Portland State University
PAE-6: Diversity and Equity Coordination

Portland State University (PSU) recognizes that diversity in faculty, staff and student populations enriches the educational experience, promotes personal growth, strengthens communities and the workplace, and enhances an individual's personal and professional opportunities. As a public university, PSU has a special responsibility to work for equity and social justice and to make PSU programs truly in conjunction with our diverse constituents. The DAC was formed to support these overall goals. The charge of the DAC is to:

(a) Advise and report to the President and Provost on issues related to diversity. 
(b) Recommend to the President and the Provost the allocation/redirection of resources that support diversity initiatives and commitments.
 (c) Support curricular and pedagogical efforts to incorporate diversity and equity. 
(d) Foster research on issues related to diversity, equity and tribal sovereignty. 
(e) Create a welcoming and safe place for all persons. 
(f) Strengthen linkages with communities of diversity in the region. 
(g) Promote significant structural changes at PSU to support service to diverse constituents. 
(h) Seek outside funding sources to supplement and enhance the activities and programs of the DAC. 
(i) Design and oversee an assessment process to monitor progress on implementing the Diversity Action Plan. 
(j) Promote activities throughout the campus effectively addressing issues related to diversity. 
(k) Recognize and honor exemplary actions that contribute to a campus climate supportive of diversity.

Our mission is guided by three simple and powerful truths:
1. We are educating global citizens. Students in the 21st century live in the global world and must learn to think beyond the boundaries of the nation state. Consequently, we have a responsibility to prepare students to become citizens of the world. By enabling students to successfully participate in a diverse society, we can achieve a global community that's equitable and just for all.
2. Diversity contributes to critical thinking skills. Students who develop the ability to understand alternative perspectives tend to show greater empathy and have a better capacity to solve complex social problems. They're also better prepared to take on leadership roles as decision makers and facilitators by negotiating different perspectives. That's why it's important for us to create both formal and informal environments where students can learn the issues related to diversity.
3. Knowledge Serves the City. The first two truths serve the third, which is the foundation for Portland State University's motto Let Knowledge Serve the City. We're proud to be an active and contributing partner with the city we call home. It's why we're committed to connecting with diverse communities and serving our greater urban society.

Members of DAC were appointed by by the President, as they were founded as part of his Diversity Initiative, and represented a healthy cross section of faculty, staff, and students from all corners of campus that also had an interest in and commitment to enhancing diversity and the educational enhancement that it encourages.

To see current membership go to: http://www.pdx.edu/diversity/diversity-action-council-members-2012-13

The Office of Diversity Advocacy (ODA) is now housed in the Office of Diversity & Inclusion (ODI) alongside the Office of Equity & Compliance.

The ODI's mission is to create a university learning environment that celebrates diversity, builds partnerships, promotes equity, and provides support to enhance the successes of the campus community. It's vision is to promote the value of diversity and the recognition that it enriches our campus community by supporting and enhancing an inclusive and culturally respectful university environment.

Under the guidance and with the support of the ODI, the ODA offers support, information, and advice to the many Portland State people who work to make our campus a welcoming place for everyone. The Office has created a campaign to recruit and retain diverse students, faculty and staff through a “U Belong” at PSU campaign. See video profiles at: http://www.pdx.edu/diversity/u-belong-profiles

On September 1, 2010, Jilma Meneses (HEEL-ma ME-ne-sis) was appointed as the new Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) at PSU. The CDO oversees the Office of Diversity & Inclusion, the Office of Diversity Advocacy, and the Office of Equity and Compliance. The CDO is committed to building partnerships with external and internal stakeholders to help with diversity efforts that relate to five overarching categories: (1) Students (Admissions, Financial Aid, Scholarships, Internationalization, University Relations, Support, Retention); (2) Faculty Recruitment & Retention (Search Committees, incentives); (3) Employee R&R (Searches, HRIS, AAP); (4) Compliance (develop mandatory Online-Training, Investigations); and (5) Community (outreach, partner with Chambers, School districts, Alumni, Local community organizations, Foreign universities, Nations). In the short term the CDO has taken inventory of the needs of PSU, and started developing and implementing recruitment and retention plans for students, faculty,, staff and employees from under-served or historically discriminated populations. Her long term goals include: Preparing and implementing a revised university wide Diversity Action Plan, Connecting existing programs and services, and developing new initiatives.

(Source: http://www.pdx.edu/news/jilma-meneses-joins-portland-state-university-leadership-as-new-chief-diversity-officer

Additionally, the Office of Diversity Advocacy has a Community Liaison that focuses on training and outreach. He develops and implements maintain liaison with diverse members of the community and also focuses on the recruitment of underrepresented populations from elementary and middle schools within the Portland Metropolitan region.