Signature Polytechnic Experience (PolyX)
Signature polytechnic experiences (PolyX) at Cal Poly Pomona promote students’ discovery of the opportunities and challenges within the field and the development of creative and innovative solutions to those conditions. Through collaborative learning and intense mentoring, PolyX engages students beyond the classroom and prepares them for professional and civic success.
## Learning Outcomes for Signature Polytechnic Experience (PolyX): * Develop effective interpersonal and strategic leadership skills with the ability to apply them in a variety of professional and personal settings. * Learn and develop essential competencies to prepare EDGE members, and by extension their teams, to be active participants in CPP’s future ready workforce. * Effectively build meaningful relationships across campus by understanding the importance of empathy, crucial conversations, and overcoming barriers to build trust. * Increase understanding of individual leadership attributes and bring awareness to strengths and opportunities to encourage continuous improvement and leading with authenticity. ## Skills * **Intense Mentorship** - Students have been mentored intensely by faculty, staff, industry mentor, and/or peers. The mentorship was tailored toward the needs of the students and provided an environment for students that supported the issues * **Dissemination Beyond the Classroom** - Projects have been published, presented, or made publicly accessible i.e. oral presentation, publishing of research findings, Setting up public displays, etc. that they faced. * **Creativity, Discovery, and, Innovation** - Projects were original works that may have included: Solving a specific problem, providing insight into new areas of study, and/or creating a specific product to fulfill identifiable needs. * **Diverse and Multidisciplinary Perspectives** - Projects invited and encouraged participation from a variety of disciplines. * **Community and Global Engagement** - Projects engaged with the community in some identifiable way: Specific group or club within a discipline, Subset of Cal Poly Pomona's student, faculty, or staff, Specific non-profit organizations or corporate partners, etc. * **Collaborative Learning** - Projects were primarily student-led efforts as they were responsible for generating topics of study, developing answers, finding resources, setting schedules and deadlines, and asking follow-up questions. * **Critical Thinking and Problem Solving** - Projects allowed for reflection exercises for students to pause and consider what they were learning and how it might have altered their project's focus. The main goal of reflection included heightening students' awareness of PolyX and the skills developed.
Dragos: this is a trial, I wanted to see whether I can create a badge directly form Canvas.
Student demonstrates ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
Completed a Lab Safety Tour with a faculty or technician. The lab safety tour covers all of the potential hazards existing in the space and the protocols for reporting emergencies, handling injuries, managing chemicals, and suppressing fires in the space.
Dean's Leadership Board Career Development Series
Dean's Leadership Board Career Development Series badge image
This badge certifies successful completion of a series of four career development seminars—conducted by members of the Cal Poly Pomona College of Engineering Dean's Leadership Board, including engineering professionals.
## Criteria The badge holder completed the following: 1. Attended four leadership seminars 2. Created and practiced an elevator pitch 3. Created a professionally critiqued resume 4. Created a prospecting letter 5. Practiced salary negotiation skills 6. Responded to post-event surveys ## Framework The professional development series is aligned to Cal Poly Pomona’s Strategic Initiative 3, “Prepare Our Students for the Future of Work, Human & Civic Engagement” with the following two outcomes: 1. Students demonstrate essential skills and competencies that prepare them for a variety of dynamic and rapidly changing professional experiences; 2. Students have sequenced academic and co-curricular experiences supported by coordinated planning among the colleges, academic programs, the Career Center and Alumni Relations.
Communication Challenge - Level 1 badge image
This represents the completion of the Level 1 Communication Challenge. This challenge involves giving oral presentations (both prepared and impromptu) and engaging in simulated job interviews and conflict resolution scenarios.
The recipient of this badge has completed all of the requirements outlined as part of Level 1 of the Communication Challenge experience.
Communication Challenge - Level 2 badge image
This represents the completion of the Level 1 Communication Challenge. This challenge involves giving oral presentations (both prepared and impromptu) and engaging in simulated job interviews and conflict resolution scenarios. The participant also participated in public speaking competitions or reported on actual job interviews and conflict resolution situations where they applied the principles covered.
The recipient completed all the requirements outlined under Level 2 of the Communication Challenge
Teamwork Challenge - Level 1 badge image
The recipient completed the requirements outlined under Level 1 of the Teamwork Challenge
Level 1 Learning Requirements - Complete 3 of the following workshops Team Formation Stages (Tuckman) Teamwork Foundations Team Charter Teamwork Mindset Measuring Team Success Team Roles (Team Fit) Level 1 Artifacts Submit one (1) reflection from participating in one of the above workshops. Submit a written reflection from one (1) teamwork cycle that describes why the team was successful or unsuccessful.
Teamwork Challenge - Level 2 badge image
The recipient completed the requirements outlined under Level 2 of the Teamwork Challenge
Level 2 Learning Requirements Complete the Self-Awareness Challenge Badge Complete the Outward Mindset Module (Arbinger Institute) Complete the Psychological Safety Module Complete five (5) teamwork cycles Level 2 Submissions (Artifacts) Submit five (5) written reflections, one from each teamwork cycle discussing how the team was successful or unsuccessful and what could have been done, on the part of the author, to improve team performance.
Self-Awareness Challenge - Level 1 badge image
The recipient completed all of the requirements listed under level 1 of the Self-Awareness Challenge
Self-awareness is the conscious understanding of one's character, emotions, motivations, and desires, allowing for personal insight and recognition of one's influence on others.
Recipients of this badge must complete the following: ( a ) Complete one (1) personality assessment, ( b ) complete one (1) team role assessment, ( c ) complete a strengths assessment, and ( d ) submit a written reflection on the results of these assessments or deliver an oral presentation covering the results of the assessments. OR (a) Complete one (1) personality, team role, or strengths assessment and (b) complete the personal values exercise which includes a written summer of the personal values, stories and principles worksheet completed. Personality assessment examples: DISC, The Big 5 Personality (OCEAN), Smalley-Trent Personality, HEXACO Personal Inventory, Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), or another approved personality test. Team Role assessment examples: Belbin Team Role, 123Test Team Role, Working Genius, or other approved team role assessment. Strengths assessment examples: Clifton Strengths, VIA Character Strengths assessment, or other approved similar assessment.
Self-Awareness Challenge - Level 2 badge image
The recipient completed all of the requirements listed on the Self-Awareness Challenge page.
Completion of Self-Awareness Level 1 requirements, identify Personal Values list, validate personal values by connecting them to lived experience (personal story), create a list of principles demonstrating how you live your personal values, and identify aspirational values and principles you hope to have in the future. Level 2 Artifact • Submit a written summary of the list of values, personal stories that validate why those values are visible from lived experience and not aspirational, the list of principles you currently live by, and an improvement plan to achieve the list of aspirational values and principles.
Leadership Challenge - Level 1 badge image
This badge represents the completion of the Self-Awareness, Teamwork, and Communication Badges
Participants who receive this badge have completed at least the level 1 badge for Self-Awareness, Teamwork, and Communication.
Leadership Challenge - Level 2 badge image
This badge represents the culmination of completing the Level 2 Communication, Self-Awareness, and Teamwork Challenge badges.
The recipient of this badge has completed the level 2 or higher Communication, Self-Awareness, and Teamwork Challenge badges.
Safety Training for Water Quality Analysis
Safety Training for Water Quality Analysis badge image
Students enrolled in the CE 4201 L-water and wastewater engineering laboratory course complete the online and classroom safety training that prepares them to work in the water quality laboratory. Upon completion of the training they are able to implement safety practices in the laboratory or while working in the field. Students further develop the use of safety practices that will be used in the industry after graduation.
Enrolled the course, complete all the safety training, activities, and quizzes. Demonstrate the use of safety practices while performing water quality testing (Used of appropriate PPE, waste disposal, among others).
Design-Build Innovator: IEX Challenge Participant
Design-Build Innovator: IEX Challenge Participant badge image
The Interdisciplinary Expo (IEX) Badge recognizes students who have actively participated in the Design-build challenge at Cal Poly Pomona. This badge signifies hands-on experience in solving real-world construction and design problems, collaboration across engineering, business, and architectural disciplines, and engagement with industry professionals. Badge holders have demonstrated technical skills, teamwork, and a commitment to the principles of the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA).
Collaboration refers to the process of cooperating with others to accomplish a shared objective, utilizing different viewpoints, abilities, and expertise via open communication and teamwork.
Communication is the process of exchanging thoughts, data, and emotions via speech, writing, and non-verbal cues, promoting comprehension and productive cooperation.
Problem solving refers to the ability to identify, analyze, and creatively resolve issues through systematic and critical thinking, overcoming obstacles to achieve effective solutions.
Presentation skills refer to the capability of conveying information clearly, concisely, and attractively to an audience while keeping them engaged.
Collaborative Networking entails actively building and nurturing relationships for mutual advantage and knowledge sharing among various stakeholders and professionals.
Teamwork entails a collective endeavor of individuals to attain a shared objective, accomplished through effective communication, coordination, and reciprocal support.
Innovation refers to the capability to produce fresh, beneficial concepts and transform them into practical applications or products, enhancing results or opening up new prospects.
Professionalism entails exhibiting integrity, competence, accountability, respect, and ethical principles consistently in one's work, displaying reliability and dedication to superiority.
To earn this badge, participants must actively engage in the IEX Design-Build competition at Cal Poly Pomona. This includes collaborating with team members to develop a solution to a real-world construction challenge, presenting the solution to industry professionals, and receiving feedback from experts. Participation in the networking sessions is also required. Learning Outcomes: Demonstrate the ability to apply design-build principles to solve complex construction challenges. Collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary teams (engineering, business, architecture). Present technical solutions clearly and professionally to industry experts. Gain insight into the construction industry's real-world practices through professional feedback and networking.
Water Quality Testing and Analysis badge image
Badge holder has acquired skills to perform water quality testing, basic data evaluation and provide recommendations related to the water quality of the samples.
Students need to perform **8 different experiments** following environmental engineering testing protocols that follow standards of the professions. Students write reports where the data is analyzed and the quality of the samples analyzed are compared to standards. Students have to provide recommendation for the user of the water source. ## Outcomes - Discuss water quality tests procedures from analytical and non-analytical methods. - Assess and compare measured water quality parameters to standard values established by EPA and other regulatory agencies. - Describe policies related to the quality and discharge of water into natural water bodies. - Evaluate water quality results to make engineering decisions.
The foundation of self-awareness and personal ethics is found in our personal values. This badge recognizes effort to explore, identify and validate personal values and also helps the recipient articulate their personal story which is one pillar of personal identity. This badge contributes progress to the Self-Awareness Challenge and the Ethics Challenge program badges offered through the College of Engineering.
To receive this badge the recipient attended a workshop, or completed an online learning module related to exploring, identifying and validating their personal values. The recipient must submit: - A Reflection on their top three values, one story regarding the formation of that value, and one principle they have adopted by living that value.
Working in teams involves many skills and competencies but there is an emerging foundation that all successful teams have: The ability for members to leverage their preferred roles and build trust. This badge provides an introduction to strength-based team roles and describing the connection between achieving team results and building team trust. We build on knowledge regarding your personal strengths and the role vulnerability plays in building trust. This badge contributes progress toward the Teamwork Challenge badge offered through the College of Engineering.
To receive this badge the recipient attended a workshop, or completed an online learning module related to applying personal strengths (ex. Clifton Strengths or other similar) to identifying preferred team roles, as well as on the five functions of a team (The Table Group) and how vulnerability plays a role in forming team trust. No Artifact is required to receive this badge beyond participation in the workshop or completing the online module.
Through the combination of our strengths, personality, traits, and behaviors, we have certain roles that we like to perform when working on a team. This badge recognizes that the recipient has been made aware of their top or preferred team roles, their less preferred roles, and how others can compliment their roles when working in teams. This badge contributes to the Self-Awareness and Teamwork Challenge badges offered through the College of Engineering.
To receive this badge the recipient attended a workshop, or completed an online learning module related to identifying and validating their top team roles. Some assessments (Belbin, Working Genius) explicitly state their top team roles. Other frameworks (strengths, personality) have team roles as an implicit connection where the recipient is guided on how to make the connections. As part of this reflection recipients must also complete - A personal assessment (Belbin Team Roles, Working Genius, Clifton Strengths, VIA Character Strengths, or similar assessment). - Submit a one-paragraph reflection on why they agree (or disagree) with the results of the assessment as it pertains to their preferred team roles.
Our mindset (Beliefs, Attitudes, Attention, Expectations) has been shown to drive sustainable actions and behaviors. To improve our teamwork approach we need to be more aware of our mindset as we engage working with other in teams. This badge recognizes those who have participated in a workshop designed to help become aware of our teamwork mindsets and how we present ourselves (show up) to working with others in teams. This badge contributes progress to completing the Teamwork and Ethics Challenge badges.
To receive this badge the recipient attended a workshop, or completed an online learning module specifically on describing the outward versus inward mindset and it's impact on how we see others and how we see ourselves. The learning experience also included the role of curiosity and empathy in how we can describe our teamwork mindset.
To receive this badge, the recipient attended a workshop or completed an online learning module specifically about measuring team growth through Amy Edmondson's psychological safety framework. The workshop also includes a guided reflection on how the participant can impact their team's psychological safety.
College of Engineering Caring and Connecting Digital Badge
This badge is designed to facilitate student access to essential resources and support, and to promote academic success in the classroom by enhancing engineering faculty participation in the early alert program. The CPP “Early alert program” (EAP) is designed to identify students that may benefit from outreach and academic support. Faculty collaboration by identifying and reporting students that need support is key for the success of the program. Every semester there are two EAP campaigns, during weeks 2-5 and weeks 8-11. Faculty reports trigger different actions at the student success office.
This badge recognizes faculty who actively participate in the CPP Early Alert Program (EAP) reports. The badge can be awarded every semester. To earn this badge, faculty need to do the following: 1. Identify student(s) in any of their classes who may need support through the Early Alert Program (EAP) and, 2. Complete the progress report for the two EAP campaigns in a single semester.
College of Engineering Caring and Connecting Digital Badge Fall 2025
College of Engineering Caring and Connecting Digital Badge Fall 2025 badge image
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Frameworks
College of Engineering Caring and Connecting Digital Badge Spring 2026
College of Engineering Caring and Connecting Digital Badge Spring 2026 badge image
Awarded for the completion of the Career Coaching Program
Career & Professional Readiness badge image
Completing all challenges for the Engineering Leadership Program
Fundamentals of Cybersecurity badge image
Earners of the Cybersecurity Fundamentals Explorer badge have completed introductory cybersecurity training aligned with foundational Security+ concepts. They can recognize common security terminology, describe core principles of confidentiality, integrity, and availability, identify basic cyber threats, and explain why organizations use controls to protect systems, networks, applications, users, and data.
This badge aligns with foundational concepts from the CompTIA Security+ body of knowledge, including general security concepts, threats, vulnerabilities, mitigations, security architecture, security operations, and security program management.
**To earn the Cybersecurity Fundamentals Explorer badge, learners must complete the introductory, asynchronous cybersecurity training requirements for the College of Engineering’s Cybersecurity Training: Fundamentals of Cybersecurity, aligned with CompTIA Security+ foundational concepts:** - Watch all required cybersecurity training recordings in the asynchronous course/module sequence. - Submit lecture notes documenting key concepts, terminology, and takeaways from the training recordings.
Earners of the Cybersecurity Fundamentals Implementer badge have applied cybersecurity concepts through structured labs, assignments, discussions, assessments, and project work. They can analyze common threats and vulnerabilities, apply basic network and system defense concepts, explain authentication and access control requirements, interpret risk, and recommend appropriate security controls for technical and organizational contexts.
Cybersecurity Fundamentals is a certification that demonstrates foundational understanding of security concepts, risk management, and mitigation strategies for safeguarding digital environments.
Security Awareness refers to the knowledge and alertness of possible risks to digital and physical information, encouraging preventive actions to safeguard against unauthorized access and data breaches.
Threat Detection is the process of identifying and analyzing potential security risks to protect digital and physical assets from cyber attacks in an organizational setting.
Network security is the practice of safeguarding computer systems and data from unauthorized access, attacks, and breaches using various technologies and protocols.
Access Control is the management of regulating and granting permission to users or systems for resource utilization in a computing environment, while preventing unauthorized access.
Cyber security risks refer to the vulnerabilities that expose digital information and systems to unauthorized intrusion, attacks, or breaches, threatening their integrity, confidentiality, and accessibility.
Risk Awareness refers to the capability of recognizing, assessing, and ranking possible dangers within a business environment to minimize and handle risks efficiently.
CompTIA A+ is a foundational IT certification, validating skills in hardware, software, networking, and security, essential for IT support roles and recognized globally by employers.
**To earn the Cybersecurity Fundamentals Implementer badge, learners must enroll in ECE 4309: Fundamentals of Cybersecurity and complete the full course requirements aligned with CompTIA Security+ foundational concepts:** - Watch all required cybersecurity training recordings in the asynchronous course/module sequence. - Submit lecture notes documenting key concepts, terminology, and takeaways from the training recordings. - Complete all required cybersecurity labs and assignments. - Participate in required discussion board activities. - Complete required quizzes, assessments, or exams. - Complete and submit the final project. - Meet the course completion requirements verified through student grades.
Chapter 1 - Start Where You Are badge image
This badge recognizes your commitment to developing self-awareness, evaluating your current life balance, and creating a plan for intentional, incremental personal and professional growth.
Awarded upon successful completion of the "Start Where You Are" and Personal Dashboard assignment.
Chapter 2 - Building a Compass badge image
Recipients have reflected on their workview and lifeview, examined how these perspectives align, and developed a personal compass to guide intentional academic, career, and life decisions.
Awarded to students who successfully complete the Chapter 2 – Building a Compass activities.
Recipients have identified activities that energize and engage them, reflected on how they spend their time, and used these insights to better align their academic, career, and personal pursuits with what brings them purpose and fulfillment.
Awarded to students who successfully complete the Chapter 3 – Wayfinding activities.
Recipients have applied mind mapping techniques to generate new ideas, explored career possibilities based on their interests and strengths, and practiced creative problem-solving to overcome obstacles and expand future opportunities.
Awarded to students who successfully complete the Chapter 3 – Getting Unstuck activities.
Chapter 5 - Designing your Lives badge image
Recipients have developed and evaluated multiple five-year life plans, reflected on the possibilities each presents, and applied design thinking to explore meaningful academic, career, and personal pathways with confidence and intention.
Awarded to students who successfully complete the Chapter 5 – Designing Your Lives activities.
Recipients have tested potential career and life paths through interviews, experiences, and reflection, demonstrating curiosity, initiative, and the ability to make informed decisions through real-world exploration.
Awarded to students who successfully complete the Chapter 6 – Prototyping activities.