Student Diversity and Belonging

Administration Bldg. 01, Room 206
805.756.1521
https://studentaffairs.calpoly.edu/diversity

We believe every person has the right to feel welcomed, respected and valued at Cal Poly. Together with our campus partners, Student Affairs aims to create campus communities that reflect the diverse population of our state, and provide equity, access and opportunities for all students, faculty and staff. As a division, we acknowledge that history includes examples of both formal and informal structures, policies, and practices that have limited or excluded opportunities for individuals or groups of people. While efforts have been made to address these inequities, the impact of these structures continues to exist. 

https://culture.calpoly.edu/home

Student Diversity & Belonging is a collective of campus resource programs and centers that support and empower students experiencing marginalization, through intersectional advocacy and cultural connections to build a more just and equitable Cal Poly community.

Campus Programs and Centers:

Black Academic Excellence Center

Bldg. 52, Room E23
Phone: 805.756.6774
https://baec.calpoly.edu/

The Black Academic Excellence Center (BAEC) is committed to supporting the advancement and excellence of Black students and Black student groups within the Cal Poly community. By fostering an inclusive environment, providing academic support, and promoting a Black excellence, our goal is to empower Black students to take full advantage of all the opportunities presented at Cal Poly while actively engaging with Black history and culture.

Dream Center

Bldg. 52, Room E11
Phone: 805.756.6362
https://dreamcenter.calpoly.edu/

The Dream Center offers a safe, inclusive space for all undocumented students, those from mixed-status families, and their allies. The Center maintains the confidentiality of individual students while fostering a welcoming community environment that aligns with the university’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. The Dream Center offers a range of programs and services to educate the campus community and support undocumented students’ access, persistence, graduation, and post-graduate pursuits.

Gender Equity Center

Bldg. 65, Room 217
https://gec.calpoly.edu/

As a part of Student Diversity and Belonging, the Gender Equity Center (GEC) welcomes and supports people of all genders and experiences to cultivate a brave space where they can learn and grow together. Through social justice-based education, programming, and community-building, our work centers students of marginalized genders, including those who are womxn, feminine-of-center, trans, and/or nonbinary.

Men & Masculinities Program

Bldg. 65, Room 209
https://masculinities.calpoly.edu/

As a part of Student Diversity and Belonging the Men & Masculinities Program engages the Cal Poly Community with the purpose of creating spaces to critically evaluate expressions of masculinities, their intersections, and men’s health and wellbeing. The Men & Masculinities Program is also home to the Men of Color Success initiative which aims to increase retention and graduation rates for men of color through identity exploration, holistic development through cultural affirmation, and “brave space” communities.

Multicultural Center

Bldg. 65, Room 111F
https://multicultural.calpoly.edu/

As a part of Student Diversity and Belonging, the MultiCultural Center (MCC) is dedicated to the retention and success of historically underserved students. It is a communal space that is committed to serving the holistic development of our campus' student body, by providing  programs and services that: engage students in their identity exploration and development through critical self-reflection and dialogue, center and celebrate the voices and experiences of underrepresented students, and cultivate a sense of belonging through community building, mentorship, and intersectional learning.

Pride Center

Bldg. 65, Room 209
https://pride.calpoly.edu/

As a part of Student Diversity and Belonging, the Pride Center supports and empowers students of all sexualities, gender identities, and expressions (SOGIE) to strengthen and unite our Cal Poly community. Within our mission we support and advocate for the unique academic and developmental needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual/aromantic, pansexual, non-binary and non-conforming students to promote personal growth and success. The Pride Center designs programs that emphasize holistic identity development, promote individual and community health and wellbeing, and education through an intersectional lens.

LatinX Initiatives

Bldg. 52, Room E22
https://culture.calpoly.edu/home

The Latinx Center aims to create an environment that fosters belonging, empowers Latinx students to thrive, and provides them holistic support. In turn, the center will offer Latinx students the opportunity to gather and build community while exploring their cultures, histories, and traditions.  The Latinx Center also host Heritage month programs, including the State of Latinx each fall, as well as dialogue, panel, and speaker series throughout the year that are rooted in the diverse needs and experiences of Latinx students.  Educational experiences like these will provide everyone in the Cal Poly community opportunities to learn about the Latinx student experience.

Native Center

Bldg. 172
https://culture.calpoly.edu/home

The Native American and Indigenous Cultural Center (NAICC) provides a community gathering space featuring mentorship opportunities, academic support, beading and basket weaving workshops, and an Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration. The center will also host Native and Indigenous Heritage Month programs, a speaker series, decolonial healing workshops, dialogues and book circles, art and dance presentations, a film series and commencement ceremony.  NAICC will be an intertribal space that will foster partnerships with Cal Poly’s American Indian Student Association (AISA), American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES), American Indian and Indigenous Faculty and Staff Association, University Housing and Academic Affairs, as well as the yak titʸu titʸu yak tiłhini Northern Chumash Tribe and other local and statewide tribes.