1998 Self-Study Report - Saddleback College

in the response to the Accrediting Team Focused issue #3, the College has taken extensive
action to address the issue.it will.be an on-going endeavor for the College community to
create a campus climate that is conducive to unity in diversity.
Develop and implement an institution-wide initiative to demonstrate that college personnel
embrace and support equity and diversity~ both in spirit.and in deed, and that members
of the College and District family share the desire to eliminate racial and other diversity
conflicts.
Saddleback College has undergone an extensive evaluation of policies, procedures, and personnel
practices that have contributed to the hate incidents toward under-represented and minority
groups.Commencing
1993,the College administration, with the assistance of the Academic
Senate, Associate Student Government, and numerous unaffiliated individuals, has undertaken
College-wide hearings, discussion groups, workshops, and sensitivity training sessions. Although
the process is by no means over, there have resulted some very positive outcomes from the effort.
In Fall, 1994, Saddleback College institutionalized a Cross Cultural Studies program.With a dedicated
coordinator and permanent assignment of space, the Cross Cultural Studies program has
done an exhaustive study of both curricular and extra-curricular activities at the College. Saddleback
College now offers an associate degree in Cross Cultural Studies.
In addition, the College has renewed its pledge to support diversity by the appointment of a
College Staff Diversity Officer who coordinates with the District Affirmative Action Office to
assure compliance with affirmative action guidelines and other training activities. Under the
direction of the College Staff Diversity Officer, faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to attend
conferences focusing on issues of affirmative action.
Along with serious attention ,being paid to curriculum and staffing, numeroustudent-based
activities have been organized which focus on issues of race, gender, diversity, and equity. One of
the campus-wide initiatives is the establishment of the Saddleback College Student Equity Committee.With
representation across the campus, this group was first formed in 1993 to develop and
implementhe student equity plan.
The ACademic Senate worked closely with the Office of Instruction and students in developing
a proposal and areas to use existing curriculum for ethnic an d cross-cultural course offerings. An
outside consulting team was hired to accomplish this task and ~o make recomme~ndations regarding
the implementation of a cross-cultural program.The program was established in 1993 with
faculty, classified, and fiscal support. Goals and objectives have been developed along with specific
cross-cultural course~
The Academic Senate is to be commended for taking leadership in the development of a public
position statement of philosophy against prejudice and racism.The resolution was adopted in
1994 and was presented to the President’s Council and Board of Trustees.The Senate funded the
framing and placement of more than twenty-five ~arge copies of the resolution and is currently
working with a~l divisions to display this resolution throughouthe entire campus.