Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Mission Statement

Our mission is to seek out and encourage opportunity and competitive advantage for the further advancement of equity, diversity, and inclusion for IT Division leadership, faculty, staff, and students. To this end, we aspire to increase and retain underrepresented faculty, staff, and students through strategic, equity-minded, and inclusive initiatives. To be impactful, our team will embrace the cultural change in our workplace through the data we use, the innovative technical solutions we provide, and the diverse representation of our Division.

Our goal is to build a safe, accepting, and successful environment together. To narrow gaps of diverse representation within our team, we will press beyond mission and value statements and strive toward action and accountability to achieve our goals of continuously improving diversity and the engagement of our SDSU community.

ITD Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plan (PDF)

ITD Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Report Card (PDF)

Goals:

  • The ITD Diversity Council will create, implement, review and continually improve a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Plan to support divisional and campus efforts to create an evolving inclusive environment.
  • The ITD Diversity Council will sponsor events to inform IT Division employees that increase awareness and improve the division’s climate as it relates to diversity, equity, and inclusion to promote a working environment centered on respect for all.
  • Encourage critical review in relation to diversity, equity, and inclusion within IT solutions.
  • Collaborate with the greater San Diego State University community to support a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Membership:

  • The committee shall consist of a mix of representatives from different IT units (i.e. AIS, ITS, ITUS, ITNI, ITIO, Web, DADO, College IT, ITSO) on a voluntary basis.
  • The terms of service of committee members would ideally be a minimum of one year, with no limit to the time served. It is the responsibility of the council member(s) to notify the DEI Council Chairs if they wish to extend or leave the council.
  • The DEI Council Chair(s) shall be selected by the ITD Diversity Council. Nominations can originate from committee members or self-nomination.
  • The DEI council shall meet at minimum average of once per month from starting in January 2021.

22/23 Council Members

  • Aurora Velasco - ITS
  • Ed Legaspi - ITUS
  • Jasmine Walker - ITUS
  • Oliver Velarde - CollegeIT
  • Rahim Baker - ATI
  • Sheryll Del Rosario - ITSO
  • Wayne Jackson - ITIO
  • Yiftach Levy - ITUS
  • Yvonne Tempel - ITD 
  • Layna Pena-Buskirk (Chair) - CollegeIT

RACI

A RACI chart is a simple roles and responsibilities matrix used in project management. RACI stands for Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed. Each letter in the RACI acronym represents a level of task responsibility on a project.
Area Task/ Deliverable DEI Cmte. ITD Leadership IT Comm. SDSU Comm. ITD Admin Support
DEI Planning/ Increase Diversity in Candidate Pools for Open Positions For each Hiring committee selected, ensure all members have completed implicit Bias Training A / R C I -- R
Ensure all recruitment documents (i.e. job description/listing, interview questionnaire) use language that reinforces the unit;s commitment to diversity and inclusion A / R C I -- R
Work with ITD Admin Division to disseminate future student worker jobs with the various ethnic groups on campus A / R C I -- R
Compile a list of URM and women, including students, in IT groups, and share the available career opportunities with them A / R C I -- R
Training Opportunities Invite at least one guest speaker to speak on a topic of diversity, equity & inclusion to any IT Division event A / R C I I I
Confirm via HR/Equity Council regarding IT Division attendance at optional DEI trainings to show year over year increase in Implicit Bias training OR Send out an annual survey created by the ITD DEI Council A / R C I -- I
Promote at least two existing DEI forums/events each year A / R C I I I
Technology Solutions Create Canvas course to promote readings on diversity topics A / R C -- -- --
Develop a framework (i.e. set of questions) that considers what implicit biases may exist in IT solutions A / R I I I I

RACI Key

  • Responsible: Assigned to complete the task or deliverable.
  • Accountable: Has final decision-making authority and accountability for completion. Only 1 per task.
  • Consulted: An advisor, stakeholder or subject matter expert who is consulted before a decision or action is taken.
  • Informed: Must be informed after a decision or action is taken.