By Lindsey Lam, February 10, 2026
Interim President Iris Levine announced a $20 million investment to improve Cal Poly Pomona over a three-year period at February’s Academic Senate meeting.
This investment accounts for half of the $40 million Mackenzie Scott donation from 2021. Since the donation has no restrictions, the president may allocate the funds as she sees fit. The remaining $20 million will be reserved for the next elected president of CPP, who will be announced in March at the Board of Trustees meeting.
“The investment focuses on three priorities: future paths, which support student success beyond graduation through experiential learning and career readiness; emerging technologies, which strengthen our polytechnic advantage by building skills in areas such as artificial intelligence, geographic information systems and cybersecurity; and campus modernization, which revitalizes our infrastructure to create vibrant, inclusive and future-ready learning environments,” Levine said.
The donation has also been used to create the Bright Tomorrow Fund, which invests in programs and opportunities that help students succeed, such as the newly created Bronco CareerWorks, an on-campus program consisting of a professional recruiting team to help students gain hands-on experience during their time at CPP.
Experiences include internships, part-time projects and short-term projects with benefits paid, and even full-time positions after they graduate. According to Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Terri Gomez, 50 students have made appointments within the last two weeks. California Faculty Association President Bonnie Thorne also announced plans for a strike across all California State Universities to take place Feb. 17-20 for unfulfilled wage increases. Levine assured the CSU and CFA continue to bargain in good faith, and campus will remain open and operational during the strike.
Students will continue to face a 6% tuition increase for the 2026-2027 academic year, College of Science senator Bharti Sharma said during the meeting. The multi-year tuition hike was announced in 2023 in attempts to stabilize the CSU budget.
Gomez also announced plans for 29 tenure-track searches for the upcoming academic year, as enrollment is projected to increase. This increase in tenure-track professors will help students get the classes they need and be better supported by professors.
Metrics such as faculty ratios, graduation and retention rates and net tenure gains and losses over the past four hiring cycles were considered when allocating 24 tenure-track searches to colleges, Gomez explained. Five tenure-track searches will be focused on Geographic Information Systems and tech, aligning with one of the categories in the $20 million investment.
Yet, as students face increases in tuition and hear claims of more money invested in the campus, College of Business Administration senator Pam Adams shared concerns about the lack of attention and funding toward rehiring staff after layoffs in 2024. As a student advisor for one of the largest colleges on campus, Adams manages hundreds of students and ensures they graduate on time. She credits the dynamic between faculty and staff for the students’ success, noting the shortage of staff is apparent and felt.
“We need both faculty and staff in order for this university to run,” Adams said.
The Academic Senate also introduced a resolution in memory of academic senator and theater associate professor Brian Newman who died Jan. 8, memorializing his contributions to the theater and new dance department as a mentor and educator in the senate minutes and archives. The Academic Senate extended its condolences to Newman’s family and friends.
Senators elected College of Science senator Nicholas Van Buer to assume Newman’s role in the executive committee.
The academic senators also voted to adopt new names for two liberal studies subplans. General Studies will be renamed Interdisciplinary Studies, and Pre-Credential Teaching will be renamed Elementary Education K-8 Pre-Credential Option.
Lastly, academic senators voted to adopt the program review for the Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in English and the Bachelor of Science in physics, signaling the departments may go ahead with plans for improvements.
Click here to view the full list of discussion topics for the Feb. 4, 2026 Academic Senate meeting.
The next Academic Senate meeting will be held Feb. 25 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Building 98, Pillar 2, Lecture Room 7.
Feature image courtesy of Academic Senate Provost’s Report