Core Issue Three Diversity: Facilitating Meaningful Interactions
Among Members of Our Learning Community
(WASC Standards: 1, 2, 4; University Goal 3)

Executive Summary

 

Question One: How does interactional diversity at CSUDH lead to enhanced appreciation of multicultural perspectives and an enriched academic experience of intellectual engagement?

Continuing efforts to provide a supportive, diversity-rich environment, in which participation from all constituencies is equally valued and essential to its success, are evident in the University Strategic Plan, Mission Statement, Undergraduate and Graduate Outcomes, and Division and College Academic Master Plans. Efforts to provide answers to this researchable question also demonstrate the campus community’s strong commitment in this area.

There is an abundance of evidence that the campus learning community is deeply involved in activities to sustain interactions among the diverse campus community. These activities were designed to assist in the collection of data to meet the expected outcomes of this core issue that focus on: (a) improving communication among campus constituents and their involvement in diversity-related activities; (b) collecting and analyzing data from campus activities, events, and surveys; (c) developing expectations for graduates’ understanding and awareness of diversity; and (d) disseminating best practices in teaching and co-curricular activities that distinguish the interactional campus diversity.

Campus efforts to document the impact of diversity on students, staff, and faculty campus-wide were accomplished through a systematic multi-level investigation and reporting process. Initial efforts focused on the development of the WASC Sub-Committee on Diversity consisting of faculty and staff representatives. The committee was instrumental in collecting information from CSUDH websites, student organizations, outreach initiatives, interviews, group discussions, curriculum, and review of archival material/data. Sharing of this information was achieved through the WASC website; University, division, and college meetings; and presentations at Town Halls and Poster Sessions.

Further study of the meaningful interactions among campus constituents involved the compilation of data analysis and interpretation from a number of campus surveys (i.e., Alumni, UNV 101 Diversity, Cross-Cultural Retreat, Speaker Series, Faculty Forum, and New Teacher Orientation Meetings); national data (i.e. NSSE, FSSE, and CSEQ); and program level student learning outcomes. Additional evidence for the quality of participation and support from students, faculty, and staff is provided in the Diversity Town Hall panel responses, CSUDH Annual Poster Session abstracts, Student Research Day projects, WASC/RSCAAP funded research projects, and conference presentation summaries.

These efforts establish the University’s dedication to sustaining diversity-related activities on campus, but much more is needed. We recognize that diversity is not just a reflection of how we look, but rather a matter of how we think. This insight will inform our values as we move to the development of our new campus strategic plan.