For many years, Building 43A was home to the Cal Poly College of Science and Mathematics’ Department of Kinesiology. In the Fall of 2018 an inaugural cohort of 45 students became the first to enroll in Cal Poly’s newest undergraduate degree program, the Bachelor of Science in Public Health. The B.S. in Public Health program was the brainchild of Department Chair Dr. Kristine Jankovitz and Kinesiology professor Dr. Suzanne Phelan. The curriculum was adapted from the health promotion concentration within the Kinesiology major and modeled after national standards for higher education in the field of Public Health. The inspiration for the new major ultimately came from both societal need and student interest.

The department was renamed and reorganized to serve both degree programs as the Department of Kinesiology and Public Health. While the University clearly recognizes the Department’s updated name and purpose, many aspects of the Department’s physical and online presence still reflect the outdated name of “Department of Kinesiology”. The most glaring example of this is the signage posted on Building 43A, which the University still recognizes as “43A Kinesiology”. While Kinesiology remains an important and significant part of our Department, the name fails to recognize the hundreds of students that are a part of our University’s Public Health program as well as the hardworking faculty and staff of the Public Health program, whose offices reside in Building 43A.

We, the students, faculty, staff, and supporters of the Department of Kinesiology and Public Health, urge the University to update and replace the signage on Building 43A to reflect both programs that are housed within the Department. We recommend to Cal Poly Administration & Finance and its Department of Facilities Management & Development the appropriate naming of the building be changed to “43A Kinesiology & Public Health” on both the physical signage as well as official Cal Poly maps and directories.