Sonoma State University
white outline of leave against blue background

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at SSU

Seawolf Values Committee

In 2014, the SSU community began a campus-wide conversation about the hateful comments and negative experiences faced daily by students from historically marginalized communities. Degrading slurs written on a whiteboard outside a student residence brought much-needed attention to SSU’s campus climate and mobilized a group of students committed to making significant changes. In response, campus leadership commissioned the Seawolf Values Committee in November 2014, co-chaired by staff members Mo Phillips and Tramaine Austin-Dillon. The committee, comprising students, faculty, and staff, worked to identify values that would define the Seawolf identity. After a yearlong process, the values of Integrity, Excellence, Respect, and Responsibility were selected as the founding principles of the Seawolf Commitment.

As a Seawolf, I Commit Myself to the Highest Ethical Standards.

Integrity - I will conduct myself with INTEGRITY in my dealings with students, staff, and faculty.
 
Excellence - I will strive for EXCELLENCE in my academic work and relationships.

Respect - I will RESPECT the rights and dignity of others.

Responsibility - I will accept the RESPONSIBILITY to conduct myself as an ethical member of my community.

Integration into University Life 

The Seawolf Commitment has been embraced across the campus as a guide for our collective behavior and are among the university’s core values as reflected in our strategic plan. Initially, Student Involvement, Residential Education and Campus Housing, Office of Student Conduct, and Orientation each adopted and integrated the Seawolf Commitment values in active and passive programming, as well as to frame educational conversations about bias and social justice. Associated Students and Academic Senate then passed resolutions endorsing the Seawolf Commitment. Additionally, President Sakaki and the 2017 Associated Students President, Wilson Hall, recorded a video affirming their support of the Seawolf Commitment. Read the resolutions passed by the Associated Students and the Academic Senate.

Membership

  • Associated Students (AS) Senator for Diversity
  • Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination (OPHD)
  • Senate Diversity Subcommittee 
  • Division of Student Affairs
  • Residential Students 
  • Black Student Union
  • Resident Advisors
  • Queer Student Alliance
  • HUB Cultural Center 

Resources