POLYCULTURAL WEEKEND 2026
(APRIL 9 – 11, 2026)

Mission Statement

PolyCultural Weekend aims to connect admitted students with the cultural community on campus. Our goal is to create an inclusive and welcoming environment where students are able to find their home away from home.

During the weekend, prospective students will explore academic, cultural, and social resources. The weekend experience will help students establish a sense of community, cultivate a feeling of belonging, and gain the confidence to succeed at Cal Poly.

If you have any questions about our program, please contact us at polycultural@calpoly.edu for more information!

Registration for PolyCultural Weekend 2026!

Coming Soon!

Important Information for PolyCultural Weekend Attendees (Hostees)

• Minors (Under 18 as of April 4, 2025): Required forms must be completed prior to the program. Instructions will be provided in the invitation.
• Student Hosts & Safety Measures: Attendees will stay with trained Cal Poly student Hosts in on-campus residence halls. Hosts complete interviews, training, and background checks.
• Transportation from Los Angeles & San Francisco:
  • Free transportation via SLO Safe Ride is available for students in these regions.
  • Participants must arrive and depart using this same transportation unless approved for parent pickup.
  • Bus itineraries will be sent by March 2026.
• Transportation from Other Areas:
  • Family or guardians may drop off and pick up students.
  • Supporters will not be permitted inside program buildings.
  • Drop-off/pick-up will take place at the Performing Arts Center (PAC Loop).
    • Directions: 1 Grand Avenue, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407 — View Map

Important Information for Families (Parents & Supporters)

Coming Soon! 

We look forward to welcoming you to PolyCultural Weekend!

PolyCultural Weekend Coordinators

Sutharsana Karthikeyan

Operations Coordinator – PolyCultural Weekend

My name is Sutharsana Karthikeyan and I am a 3rd-year Civil Engineering major with a minor in Real Property Development. This is my second year working with SDAB as the PCW Operations Coordinator! I joined SDAB because the MCC was a place where I met many new people from different backgrounds. I got to share my story and hear the stories of others. I not only felt comfort in my identity but took pride in it. Working for SDAB, I hope to continue to create a home for people of differing backgrounds to find pride in their stories!

Paige Blankenship

Connections Coordinator – PolyCultural Weekend

I'm Paige Blankenship, a second-year double majoring in Philosophy and Comparative Ethnic Studies. SDAB was instrumental in helping me find comfort on Cal Poly's campus. From being brought into Cal Poly under the wings of CORE and CCE, to hanging out in the Black Academic Excellence Center and volunteering on PCW's Committee, working for SDAB was a no-brainer for me! During my time with the MCC/PCW, I aim to increase the visibility of Black students and queer students of color on campus. We are a small but mighty minority, and while we tend to reference Kimberlé Crenshaw's "intersectionality" in passing, we can't forget that it's an action. We should learn from the people, for the people, through engagement with diverse communities.

Celina Aaliyah James

Entertainment Coordinator – PolyCultural Weekend

Hello! I am a third-year Public Health major with a concentration in Community and Public Health. What brought me to SDAB is a desire to help build a campus community where every student feels seen and supported, especially in a not-so-diverse environment. Student belonging to me means more than being included, but also feeling confident in the environment they are in to have the opportunity to be academically successful. By being part of PCW, I hope to allow for new incoming students to join the community and find people they belong to. I think college is generally a scary and new concept. I hope in any way I can help allow the new incoming class to feel less scared and find more community in a place that may not reflect their home and instead create a new home.

Moriah Riggs

Hospitality Coordinator – PolyCultural Weekend

Hello! I am a third-year student pursuing Business Administration with a focus on HR Management and Ethnic Studies. Choosing Cal Poly was one of my best decisions; however, taking that leap felt daunting, as a first-generation college student committing to a Predominantly White Institution far from home. The robust sense of community and support extended by Student Diversity and Belonging (SDAB) staff and spaces truly catalyzed my acclimation and success since Day 1. Transforming into a highly involved student leader, I joined the MultiCultural Center to serve as the Hospitality Coordinator for PolyCultural Weekend (PCW) – utilizing my background in event planning and customer service to support these invaluable, transformative initiatives.