Diversity & Inclusion

Office of University Diversity and Inclusion

Inclusive Excellence 2022

It's Inclusive Excellence Month! Check out our calendar of upcoming events.

Full list of Inclusive Excellence Month events (May 2022)

CLICK HERE to download/share our May 2022 calendar as a PDF

 
DATE EVENT DETAILS
May 1

LA PERLA FILM SHOWING WITH LATINO OUTREACH COUNCIL

OUDI is hosting a special film in Spanish with the SLO International Film Festival to recognize CP Alum, Pedro Armendáriz.

3:00pm-5:00pm | The Fremont

May 5

NATIONAL MISSING & MURDERED INDIGENOUS PERSONS AWARENESS DAY

NAICC is hosting a series of programs as part of National Missing & Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day.

VARIOUS | linktr.ee/calpolynaicc

May 6

DREAM CENTER MIGRATION CELEBRATION

Join the Dream Center for food, live music, and games In celebration of

our Immigrant community.

5:30pm-6:30pm | UU Plaza

May 9

TRANSFER ALUMNI PANEL

The Transfer Center & Career Services host a panel of recent transfer alum discussing career transition post-Cal Poly.

4:10pm-5pm | bit.ly/cpslotransfer

May 9

FINANCIAL WELLNESS: SUMMER SAVINGS

Join Food Pantry & Basic Needs to learn budgeting best practices.

4:10pm | basicneeds.calpoly.edu/financial-resources

May 10

MUJERES EMPODERADAS IN AGRICULTURE

Cal Poly Latinos In Ag, Latinx Initiatives, and CAFES host Mily Treviño-Sauceda

of Alianza Nacional de Campesinas.

5:30pm-6:30pm | ATL

May 12

HOW COMMUNICATION PROCESSES ADDRESS INEQUITY & MARGINALIZATION

Dr. Kristina Scharp (University of Washington) will discuss how the communicative processes of remaking, resistance, and resilience can help people better disrupt and manage inequities.

4:10pm-5:00pm | ATL

May 12

RUBY IBARRA IN CONCERT

Filipinx American rapper, music producer, and spoken word artist in concert. Hosted by PCE & Ethnic Studies & OUDI.

5:45pm-7:00pm | UU Plaza

May 13

DISABILITY ALLYSHIP SERIES

A series of events in celebration of Global Accessibility Awareness Day to create a more accessible and inclusive Cal Poly.

VARIOUS | accessibility.calpoly.edu

May 13

SOCIAL MEDIA ACTIVISM, TRANSNATIONAL FEMINIST PAIN, AND THE NEOLIBERAL SELFIE

Guest lecture by Dr. L. Ayu Saraswati, Associate Professor of Women's Studies at the University of Hawai'i.

10:10AM | Contact eadan@calpoly.edu for more details.

May 13

CENG DAY OF JEDI

The inaugural College of Engineering day of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion: growing, learning, and celebrating together!

9:00am-4:30pm | REGISTER

May 16

THE AUNTIE SEWING SQUAD GUIDE TO MASK MAKING, RADICAL CARE, AND RACIAL JUSTICE

As the pandemic unfolded, hate crimes against Asian Americans spiked. A team of mostly Asian American women using the familial label "Auntie" formed online, gathered momentum, and sewed masks at home by the thousands. First 50 attendees receive a book!

12:00pm-1:00pm | LIBRARY ATRIUM

May 16

LEAD AWARDS CEREMONY

Celebrate the outstanding efforts on our campus to promote leadership and engagement.

5:00pm-7:00pm | MAC | bit.ly/lead-awards

May 18

STATE OF APIDA

Don't miss this virtual panel amplifying the voices and lived experiences of Cal Poly's APIDA community!

6:00pm-7:30pm | bit.ly/stateofAPIDA

May 19

PRESIDENT'S DIVERSITY AWARDS

Celebrate members of the Cal Poly community who have exhibited commitment to DEI on our campus.

11:00am-12:30pm | PAC Courtyard

May 20

INCLUSION & EQUITY IN THE STATISTICS CLASSROOM

Learn pedagogical strategies that attend to problems of social inequality in the statistics classroom.

11:10am-12:00pm | Bldg 180, Rm 101

May 20

SWS FEMINIST LECTURER OF THE YEAR

Guest lecture by Dr. Angela Hattery on intimate partner violence, violence against women, and the impacts of structural inequities.

11:10AM | Contact eadan@calpoly.edu for more details.

May 20

APIDA FSA Lunch & Learn: APIDA Students on TV

Join Jacob Campbell for a virtual discussion around research-in-progress exploring multiracial college narratives on American television.

12:00pm-1:00pm | REGISTER: bit.ly/APIDAonTV

May 20

SOCIAL JUSTICE EDUCATION CONFERENCE

Join CCC-USS & Cal Poly's School of Ed. for this hybrid conference focused on our collective work to challenge oppression.

10:00am-2:30pm | ccc-uss.org

May 20

Arab/SWANA American studies in education

A panel discussion on challenges facing critical Arab/SWANA American Studies in Ethnic Studies programs (K-12 & university.)

5:00pm | Location TBD

May 20

SLO PRIDEFEST 2022

You won't want to miss this weekend-long celebration of all things PRIDE on

the Central Coast (May 20-22).

VARIOUS | slopride.com

May 21

STUDENTS OF COLOR SUMMIT

The theme of the Multicultural Center’s annual student-led conference is Metamorphosis: Promoting Change.

multicultural.calpoly.edu/socs

May 26

RACIAL HEALING WITH DR. ANNELIESE SINGH

Learn racial healing strategies that students can practice in the aim of collective racial justice and liberation.

11:00am-12:00pm | bit.ly/dr-singh

May 26

RACE, EMPIRE & REVOLUTION IN THE BORDERLANDS

Hear the dramatic story of the Magónistas from UCLA Professor, Dr. Kelly Lytle Hernández. Hosted by CLA & Ethnic Studies.

6:00pm-7:00pm | Philips Hall (6-124)

 

Inclusive Excellence

Making Cal Poly Excellent Through Diversity and Inclusion Cal Poly strives for Inclusive Excellence, the idea that in order to be excellent, an institution is constantly evolving toward becoming more diverse, equitable and inclusive. The university recognizes and celebrates the value of the different viewpoints, knowledge, cultures and skills that diverse communities bring to the educational experience. Inclusive Excellence is the engine that drives diversity and inclusion efforts at Cal Poly. The Inclusive Excellence model is built on the following principles:

  • In higher education, an excellent institution is an inclusive institution.
  • All students should have the opportunity to succeed.
  • All students should benefit educationally from participating in a community where people differ from one another.
  • In order to be successful community members, graduates must be prepared to live and work in a diverse world.
  • An inclusive community is characterized by mutual respect, a sense of belonging, and personal safety.

Consistent with Cal Poly’s Learn by Doing philosophy, we believe that all of our students will best develop these abilities by living and learning in a diverse and inclusive environment. Ultimately, the goal is that our campus — students, faculty and staff — should reflect the diversity of California. For that to be possible, everyone must rightly believe that they are welcome at Cal Poly because they feel welcome in an inclusive community.

Foundations of Our Work

Cal Poly is continually exploring how to expand its efforts to further create an inclusive campus — one where all campus community members feel they are welcome and belong. In 2018, the Office of University Diversity and Inclusion created a summary of Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives to help the campus community understand the valuable progress happening and underscore how the entire campus community is responsible for diversity and inclusion work.

Cal Poly strives for Inclusive Excellence, when excellence and diversity efforts are intertwined. To achieve Inclusive Excellence, the university is focusing on three core directives: to recruit and maintain a more diverse student body, faculty and staff; to foster a welcoming campus community; and to continue weaving diversity, equity and inclusion into the curriculum and co-curriculum. The efforts highlighted further the university’s commitment to recruit a diverse pool of prospective students, nurturing organizations and clubs to foster a sense of belonging, offering support and mentoring to enhance student experiences, providing opportunities for education and dialogue and preparing graduates for success in a diverse and global market.

These three focus areas are evident in the Cal Poly Strategic Plan. Interwoven throughout the plan is the university’s commitment to Inclusive Excellence, and its Strategic Priority 3: Enrich the Campus Culture of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion demonstrates Cal Poly’s focus. Below are listed each of the Strategic Plan’s four goals related to Strategic Priority 3, along with examples of what the university is doing to achieve them.


Goal 3A: Create an Aligned and Cohesive Focus on Diversity and Inclusion Across the University

What We’ve Done:

Built a Comprehensive Network of Diversity and Inclusion Leaders Across Campus

Cal Poly has invested in creating infrastructure, key roles and support across the university to advance diversity and inclusion work.

Collective Impact

The collective impact model is a nationally-recognized strategy for aligning and directing groups and organizations to create social change. Cal Poly adopted a collective impact model in 2017, and brought together students, faculty, and staff to participate in three strategy groups focused on: (1) Campus Climate; (2) Curriculum, and; (3) Recruitment, and Retention. These groups identified strategies and goals for advancing Cal Poly’s diversity, equity, and inclusion goals, and became the foundation for Cal Poly’s 2019-2024 Strategic Plan priority three, to “enrich the campus culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion,” as well as the university’s WASC re-accreditation self-study thematic pathway Promoting the Success of All Cal Poly Students While Achieving the Goals of the CSU’s Graduation Initiative 2025.

Cluster Hire Initiative

The Cal Poly Faculty Cluster Hire initiative responds to the university’s values of diversity, equity, and inclusion in teaching and scholarship, and our commitment to advancing faculty diversity. In 2017 the College of Liberal Arts implemented the university’s first cluster hire initiative, resulting in the hire of seven assistant professors across the college. Building on the success of the CLA initiative, the university-wide cluster hire program was awarded $150,000 from the CSU Chancellor’s Office, and hired 16 new tenure-track faculty across five colleges. Each new faculty member demonstrates a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion expertise in their teaching, research, service, advising, mentoring, and community building experience and future agendas. Click here to learn more about the Cal Poly Cluster Hire initiative.

Leadership in Each of Cal Poly’s Six Colleges

Over the past several years, each of Cal Poly’s six colleges have appointed either an Associate Dean or Faculty Fellow to focus on their college’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

  • Dr. Jennifer Teramoto-Pedrotti, Associate Dean for Diversity and Curriculum, College of Liberal Arts
  • Dr. Eric Mehiel, Associate Dean for Diversity and Student Success, College of Engineering
  • Dr. Camille O’Bryant, Associate Dean for Student Success, College of Science and Mathematics
  • Dr. Mark Cabrinha, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College of Architecture and Environmental Design
  • Dr. Catherine Kleier, Associate Dean, Student Success, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and Dr. Ann De Lay, Faculty Fellow, College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Science
  • Dr. Ahmed Dief, Faculty Fellow, Orfalea College of Business

In addition to appointing leaders to focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion, several colleges have developed diversity committees to provide direction and advice to college leadership.

 

Diversity Partners Meetings

The Office of University Diversity and Inclusion hosts regular meetings with campus partners to help create alignment around diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts around the university. These meetings provide OUDI and our partners with an opportunity to hear what others are doing, to raise issues, ask and answer questions, and to facilitate collaboration.

Inclusive Excellence Council

The Inclusive Excellence Council (IEC) was established in March 2009, and was designed to generate recommendations and advise the President on issues pertaining to Cal Poly’s Inclusive Excellence efforts and initiatives. The IEC is designed to help establish, evaluate, and monitor goals and objectives; develop, review, and coordinate campus-wide policies, plans, and practices related to Inclusive Excellence; and to collaborate with relevant campus offices and officials to communicate the university’s progress in achieving its goals and objectives. The council is comprised of students, faculty, staff, and administrators appointed by various campus leaders and representative bodies. Click here to learn more about the IEC.


Goal 3B: Create and Sustain a More Diverse, Equitable and Inclusive University Community that Reflects and Serves the Diverse People of California

What We’ve Done:

Remove Barriers so Students from Underrepresented Backgrounds Accept Cal Poly’s Offer to Attend at a Higher Rate

Consistent, coordinated outreach to the broader community ensures that prospective students from underrepresented backgrounds continue to apply to Cal Poly. The outreach empowers a broad pool of qualified candidates that closely reflects the demographics of the state of California to see themselves as Cal Poly students.

  • Upward Bound provides fundamental support to local low-income, first-generation college bound high school students through after school mentoring, academic advising, educational field trips and summer residential programs on campus.
  • PolyCultural Weekend is designed to acquaint prospective students to Cal Poly by exploring its academic, cultural and social resources. The immersive weekend on campus aims to establish a sense of community, a sense of belonging, and provides students with the skills to succeed at Cal Poly.

Offering Financial Aid to Students with the Highest Need

The university has embarked on a transformational plan to provide financial aid to low-income and first-generation California students to increase access to Cal Poly for academically excellent students who cannot afford to attend.

 

Cal Poly Opportunity Fee

The Cal Poly Opportunity Fee (CPOF) was announced at the beginning of the 2018-2019 academic year, is designed to increase access to a Cal Poly education for academically well-qualified first-generation and low-income students from California. An advisory committee comprised of students, faculty, and staff advises the President on funding allocations. The program allocates most of its funding to support the Cal Poly Scholars program, with the remainder funding student support, advising, and the hiring of additional tenure-track faculty. Click here to learn more about the Cal Poly Opportunity Fee, including the Fee’s background, and a news release announcing the program.

Cal Poly Scholars

The Cal Poly Scholars Program is an innovative program designed to assist high-achieving, incoming first year and transfer students from California with the greatest financial need. In additional to financial support, scholars are included in a network of support, advising, and academic, personal, and professional development and workshop opportunities, and a dedicated first- and second-year residential learning community. The Cal Poly Scholars program is supported by the Cal Poly Opportunity Fee, private gift support, and by each of Cal Poly’s six colleges. Click here to learn more about the Cal Poly Scholars Program.

Eliminating Early Decision

In 2017, Cal Poly eliminated “Early Decision” admissions after discovering the process disadvantaged low-income students because they would not know the full extent of their financial aid prior to making a commitment. That decision resulted in the most diverse incoming class in the university’s history. In 2011, the campus was 63 percent Caucasian; in fall of 2017, it was less than 55 percent. The percentage of students identifying as Hispanic/Latino and Asian-American increased to 16.7 percent and 12.7 percent, respectively.


Goal 3C: Prepare all Students for Their Future Through an Education That Includes Diversity Learning and Reflects the Principles of Inclusive Excellence

What We’ve Done:

Cal Poly has embedded diversity, equity, and inclusion into its core curriculum so that our curriculum better represents and serves people from underrepresented groups, and so that all Cal Poly students may better understand the rich diversity of our state, nation, and world. 
 

United States Cultural Pluralism Requirement (USCP)

In 1992, the Academic Senate passed a resolution requiring Cal Poly students to take at least one course addressing: 1. One or more diverse groups, as defined in the Cal Poly Statement on Diversity, whose contributions to contemporary American society have been impeded by cultural conflict or restricted opportunities; 2. Contemporary social issues resulting from conflict or restricted opportunities, including, but not limited to, problems associated with discrimination based on age, ethnicity, gender, nationality, abilities, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or race; 3. Critical thinking skills used by students to approach these contemporary social issues, examine their own attitudes, and consider the diverse perspectives of others; 4. The contributions of people from diverse groups to contemporary American society. In addition to satisfying each of these criteria, USCP courses must address the university’s Diversity Learning Objectives. Click here to learn more about the USCP requirement.

Diversity Learning Objectives

In 2008, the Academic Senate passed a resolution expanding Cal Poly’s University Learning Objectives (ULOs) – a set of broadly shared educational expectations for all Cal Poly students – to include Diversity Learning Objectives (DLOs). During summer 2019, the Academic Senate expanded the existing DLOs created in 2008 to state: All Cal Poly graduates should be able to:

  1. Recognize and understand the contributions to knowledge and civilization that have been made by members of diverse cultural and gender groups and other historically marginalized people in the United States and across the world;
  2. Understand the history of issues related to diversity, social and economic inequities, and political power in the United States and across the world;
  3. Analyze the current social, political, artistic, and/or economic lives of historically marginalized people in the United States and across the world;
  4. Analyze the various institutions and structures that create and maintain social, economic, and political inequality in the United States and across the world; and, identify those that offer redress for these issues;
  5. Define and describe the various issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in their respective disciplines;
  6. Critically examine their own personal beliefs, attitudes, and biases about historically marginalized people and cultures in the United States and across the world.

Click here to learn more about Diversity Learning Objectives.

Provided Mentoring Programs for Students from Underserved Populations

Numerous mentoring programs across campus support students’ academic, personal and professional growth. The programs empower students to complete their Cal Poly education, connect them with resources and build community.

BEACoN Mentoring Program

BEACoN stands for Believe, Educate and Empower, Advocate, Collaborate, and Nurture, and was established as a mentoring program for Cal Poly students from underrepresented and underserved backgrounds. The BEACoN mentoring program began in 2014 and in recent years has matched over 100 students with faculty mentors each year. Beginning in 2017, BEACoN expanded to include a research mentoring component, and has matched 80 students with faculty mentors from every college to engage in research projects. In addition to their mentoring relationships, students and faculty taking part in the program also engage in professional development workshops on a wide array of topics, including StrengthsFinder, research and study skills, and other workshops designed to enhance student success. Click here to learn more about the BEACoN mentoring program.

Additional Mentoring and Professional Development Opportunities

Cal Poly features a wealth of other mentoring and personal and professional professional development opportunities for students from underrepresented and underserved backgrounds, including:


Goal 3D: Further Develop a Campus Climate That Reflects the Values of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion as Well as Free Inquiry and Mutual Respect

What We’ve Done:

Conducted a Campus Climate Assessment and Develop Associated Action Plan

The Cal Poly Experience — known as CPX — collected essential data on the lived experiences of campus community members to accelerate Cal Poly’s work to become more inclusive. • The initiative centered around campus dialogues, a CPX Survey for students, faculty and staff, an external review of our campus diversity and inclusion infrastructure, and integrated diversity and inclusion workshops, professional development and training programs.

Cal Poly Experience (CPX) Initiative

The Cal Poly Experience (CPX) Initiative began in 2019 and was designed to help Cal Poly better understand the lived experiences of its students, faculty, and staff and to help generate recommendations and plans for creating a more inclusive campus. Beginning in early 2019, Cal Poly partnered with Dr. Damon A. Williams, a nationally-recognized higher education diversity, equity, and inclusion expert to design and carry out a comprehensive, two-phase campus climate study and education program. The study component of the initiative began with listening sessions which captured the stories of over 500 Cal Poly community members. During the 2019 spring quarter, a campus-wide survey was administered, garnering responses from 41% of students and 60% of faculty and staff.

The second phase of the CPX Initiative began in October 2019 with the campus-wide release of the CPX study results and recommendations during the Strategic Diversity Leadership Institute (SDLI). In addition to unveiling the results of the CPX study to the campus, SDLI presented a two-day series of workshops and presentations by nationally-renowned experts on campus diversity initiatives, and was attended by hundreds of Cal Poly students, faculty, and staff. In November 2019 and January 2020, the Office of University Diversity and Inclusion led two campus-wide dialogues around the CPX survey results and recommendations made by Dr. Williams and his team, followed by a series of webinars led by a number of distinguished speakers on topics such as LGBTQIA+ communities, research on Latinx and Asian American student experiences, microaggressions, and recruiting and retaining faculty from diverse backgrounds. Click here to learn more about the CPX Initiative’s milestones.

Inclusive Excellence Action Planning (IEAP)

Following the completion of the CPX study and the release of its findings in October 2019, the campus began the process of developing Inclusive Excellence Action Plans (IEAP). IEAPs are intended to capture the diversity, equity, and inclusion goals of key campus units, and help to facilitate documentation, data collection, and reporting of Cal Poly’s progress in achieving the aims laid out in Strategic Priority 3 of the campus Strategic Plan, and the campus’ reaccreditation self-study. Sixteen units were identified to develop IEAPs and to receive one-on-one coaching provided by consultants working with Dr. Damon Williams who completed the CPX study, and have been working with OUDI to develop plans for their units. IEAPs are slated to be completed by the end of the summer 2020, and unveiled to the campus during the fall 2020 quarter. 

Bias Incident Response Team (BIRT)

The Bias Incident Response Team is designed to collect and analyze information about bias incidents, refer alleged incidents to relevant campus administrators, and to offer support and other resources. In addition to their responsibilities referring reports to relevant campus officials, the team is also tasked with identifying trends and offering advice to university leadership to address community concerns. Click here to learn more about BIRT, or to make a report.

Creating and Sustaining Programs, Clubs and Organizations to Foster Inclusion and a Sense of Community

Numerous programs, organizations and clubs are available at Cal Poly for campus members to form community and to support academic, personal and professional growth. These spaces aim to foster inclusion and a sense of belonging for all members of the campus community, particularly students.

  • The Black Academic Excellence Center (BAEC) has grown from providing purely academic resources to serving as a social hub for the Black community as well as a connection to identity and culture on campus. In 2020, BAEC became part of Student Diversity and Belonging in the Division of Student Affairs.
  • Kennedy Library created a dedicated space for meditation, prayer and relief from sensory overload to serve the campus community.
  • The MultiCultural Center opened an expanded space in the University Union in 2019 to better support students.
  • The Veterans Success Center celebrated its sixth year on campus serving veterans and veteran-dependent students.
  • Cal Poly re-established the Interfaith Campus Council to better serve students.

Support for Commencement Celebrations

For the past two academic years, the Office of University Diversity and Inclusion has provided Cal Poly’s Commencement Office with funding to support multicultural commencement celebrations. Each year the university hosts seven cultural commencement celebrations, including the American Indian and Indigenous Commencement, Asian Pacific Islander Commencement, Black Commencement, Chicanx/Latinx Commencement, Disability Resource Center Commencement, Lavender Commencement, Southwest Asian and North African Commencement.

Support for FSAs

For the past two academic years, the Office of University Diversity and Inclusion has provided Cal Poly’s Commencement Office with funding to support multicultural commencement celebrations. Each year the university hosts seven cultural commencement celebrations, including the American Indian and Indigenous Commencement, Asian Pacific Islander Commencement, Black Commencement, Chicanx/Latinx Commencement, Disability Resource Center Commencement, Lavender Commencement, Southwest Asian and North African Commencement.

President’s Diversity Awards

Since 1997, Cal Poly has honored students, staff, faculty, and campus clubs and organizations that have made a difference in creating a more inclusive Cal Poly community. Each spring, nominations are solicited from the campus, and finalists are selected by a committee and awardees approved by President Armstrong.

Equity Enrichment Funding Program

Since 2014, the Office of University Diversity and Inclusion has offered a program for campus entities to request funding to support diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and events on campus. Over the past six years, the program has sponsored events put on by Faculty Staff Associations, many student clubs and organizations, and several academic departments. This past year, the Equity Enrichment Fund provided support for eight events and guest speakers, including a presentation by Dr. Mitchell T. Maki on the U.S. governments’ reparations payments to Japanese Americans who were forced into internment camps during World War II, a dance performance and moderated discussion with Jay Carlon on the Filipino American experience, and a keynote address by Dr. Kemba Marshall for the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Science’s Aspire to Grow conference. Click here to learn more about the Equity Enrichment Fund.

Teach-In and Teach-On

Starting 2016, the annual Inclusion Starts with Me Teach In event has been a highlight of Cal Poly’s calendar. Each February for the past four years, the College of Liberal Arts has coordinated a day-long series of presentations, workshops, and speakers in collaboration with other campus units, students, faculty, and staff who have presented workshops and talks on a variety of topics related to diversity, equity, and social justice. In addition to workshops, the Teach In events have also featured keynote talks given by scholars like Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor in 2019.

In 2020, Anna Ríos-Rojas gave the Susan Currier Memorial Lecture as part of her visiting professorship in the Department of Gender and Women’s Studies. In spring 2020, the College of Liberal Arts sponsored a follow-up event to the Teach-In called the Teach-On, addressing issues related to equity and justice issues raised by the coronavirus pandemic. This five-week long series of talks culminated in a keynote address by Dr. Ruha Benjamin.

State of Events

For the past several years, Student Diversity and Belonging, formerly the Cross Cultural Centers, has sponsored a series of campus-wide panel discussions to surface issues related to the experiences of students, faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds called the State of events. These events are designed to present data, first-hand accounts, and spark discussion and action around creating a more inclusive Cal Poly. During the 2019-2020 academic year, the State of events addressed issues such as the state of diversity at Cal Poly, as well as Latinx, indigenous, Black and Southwest Asian and North African communities on campus.

Investment in DEI

In December 2019, Cal Poly announced a $950,000 investment in campus diversity initiatives. These investments responded to the areas of focus identified by the Collective Impact process and recommendations that arose from the CPX initiative. Among the investments announced include:

  • $450,000 in additional funding to support the establishment of a Latinx Center, enhance programming in the Cross Cultural Centers; create additional programming for the Black Academic Excellence Center, and to provide additional support for the Dream Center and culturally based student groups.
  • Enhanced funding for CORE pre-WOW campus, PolyCultural Weekend, and the Men of Color Program.
  • An additional $115,000 was allocated to the Disability Resource Center to hire a new Access Specialist.
  • $50,000 was allocated the BEACoN Mentoring Program to fund additional student matches.
  • An investment of $50,000 to establish a campus-wide speakers program to provide opportunities for the campus to engage in critical conversations around diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Implementing Additional Training Programs and Learning Opportunities Across Campus

Everyone at Cal Poly has access to educational resources focused on diversity and inclusion with a variety of presentations, workshops and outreach opportunities. Such programs cultivate dialogue, creates greater awareness and fosters connections among campus community members. Numerous training sessions, workshops and keynote speakers draws thousands of faculty, staff and students each year.

  • All incoming students attended orientation programs during SLO Days and Week of Welcome centered around diversity and inclusion. The Cross-Cultural Experience was also added to WOW.
  • Approximately 1,925 faculty and staff members and students attended a variety of presentations and workshops, including content on hidden bias, microagressions and bias in recruitment.
  • Forty-four faculty members have participated in Teaching Inclusion and Diversity Everywhere (TIDE), a professional development opportunity offered by the Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology in collaboration with the Office of University Diversity and Inclusion.
  • In January and February 2020, the Office of University Diversity and Inclusion sponsored the Distinguished Speaker Series featuring nationally-recognized experts who presented on topics such as LGBTQIA+ communities in higher education, research on Latinx and Asian American student experiences, microaggressions, and recruiting and retaining faculty from diverse backgrounds. Click here to watch the videos.

University Statements and Reports

Cal Poly's Diversity and Inclusion Mission

Cal Poly will ensure all graduates leave Cal Poly more prepared to tackle future challenges and have the competencies needed to live and work in a diverse and global society.

Cal Poly has a responsibility to educate all students to be ladders for tomorrow with the competencies they will need to succeed. As a California Public University, Cal Poly should mirror the demographic of the state.

Diversity and Inclusion Vision

Cal Poly is building a diverse and inclusive campus community to prepare students for the future.

Why Cal Poly has a Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Diversity and inclusion creates educational excellence ("Inclusive Excellence") to prepare students for a diverse and global market by:

  • Developing cultural humility and multicultural competencies;
  • Enabling personal growth by developing empathy;
  • Advancing knowledge about social justice issues and creating greater understanding that will enable students to communicate and navigate across differences.

Cal Poly has cemented its commitment to an inclusive education and campus for decades. Read some of the landmark university statements and reports linked below:

Reports

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Giving

Giving to OUDI

Support OUDI

BEACoN Program

Learn more about the BEACoN Mentoring Program

BEACoN Research Scholars

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Cal Poly

Learn more about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Cal Poly

Learn more about diversity, equity, and inclusion at Cal Poly

DEI at Cal Poly

Report an Incident

Report an Incident

Report a bias incident to the Bias Incident Report Team

Report an Incident

Campus Partners

Connect with OUDI's campus partners

Campus Partners