ECST Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Plan
Cal State LA’s College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology (ECST) is committed to cultivating an inclusive college environment that provides a sense of belonging, striving for equity in opportunities and outcomes, and increasing the diversity and success of its student body, faculty, and staff.
EDI Definitions
Equity
The condition under which individuals are provided the resources they need to have access to the same opportunities as the general population. Equity accounts for systematic inequalities, meaning the distribution of resources provides more for those who need it most.
Diversity
All-inclusive and supportive of the proposition that everyone and every group should be valued. It is about understanding these differences and moving beyond simple tolerance to embracing and celebrating the rich dimensions of our differences.
Inclusion
Authentically bringing traditionally excluded individuals and/or groups into processes, activities, and decision/policy making in a way that shares power.
Creating a Plan
Our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) DRAFT plan addresses these commitments with intentional goals and objectives. The ECST EDI Advisory Council (EAC) received feedback from many members of the ECST community through a series of college meetings; however, we need more input from students, faculty, and staff to finalize the plan before the College begins implementation.
ECST EDI Development Process
The ECST EDI development process began with the creation of the EDI task force, which worked from Fall 2019-Spring 2021 and expanded into the ECST EDI Advisory Council (EAC) in Fall 2021. After several EAC breakout discussions focusing on EDI commitments, all ECST faculty and staff were invited to an EDI brainstorming activity during the ECST Spring 2022 Welcome Back Meeting. EAC leaders then compiled this feedback from the Council and the College into a draft plan which the ECST Leadership Team reviewed. We are now at a critical phase of the process where we gather student feedback through various student-led activities. Once feedback from our students and the broader ECST community has been finalized, the ECST EDI Plan launches!
EDI Feedback
Over the summer and early fall of 2022, we are soliciting feedback on the EDI plan as we continue to develop and refine it, striving to most effectively map a pathway to an equitable, diverse, and inclusive environment in the College. We suggest you head over to the ECST EDI Feedback link, keep the survey site open while you read the EDI plan below, and provide your anonymous feedback for the EDI Council to review. Your thoughts are important, and we want to thank you for your input!
ECST EDI Commitments
Equity
Strive for equity in opportunities and outcomes.
Diversity
Increase the diversity and success of its student body, faculty, and staff.
Inclusion
Cultivate inclusive environments for a sense of belonging.
Please review the ECST Commitments below and let us know what you think of this draft. The provided information is a working DRAFT ONLY as we continue to listen to our community and develop our final ECST EDI plan.
Commitment 1 - Equity
ECST will strive for equity in opportunities and outcomes.
| GOAL 1a | OBJECTIVES |
|---|---|
| Promote equitable environments and practices | Conduct a continuous assessment of EDI climate. |
| All faculty, staff, and student leaders attend annual equity training. | |
| All College employees participate in equity-minded Communities of Practice (CoP). | |
| Develop authentic and inclusive faculty/staff evaluation systems. | |
| Improve curriculum/pedagogy to be equity-minded. | |
| Include student voices in College discussions on equity and culture. |
| GOAL 1b | OBJECTIVES |
|---|---|
|
Provide access for all students to engage in co-curricular/career/advancement opportunities |
Increase access to and participation in research. |
| Increase access to and participation in internships. | |
| Increase access to and participation in community engagement projects. | |
| Increase participation and diversity in student organizations and competition teams. |
| GOAL 1c | OBJECTIVES |
|---|---|
|
Continually assess and reduce equity gaps in all ECST programs |
Eliminate the equity gap in course-passing rates. |
| Increase the course-passing rates for all students. | |
| Reduce the time to graduation or improve the graduation rate for all students. | |
| Eliminate the equity gap in graduation rates. | |
| Increase the FE pass rate for all students. |
| GOAL 1d | OBJECTIVES |
|---|---|
|
Continually assess and reduce equity gaps among ECST faculty and staff |
Assess and explore equity gaps in faculty and staff recruitment, retention, and promotion. |
| Assess and explore equity gaps in faculty and staff leadership development. |
This is a working DRAFT ONLY as we continue to listen to our community to develop our final ECST EDI plan.
Commitment 2 - Diversity
ECST will increase the diversity and success of its student body, faculty, and staff.
| GOAL 2a | OBJECTIVES |
|---|---|
| Nurture a successful and diverse student body | Increase enrollment of Black/African American students. |
| Increase enrollment of women students. | |
| Nurture a culture that celebrates our Hispanic-serving community. | |
| Improve support for all ECST students, including groups marginalized in the University such as differently-abled, veterans, LGBTQ+, Asian-American, and Native American students. |
| GOAL 2b | OBJECTIVES |
|---|---|
|
Foster success for a diverse faculty and staff |
Increase diversity of the faculty, staff, and administration. |
| Enhance, encourage, and promote professional development and leadership opportunities for faculty and staff. |
| GOAL 2c | OBJECTIVES |
|---|---|
|
Increase representation and diversity of participants in college & department events |
Ensuring that ECST events, programs, etc. are specifically inclusive of the Latinx, Black/African American, Women, Native American/Indigenous, Veterans, and LGTBQ+ communities. |
| Specifically include Black/African American presenters in all ECST programs and events. | |
| Intentionally ensure that Department/research seminars include presenters reflecting the diversity of the College. |
This is a working DRAFT ONLY as we continue to listen to our community to develop our final ECST EDI plan.
Commitment 3 - Inclusion
ECST will cultivate inclusive environments that provide a sense of belonging.
| GOAL 3a | OBJECTIVES |
|---|---|
| Ensure that student, staff, and faculty voices are heard | Create platforms that ensure students have a voice in the College. |
| Ensure probationary faculty voices are valued and respected. | |
| Ensure lecturers are included in appropriate decision-making. | |
| Ensure that faculty have a voice in College governance. | |
| Ensure staff are included in operational and policy decision-making. |
| GOAL 3b | OBJECTIVES |
|---|---|
|
Improve transparency and access to resources and information |
Enhance College and Departmental communication channels. |
| Ensure that students feel welcome and questions get answered in every space in ECST. | |
| Develop programs that widely and equitably share opportunities for students individually and through student orgs. |
| GOAL 3c | OBJECTIVES |
|---|---|
|
Create inclusive departments and college where students, faculty, and staff thrive |
Develop spaces for affinity student organizations to meet. |
| Ensure that ECST events, programs, etc. are specifically inclusive of marginalized social groups. | |
| Create a College environment where everyone feels they can be themselves. | |
| Offer faculty and staff development for student success. |
This is a working DRAFT ONLY as we continue to listen to our community to develop our final ECST EDI plan.
ECST EDI Advisory Council Members 2021-2022
- Sonya Lopez (Co-Chair), CE Faculty
- Milton Randle (Co-Chair), Member of the Dean's Advisory Board
- Debbie Won, ECE Faculty
- Nancy Warter-Perez, ME Chair
- Michael Thomas, TECH Faculty
- Aliannea Sherman (Graduate Student)
- Mario Medina, ME Faculty
- Aaron Lockett (Undergraduate Student), Pres. Cal State LA SHPE Chapter
- Sharri Kornblum, STEP Faculty
- David Krum, CS Faculty
- Daniel Galvan, Director of Student Engagement
- Thelma Federico, Outreach Coordinator
- Blake Cortis, Technician
- Bobbie Galaz, Student Advisor
- Missaira Cortez (Undergraduate Student)
- Corey Bowen (Post-Doc)
- Emily Allen, ECST Dean
Thank You
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback on the College of ECST Equity, Diversity, Inclusion Plan.
College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology
5151 State University Dr., Building E&T
Los Angeles, CA 90032-8150
Phone (323) 343-4500 | Fax (323) 343-4555 | Email [email protected]
