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University Housing is committed to creating accessible and equitable communities for all residents, staff members and guests. To achieve this, we believe in intentionally supporting those who hold marginalized identities to create an inclusive environment that advances the entire community.
Learn more about what we do below and why we do it in our University Housing Diversity Action Plan.
We, with our campus and community partners, provide the following resources and commitments within University Housing:
Access to Resources that Improve Equity and Affordability
- Over 1 million dollars in housing grants each year automatically provided to low-income students, as assessed and distributed through the Financial Aid Office
- Flexible employment for 275+ students on campus, including RAs, graduate assistants and student assistants
- Reduced-cost summer housing in campus apartments for Housing student employees
- Lower-cost housing option (triple and quintuple rooms) available across every housing community
- Housing accommodations for residents with a disability are approved through the Disability Resource Center. University Housing has current plans to do major renovations of our older stock starting with one red brick each year beginning in 2025. These renovations are scheduled to include adding elevators, accessible pathways to the buildings, and to follow ADA guidelines for the projects
- Laundry available at no additional cost for campus residents
- Emergency housing for students experiencing housing insecurity and other emergencies, as part of the Cal Poly Cares Program
- Gender-inclusive restrooms available to students across campus housing communities, including all of yakʔitʸutʸu
- Increased access to menstrual hygiene products through no-cost accessible products in every public and employee restroom
- Improved resident sexual health product access by expanding condom access across the Housing footprint
Support for an Inclusive Campus Climate
- Funding for events and initiatives related to diversity and inclusion that directly impact Cal Poly residents. (Apply here)
- Cultural and Identity-based residential learning communities for interested students
- Residential Learning Communities for to the Cal Poly Scholars, Educational Opportunity and TRIO Achiever Programs
- Queer-affirming Housing options for students who are more comfortable living with other members of the LGBTQ+ community and/or housing options inclusive of all gender identities and sexual orientations
- Affinity Socials offered in partnership with Student Diversity, Belonging and Culture and Faculty Staff Associations
- Ongoing partnership with the yak titʸu titʸu yak tiłhini tribe
- Dedicated strategic planning, employee & student support, and education on topics related to diversity and inclusion by the Housing Director of Diversity Equity and Inclusion
Student Learning and Growth
- Diversity and inclusion education, events, and initiatives for all residents implemented through a residential curriculum
- A restorative approach to Housing bias incidents through education and repairing individual and/or community harm
- Coming in Fall 2023: Coordinate a Social Justice Residential Learning Community with corresponding for-credit academic components and community service project, in partnership with the Office of University Diversity and Inclusion and the College of Liberal Arts
Staff Support and Development
- Diversity and inclusion training for all Housing professional staff through the "Love, Empathy, Respect" curriculum and specific manager training on equity-minded leadership
- A diversity and inclusion-related goal on every Housing employees' yearly evaluation
Campus Resources
Cal Poly supports diversity and inclusion efforts across campus. Here are some of the programs on campus you should know about:
- Office of University Diversity and Inclusion, leads campus-wide diversity and inclusion efforts at Cal Poly
- Student Diversity and Belonging is a collective of student resources that includes the Black Academic Excellence Center (BAEC), Dream Center, La CASA Latinx/e Center, Multicultural Center, Native & Indigenous Center, Gender Equity Center, LGBTQ+ Campus Life, and Men & Masculinities
- Bias Incident Reporting Team, to report a potential bias on Cal Poly campus
- Inter Housing Council, Housing's student government where residents can share any concerns, including equity issues or diversity event ideas
- Safer, confidential resources for sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking
- Cal Poly student organizations, includes a list of cultural clubs on campus
- Basic Needs Program, ensuring all students have access to resources needed to be successful
- Transfer Center, a community for transfer students to get connected to resources, community, and advocacy
- Disability Resource Center, for assistance with temporary and long-term disabilities
- Ombuds Services, the office offers mediation resources for students in resolving any university-related issue, concern, conflict, or complaint
- Campus CARE Team, assists students who struggle in areas such as psychological health, physical health, relationship issues, family crisis, life trauma, social adjustment, and interpersonal conflict
- Civil Rights and Compliance Office, documents and responds to all reports of discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct
- ASI Social Justice Program Funding, by application for currently chartered registered student organizations doing diversity and equity work
- Center for Military-Connected Students, comprehensive assistance to all military-connected students
