STUDENT CENTERED PHILOSOPHY

• Without students, we don’t exist.
• Consider the affect on students when developing and reviewing policies and procedures.
• Involve students in decision making and committees.
• Use the best interests of students as a guide to prioritize resources.
• Make quality and accurate referrals, with follow-up, when working with students.
• Be accessible to student needs and questions.
• Listen to students for real issues and concerns.
• Explain services without unnecessarily using jargon.
• Resolve issues efficiently and promptly, and advocate on the student’s behalf when appropriate.
• Watch for, and respond to, community, state, and federal issues that may impact students.

Keeping the students’ perspective in mind in all we do and in the decisions we make. — Catherine Schmitt Whitaker, Disabled Student Services

Being student-centered is our core; everything else supports this value—integrity, interconnectedness, passion, quality, and the richness of diversity. — Jennifer Schufer, Visitor and Information Centers

Student Affairs literally reflects Cal Poly Pomona’s student-centered philosophy. As a student, I felt that the staff really valued my opinions and ideas. As a part-time employee, working behind the scenes, I am privy to our passionate commitment to this value. — Audrey Espinoza, Native American Student Center

Our student-centered philosophy is inherent in each and everything we do. Before implementing any program or service, we ask ourselves: How can we best meet the needs of our students? — Shaundra Brown, African American Student Center

INTEGRITY

• Doing what is right, even when no one is looking.
• Maintain confidentiality, when appropriate.
• Give credit where credit is due.
• Own up to an error when one is made.
• Follow through on your commitments.
• Be honest with yourself and others.
• Strive to obtain sufficient information prior to making any decision.
• Start from a point of respect in every interaction.
• Speak directly with the individual when you have a conflict.
• Agree to disagree respectfully.

We’ve heard of people who talk the talk and walk the walk. Integrity challenges us all to walk our talk. — Sonia de Ramos Marcelo, Student Support and Equity Programs

Being true to my “call” or responsibilities as a student services professional. — Darlene Mims, Admissions and Outreach

To conduct ourselves in such a way that our core values are not diminished by what we say or do, in both personal and professional interactions. — Betty Kennedy, University Housing Services

Integrity is exemplifying the best of who you are in everything you do. — Kris Surber, University Police Department

INTERCONNECTEDNESS

• Reinforce feelings of “I need you and you need me.”
• Make time to know and understand people outside your department who can help students.
• Promote trusting relationships with others through honesty, openness, and sincerity.
• Educate other departments about policies and procedures, when appropriate.
• Cover for co-workers when they are out of the office.
• Attend and support other departments’ programs.
• Serve on committees or work on collaborative efforts with other departments.
• Share relevant information with the entire Division.
• Include impacted departments when policies and procedures need to be revised.
• Share facilities and resources with other departments.

When one part hurts, the whole body feels the pain. — Cora M. Culla, Associated Students, Inc.

We can produce the highest level of service to the campus community only when departments work together and better understand what each is doing to meet the needs of students. — Donyet King, University Housing Services

Interconnectedness means working in collaboration with others outside of our own areas to create solutions that are beneficial to all. — Debbie Jackley, Student Health Services

PASSION

• Maintain a positive attitude and sense of humor, and seek to promote this in others.
• Service with a smile.
• Participate in meetings rather than simply attending.
• Pursue professional interests and stay current on issues related to your position or area of specialty.
• Help students take developmental risks.
• Take time to re-energize yourself beyond your work.
• Challenge yourself by taking risks and accepting difficult assignments outside your comfort zone.
• Seek divisional opportunities for roles that match personal interests and talents.
• Participate in campus events outside your department.

Looking forward to Monday morning. — Kevin P. Davis, Student Health Services

Passion is doing the best job possible and taking pride in our accomplishments. — Art Perez, Vivian Prieto, Valda Goodgame, Hahn Tran, Jim Allegretti, Vince Kannon, Lowell Frodesen, Jose Guerro, Reggie Keyes, Jim Ritchie, Sam Berry, Julie Lopez and Gene Hunt, University Housing Services

It’s not just a job! We mold futures! — Karen Capestro, Career Center

QUALITY

• Set a tone of excellence for your programs and services.
• Give priority to personal contact if engaged in another task.
• Challenge yourself to exceed expected standards of performance.
• Commit yourself to understanding and exceeding the accepted national and regional standards of your department’s services.
• Regularly assess services with users.
• Use assessment findings to develop goals and priorities.
• Allocate resources appropriately to align them with established priorities.
• Make your contacts satisfying.
• Be precise and consistent, while minimizing run-arounds.

Quality means being able to see beyond the problem to the person. — David E. Johnson, Judicial Affairs

It’s not what kind of service you provide, but how you provide it. — Diana Minor, Financial Aid

Quality has to do with providing excellent services and products, and consistently meeting or exceeding expectations. — Deborah R. Campbell, Student Support and Equity Programs

The quality of our work will affect the quantity of our success! — Tyffany Dowd, University Housing Services

RICHNESS OF DIVERSITY

• Commit yourself to explore differences beyond your own experience.
• Understand each student’s uniqueness when serving their needs.
• Treat each person with the same level of passion and service commitment.
• Form work groups or committees that reflect the differences of the students we serve.
• Develop candidate interview questions that demonstrate their experience with serving a diverse community.
• Validate each person’s unique background.
• Recognize the humanity in our human differences.
• Attend campus events that celebrate and highlight our differences.
• Be aware of instances where students are not receiving equal treatment because of their background.
• Advocate for fairness, acceptance, and respect.

Valuing the richness of diversity in the Division of Student Affairs means having a deep commitment to learning about, honoring, and advocating for the multiple identities of our students. — Rebecca Gutierrez Keeton, Office of Student Life and Cultural Centers

Our division’s strength is in its diversity. A diverse workforce and student population is better able to come up with solutions and provide a quality learning experience. — Dean Chetkovich, University Housing Services

The uncommonly rich diversity of our learning community affords countless opportunities to dialogue across differences and learn from the varied histories, experiences, and perspectives of our fellow sojourners who study and work here. — Jim Norfleet, Student Services

Appreciating the richness of diversity allows us to help students learn more about who they are, so they may recognize all they have to offer. — Lavada Austin, Counseling and Psychological Services