Diversity, equity, and inclusion are fundamental to the disciplines of the liberal arts. Whether we’re studying philosophical arguments, reading literature, or analyzing regional economic situations, the liberal arts are always asking the questions: Whose story gets told? Who is not included? Why are there disparities amongst communities?
The College of Liberal Arts uses CSU’s Principles of Community as our aspirational guide. We reinforce and strengthen our commitment to Inclusion, Respect, Social Justice, Integrity, and Service.
These values inform our teaching, our learning, our scholarship, and our engagement. They are embedded in the college and in the work.
Inclusion
Respect
Social Justice
Integrity
Service
University Initiatives
First Generation Initiative
The First Generation University Initiative (FGUI) is a group of staff and faculty members who have volunteered to organize, collaborate across departments, develop strategies, brainstorm outreach opportunities, and provide support for all our First Generation college students.
Inclusive Physical & Virtual Campus
Promotes CSU’s commitment to creating and sustaining a welcoming, accessible, and inclusive campus that enhances usability for everyone and helps create an environment in which we support, protect, and respect rich dimensions of diversity. Includes resources on design standards, outreach, advocacy.
Multicultural Staff & Faculty Network
Its mission is to serve as a catalyst to positively impact campus climate and culture by supporting recruitment, retention, and development of multicultural employees and promoting collaboration through visible and meaningful engagement with CSU and the greater community.
Employee Climate Survey
Launched in 2012, this survey is administered every two to three years to all CSU faculty and staff. Its goal is to assess the current working environment and to inform strategic decisions and investments that allow employees to work in alignment with inclusive excellence.
President’s Multicultural Student Advisory Council
An advisory group to the President and University administrators, professionals, and academic faculty that addresses broad issues of multiculturalism and social identity that impact the university campus and surrounding community. The committee’s primary functions are to engage in conversations with university faculty and administrators, share students’ perspectives, and provide recommendations that will develop and sustain a campus climate of inclusiveness and help CSU better serve its increasingly diverse population.
CSU Diversity Resources

Office of Inclusive Excellence
This office fosters an inclusive environment at CSU. Find out more about their priorities and access their trainings, newsletter, groups, and resources.

Principles of Community
The Principles of Community – Inclusion, Integrity, Respect, Service, and Social Justice – support CSU’s mission and provide a collaborative framework for engaging with one another.

Student Diversity Programs and Services
CSU has a number of diversity offices that promote multiculturalism and support students on campus.

CSU Land Acknowledgment
CSU’s land acknowledgment recognizes the long history of Native peoples who originally lived on the land where the University is now located.
College Initiatives
Committee for Equity Advocacy (CEA)
In 2021, CLA created a committee of approximately 50 members from across the college to develop new programs and initiatives as well as highlight and elevate on-going ones that foster equity in practices, policies, and procedures affecting faculty, staff, and students in the college. The CEA is co-chaired by the CLA Faculty Coordinator for Diversity & Inclusion Initiatives.
Link coming soon.
Open Door Pedagogy Network (ODPN)
The ODPN consists of faculty of all ranks from each department in CLA who available to colleagues for informal discussions about teaching. Teachers of all ranks are encouraged to drop in for casual conversation and advice, especially in relation to inclusion, academic freedom, and handling challenging classroom situations.
Featured Faculty Symposium
Each year, early-career faculty are invited to speak on an interdisciplinary panel to discuss scholarship around a selected theme. Panelists receive mentoring and support from senior faculty in their departments. This symposium aims to foster collaboration and mutual support across the college with a focus on issues surrounding equity and inclusion.
Link coming soon.
CLA Faculty Experts
CLA has faculty of all ranks with expertise in a wide range of topics, many related to teaching and researching diversity, equity, and inclusion. Look through the list of the research areas of all researching faculty.
CLA Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice Courses
CLA has over 200 regularly taught courses that specifically address equity, inclusion, social justice, and diversity from a wide variety of departments. They also teach 24 of the 29 options for AUCC Category 1C. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion coursework.
Link coming soon.
CLA Classroom Climate Resources
CLA created a collection of resources aimed at cultivating a classroom climate conducive to open inquiry and engaged learning for all of us. The site includes resources on academic freedom, inclusive pedagogy, and faculty, staff, and student wellness.

CLA Strategic Planning
DEIJ is a foundational component of CLA's strategic planning, with the goal of weaving equity and access with all that we do. You can see the college's new strategic plan for the coming years to learn how we envision ways that DEIJ inform our efforts.
CLA Coordinator of Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives
Rosa Mikeal Martey
- Professor
- Faculty Coordinator of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Dr. Martey received her Doctorate from the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania, from which she also holds a Masters of Science in Economics. Dr. Martey's research focuses on identity and social interaction in online contexts, from virtual worlds and multiplayer games (MMOs), to Facebook and online information-seeking, including for employment and health information. She examines ways that identities emerge in such spaces, including gender, racial, and sexual identities. She also studies information design and meaning-making, especially in the context of online visual...