College - Author 1

College of Architecture and Environmental Design

Department - Author 1

Construction Management Department

Degree Name - Author 1

BS in Construction Management

Date

6-2025

Primary Advisor/Subject Matter Expert (SME)

Joseph Cleary, College of Architecture and Environmental Design, Construction Management Department

Abstract/Summary

Skip the Grid is a student-driven, interdisciplinary initiative dedicated to improving access to electricity for families of the Navajo Nation. The project focuses on educational equity by addressing barriers to home study, such as insufficient lighting and energy. These issues stem from the Navajo Nation's remote nature and the families' access to resources. In March of 2025, a group of 24 students and faculty from California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), representing six different educational departments, traveled to Arizona to partner with the Chinle Unified School District in addressing educational equity in the Navajo Nation. The effort allowed students to apply their technical skills in renewable energy and engage with a community facing infrastructure resource challenges. Through Cal Poly's collaboration and commitment to "Learn by Doing," the effort to service 40 families in the Navajo Nation was successful.

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