A New Vision: President Vanya Quiñones Caps First 100 Days by Unveiling New Initiatives
One hundred days of listening. Conversations with around 2,000 students, employees, alumni and community partners. Attending 40 campus events.
For Cal Poly Pomona President Vanya Quiñones, her first 100 days were about getting to know the university — one conversation, event and selfie at a time.
“I have been inspired by the commitment I have seen across our community to ensure every student can thrive,” she said. “That is our common purpose: helping students achieve their dreams, preparing them for meaningful careers and creating opportunities that strengthen families and communities.”
Building the Future
Quiñones celebrated her first 100 days as president on Oct. 8 with a pep rally-style event in the Kellogg Arena, complete with the Bronco Pep Band. Faculty, staff, students, alumni and community members filled the bleachers to hear her deliver “CPP 2030: Building the University of the Future.” A video of the presentation is also available.
In her speech, she unveiled several initiatives underway, including CPP 2030, an overarching plan focused on student success, affordability, technological improvements and investment in the university’s people.
“By 2030, Cal Poly Pomona will be recognized as the nation’s leading public polytechnic university, creating opportunity, innovation, upward mobility and student success,” Quiñones said. “At the heart of CPP 2030 is a simple but ambitious belief: We do not measure success by the students we admit. We measure success by the leaders they become.”
The centerpiece of CPP 2030 is the Cal Poly Pomona Promise, which builds on the university’s Become by Doing philosophy. It is a pledge that Cal Poly Pomona will work to ensure that every student completes at least one meaningful career-connected experience before graduation, such as a paid internship, an undergraduate research project, a service-learning opportunity or study abroad.
Investing in Opportunity
Also announced was Broncos Covered, an initiative that calls for the university to cover the tuition and fees for approximately 50% of Cal Poly Pomona students, with a goal to expand that coverage to 70% in the next four years.
“The initiative represents a significant investment in our students, their families and the future of California,” Quiñones said. “It reflects our commitment to ensuring that more Broncos can focus on learning, completing their degrees and achieving their dreams without the burden of overwhelming financial barriers.”
Under CPP 2030, the university also will close the current technology gap and “create seamless digital and in-person experiences” for students, faculty and staff – something akin to Amazon’s one-click style of service, she said.
The plan calls for the university to build on the existing framework of the Bronco Student Success Ecosystem to better connect ongoing efforts so that support services are coordinated, proactive and accessible in a way that feels integrated for students.
The CPP 2030 Digital Campus designation calls for the university to invest in digital infrastructure, automation, data-informed decision making and integrated services.
An Emerging Technology Hub will enable students to become not only AI users, but the ethical creators, innovators and leaders in this growing field, she added.
Telling Cal Poly Pomona’s Story
Another key area the university will tackle is growing the Cal Poly Pomona brand. Quiñones said while she appreciates the sentiment, she rejects the idea that the campus is a “hidden gem.”
The university will work to share the Cal Poly Pomona story with a wider audience, increasing visibility, strengthening recruitment efforts and partnerships, and driving philanthropy, advocacy and institutional pride, Quiñones said.
“Our graduates are transforming industries. Our faculty is advancing discovery. Our students are solving real-world challenges,” she said. “Our alumni are leading across California and beyond. Our reputation should reflect our impact. We will tell the story of Cal Poly Pomona with clarity, confidence and most importantly, with pride.”
A Brighter Tomorrow for the Bronco Herd
CPP 2030 also calls for the university to invest in professional growth, leadership development, employee wellbeing, collaboration, recognition and belonging.
Quiñones also announced the CPP 2030 Fund, a series of investments aimed at advancing student success, building a culture of care and amplifying employee impact.
This new fund will leverage dollars from Bright Tomorrow, an initiative born out of a transformative $40 million gift philanthropist MacKenzie Scott gave to the university in 2021. Under the CPP 2030 Fund, Cal Poly Pomona will allocate $3 to $5 million annually from Bright Tomorrow for projects and initiatives the Bronco community believes in and will position the university as the nation’s leading public polytechnic university for opportunity, innovation and student success.
“Funds to turn bold ideas into action. Funds to create new opportunities, remove barriers, strengthen our community and change lives for our students, our employees, and everyone we serve,” Quiñones said. So, I have one challenge for you. Dream big. Dream about what is possible when we pub resources behind the ideas that can transform Cal Poly Pomona.”
Quiñones also set a few other intentions for the university, which include building a deeper culture of care and belonging, improving student support and wellness resources, and making improvements to aging infrastructure, outdated equipment, labs and classrooms.
The university will expand its investment in faculty scholarship and research, strengthen staffing and support for essential functions on campus and find ways to simplify processes and be more responsive to the people Cal Poly Pomona serves.
“As I conclude my first 100 days, I am more optimistic than ever about our future because I have seen both the strength of this community and its willingness to work together to address the challenges ahead of us,” Quiñones said. “My listening and learning will not stop at 100 days. It will guide how I move forward with our community to build CPP’s future together.”
