SMC's Commitment to Inclusivity for LGBTQ+, Undocumented Students & More

Sent on behalf of SMC Superintendent/President Dr. Kathryn E. Jeffery, Vice President of Academic Affairs Jason Beardsley, and Vice President of Student Affairs Michael Tuitasi

Dear SMC Community:

On November 6, we shared a statement reaffirming Santa Monica College’s commitment to standing strong as a beacon of equity and inclusivity for all students, irrespective of immigration status, sexuality, gender, race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, disability, age, or socio-economic background.

We join the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office —which governs the 116-college system of which SMC is a part—in restating that this college remains a place of equal, open access and opportunity for all students, including those who are undocumented, who identify as LGBTQ+, and those who come from racially minoritized backgrounds. Through the SMC Student Equity Center—which includes the Gender Equity Center, Dream Resource Center, Pride Center, and Racial Justice Center—this college seeks to provide spaces of inclusivity where students may be affirmed in their individual and intersectional identities and become leaders who will help build a better world.

Current affairs weigh heavily on our hearts; many in our community are feeling a heightened sense of fear and anxiety, of possible external actions that will upend their hopes of a brighter, better future for themselves and their families. Alongside our statewide and local partners, SMC will continue to advocate for the right of all our students to pursue higher education without external threats that undermine their humanity and right to exist and thrive. Through our Dream Resource Center, the college will strive to ensure that undocumented students and those from mixed-status households feel safe, supported, and nurtured at SMC. There will be an increased emphasis on providing resources including special events, connections to legal assistance, confidential counseling, and more. Similarly, the Pride Center, the Gender Equity Center, and the Racial Justice Center will continue the important work of empowering and supporting SMC’s diverse student body, as well as facilitating meaningful dialogue.

It must be noted that even if the federal government limits the Title IX protections against harassment or discrimination, the state of California’s laws require institutions like SMC and other California community colleges to provide equal rights and access to students, faculty, staff, and administrators, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. SMC will not condone or support efforts to roll back protections for any student or employee group. Indeed, this is in line with the college’s ongoing commitment to an environment free of hate, where unlawful discrimination and harassment have no place.

Please note that the college does not participate in federal enforcement of national immigration regulations unless compelled to by state or federal law. SMC will not release personally identifiable student information related to immigration status unless required by judicial order. College leadership is looking at next steps to identify ways to provide support and resources.

Santa Monica College is recognized across the state, nation, and globe as a destination for educational excellence, shaped by the contributions and presence of each student and colleague whose distinct individual backgrounds and experiences create a vibrant, diverse tapestry. In the days ahead, SMC will remain steadfast in preserving this essential part of our identity: a place of transformation where everyone can freely pursue their educational and career aspirations.

—SMC Superintendent/President Dr. Kathryn E. Jeffery, Vice President of Academic Affairs Jason Beardsley, and Vice President of Student Affairs Michael Tuitasi