Inclusive Excellence Framework

Vision

SJSU aspires to be a place that produces curricular and co-curricular experiences in a holistic learning environment which contributes to transformation (individual and collective). It endeavors to connect and work with our diverse community of staff, faculty, students and alumni.  We are reflective of the idea of cultural humility and lifelong learning through mutually constituted knowledge and understanding centering on the student experience, and experiences which reverberate across time and generations of students.  We strive to create inclusive and empowering spaces.

Mission

Our mission is to enrich the lives of students, staff, faculty, alumni, and community stakeholders. It prioritizes avenues for mutual learning and exchange of knowledge.  It promotes skill building opportunities to apply in the service of our diverse democratic society, and to expand the base of knowledge through research, scholarship and service.  SJSU aspires to be a place for holistic learning where all members of our community are respected and contribute to transformational educational experiences for students, staff, faculty, alumni, and community stakeholders. We leverage the knowledge of our diverse community to create equitable structures, policies, and processes that further inclusive excellence.  

Values

We are champions for student success

What we do:

We serve our diverse students by actively identifying and working towards dismantling systemic inequities in our institution. By removing obstacles, we provide opportunities to learn, grow and effect change in their spheres of influence as alumni.

How we strive to do it:

We create an intellectual environment in which hands-on, transformational learning experiences help students, faculty, and staff collaboratively address complex issues in global communities. We establish practices that address students’ holistic needs and support their academic excellence, personal development, and well-being.

We are visionary and community-minded

What we do:

We are the original start-up in Silicon Valley and a downtown San Jose anchor institution [pdf] that continues to ignite the next generation of talent locally and globally. We contribute to the continuous evolution and growth of this center of big ideas driven by big thinkers.

How we strive to do it:

We lead with intentionality to increase the University’s presence and impact in a vibrant and diverse downtown San Jose community as well as the wider Bay Area region while confronting challenging environmental, social, technological, and economic issues. We cultivate relentless curiosity, creativity, and entrepreneurship to drive every aspect of what we do.

We are inclusive and equity-minded

What we do:

We are committed to and embody the movement for social and racial justice. Our pursuit to eradicate disparities and advance justice encompasses all axes of difference, backgrounds, and identities and promotes a sense of belonging and empowerment in our community. 

How we strive to do it:

We honor the dignity and resilience of all people, beginning with our region’s Indigenous communities. We support intersectional identities across race, class, faith, gender, sexuality, and ability so that each person can excel. We cultivate compassion, equity-mindedness and cultural humility. We provide an educational experience for our community that is rooted in socio-economic and culturally-affirming practices, encourages self-advocacy, and prepares students to be engaged citizens in a complex global world.

We are trustworthy and act with integrity and accountability

What we do:

We uphold ethical behavior in all that we do as credible and honest citizens to our university, alumni, community, and society.

How we strive to do it:

We embrace a culture of care and respect that delivers on our commitments to transparency, honesty and integrity to each other and those we serve. We hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards.

We are collaborative and embrace teamwork

What we do:

We are better together. We advance the university community’s experience, the 
public good, and the community at large through intentional collaborations and partnerships.

How we strive to do it:

We foster collaboration and teamwork in a manner that supports and advances our mission and vision. We build positive internal and external partnerships to ensure a safe, healthy, and productive environment that promotes achievement, well-being, career readiness, and discovery.

Defining Inclusive Excellence

Inclusive Excellence re-envisions both quality and diversity. It reflects a striving for excellence in higher education that has been made more inclusive by decades of work to infuse diversity into recruiting, admissions, and hiring; into the curriculum and curriculum, and into administrative structures and practices (AAC&U [pdf]). Inclusive Excellence means an organization has adopted means for the cohesive, coherent, and collaborative integration of diversity, inclusion, and equity into the organizational pursuit of excellence (William and Mary).

Access & Success

Striving for equity of access and outcomes for all students and employees across diverse backgrounds, with a particular focus on reducing and then eliminating equity gaps for marginalized populations

Climate & Intergroup Relations

Aspiring to be a positive and collaborative community that creates and sustains climate and culture that are equitable and inclusive and that supports opportunities to thrive

Education & Scholarship

Interrogating the ways in which curriculum, teaching, research, scholarship, and student and employee development contribute to our passion for discovery, innovation, community engagement, service, and social justice

Infrastructure & Investment

Utilizing an organizational structure that facilitates the coherent implementation of institutional diversity, equity and inclusion strategic goals and enacts policies and practices that sustain inclusivity, equity, and innovation

Community & Partnership

As a place-based organization, engaging reciprocally and in a participatory way to co-lead progress for equity and engagement with our surrounding neighborhoods, counties, and the state