California State University, Fullerton
PAE-T2-3: Student Training Opportunities

As a comprehensive, regional university with a global outlook, CSUF has shown great commitment in its efforts to prepare our students, faculty and staff in becoming culturally competent individuals. The Cultural Diversity requirement in our General Education curriculum, university sponsored support services, and diversity training programs are a few examples of the programs offered at CSUF that provide training and activities on cultural competency. Additionally, student led initiatives provide activities and training opportunities for the campus community. What follows is a brief summary of some of these programs and activities.

Student Support Programs:

Cultural Centers: The College of Humanities and Social Science (HSS) coordinates three cultural centers which provide culturally based programming and activities: 1) African American Resource Center 2) Asian American and Pacific Islander Community Resource Center, and 3) the Chicana and Chicano Resource Center.

The mission of the African American Resource Center (AARC) is to provide an opportunity for individuals to pursue the academic research, and cultural interests of African Americans. It provides resources, services, programs, and events that focus on the total integration and success of African American students. Additionally, the AARC complements the university’s efforts in building a sense of community. It also serves as a tool for empowerment of the diverse segments of the university’s population through increased accessibility to scholarly research, cultural awareness education, and collaborative activities. AARC website: http://hss.fullerton.edu/aarc/

The mission of the Asian American and Asian Pacific Islander Resource Center (AAAPIC) is to provide opportunities for the CSUF campus community to pursue research, and cultural interests of Asian American and Asian Pacific Islander people. The resource center offers programs and services designed to enhance the academic advancement of Asian American Pacific Islander culture. Additionally it serves as a tool for enrichment for all interested constituents and stakeholders through increased accessibility to scholarly research, cultural awareness education, and collaborative activities. AAAPIC website: site not available

The mission of the Chicana/o Resource Center (CRC) at CSUF is to provide a learning environment for students, faculty, staff, and the broader community that is inclusive and fosters the history, education, and culture of Chicanas/os or Latinos. The center serves the needs of the university community through its research collection on Chicana/o history, culture, education, and politics, in addition to advancing and supporting the successful retention of Chicana/o and Latino students on campus. Further, the center supports and facilitates dialogue on the Chicana/o experience among all students and across the campus community. CRC website: http://www.library.fullerton.edu/guides/CRC/Home.php

Office of Graduate Studies: The office hosted its Second Annual Graduate Forum, Diversity and Graduate Education, on March 21-22, 2011, which targeted issues related to diversity and graduate education. This Graduate Forum was a day-long event and featured national experts including keynote speaker, Dr. Mark Hugo Lopez, associate director, Pew Hispanic Center. Graduate Studies website: http://www.fullerton.edu/graduate/

Multicultural Leadership Center (MLC): The MLC facilitates training on a variety of topics, such as, but not limited to, privilege and oppression, effective intercultural communications, and understanding cultural differences. Training is facilitated in curricular and co-curricular settings throughout the campus community. Additionally, the center hosts programming such as diversity dialogues to engage the campus community in conversations about culture, current events, and developing a broader world view. Past topics have included: Education Inequality: “Why are children still left behind?”, and “That’s Racist!, Punch Line or Put Down?. Beginning fall 2012, the center will coordinate a diversity-themed residential floor titled Multicultural Perspective at the university’s Residence Halls. MLC website: http://fullerton.edu/deanofstudents/mlc/index.html

Office of International Education and Exchange (IEE): The office is dedicated to promoting the exchange of knowledge and experiences within the multicultural campus community and with the world at large. IEE provides information and assistance to (i) international and exchange students attending Cal State Fullerton; (ii) CSUF students planning to study abroad; and (iii) exchange visitors including research scholars and visiting professors. As a collaborative and creative resource center for the campus and community, IEE provides a welcoming environment for international students, faculty and visitors transitioning between countries and cultures. IEE also empowers students to reach their full educational and professional potential through participation in international and intercultural experiences. Additionally, IEE coordinates the Global Leadership Certificate in partnership with the Student Leadership Institute. This certificate is open to any student interested in learning the differences between international cultures and how they view and articulate leadership. This is an ideal program for students entering into international fields of study as well as students who are studying abroad or come from an international background themselves. IEE website: http://www.fullerton.edu/international/
Global Leadership Certificate website: http://www.fullerton.edu/deanofstudents/sli/n_Global%20Leadership.htm

WoMen’s Center‘s Cultural Resource Centers: These centers (African American, Asian-American, Latina, Native American) provide an educational environment in which first generation college women of color can succeed. The centers share a common goal to provide female students with an environment sensitive to cultural and political issues faced by women of color in society. Through these resource centers, education, dialogue and connection for women of different cultures are enhanced on our campus. The centers provide rich and challenging leadership opportunities for women exploring their ethnic and cultural identities, as well as women’s issues at work and the educational environment. Finally, these centers provide the university an educationally based information center and role-modeling service for women of different cultures. WoMen’s Center website: http://www.fullerton.edu/WomenCenter/index.html

Diversity Training:

EMBRACE: EMBRACE which stands for Educating Myself for Better Racial Awareness and Cultural Enrichment is a peer diversity training program of the Multicultural Leadership Center and the Student Leadership Institute at California State University, Fullerton. It is also one of the longest running training programs on campus having been established in 1991. The program provides training in leadership development as it relates to cultural sensitivity, diversity, and multicultural understanding. EMBRACE explores cultural awareness by increasing students’ knowledge of cultural, ethnic, and diversity concerns impacting campuses and communities today. Topics include the exploration of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, ability, and religion. The program is based on the intercultural communication theoretical framework of the late Dr. William Gudykunst, professor of Human Communications at CSUF. The program is open to all CSUF students. Students who complete the training are awarded a certificate of completion from the university. EMBRACE website: http://fullerton.edu/deanofstudents/mlc/embrace.html

Student led-Initiatives:

Association for Intercultural Awareness (AICA): The Associated Students, Inc. (ASI), through AICA, “exists to enhance the university experience of CSUF students by raising the awareness of and celebrating the multicultural student population of Cal State Fullerton". AICA allocates ASI funds to member organizations which coordinate multicultural programming. AICA also hosts a variety of events such as the Rally Against Hate, an annual event which brings attention to prejudice in an effort to dispel stereotypes. AICA website: http://asi.fullerton.edu/programs/aica.asp

Cultural and Faith based Student Organizations: The student governed and established organizations coordinate a variety of activities to educate the campus community on multicultural and global issues that endeavor to broaden participants’ world view and understanding. The organizations also provide an essential peer support network for CSUF students, especially underrepresented students.