Contact: Diego Abeloos  
805-756-5232; dabeloos@calpoly.edu

Program offers four convenient campus locations to access common over-the-counter products

SAN LUIS OBISPO — Cal Poly Campus Health and Wellbeing (CH&W) today launched its medical vending machine program, with the aim of increasing access to over-the-counter products for students and employees.

All told, CH&W launched the program with four medical vending machines that offer a range of products including: allergy, cough and cold medicines; topical and gastrointestinal products; pain and fever relievers; personal hygiene items; sexual and reproductive health products; and more.

Medical Vending Machine Locations

The vending machines accept debit and credit card payment and are located in the following campus facilities:

• Canyon Post Mailroom at Poly Canyon Village; open weekdays noon to 8 p.m. and Saturday 2-6 p.m.
• Pacheco Post Mailroom at yakʔityutyu; open weekdays noon to 8 p.m. and Saturday 2-6 p.m.
• First floor of the Julian A. McPhee University Union (No. 65); offered in partnership with Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) Student Government's University Union Advisory Board. Open weekdays 6 a.m.-midnight, weekends 7 a.m.-midnight.
• First floor study space of Robert E. Kennedy Library; open 24 hours.

“This program is all about increasing access for our campus community,” said CH&W Medical Director Dr. Ricardo Young. “Students and employees lead busy lives and sometimes don’t have the time to head over to the Health Center or visit an off-campus pharmacy to get the items they need. This is especially true for students, who often need access to over-the-counter items at times when our Health Center pharmacy is closed.”

Tina Hadaway-Mellis, assistant vice president for student affairs, health and wellbeing, added that the launch of the program comes on the heels of a successful medical vending machine pilot in partnership with University Housing, which placed a single vending machine in Poly Canyon Village’s (PCV) Aliso residence during the 2024-25 academic year.

“We saw how students in PCV responded positively to having a medical vending machine so close to their on-campus residence,” said Hadaway-Mellis, who added that plans are also underway to establish medical vending machines at Cal Poly Maritime Academy. “That prompted us to further develop, with the support of our Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC), and expand the program for the convenience of the entire campus community.”

After successful implementation of the medical vending machine at PCV and the increasing popularity of machines across college campuses, the University Union Advisory Board (UUAB) approved financial support for implementation and upkeep of a vending machine to be added to the first floor of the University Union. This would provide a convenient location centralized on campus in a highly trafficked facility. The UUAB is a branch of ASI Student Government and recognized how convenient access to these products would make a positive difference in students’ well-being.

UUAB Chair Xander Levine added: “The University Union Advisory Board is proud to support the installation of medical vending machines in the University Union as part of our commitment to student well-being. Partnering with Campus Health and Wellbeing allows us to provide students with convenient, around-the-clock access to essential health resources right in the heart of campus.”

Top photo: The  Julian A. McPhee University Union, located in the heart of the Cal Poly campus, contains a medical vending machine on the first floor study space. It is offered in partnership with Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) Student Government's University Union Advisory Board. The UU is open weekdays 6 a.m. to midnight and weekends 7 a.m. to midnight.

Cal Poly photo