conflation Of Myth And Reality, Giovanna Grix

The Forum: Journal of History

No abstract provided.

Man, This Is Some Scary Sh*T: The Use Of Black Women As A Crutch For Comedy In Scary Movie, Collin Marfia

The Forum: Journal of History

No abstract provided.

Contraceptive Contingencies: Key Points That Shaped The Birth Control Pill, Emma Fay

The Forum: Journal of History

No abstract provided.

Inside Cover And Copyright, Amy R. Gavello, Julia Taylor

The Forum: Journal of History

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, Amy R. Gavello, Julia Taylor

The Forum: Journal of History

No abstract provided.