support mechanical engineering
Mechanical Engineering Department
We rely on funds from our alumni and friends to support our students in many ways. The students see the impact of this support from their first week on campus to their last official ME events. This support also allows us to uphold our core values by keeping class sizes down, labs equipped, and our students on track to graduate on time. Please consider helping out to ensure that we can continue to deliver the high-quality education on which we have built a national reputation.
HVAC&R
Our endowment was created to specifically support the HVAC&R program at Cal Poly, which means that all proceeds can only be used for the betterment of the program and do not go into the general fund. Our program was suspended for over a decade from the late 80s through 2000. By building a strong endowment, we are making it possible to sustain the program for the long-haul. Your contributions will support our state-of-the-art HVAC&R lab, industry tours, national ASHRAE convention, and participation in Cal Poly’s Open House.
Student Shop Technicians
The machine shops distinguish Cal Poly as a truly unique, hands-on engineering program. The shops offer opportunities for students to get their hands dirty and learn about what it takes to see their designs completed. The grease that keeps this machine going is our student shop technician group that consists of students from varied engineering majors that help their peers stay safe as they explore the possibilities available in the Aero Hangar and the Mustang ’60 Machine Shop. Your gift to this fund will go directly to support our student technicians.
80th Anniversary Campaign
Join us in celebrating our legacy! Our 80th Anniversary Lab Development campaign focuses on improving our labs to create a better hands-on learning experience for our students.
Our labs are an integral part of our curriculum and have shaped thousands of mechanical engineering students over the past 80 years – we will continue this tradition for years to come. But we need your support.
During my time as a faculty member at Cal Poly, I have seen our program grow in size and prestige, largely due to our signature Learn by Doing approach. As one of the top ranked undergraduate mechanical engineering programs in the country, we want to ensure our students have access to well-equipped, modern laboratories. With your support, we can create a better tomorrow for the next generation of Cal Poly mechanical engineers. Our 80th Anniversary Lab Development campaign focuses on improving our labs to create a better hands-on learning experience for our students.
Our Goals
> Renovate our 15+ labs
> Upgrade equipment and technology
> Improve accessibility
I will be donating $80 for each of the years I have been at Cal Poly. Dr. Jim LoCascio has donated his recent CSU Faculty Innovation & Leadership Award of $10,000 to the fund. I challenge you to join us in creating our future. We are extremely grateful for your support and we will see you at our 80th anniversary celebration in 2021.
JIM WIDMANN
Department Chair
THE SWENSONS
PARENTS + SUPPORTERS
Ron and Bonnie Swenson are the parents of two Cal Poly Mechanical Engineering graduates, a son and daughter-in-law. The Swensons recognize the impact that Cal Poly learn by doing has on many students and chose to generously donate $70,000 to the renovation of the Thermal Sciences Lab. They hope that their gift will inspire others to support the Mechanical Engineering 80th Anniversary campaign.
NEAL MCDOUGAL
ALUM + SUPPORTER
Neal graduated with a mechanical engineering degree in 1985 and is a Systems Engineer at Raytheon in Los Angeles. Neal has been a longtime supporter of our department and uses Raytheon’s gift matching to double the impact of his gift. He hopes his gift will inspire others to support our 80th campaign.
“The mechanical engineering department is important to me. I want to give back to the University because that’s where I gained my knowledge and education. I wanted a way to directly support labs so that both instructors and students have everything they need to learn.”
More Ways To Give
Find out if your company matches gifts and double your impact! Matching gift applications take just a few minutes to complete, and most programs will accept applications for gifts you’ve already made.
Find out if you or your spouse work for a Cal Poly gift matching partner and begin your application by entering your company’s name in the Employer Match tool below.
If your employer has a matching gift program, follow the links to their application and instructions. Below is the important information you’ll need to complete your application:
Org/Recipient Name: Cal Poly Foundation/California Polytechnic State Univ. Foundation
Tax/EIN: 20-4927897
Address: Cal Poly Fund, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407
Send your gift, along with your application, to the address above for completion by our matching gifts specialist. If you completed an online application, we will receive an electronic request from your matching program to verify your gift. When the matching gift is received, we’ll send you a notification and send the matching funds to the same program as your original gift.
For more information, visit https://giving.calpoly.edu/matching.
You may also send a check directly to the department, payable to the Cal Poly Mechanical Engineering Department. Add a note specifying one of the ME needs, unless you would like us to use our discretion in directing the gift to one of the needs listed.
Mail to:
California Polytechnic State University
Mechanical Engineering Department
1 Grand Avenue
Building 13, Room 254
San Luis Obispo, CA 93407
For questions, please contact us at me-dept@calpoly.edu