California Polytechnic State University
PA-6: Support for Underrepresented Groups

The California State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, genetic information, religion or veteran status in its programs and activities, including admission and access. Federal and state laws, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the California Equity in Higher Education Act, prohibit such discrimination. Brian Gnandt, Director of Equal Opportunity, has been designated to coordinate the efforts of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, to comply with all applicable federal and state laws prohibiting discrimination on these bases. Inquiries concerning compliance may be presented to this person at 1 Grand Avenue, Fisher Science Building, Rm. 33-290, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407-0401. CSU Executive Order 1097 (http://www.calstate.edu/EO/EO-1097.pdf) is the systemwide procedure for all complaints of discrimination, harassment or retaliation made by students against the CSU, a CSU employee, other CSU students or a third party.

http://www.catalog.calpoly.edu/universitypolicies/#nondiscriminationpolicy

The Bias Incident Response Team (BIRT) works to support and provide resources to those who report and/or witness acts of bias in our campus community. In accordance with California State University Executive Orders 1096 and 1097, the team will refer alleged incidents to the appropriate campus administrators for review and follow-up, in addition to offering available resource services and support.
https://birt.calpoly.edu/

Depending on the offense and who experienced discrimination (student, staff, or faculty member), a complaint and action guide table is published here: http://equalopportunity.calpoly.edu/content/complaints_action_guidelines

What does the Bias Incident Response Team Do?
When an incident is reported to the Bias Incident Response Team (BIRT), some of the following actions may be taken by the BIRT (response times and steps will vary depending on the circumstances of the alleged incident):

Dean of Students and Chief Diversity Officer/Office of University Diversity and Inclusion will review the reported incident as promptly as possible, and will report the incident to the campus DHR Administrator/Title IX Coordinator in accordance with applicable executive orders
As appropriate, the Dean of Students and Chief Diversity Officer/Office of University Diversity and Inclusion will consult regularly with campus DHR Administrator/Title IX Coordinator, who will take appropriate action in accordance with applicable executive orders
Dean of Students will convene the BIRT
BIRT will review the incident and informally gather information surrounding the concerns of the campus community and the affected individual(s)
BIRT will refer reports to appropriate offices and campus administrators for further review, inquiry and response
BIRT will convene community leaders, if appropriate
BIRT will recommend action steps to campus leadership, including recommendations regarding release of responses/statements, when appropriate
BIRT will work with campus services, to provide outreach and support to students who are impacted by the incident
BIRT will make referrals to appropriate support services
BIRT will communicate outcomes to campus leadership
BIRT will communicate with person(s) who initially reported the incident

Consistent, coordinated outreach to the broader community ensures that prospective students from underrepresented backgrounds continue to apply to Cal Poly. The outreach seeks maintain and enhance a broad pool of qualified candidates that closely reflects the demographics of the state of California.
- 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.

Cal Poly has invested in creating infrastructure, key roles and support across the university to advance diversity and inclusion work.
- New tenure-track faculty members added through diversity cluster hires have a demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion in teaching, research, and/or service, and will support and enhance inclusive teaching strategies across the university. Seven new faculty members were hired in 2017 in the College of Liberal Arts. In addition, searches are underway for about 12 additional faculty members in various colleges.
- In each of Cal Poly six colleges, associate deans focus on diversity and inclusion as part of their duties.
https://diversity.calpoly.edu/initiatives/

PROVIDING 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.
- About 100 faculty and students are paired in mentoring relationships through the BEACoN Mentor Program, which connects underrepresented students to faculty mentors to help students reach their full academic and personal potential. Mentors work collaboratively with all members of the campus community to increase success and retention of underrepresented or underperforming students. A research mentoring opportunity was added in the 2018-19 academic year with 21 research matches.
- In addition to BEACoN Mentors, eight other mentoring programs have grown to serve hundreds of students, including programs tailored for undocumented and first-generation students.

CREATING 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 connection to identity and culture on campus.
-Kennedy Library created a dedicated space for meditation, prayer and relief from sensory overload to serve the campus community.
-The MultiCultural Center will open an expanded space in the University Union in winter 2019 to better support students.
-The Veterans Success Center celebrated its fourth year on campus serving veterans and veteran-dependent students.
-Cal Poly re-established the Interfaith Campus Council to better serve students.

FACULTY AND STAFF ASSOCIATIONS
Faculty Staff Associations (FSAs) are social and community-building groups for Cal Poly faculty, staff, and graduate students in some cases. The FSAs host a variety of events, programs, and initiatives including socials, social justice efforts, mentorship with students, educational opportunities, and more.

-American Indian and Indigenous Faculty and Staff Association
-Asian and Pacific Islander Faculty and Staff Association
-Black Faculty and Staff Association
-Chicanx Latinx Faculty and Staff Association
-Disability Faculty Staff Association
-Pride Faculty and Staff Association
-Women’s Faculty Staff Association

Gender inclusive Housing: http://www.housing.calpoly.edu/gender-inclusive-housing