PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE:

What is being done to deepen our understanding of and sensitivity to diversity issues that may impede or facilitate student success?

Several faculty, classified staff, students and administrators met recently to share and plan ways for Cuesta College employees to deepen their understanding of and sensitivity to diversity issues related to student success. The dialogue was rich with information from faculty who study and routinely use information from the Internet and publications to learn and teach information related to diversity. Recognizing that this question relates to all of Cuesta’s employees and students, the group decided that a diversified program delivered several ways and by many employees might be the approach we need.

The program that is emerging consists of: 1) Q&A forums to be scheduled two to four times this year (send in your questions and comments, faculty will organize a panel to lead the first two forums on November 29 and 30, 2004); 2) A recommended group of Cuesta College courses employees can take to learn more about various aspects of diversity while earning professional growth credits; 3) A course taught by a few of our faculty teaching some of what they teach in their diversity-related courses; 4) Workshops about the legal aspects of issues related to discrimination and harassment (to be taught by Bradford Anderson, Executive Director of Human Resources and Labor Relations); 5) Mini-lessons via e-mail with web sites about one or more aspects of diversity; 6) Reading and discussing selected books; 7) Listening to students in a focus group share their experiences at Cuesta; 8) A visit to the Museum of Tolerance with teaching and learning before, during and after the visit. All of this would be in addition to the learning we get from the Cultural Diversity and Student Equity Committee (CDSE), Latina Leadership Network (LLN) and student activities continued…