WHEREAS, LGBTQ students face unique challenges and barriers in their educational journey [3] that can be alleviated through increased awareness and understanding among faculty and classified staff;
WHEREAS, Faculty and classified staff play a crucial role in shaping the campus culture and ensuring a safe and welcoming space for all students, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression; and
WHEREAS, Research consistently demonstrates that LGBTQ-inclusive education positively impacts the mental health, academic performance, and overall well-being of LGBTQ students [4]; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges advocate for the implementation of mandatory LGBTQ training for all part-time and full-time faculty and classified staff at community colleges in the state of California, which faculty members shall provide evidence of completing the LGBTQ training during the hiring process and every two years thereafter;
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges urge the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to develop a comprehensive LGBTQ training program for faculty members and classified staff, to be completed every two years, consisting of a minimum of 5 hours of training, with programmatic topics including LGBTQ terminology, cultural competency, inclusive teaching practices, creating a supportive classroom environment, and addressing bias and discrimination;
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges encourage the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office to work with LGBTQ advocacy organizations and experts to ensure that the training program reflects the latest research and best practices in LGBTQ-inclusive education; and
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges actively engage in outreach and education efforts to raise awareness about the importance of LGBTQ training for faculty and classified staff and its positive impact on student success, while concurrently collaborating with local student government bodies, LGBTQ student organizations, and other stakeholders to support the successful implementation of LGBTQ training for community college faculty [5].
This resolution has been incorporated into the LGBTQ+ Inclusivity Toolkit, developed to support systemwide efforts in fostering inclusive and affirming environments for LGBTQ+ students across California Community Colleges. The toolkit includes advocacy resources aligned with the resolution’s objectives, such as:
- Strategies and talking points to advocate for mandatory LGBTQ+ training for all part-time and full-time faculty and classified staff, with recommendations for integrating this training into the hiring process and renewing it every two years.
- Outreach materials and customizable templates to help raise awareness about the importance of LGBTQ+ training, including guidance on collaborating with local student governments, LGBTQ+ student organizations, and campus stakeholders.
These resources are designed to support both local and statewide advocacy efforts to ensure that faculty and staff are well-equipped to create safe, inclusive, and equitable learning environments.
Additionally, the SSCCC will urge the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office to collaborate with key stakeholders and LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations to develop a comprehensive, systemwide training program. This training should address critical topics such as LGBTQ+ terminology, cultural competency, inclusive teaching practices, creating supportive classroom environments, and addressing bias and discrimination. The SSCCC is committed to advocating for a program that reflects the latest research and best practices in LGBTQ+-inclusive education and promotes meaningful, lasting change across the system.