California State University, Fresno
PA-7: Support for Underrepresented Groups

The California State University (CSU) Systemwide Guidelines for Nondiscrimination and Affirmative Action Programs in Employment (Executive Orders (EO) 1088 and 1096), affirms California State University's commitment to non-discrimination on the basis of disability and to providing reasonable accommodations upon request by qualified individuals with disabilities.

The CSU is committed to maintaining and implementing employment policies and procedures that comply with applicable state and federal nondiscrimination and affirmative action laws and regulations. Discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, age, disability, medical condition, and covered veteran status is prohibited.

Additionally, EOs 1088 and 1096 prohibits retaliation for filing a discrimination complaint, opposing a discriminatory act, or participating in a discrimination investigation or proceeding.

For more information on Executive Order 1088, please visit: https://calstate.policystat.com/policy/6591895/latest/

For more information on Executive Order 1096, please visit: https://calstate.policystat.com/policy/6743499/latest/

For Students:

Fresno State has a "CARE Team" which identifies students who are facing significant personal struggles, in distress, or students of concern that may benefit from additional support or resources. By using a community approach to foster the well-being of every student, the Fresno State community can collectively build a strong and healthy environment. Read more here: https://studentaffairs.fresnostate.edu/care/

Students who have experienced or witnessed a bias incident, act of discrimination or hate crime have multiple options for reporting and resources on our campus. Fresno State Police Department has an anonymous reporting option for all crimes, including hate crimes. Within California State University's Executive Order 1096 and/or 1097, the policies prohibiting discrimination, harassment, and retaliation as well as the procedures for administrative response are outlined. Even without filing a formal complaint, supportive resources are made available.
Our campus has appointed a multi-disciplinary team (CARE Team) to provide timely response and resources, including counseling services (confidential), when incidents are reported. In addition, students can seek support via the confidential Survivor Advocate or within the Cross Cultural and Gender Center.

Victim advocacy services are available:
http://www.fresnostate.edu/studentaffairs/survivoradvocate/titleix.html

And Discrimination and Harassment resources:
http://www.fresnostate.edu/adminserv/hr/eeo-diversity/discrimination/index.html

CSU Executive Order 1097, Article III outlines the Campus Procedure for Responding to Complaints regarding discrimination or harassment. The procedure states that campuses will respond to all complaints and take appropriate action to prevent, correct, and discipline conduct that violates the Systemwide Policy Prohibiting Discrimintation, Harassment, and Retaliation (EO 1097). All complaints will be reported to the DHR Administrator (Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation) or Title IX Coordinator (Sex Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, Sexual Misconduct, Dating and Domestic Violence, and Stalking). The date of receipt shall be deemed to be the Complaint filing date.

The DHR Administrator/Title IX Coordinator shall offer reasonable accommodations to Students who are unable to submit a Complaint because of a qualified Disability. Complainants also have the option to initiate an Early Resolution Process if they would like to explore whether their complaint can be resolved by the university without an investigation. For complaints that do not pursue the Early Resolution Process, the university will investigate the complaint, whether or not a formal written complaint is submitted.

Full detail of the investigation and complaint resolution process is available in EO 1097, Article III: https://calstate.policystat.com/policy/6742744/latest/

For Fresno State's public statement on TITLE IX, how to submit a complaint and who to contact, and updates regarding the system-wide TITLE IX audit (2022-2023), read more here: https://titleix.fresnostate.edu/index.html/who-to-contact/concern-action.html

For employees:

The California State University (CSU) is committed to maintaining an inclusive community that values diversity and fosters tolerance and mutual respect. We embrace and encourage our community differences in Age, Disability (physical and mental), Gender (or sex), Gender Identity (including transgender), Gender Expression, Genetic Information, Marital Status, Medical Condition, Nationality, Race or Ethnicity (including color or ancestry), Religion (or Religious Creed), Sexual Orientation, and Veteran or Military Status, and other characteristics that make our community unique. All individuals have the right to participate fully in CSU programs and activities free from Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation.

A student, employee or third party who believes they have been subjected to discrimination, harassment or retaliation in a California State University, Fresno related program or activity is entitled to have their concerns reviewed by the University in accordance with the applicable CSU systemwide policy or where an employee is a member of a bargaining unit provides a grievance procedure for raising allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, sexual misconduct, dating or domestic violence, or stalking, the appropriate grievance procedure specified in their collective bargaining agreement.

Concerns regarding violations of such policies should immediately be reported to the DHR Analyst, who can explain the rights and options an individual has to have their concerns addressed under applicable policy and procedure, including but not limited to the option to file a formal written complaint on the matter.

Read more here: https://adminfinance.fresnostate.edu/hr/dhr/index.html#:~:text=A%20student%2C%20employee%20or%20third,systemwide%20policy%20or%20where%20an

Students:

Fresno State has a few programs with the goal of recruiting students from underrepresented backgrounds: Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), EduCorps, and the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP).

The CSU’s Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) provides admission, academic and financial support services to historically underserved students throughout California. The primary goal of the EOP is to improve access of low-income, first generation and historically disadvantaged students with potential for academic success by making higher education a possibility. EOP provides a comprehensive program of support services which include, but are not limited to, recruitment, pre-admission counseling, orientation, summer program, diagnostic testing, financial aid follow-up, special admissions, pre introductory instruction, academic advisement, tutoring, learning skill services, and personal, educational and career counseling. Read more at the Fresno State EOP website: https://studentaffairs.fresnostate.edu/eop/index.html

As the largest producer of teachers in California, the CSU is being called upon to expand its teacher preparation programs to meet the staffing needs of California's K-12 school districts. Teacher shortages in the state are projected to last for the next decade, and the Chancellor's Office of the CSU and campuses have initiated efforts to meet this demand. A number of campuses are involved in EduCorps, a comprehensive teacher recruitment effort to identify and encourage promising undergraduate students to consider a career in teaching. The effort has a special emphasis on attracting and preparing more male and female teachers of color with the goal of providing students with role models from their own backgrounds. EduCorps represents a community of individuals interested in shaping the future through teaching. Its two key purposes are: (1) To significantly increase the number and diversity of students entering CSU's teacher preparation programs, especially in high-need areas such as mathematics, science, special education, and bilingual education; and (2) To provide ongoing, high-quality support to members on their path to earning their teaching credential. Read more at the CSU EduCorps website: https://www.calstate.edu/educorps

The CSU-LSAMP (Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation) program is aimed at increasing the quality and quantity of students successfully completing science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) baccalaureate degree programs, and increasing the number of students interested in, academically qualified for and matriculated into programs of graduate study. CSU-LSAMP supports sustained and comprehensive approaches that facilitate achievement of the long-term goal of increasing the number of students who earn doctorates in STEM fields, particularly individuals who have faced or face social, educational or economic barriers to careers in STEM. Read more at the Fresno State LSAMP Program website: https://csm.fresnostate.edu/lsamp/index.html

Students:

The CSU’s Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) provides admission, academic and financial support services to historically underserved students throughout California. The primary goal of the EOP is to improve access of low-income, first generation and historically disadvantaged students with potential for academic success by making higher education a possibility. EOP provides a comprehensive program of support services which include, but are not limited to, recruitment, pre-admission counseling, orientation, summer program, diagnostic testing, financial aid follow-up, special admissions, pre-introductory instruction, academic advisement, tutoring, learning skill services, and personal, educational and career counseling. Read more at the Fresno State EOP website: https://studentaffairs.fresnostate.edu/eop/index.html

The CSU-LSAMP (Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation) program is aimed at increasing the quality and quantity of students successfully completing science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) baccalaureate degree programs, and increasing the number of students interested in, academically qualified for and matriculated into programs of graduate study. CSU-LSAMP supports sustained and comprehensive approaches that facilitate achievement of the long-term goal of increasing the number of students who earn doctorates in STEM fields, particularly individuals who have faced or face social, educational or economic barriers to careers in STEM. Read more at the Fresno State LSAMP Program website: https://csm.fresnostate.edu/lsamp/index.html

The National Institute for Health's (NIH) Bridges to Doctorate Program helps graduate students transition to Ph.D. programs. Funded by NIH Bridges Program, the Bridges to Doctorate Program between Fresno State and UC Davis aims to enhance the participation of students from underrepresented groups in Ph.D. programs in the biomedical and behavioral natural sciences. To achieve this, the Bridge Program provides intensive research, coursework, and mentoring experience. Read more at the Fresno State Bridges to Doctorate website: https://csm.fresnostate.edu/b2doc/index.html

All Employees:

Fresno State is committed to providing ongoing learning opportunities for faculty and staff. In addition to workshops offered through a variety of learning tracks, Fresno State also offers its employees three unique development programs to grow and learn in a cohort-style environment:

(1) The Administrative Academy is open to all administrative support professionals and focuses on networking, resource sharing, learning, and personal growth. The Administrative Academy meets once per month for the academic year, and a number of additional opportunities are available to alumni to stay engaged. Underrepresented groups can benefit from this program.

(2) The Faculty/Staff Mentor program pairs faculty and staff with seasoned professionals for two years to foster personal and career growth. Underrepresented groups can benefit from this program.

(3) The President's Leadership Academy is an 18 month commitment and limited to 25 people from across campus. The cohort is made up of current and upcoming leaders from all divisions, and focuses on building leadership capacities, developing personal leadership philosophies, and overall leadership development. Underrepresented groups can benefit from this program.

Specific Programs for Underrepresented Groups:

(1) The Latina/o Faculty and Staff Association works collaboratively in order to achieve the following goals: (A) foster Latina/o leadership; (B) promote a campus climate that is sensitive, representative, and fair to all ethnic groups, including for example, the cultural diversity within our own community (e.g., Latina/o, Hispanic, Chicana/o and others) through a variety of efforts; (C) provide support and input in the fair recruitment or hiring, retention, and promotion of Latina/o students, faculty, staff, and administrators on campus; (D) respond proactively to the needs of the growing Latina/o student body, with a commitment to broadening and deepening the curriculum with regard to Latina/o issues; (E) build strong, effective linkages with the University administration and with the surrounding community at large; (F) create a social support network of partnerships and personal friendships among the members of the organization; and (G) encourage and empower individuals in the organization to become more actively involved in important University, community, professional, and political service with the purpose of creating a more harmonious and diverse community.

(2) The Asian Faculty and Staff Association is committed to bringing together members of the Asian faculty and staff with the following goals in mind: (A) promote a campus climate that is sensitive, representative, and fair to all ethnic groups, including the variety of Asian and other Asian-related groups of faculty and staff, with the purpose of creating a more harmonious and diverse community that includes students; (B) provide support, activities, and programs for all Asian faculty and staff on campus including support for relevant curricular, professional, service, and social functions; (C) create and promote a continued sense of community and leadership opportunities among the members of the association; and (D) continue building strong and proactive linkages between the University and the surrounding Asian-related constituencies both in the community and abroad.

(3) The Black Faculty and Staff Association works to achieve the following goals: (A) to organize, for purposes of support and advocacy under one governing body, all Black Faculty and Staff of California State University, Fresno; (B) to promote the fair and equal access by Black Faculty and Staff to all relevant programs of California State University, Fresno; (C) to work for the advancement of the interests of the Black Faculty and Staff at California State University, Fresno, and to strive for the attainment of fair hiring practices, economic security, safe, healthful and equal conditions of employment; (D) to work with other Black organizations, as deemed appropriate, from time to time, in Fresno and elsewhere for the purpose of accomplishing all the foregoing similar purposes for affected Black colleagues; and (E) to advise, support, counsel, and assist Black students of California State University, Fresno in their academic and social integration into University life, through appropriate means, including office appointments and planned events.

The California State University’s (CSU) Pre-Doctoral Program is designed to increase diversity within the pool of university faculty by supporting the doctoral aspirations of students in the CSU--with particular support for low-income and educationally disadvantaged students. This program has granted the Sally Casanova scholarship to over 2254 low-income and educationally disadvantaged students throughout the CSU, the majority of whom are first-generation college students.

In 2023-24​, the California Pre-Doctoral Program awarded funds to 77 juniors, seniors and graduate students in the CSU who come from a variety of academic disciplines. Each of these scholars are mentored by a faculty member from their respective campus.

The scholarship provides the Sally Casanova Scholars with:
-An opportunity to travel with their mentor to various University of California (UC) and other doctoral-granting institutions for site visits;
-Attendance at national symposia, or professional meetings, exposing them to their field of interest; and
-Membership in professional organizations, subscriptions to academic journals, or
-Purchasing of supplies necessary to carry out their current research agenda.

In addition, these scholars are offered an opportunity to participate in a summer research experience at any doctoral-granting institution in the United States, with particular emphasis on the UCs. This eight-week program gives the scholars direct exposure to doctoral-granting faculty and research, preparing them for entry into doctoral programs.

For more information about the California Pre-Doctoral Program, please visit: https://www.calstate.edu/csu-system/faculty-staff/predoc

Students can also contact Ronald Dzerigian, Fresno State's campus coordinator for the Pre-Doctoral Program, from the Division of Research and Graduate Studies for more information. Contact Ronald at (559) 278-6673 or .

Furthermore, Fresno State offers paid Teaching Assistantships to enrolled graduate students. Graduate students who teach at least two classes can qualify for tuition assistance from the Division of Research and Graduate Studies, while funding lasts. Positions are housed in various departments across campus including, but not limited to, the English, Biology, Chemistry, and Earth and Environmental Sciences Departments. Eligibility varies depending on the hiring Department. These opportunities are designed to give graduate students, who are interested in one day becoming a faculty member, the experience of teaching at a CSU that is designated as both a Hispanic Serving Institution and an Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander Serving Institution.

Diversity at the CSU: https://www.calstate.edu/impact-of-the-csu/diversity/Pages/default.aspx

Fresno State Gender Neutral Housing: https://fresnostatehousing.org/gender-neutral-housing/

Fresno State Gender Inclusive Restrooms: http://www.fresnostate.edu/studentaffairs/ccgc/gender-inclusive-restrooms.html

Fresno State Cross Cultural and Gender Center (CCGC): https://www.fresnostate.edu/studentaffairs/ccgc/

Organizational Excellence at Fresno State: https://adminfinance.fresnostate.edu/orgexcellence/devprograms/