Cal Poly Pomona student-athletes play sports against other universities using the name Cal Poly Pomona Broncos . However , `` Cal Poly '' has also been used to refer to Cal Poly Pomona , as both itself and California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo , California were one institution spanning two locations from 1938 to 1966 . Cal Poly Pomona 's office of public affairs recommends not to abbreviate the university 's name merely as `` Cal Poly '' .