Diversity Action Plan

In 2021, the Office of Writing and Learning embarked on a journey to establish a formalized plan for building equity-mindedness with metrics by which to measure our progress. Cal Poly’s strategic priority to enrich the campus culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) undergirds the Office of Writing and Learning’s diversity action plan. Specifically, our goals align with the following campus commitments:

• Create and sustain a more inclusive, equitable and diverse university community that is reflective of the state of California.
• Prepare all students for their future through an education that includes diversity learning and reflects the principles of Inclusive Excellence.
• Further develop a campus climate that reflects the values of diversity, equity and inclusion.

We recognize that DEI work is ongoing, so we see the goals and metrics listed below as dynamic. We commit to continuous self-reflection and aim to regularly re-examine our own biases; re-engage in training and professional development; and re-assess our policies, programs, and practices. We invite you to visit this page again to re-connect with our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and to witness our ongoing improvements.

Goal 1: Attract and Retain a Diverse Team

1. Center recruitment of professional and student staff around demonstrated competence in supporting linguistic diversity and historically minoritized populations
2. Update student-employee recruitment practices across all Office of Writing and Learning programs for consistency and accessibility
3. Outreach to Student Diversity and Belonging, Transfer, International, and other campus community centers to build a more diverse pipeline of job candidates
4. Hire and retain equity-minded employees

Metrics

• Increased diversity in applicant pools and hires over time
• Increased student-employee referrals from campus organizations that serve historically minoritized groups
• Measurable movement towards reflecting the population of the CSU and State of California across Office of Writing and Learning staff
• Increased equity-mindedness among Office of Writing and Learning staff

Goal 2: Train towards Inclusive Pedagogies and Linguistic Justice

1. Embed the campus’s diversity learning objectives (DLOs) into all Office of Writing and Learning programs and resources
2. Develop a series of equity-minded training modules for professional and student-staff
3. Educate and support a staff that is knowledgeable and respectful of language diversity
4. Facilitate more conversations among staff to evaluate and understand our privileges, implicit biases, and positionality
5. Provide opportunities for staff to engage in critical reflection and cultivate critical consciousness

Metrics:

• Increased linkage to DLOs in professional development workshops and materials
• Increased number of equity-minded-trainings
• Pre- and post-training surveys to assess learning and development
• Increased self-efficacy of staff on inclusive and equitable practices
• Creation of Office of Writing and Learning DEI statement

Goal 3: Foster Self-Efficacy and a Sense of Belonging

1. Establish inclusive learning environments that are welcoming and supportive to all Cal Poly students
2. Serve all students with rigor and integrity, inclusive of their ability, race, ethnicity, citizenship status, gender, religious beliefs, or sexual orientation
3. Treat students, their questions, and their assignments with dignity
4. Respect students’ native languages, dialects, pronouns, and perspectives
5. Accommodate different learning styles
6. Ensure that all spaces and materials are accessible to all students

Metrics:

• Visible commitment to justice and equity in Office of Writing and Learning print and digital assets
• Increased number of staff on the UndocuAlly list
• Increased student engagement with Office of Writing and Learning programs and resources
• Student-reported increase in self-efficacy and sense of belonging on pre- and post-usage surveys

Goal 4: Serve as an Active Nexus between Students and Faculty/Staff

1. Strengthen partnerships across campus
2. Collaborate with colleges, departments, Student Diversity and Belonging, Transfer, International, and other campus community centers to identify equity gaps, optimize student learning, and enhance the academic programs and resources the Office of Writing and Learning offers
3. Establish college-based Peer Learning Ambassadors, prioritizing representation from linguistically diverse and historically minoritized populations
4. Communicate staff expertise, relevant scholarship, and accreditations to build ethos and nurture collaboration among students and faculty/staff across the curriculum

Metrics:

• Increased number of faculty/staff champions
• Increased requests for course-linked learning support
• Increased number of GWR-certified courses across the curriculum
• Expanded resources for college-based Peer Learning Ambassadors

Goal 5: Plan and Assess with Equity in Mind

1. Establish an Office of Writing and Learning diversity work group to promote equity and inclusion by auditing and revising practices
2. Conduct ongoing assessments of the unit’s programs and resources, looking specifically for patterns of inequality or oppressive practices that may be occurring
3. Identify and address barriers that impact academic performance, persistence, and retention
4. Make data-driven decisions to support colleges and departments in their efforts to decrease DFW rates in critical courses, eliminate equity gaps, and optimize student learning
5. Use data to develop, maintain, evaluate, and improve the Office of Writing and Learning’s programs and resources

Metrics:

• Increased utilization of learning support programs
• Annual increase in first-year support and completion of GE Area A2 and B4 courses
• Annual decrease of DFW grades and GPA equity gaps in critical courses across the curriculum
• Demonstrated continuous improvement of Office of Writing and Learning programs and resources

Download the Office of Writing and Learning's Diversity Action Plan.