Equity and Diversity

Reaffirm Affirmative Action and Cultural Diversity Resolutions

Resolved that the Academic Senate reaffirm its support for its many affirmative action and diversity resolutions asking for
a. intern programs to encourage more diverse faculty to enter the community college teaching profession;
b. diverse faculty representation on local senates, including local senate committees and task forces;
c. diverse faculty serving as coordinators, directors, and chairs at community colleges; and
d. staff diversity funding to promote hiring and upward mobility among diverse faculty; and

California Community College Pledge

Whereas the UC Berkeley Pledge, adopted after the passage of Proposition 209, involves the support and funding of a variety of activities to help disadvantaged students to achieve the high standards to become eligible to attend UCB, and

Whereas the development of the California Community College Pledge has been inspired by the Berkeley Pledge, and

Whereas the California Community College Pledge has been written by a representative Consultation Task Force to meet the specific needs of the California Community Colleges, and

Conference Attendance

Whereas the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges has, in the past, under the then AA/CD Committee chair Patricia Siever, now a member of the Board of Governors, created liaisons and bridges to organizations representing the diversity in California community college faculty, such as the Latina Leadership Network and the Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education, and

Whereas during the last 28 years the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges has adopted over 100 resolutions supporting diversity, affirmative action, student equity, and related areas, and

Ethnic Studies Requirement

Whereas the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges has in the past supported an ethnic studies requirement for Associate Degree General Education, and

Whereas, because of the Proposition 209 climate, some community colleges are reconsidering the ethnic studies requirement, and

Whereas Chancellor Nussbaum has declared that "diversity is a compelling State interest" and since ethnic studies would contribute to promoting the State's interest,

Enforcement of Affirmative Action

Whereas the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges has a long history of support for affirmative action, affirmative action officers, plans, training, and procedures, and

Whereas, despite the passage of Proposition 209, there have been advisories from the Chancellor's Office Chief Counsel advising colleges that affirmative action requirements are still in place and must be implemented,

Diversity Award

Whereas, despite the passage of Proposition 209, there should be continued efforts made on the part of faculty to promote the success of our diverse student population, and

Whereas there are faculty in California Community Colleges who, in fact, work in very special and important ways to promote this success, and

Whereas the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges should act in a positive way to acknowledge the work of faculty making special contributions in the areas of student success for diverse students,

Bigotry at Board Meetings

Whereas there has been considerable publicity in Southern California regarding meetings of the Board of Trustees of the South Orange County Community College District, where anti-Semitic, racist, and bigoted remarks have been permitted by the Board to be made in the "open forum" time, regardless of the fact that these comments have no relevance to the educational programs of the District, and

Opposition to "English for the Children Initiative"

Whereas many students in K-12 who are in bilingual education programs today will be in community colleges in the future and therefore the status and effectiveness of bilingual education are of concern to the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges, and

Whereas the Ron Unz-sponsored ballot proposition "English for the Children Initiative," which will be on the State June Ballot, specifies one teaching method instead of allowing professional educators to decide teaching methods to meet individual student needs, and

Training for Faculty

Whereas many faculty serving on community college hiring committees have little affirmative action training in current laws and procedures, and

Whereas, despite a widespread belief that Proposition 209 nullified affirmative action, current laws and regulations still require such training,

Resolved that the Academic Senate reaffirm its support of adequate and effective affirmative action training for faculty serving on hiring committees, and

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