Inclusive

Photos of CSN faculty and staff

The College of Southern Nevada strives to place diversity as an overarching principle and accreditation theme that impacts every area of our institution. Moreover, we make it a priority to continually plan and establish CSN’s identity, ensuring it remains consistent with our values as a whole.

The Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion is part of the President’s Office and works closely with all levels of the administration, staff, and faculty to achieve its mission, vision, and goals.

Minority Serving Institution

In March 2014, CSN qualified as a Minority-Serving Institution under the AANAPISI category, as the institution had an enrollment of undergraduate students that is at least 50 percent Pell Grant Eligible and at least 10 percent Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander.

Hispanic Serving Institution

In January 2015, CSN became the first Hispanic Serving Institution in the state of Nevada. CSN has been preparing since 2012 for this honor when the college president appointed the HSI Task Force, made up of faculty, administrative staff, and community leaders, to coordinate HSI status attainment, provide guidance in the implementation of HSI-oriented communication and outreach efforts, guide the HSI application process and issue programming recommendations.

Students gathered around a laptop

The Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion is proud to oversee the CSN Multicultural Center which is located within all three of the Student Unions in room 121. The mission of the Multicultural Center is to work collaboratively to affirm, educate, and empower our diverse CSN community. With a student-centered focus, the Multicultural Center offers impactful programs and initiatives that provide opportunities for identity development, community engagement, and leadership cultivation to improve campus climate and increase retention. For more information, please refer to our Diversity & Multicultural Affairs webpage for more information on student programs and initiatives including:

  • Empowerment Network Initiative
  • Multicultural Student Organizations
  • Multicultural Graduation Celebrations

The Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion is honored to work with CSN's diverse and talented faculty and staff. Nine diversity committees were created to ensure that faculty and staff have an opportunity to find community, be affirmed, and contribute to the college's overall mission of inclusion. Specifically, the committees offer campus events, workshops, and professional development opportunities. Please visit each group's website for more information including student, faculty, and staff resources.

African American Heritage Committee

Comprehensive Internationalization Committee

Native American Alliance

Latino Alliance

Queer Inclusive Campus Committee

Military & Veterans Alliance

Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Committee

UndocuAlly Committee

Women's Alliance

People in audience speaking with one another

In collaboration with the Center for Academic & Professional Excellence (CAPE), the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion works to increase diversity awareness and cultural sensitivity among faculty and staff with a focus on providing practical tools to enhance student success.

Presentations are offered by faculty and staff on a variety of topics including:

  • disability awareness
  • creating a fully inclusive classroom
  • minority males and higher education
  • having difficult conversations
  • women in and out of the classroom
  • diversity in the Latino community
  • understanding the Native American community
  • LGBTQ inclusion

CSN faculty and staff are also encouraged to participate in standardized training including Safe Zone and Dream Zone.

Safe Zone

Dream Zone

Image of a classroom lecture
Programing has been proven to have several benefits for students and the college campus as a whole. The interactions brought out by events help students, faculty, and staff to build relationships, understand different perspectives and engage other cultures.

The Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion also supports and recognizes several nationally recognized diversity months. Visit our Diversity Events website to learn more about upcoming programs in honor of these months.

People around a conference table meeting

Together, we can make CSN an inclusive and welcoming place. Students, faculty, and staff continue to work collaboratively within several committees and initiatives to find our gaps and improve on our mission of inclusion and equity. The following are a few initiatives from across the campus engaged in diversity, equity, and inclusion work.

Diversity and Inclusion Assessment Strategic Plan Report - In 2019, the Sawgrass Group, Inc was contracted to conduct a year-long diversity, equity, and inclusion assessment of the College of Southern Nevada. A full report with key findings and recommendations was submitted to CSN's executive leadership and governing groups. In the spirit of transparency, the full report can be viewed on the President's Blog - Sept 21, 2020.

Anti-Black Racism Taskforce - The Anti-Black Racism Taskforce was launched in Fall 2020 with the support of college leadership and is committed to addressing inequities on campus.

Accessibility Committee - A group dedicated to ensuring CSN creates and maintains a campus that is accessible to all. To join this committee, please contact Emily King.

Name Change Taskforce - Launched in Fall 2020, this group works to identify gaps and methods to support students, faculty, and staff seeking to change their name within the various systems at CSN.

Supporting Our Diverse Communities

CSN President Dr. Zaragoza statement of unity: The tragic killing of George Floyd while in the custody of Minneapolis police has weighed heavily upon me. It was both disturbing and hurtful, as it was for so many in the CSN family. The incident, captured on video, caused many people in minority and non-minority communities to exercise their constitutional right to protest, and others to reflect on the persistence of racism in America.  

At CSN, we not only accept our diverse population, we embrace it. CSN is a majority-minority institution and our diversity defines us as a college. Indeed, diversity is one of the primary values that shape our decisions and drives our mission to “empower our students and communities to achieve, succeed, and prosper.” To our Black students, faculty, staff, and community, I proudly stand with you in solidarity along with the rest of our CSN colleagues and community residents, who again call for justice and equality for all regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. At CSN, we strive to be a beacon of hope, a pathway to prosperity, and an instrument for enlightened social justice and equality.

- President Dr. Zaragoza

We each have the responsibility to denounce bigotry and defend the most vulnerable. Any forms of discrimination against our students, faculty, and staff will not be tolerated at CSN. The following are resources for CSN students, faculty, and staff:

Please know that CSN will continue to support our students, faculty, and staff.

As CSN President Dr. Zaragoza stated, CSN supports our undocumented and DACA community members. We want to reaffirm CSN’s strong support for our community and to let you know that there are resources available to help in this time of increased uncertainty. We also strongly encourage all DACA recipients to renew their DACA status before a Supreme Court decision is made, even if the status is set to expire in more than six months.

The following are some resources to assist you during this time:

Please know that CSN supports you and your journey toward completion and will be here for you now and in the future.

Read the full President message.

Recent news has reported an increasing frequency of hate crimes and racist harassment against the AAPI community in the United States, particularly towards Chinese individuals. CSN finds those actions degrading and shameful. These assaults endanger our community’s safety, well-being, dignity, and livelihoods.

At CSN, we celebrate our diversity and embrace equality among us all. As one of the most diverse colleges in the entire country, we are in a unique position to set an example for higher education institutions. We each have the responsibility to denounce bigotry and defend the most vulnerable. Any forms of discrimination against our students, faculty and staff will not be tolerated here.

Intolerance and stigmatization divide our community. We must stand in solidarity with our AAPI family as we all go through this crisis together.

Resources

CSN is committed to creating a campus environment where everyone can belong and thrive. The following resources are provided in order to support you in your journey:

The College of Southern Nevada resides on the ancestral lands of the NUWU Southern Paiute. The following are services and resources to support our Indigenous community at CSN:

Native American Alliance - faculty and staff are able to join CSN's Native American Alliance to help create student support systems.
Las Vegas Paiute Tribe Health and Human Services – provides medical, dental, optical, and behavioral health outpatient services to all North American Federally Recognized Native American Tribes.
Nevada Urban Indians
NV Department of Education Indian Education
First Nations Development Institute
Indian Legal Issues
Native American Web Sites
Native Languages of the Americas
UNLV's Native Resource Guide

Black Student Union - CSN students are encouraged to join the Black Student Union and follow CSNBSU on Instagram.
African American Heritage Committee - CSN faculty and staff are encouraged to join the African American Heritage Committee.
Anti-Black Racism Taskforce - The Anti-Black Racism Taskforce was launched with the support of college leadership and is committed to addressing inequities on campus through programming and service.
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) - ACLU works to educate on the most pressing civil liberties issues of our time and what you can do including knowing your rights.
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) - NAACP secures the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons.
CSN President Dr. Zaragoza statement of unity
UNLV's For the Culture: Resources for the African Diaspora

CSN Generation Dreamers Student Club - students are able to join this group designed to establish a support network for DACA and undocumented students at CSN. Please contact Esther Pla-Cazares.
Immigration Clinic - provides free DACA renewals. To schedule an appointment, call (702) 895-2080.
CSN Alternative Scholarship Applications - the Alternative Scholarship is for students who cannot qualify for federal aid due to U.S. citizenship requirements.
CSN UndocuAlly Committee - faculty and staff are able to join CSN's UndocuAlly committee to help create student support systems.
NSHE All Access Committee - a committee building a comprehensive state-wide support system for students who are undocumented, students with DACA, as well as immigrant students under other immigration statuses. You can find more information in the NSHE All Access DACA Renewal Guide
Immigrant Home Foundation - provides assistance with DACA renewals. To schedule an appointment, call (702) 889-4431.
Nevada Immigrant Resource Guide - offers additional statewide resources.
CSN President Dr. Zaragoza statement of support

Asian Pacific Islander Student Alliance - students are welcome to join the new AAPI student group. Please contact Hazel Alejandro.
Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Committee - faculty and staff are able to join CSN's AAPI Heritage Committee to help create student support systems.
Asian Community Development Council - A Nevada-based non-profit organization that works to improve the general well-being and education of the Asian, Pacific Islander, and other ethnic communities in Nevada.
UNLV's Asian Pacific Islander & Middle Eastern Student Guide

First Generation Student Club - CSN students are encouraged to join the First Generation student club. Please contact Luis Ortega.
CSN's TRIO Student Support Services - advocacy and academic support for low-income, first-generation, and students with disabilities. 
First in the Family - a national resource with articles and videos to support your college journey.

Latino Student Alliance - students are invited to join the Latino Student Alliance.
Latino Alliance - faculty and staff are able to join CSN's Latino Alliance committee which helps to create student support systems.
Las Vegas Latin Chamber of Commerce
ALPFA (Association of Latino Professionals For America)
UNLV's Latinx Resource Guide

Queer Inclusive Campus Committee (QICC) - a faculty and staff group to support LGBTQ individuals at CSN.
Women's Alliance - a faculty and staff group to support women at CSN.
Safe Zone training - faculty and staff are encouraged to learn more about the LGBTQ community and become visible allies.
Family Justice Clinic - legal services for sex/gender diverse persons like name and sex/gender markers assistance.
The LGBTQ Center of Southern Nevada
Scholarships for Women & Single Mothers
UNLV's What's the Tea? QTPOC Cultural Resource Guide

CSN's VET Center  - works as a liaison between CSN students and the Department of Veterans Affairs to assist veterans and their dependents with their educational benefits and academic needs.
Military & Veteran's Alliance - a faculty and staff group to support our military and veteran students
Nevada Department of Veterans Services 
Scholarship Programs for Veterans

NSHE Foster Youth Success Initiative - Resources including the Foster Youth Fee Waiver 
College Scholarships and Support for Higher Education -  Information about accessing higher education opportunities and financial scholarships for youth in or aging out of the foster care system. 
Foster Care to College - Online resources including scholarships and grants.

CSN Office of Institutional Equity & Title IX - Any forms of discrimination against our students, faculty and staff will not be tolerated at CSN. Instances of discrimination should be reported immediately to the Office of Institutional Equity & Title IX where reports will be investigated and further action will be determined.
CSN Emergency Fund
CSN Textbook Assistance Program (TAP)
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
CSN Office of Institutional Equity & Title IX - Any forms of discrimination against our students, faculty and staff will not be tolerated at CSN. Instances of discrimination should be reported immediately to the Office of Institutional Equity & Title IX where reports will be investigated and further action will be determined.
CSN Emergency Fund
CSN Textbook Assistance Program (TAP)
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
Disability Resource Center
Coyote Cupboard - A free food pantry available to students that are currently enrolled in CSN classes. The cupboard offers a variety of food items and toiletries in limited supply.