Resolution Opposing Non-Agricultural Development in All Areas of West Campus

San Luis Obispo, Calif. 06/26/2025 — The ASI Board of Directors recently passed a Resolution Opposing Non-Agricultural Development in All Areas of West Campus. Co-authored by Megan Dixon, Morgan Oliveira, and Garret Gomes, this resolution emphasizes preserving the prime agricultural lands and essential teaching facilities that support the university’s Learn by Doing educational mission. 

The West Campus comprises approximately 808 acres of prime agricultural land including row crops, pastures, and essential facilities such as the J and G Lau Meat Processing Center, the Cal Poly Poultry Center, the Beef Cattle Evaluation Center, the Cal Poly Dairy, and more. These living laboratories are central to student learning and agricultural research across disciplines.  

Board of Directors representative — College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, Morgan Oliveira said, “These lands that the resolution aims to protect, are simply more than just land. These lands are living laboratories, classrooms, job sites, and locations that are sacred to all students that value the “Learn by Doing” motto at Cal Poly. Protecting agricultural lands seems like something that will only impact the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, but this is truly a university-wide concern. These lands not only add to the Cal Poly landscape, but they create a space where students feel they can thrive, learn, and grow, together.” 

As the official voice of Cal Poly Students, the ASI Board of Directors opposes any non-agricultural related development throughout the West Campus lands to preserve the integrity of essential agricultural teaching facilities, protect prime agricultural soils, and maintain the educational functionality of these irreplaceable learning environments. The ASI Board of Directors believes that alternative locations exist on campus that would better serve non-agricultural development needs without creating operational conflicts with existing agricultural teaching facilities. 

Resolutions passed by the ASI Board of Directors certify the voice of students at Cal Poly. If you have an issue you are passionate about, contact a college representative on the Board of Directors to get involved in advocacy on campus. To view the full resolution and learn more, visit the ASI website or contact Catherine Ogden at cjogden@calpoly.edu.  

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