It is the intent of the Student Senate for California Community Colleges that the statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion set forth below be the official position of the Student Senate for California Community Colleges on their commitment to diversity and equity in fulfilling the system’s educational mission and that it should guide the advocacy and actions of the organization:
(a) With the goal of ensuring the equal educational opportunity of all students, the Student Senate for California Community Colleges embraces diversity among students, faculty, staff, administration and the communities we serve as an integral part of our history, a recognition of the complexity of our present state, and a call to action for a better future.
(b) Embracing diversity means that we must intentionally practice acceptance, antiracism, and respect towards one another and understand that racism, discrimination, and prejudices create and sustain privileges for some while creating and sustaining disadvantages for others.
(c) In order to embrace diversity, we also acknowledge that settler colonialism, institutional racism, discrimination, and biases exist and that our goal is to eradicate these from our system. Our commitment to diversity and tribal sovereignty requires that we strive to eliminate those barriers to equity and that we act deliberately to create a safe, inclusive, and anti-discriminatory environment where individual and group differences are valued and leveraged for our growth and understanding as a system.
(d) To advance our goals of diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice for the success of students and employees, we must honor that each individual is unique and that our individual differences contribute to the ability of the colleges to prepare students on their educational journeys. This requires that we advocate for policies and procedures that encourage individual and systemic change, continually reflect on our efforts, and hold ourselves accountable for the results of our efforts in accomplishing our goals. In service of these goals, the Student Senate for California Community Colleges is committed to fostering an anti-racist environment that offers equal opportunity for all.
(e) As a collective community of student leaders, we are invested in cultivating and maintaining a climate where equity, anti-racism, and mutual respect are both intrinsic and explicit by valuing individuals and groups from all backgrounds, demographics, and experiences. Individual and group differences can include, but are not limited to the following dimensions: race, ethnicity, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, immigration status, sex, gender, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, registered domestic partner status, age, political beliefs, religion, creed, military or veteran status, socioeconomic status, and any other basis protected by federal, state or local law or ordinance or regulation.
Adopted by the Board of Directors September 12, 2020
Revised by the Board of Directors April 17, 2021
