The school remained open in the fall of 1918 even though there was a virulent form of influenza in epidemic proportions. A San Luis Obispo city ordinance in effect for almost a month prohibited on penalty of a $50 fine the appearance of any person in public unless he was wearing a mask over his nose and mouth. The campus was put under military quarantine during November and December. This barred all public entry to the campus, All students had to wear masks when out of their rooms. The school was elosed for the month of January, 1919.
The California Polytechnic School through arrangements with the Federal Board of Vocational Education provided special educational opportunities for several disabled veterans of World War I.
In 1921, the school received its largest appropriation to date, $297,300.
The catalog for 1922 offered the following description of the course, Electric Shop: "The student is first given a practical knowledge of ordinary electrical circuits, such as doorbells, lighting circuits, 3-way switches, various snap switches and methods of wiring a house. In connection with this work, the general laws and principles of electricity and magnetism are explained and problems with them are solved. Underwriter's rules are studied. The use of instruments for live tests, the proper way to make connections, the soldering of joints, and other exercises give the beginner considerable practice with tools, instruments and small machines. Next, a study is made of induction coils, alternating current, the transformer, induction motors for small machines, storage battery tests, and repairs. Methods of testing circuits for trouble, management and operation of generators, motors, and automatic devices, small farm electric plants and small shop equipment.
"The second, third, and fourth years are devoted to intensive practical training along various branches, in fitting the student for the vocation he best fits in the electrical world,"
In 1922, Governor Friend W. Richardson campaigned on the need for a rigid curtailment of government expenditures. Following a "mandate," he cut the 1923 biennial appropriation by 50.1% from $254,000 to $124,500. The faculty was cut by 50%. This left only C. E. Knott, Mechanics, and Dr. G.W. Wilder, Electrical Shop and Drafting to carry on the program.