California State University, Northridge
PA-4: Diversity and Equity Coordination

CSUN’s Office of Equity and Diversity (E&D) affirms CSUN’s commitment to the core principles of diversity and inclusion, as well as enforces policies and procedures that prohibit discrimination, harassment and retaliation. E&D also works strategically with campus partners to provide educational programming and training for the new freshman class, incoming transfer students, student clubs and organizations, employees, colleges and department units on a wide range of issues such as: (1) discrimination and harassment based on a protected category; (2) prevention and campus response to incidents of gender discrimination, including sexual misconduct; and (3) retaliation. The Director of E&D serves as the campus Title IX Coordinator and is responsible for coordinating compliance with CSU Executive Orders, Title IX, Violence Against Women Act/Sexual Violence Elimination Act and other state and federal laws prohibiting discrimination, harassment and retaliation based on gender or sex. The Director of E&D serves as the ADA Coordinator and is responsible for the initial review and processing of employee requests for disability accommodations. E&D also plays an integral role in ensuring equal employment opportunity and consideration in the search process for faculty hiring by providing support and tools for every step of the search process (including assistance with strategies to increase the diversity of the applicant pool).

CSUN provides cultural competence trainings to its students, faculty and staff which promote its commitment to the core principals of diversity and inclusion. CSUN offers a New Student Orientation program for incoming freshman, transfer and international students wherein they are introduced to student services, university values, first-year planning and diversity education. CSUN offers several programs which support underrepresented groups and provide outreach and training to the campus community to increase awareness of issues impacting such groups, including the Center on Disabilities, the Disability Resources and Educational Services, International and Exchange Student Center, National Center on Deafness, Veterans Resource Center and the Pride Center. CSUN’s Professional Development program partners with campus colleagues and departments to offer trainings to the campus community as gateways toward inclusion, such as “Supporting Transgender Students on Campus,” and “Supporting Employees with Disabilities.” Moreover, CSUN has held leadership forums for both men’s and women’s issues. CSUN President Dianne Harrison also emphasized in her keynote addresses to faculty and staff the importance of building inclusion at CSUN and utilizing diversity as a vehicle for innovation.