State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry
PA-5: Diversity and Equity Coordination

ESF's Office of Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity is led by the Chief Diversity Officer (CDO). The Director of Diversity Initiatives and Special Assistant to the Chief Diversity Officer reports to the CDO. This person supports the CDO and provides service to underrepresented students, including domestic students of color. The Director of Diversity Initiatives and Special Assistant to the Chief Diversity Officer has a dotted line supervisory relationship to the Dean of Student Affairs. The Director of Diversity Initiatives and Special Assistant to the Chief Diversity Officer helps promote cultural growth and understanding across campus through activities and services designed to support student members of the ESF community effectively interact with others in an increasingly diverse and global society.

Also reporting to the CDO is the Title IX and Affirmative Action Coordinator, a new full-time position added to the College in 2018, who works collaboratively with units across campus to implement best practices related to Title IX and Affirmative Action, including those pertaining to recruitment and retention of personnel and students.

Responsibilities under Title IX include working alongside personnel who operate and implement the College Title IX and Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) compliance efforts in the context of strengthening the College commitment to promoting an educational, working, and living environment free from sexual harassment and violence, and gender-based discrimination. Responsibilities under Title IX are essential to the development, implementation, and monitoring of compliance obligations under Title IX, Title VI, Title VII, VAWA, the Campus SAVE Act, and the Clery Act. The position coordinates and monitors Title IX efforts of the Deputy Coordinators and College offices that receive and/or investigate Title IX complaints, including, but not limited to, Student Affairs, Student Conduct, Athletics, and University Police. This includes overseeing prompt, effective, and equitable intake, investigation, processing, issuing of findings of fact, and timely resolution of all instances of sexual misconduct involving students, sex/gender discrimination made known to responsible employees and/or reported by students, faculty, employees, third parties, or by members of the broader community. The position also provides ongoing consultation to the Chief Diversity Officer and other College officials as appropriate regarding Title IX requirements, grievance issues, and compliance programs. 50% of the same position also has an affirmative action component that is responsible for investigating claims of alleged discrimination, resolving problems related to equal employment opportunity an affirmative action initiatives and processes, training search committees and chairs on fair search in hire practices, and drafting and implementing affirmative action strategy in compliance with the nondiscrimination policy.

The College Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Committee, comprised of appointed faculty, students and staff, is charged with the implementation of a wide-array of diversity and inclusion initiatives on an institutional level. The CDO serves as co-chair.

Although not reporting to the CDO, the Office of International Education hosts graduate and undergraduate students from dozens of countries across six continents, offering a full range of educational opportunities, services and support.

In terms of employees, the mandate primarily falls under ESF's Office of Human Resources (http://www.esf.edu/hr/) to implement a SUNY-wide policy of Non-Discrimination and Affirmative Action (http://www.esf.edu/hr/handbooks/handbook.htm#Anchor-VI-3800). The policy states that: "SUNY-ESF is committed to fostering a diverse community of outstanding faculty, staff, and students, as well as ensuring equal educational opportunity, employment, and access to services, programs, and activities, without regard to an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, creed, age, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, familial status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, or criminal conviction. Employees, students, applicants, or other members of the College community (including but not limited to vendors, visitors, and guests) may not be subjected to harassment that is prohibited by law, or treated adversely or retaliated against based upon a protected characteristic.

See the following blog for up-to-date information: https://esfinclusion.wordpress.com/

ESF employees and students (via Introductory Course – 132; Undergraduate Student Association; Graduate Student Association; Graduate Assistant/Teaching Assistant Training) are required to complete educational workshops to raise awareness and develop a community where all people feel safe and can succeed. Educational opportunities with a focus on anti-harassment/anti-discrimination, matters related to the LGBTQIA+ community, and other education are available to view on the OIDE and the Human Resources websites at https://www.esf.edu/ide/training-schedule.htm and https://www.esf.edu/hr/training-development.htm. Information on required and elective student education is available to view at https://www.esf.edu/ide/student-training-schedule.htm Elective Training opportunities are also available to community partners. Anti-bias trainings, Safe Zone LGBTQIA+ Ally Trainings, Title IX trainings, and education to actively prevent discrimination and bias across campus.
- Professional Training: https://www.esf.edu/ide/training-schedule.htm
- Student Training: https://www.esf.edu/ide/student-training-schedule.htm

OIDE is working closely with Choose Action Network to incorporate bystander messaging into educational programming. Through the lens of sexual assault, dating, domestic violence and stalking, the Choose Action Network has been incorporating bystander intervention messaging and skill development into various required trainings, such as the annually required training for student organization leaders, student-athletes, resident assistants, and orientation leaders. The required training developed as a result of the OVW grant awarded to the College in 2017 and our partnership with Vera House (a local agency designed to assist with matters of sexual assault, dating, domestic violence and stalking.

REQUIRED TRAINING

- Responsible Employee: Title IX & Clery - This required education covers topics that relate to your reporting responsibility as an ESF employee and is a New York State workforce requirement. To be completed annually.
- Anti-Discrimination/Anti-Harassment - Participants of this required education will be in compliance and will not need to complete further Anti-Discrimination /Anti-Harassment for three years.

OPTIONAL TRAINING

- Diversity, Inclusion, Equity Three-Tiered Training (optional) – Developmental refresher education offered by the Office of Inclusion, Diversity & Equity
- Safe Zone (optional) - Safe Zone LGTBQIA+ Ally training is offered through the Office Inclusion, Diversity and Equity (OIDE). This is a 90-minute session and is offered multiple times each semester. Department trainings can also be requested. This training is designed to promote a positive campus climate for individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+. Safe Zone training objectives are to provide an opportunity to think about and talk about gender, sexuality, and intersectionality in a safe space.
- Gain understanding of LGBTQIA+ stereotypes and language
- Learn about the coming out process
- Learn about inequalities faced by the LGBTQIA+ community
- Learn how to be an effective ally and learn ways to be more inclusive of people who identify as LGBTQIA+