Campus News

What began as an educational journey has grown into a story of personal and academic empowerment for one Cal Poly Humboldt student, Stephanie Murillo. Behind Murillo’s transformational experience is the University’s Excelling & Living Independently Through Education (ELITE) Scholars Program, which helps former foster youth like Murillo succeed in higher education and beyond.

For many people, a traffic stop or roadside encounter can be stressful. But for those who experience communication differences, neurodivergence, or disabilities such as autism, epilepsy, or hearing loss, those moments can be especially overwhelming.

A new report from the Schatz Energy Research Center at Cal Poly Humboldt examines the entwined history of energy development and timber production in Humboldt County—and looks at how transmission system expansion for offshore wind could empower greater energy access on the North Coast.

Cal Poly Humboldt’s College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences (CAHSS) launches its new My Best Lecture series, a showcase of compelling talks that University faculty have always wanted to give. 

Since 2011, Cal Poly Humboldt secured more than $1 billion in external funding, advancing breakthroughs in gene therapy, clean energy, climate science, community health, the arts, and student success programs while providing students hands-on opportunities to shape the future. 

Cal Poly Humboldt’s role in shaping a new statewide college access initiative was highlighted as Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 640 into law, formally expanding the California State University (CSU) Direct Admissions Program to school districts across the state.

When The New York Times published its story, “The Hunt for a 316-Year-Old Stradivarius Stolen in the Fog of War,” one of the central figures behind the discovery was Cal Poly Humboldt alum Carla Shapreau (‘83, Special Major).

Cal Poly Humboldt will welcome hundreds of prospective students and their families to the annual Fall Preview on Friday, Oct. 24.

This year’s Lumberjack Weekend brought a funkadelic burst of music, pride, and community spirit to Cal Poly Humboldt from October 2–5. 

Cal Poly Humboldt will celebrate the 27th Annual Campus & Community Dialogue on Race (CDOR), an annual event that brings together students, faculty, staff, and community members to explore issues of racial justice and systemic inequity from Monday, Oct. 20, to Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.

Cal Poly Humboldt is hosting the 2025 Indigenous Peoples Week (IPW) from Saturday, Oct. 11, to Friday, Oct. 17. Events are free and open to the public.

At 4:30 a.m., before the first rays of sun reach the waters surrounding the Galápagos Islands, trillions of phytoplankton drift in the dark, waiting for the light of dawn to trigger photosynthesis—the process that releases oxygen and energy into the ocean and the marine food web.

Cal Poly Humboldt has been recognized with multiple high rankings in U.S. News & World Report's prestigious 2026 Best Colleges rankings, highlighting its commitment to academic excellence and student success.

Get ready for an unforgettable, groovy weekend at Cal Poly Humboldt’s annual Lumberjack Weekend 2025. From Thursday, Oct.  2, to Sunday, Oct. 5, the campus will come alive with live music, carnival games, food trucks, and family-friendly activities. 

Cal Poly Humboldt is strengthening its commitment to accessibility through a coordinated effort to improve pathways, policies, and resources.

During an expedition to the Peruvian Andes in 2018, a team of researchers exploring Abiseo River National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, made an extraordinary discovery: a previously undocumented species of marsupial.

Transition is in the air—not just seasonal, but deeply transformative. With Richard Carvajal set to take the helm of Cal Poly Humboldt, Interim President Michael Spagna reflects and prepares to step aside at the end of the fall semester. At this pivotal chapter for the University, Spagna leaves behind a legacy of renewal, grounded in collaboration and an unwavering focus on students.

Cal Poly Humboldt’s publication, Humboldt Magazine, is entering a new era. The Fall 2025 edition marks the magazine’s first fully digital release, offering readers an immersive experience with expanded photo galleries, behind-the-scenes video, and interactive storytelling.

To support the future workforce needs of law enforcement, Cal Poly Humboldt and College of the Redwoods are creating an academic pathway program that advances careers while fostering community-centered policing.

In a muddy ditch draining into Baduwa’t (Mad River), a flicker of silver darted beneath the surface. 

Cal Poly Humboldt is taking a leading role in advancing global research infrastructure, leveraging its unique position on California’s North Coast to connect researchers across the Pacific Rim. 

The California State University (CSU) Board of Trustees has appointed Richard A. Carvajal as president of California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt.

A proud mother of six and a Social Work major at Cal Poly Humboldt, Veronica Zaragoza has faced the challenges of balancing parenthood, education, and community advocacy with resilience and determination.

Cal Poly Humboldt alumni and staff are at the heart of “Rooted in Place: California Native Art,” a groundbreaking new exhibition at the de Young Museum in San Francisco that highlights Northern California’s Indigenous artists. From the beaded chair of Hupa artist and Reese Bullen and Goudi’ni Gallery Director Brittany Britton (’12, Art) to works by the late Karuk painter Brian D. Tripp (’86, Art) and others, the show underscores the lasting impact of Native art.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the scale of the climate crisis. But what if our collective despair isn’t the end of the story, but the beginning of a different kind of power?