Global Diversity & Inclusion (GDI)
The health and wellbeing of our entire PSU campus community including students, faculty, and staff are of the utmost importance to us. In our efforts to continue to serve students, faculty and staff please see below for the latest updates from our centers, programs and services.
It is imperative that the campus community continues to embrace our values of diversity and inclusion as we navigate evolving developments related to COVID-19. The coronavirus outbreak does not discriminate and people from all backgrounds may be carriers of the virus. Please be mindful not to make assumptions or comments based on national origin, race, color or any other identities. Asking questions about someone’s health based on your perception of their race or national origin would be considered discriminatory. If you experience or someone you know experiences a bias incident, you may report it to the Bias Review Team. The Bias Review Team, convened by PSU Global Diversity and Inclusion, is actively monitoring these reports and working with organizations across campus to make sure our coronavirus response is well informed and nondiscriminatory.
Please also continue to refer to the resources available on the PSU coronavirus response website, especially the FAQs provided, and send unanswered questions to coronavirusresponse@pdx.edu.
At this time, the staff at the central office of GDI in the Richard and Maureen Neuberger Center (RMNC) Suite 830, will be working remotely, continuing to provide diversity advocacy.
The Culturally Responsive Symposium scheduled on May 6th has been cancelled and the Diversity Action Council (DAC) and GDI are evaluating alternatives. All in-person workshops or trainings scheduled between now and mid-April have been cancelled. If necessary, we will work to schedule the Inclusive Hiring workshop via Zoom or Google Hangout. Please watch for announcements.
Most GDI Committee meetings will continue to occur and there will be information in each meeting invite on how to join the meeting by Google Hangouts. If you have any questions, please email GDI at diversity@pdx.edu. We will continue to update our social media channels (Facebook and Instagram), and our website with any updated information.
Equity & Compliance (OEC)
OEC staff will be working remotely, but will continue to address complaints of discrimination, discriminatory harassment, sexual harassment, retaliation, failure to accommodate a disabilty and violations of the Consensual Relationship Policy. This includes complaints of discrimination or discriminatory harassment based on national origin, race or other protected classes that are related to the Coronavirus. You may file a complaint through the OEC complaint process. OEC can address concerns either through a formal investigation or an informal process. Currently, all communications with OEC staff will be conducted remotely.
Multicultural Retention Services
The Multicultural Retention Services office will be physically closed beginning March 18, 2020 through March 30, 2020, if not longer. Please note that we will continue to provide services remotely for students. MRS advisors are available via phone, email or google hangouts Monday-Friday from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm. We will continue to provide updates on our website. For general questions please contact Jeffrey Smith, DMSS & MRS Office Manager (leston@pdx.edu).
- Michelle Lee, Coordinator of Asian & Pacific Islander Student Services, miclee@pdx.edu
- Emanuel Magaña, Coordinator of Latino/a/x Student Services, emagana@pdx.edu
- Trevino Brings Plenty, Coordinator of Native American Student Services, trevino@pdx.edu
- Vvdual Holloway, Coordinator of African American Student Services, vvdual@pdx.edu
- Perla Pinedo, Director of Multicultural Retention Services & Diversity Scholarship Coordinator, perlap@pdx.edu
Cultural Resource Centers
La Casa Latina Student Center, Multicultural Student Center, Pacific Islander, Asian, and Asian American Student Center, and Pan-African Commons will be closed starting Monday, March 16th, 2020. We will continue to provide resources, referrals, and programming remotely via our social media channels and online platforms. After spring break, we will announce if the Centers will remain physically closed. Please check the Cultural Resource Centers website to learn if we will be opening.
Students can email cultures@pdx.edu for more information or stay engaged by following us on Facebook and Instagram where we will provide connections to all of our remote co-curricular, professional development, and scholarly experiences.
Staff across our six programs will be available to collaborate to keep students engaged and at the center of our work:
- Cynthia Gómez, Cultural Resource Centers Director, gomezc@pdx.edu
- Stacie Taniguchi, Assist. Director & Multicultural Student Center Coordinator, stacie5@pdx.edu
- Pedro Torres, La Casa Latina Student Center Coordinator, pstorres@pdx.edu
- Yolonda Salguiero, Native American Student & Community Center Student Program Coordinator, yms@pdx.edu
- Bree Kalima, Pacific Islander, Asian, Asian American Student Center Coordinator, bkalima@pdx.edu
- Ahmed El Mansouri, Middle Eastern, North African, South Asian Student Center Initiative Coordinator, elman@pdx.edu
- Courtney Taylor, Pan-African Commons Coordinator, cotay2@pdx.edu
- Andrew Morales, Office Manager, cm9@pdx.edu
Native American Student & Community Center
The Native American Student and Community Center is closed starting Friday (3/13/20) through March 29th, 2020.
We will continue to update our social media channels, Facebook, Instagram, and our website with any updated information including our reopening.
NASCC professional staff will continue to work remotely and can be contacted via email:
- Yolonda Salguiero, Cultural Resource Centers Student Programming Coordinator, yms@pdx.edu
- Trevino Brings Plenty, Multicultural Retention Services Student Services Coordinator, trevino@pdx.edu
- Robert Franklin, Native American Student and Community Center Manager, ref4@pdx.edu, and also google hangout.
TRIO - Student Support Services (SSS)
TRIO - SSS staff will be working remotely starting Wednesday, March 18th through Monday, March 30th, if not longer. We will continue to provide updates on our website. TRIO - SSS students can contact their advisor via email. Advising appointments (phone or Google Hangouts Meet) may be made through our online scheduler. All other questions should be directed to our main line at 503.725.3815 or triosss@pdx.edu and someone will get back to you as soon as possible.
Disability Resource Center
Disability Resource Center (DRC) physical space is closed until at least Monday, March 30th, if not longer. Stay tuned for updates from us and will be working remotely. The DRC has made the following changes:
- We will continue working with students, faculty, and staff remotely throughout the next two weeks. We will hold appointments and drop-ins over the phone, via Zoom, and Google Hangouts. You can email us at drc@pdx.edu or call us at 503.725.4150 and leave a detailed message and someone will call you back soon.
- In moving your interactions with students online, please remember that accessibility and accommodation needs may also change. In many ways and for many students, moving experiences to an online environment can inherently create more accessibility for them. Barriers that were present in the physical space no longer exist. And yet, for other students, new barriers arise that were never before anticipated. Please work directly with the student and consult with the DRC if you have any questions or concerns about this at all.
- For exams and quizzes that are now going to be in D2L, please make sure extended time is added for those students who need it. You can do this by setting up a ‘restricted release’ test. Instructions can be found here on OAI’s website.
- This is as good a time as any to implement techniques related to Universal Design for Learning (UDL), an approach to learning that minimizes barriers and maximizes learning for all students. Consider practices that allow for more flexibility and opportunities for students to learn and demonstrate their learning in multiple ways. By using a UDL approach, you will be providing your students with multiple means of:
- Engagement (the “why” of learning)
- Representation (the “what” of learning)
- Action and Expression (the “how” of learning)
- The CAST UDL Guidelines are a great resource!
Student Legal Services
PSU Student Legal Services’ office will be physically closed through at least March 27, 2020, but will continue to provide legal services remotely. Students are encouraged to access our services and intake forms through our website or by calling our office and leaving a voicemail at 503.725.4556.
Pre-College TRIO: Upward Bound / Educational Talent Search
The Pre-College TRIO office will be closed until at least Monday, March 30th, if not longer. All Spring field trips have been cancelled. However, TRIO Pre-College staff are working remotely and are available via email and text for advising. We will be following directives from both Portland Public Schools and Portland State University in determining when to re-open and when to return to target schools. Staff email addresses can be found on our website.
Veterans Resource Center
VRC staff will be working remotely starting Wednesday, March 18th through Monday, March 27th, if not longer. The VRC director will provide updated information to veteran students as received from school administration in coordination with affiliated offices and agencies during the course of the COVID-19 concern. We will provide updated information via social media both via Facebook and Instagram. Staff email addresses can be found on our website.
- Walt Ghant, Director, waghant@pdx.edu
- Valicia Kutchinski, Program Coordinator, uvalicia@pdx.edu