State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry
PA-4: Diversity and Equity Coordination

The student diversity office at ESF is called the Student Diversity & Inclusion unit (http://www.esf.edu/students/di) is a part of the Office of Student Affairs. Student Diversity & Inclusion helps promote cultural growth and understanding across campus through activities and services designed to help members of the ESF community effectively interact with others in an increasingly diverse and global society. Through an array of programs and services, Multicultural Affairs helps recruit and support underrepresented students in their endeavors at ESF. Multicultural Affairs provides material and informational resources to help members of the college community identify and connect with others who can offer support in a variety of ways, including linguistic, ethnic, ideological, or cultural aspects of life. In terms of employees, the mandate falls under ESF's Office of Human Resources (http://www.esf.edu/hr/) to implement a SUNY-wide policy of Non-Discrimination and Affirmative Action (http://www.esf.edu/hr/handbooks/handbook.htm#Anchor-VI-3800). The policy states that: "SUNY-ESF is committed to fostering a diverse community of outstanding faculty, staff, and students, as well as ensuring equal educational opportunity, employment, and access to services, programs, and activities, without regard to an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, creed, age, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, familial status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, or criminal conviction. Employees, students, applicants or other members of the College community (including but not limited to vendors, visitors, and guests) may not be subjected to harassment that is prohibited by law, or treated adversely or retaliated against based upon a protected characteristic. It is the policy of the College to have a diversified workforce that reflects the population we serve. To achieve this diversity, the College will carry out an Affirmative Action Program that provides procedures that give equal consideration to employees in all aspects of human resource management.

ESF's cultural competence training teaches employees about cultural components such as: colors, symbols, songs, sayings, documents, leaders, landmarks, adversaries, food, celebrations, codes of conduct, values, language, body language, history, behaviors, uniforms, and unspoken rules of protocol. ESF's Department of Environmental Studies also hosts a three-day training workshop in the summer for graduate students on "Ethics, Culture, and Community-based Environmental Research" (see http://www.esf.edu/communications/view.asp?newsID=847). Training in research ethics and cultural diversity prepare students with new research approaches and methods appropriate to environmental field research, community-based partnerships and research with cultural groups. Participants learn about required human subjects protections (such as informed consent and beneficence) and ethical and cultural competence theories. They also review environmental case studies for community-based, culturally appropriate approaches. Upon completing the workshop, participants receive a certificate of completion for "Research Ethics/ Human Subjects Protections and Cultural Competence Training."