State University of New York at Oneonta
PA-5: Diversity and Equity Coordination

The college’s President’s Council on Diversity is a committee of 75+ faculty, staff, and students working to move the college forward in creating a welcoming and bias-free environment. The Council continues its work toward valuing differences, fostering inclusion and supporting excellence; and has accepted the following charge:
- To advise the president on issues regarding campus diversity and campus climate;
- To collaborate with administrative units in collecting and analyzing qualitative and quantitative institutional diversity data, including periodic campus climate surveys;
- To contribute to the development of diversity initiatives in key campus-wide planning documents, and to identify best practices that would assist in effective implementation;
- To serve as a resource for faculty, staff, departments, and senior administrators in their efforts to incorporate principles of diversity and inclusion in hiring, retention, curriculum, teaching, and campus life;
- To assist in creating a welcoming and inclusive campus culture and climate for all members of the campus community.

The college also has a Bias Acts Response Team, providing education and bias incident response support to the college.

Common Ground training is provided several times per semester through the Office of Equity and Inclusion, with a focus on student leaders, such as athletes and members of Greek life.

Safe Space trainings occur regularly and are offered to students and employees.

Diversity Orientation sessions are held during August and January Orientations for all new students. They provide an introduction to DEI; initiate discussions around personal identities; examine common challenges, such as micro-aggressions; give tools to respond to incidents of bias; and offer campus resources and events.

Ongoing DEI trainings throughout the year are led by the OEI and Res Life. Some high profile annual activities include the Student Diversity Leadership Conference; the PRISM (formerly Pride) Conference; the Lavender Graduation; the Kente Ceremony; the Tapestry of Diversity Award; and various heritage and recognition months, weeks, and holidays.

Faculty and staff are required to take annual discrimination/harassment trainings.