History Department Statement on Equality and Diversity

As part of Cal Poly’s commitment to Learn by Doing and to preparing students for engaged civic participation, the History Department affirms the essential role of historical understanding in shaping a just and informed society.

As historians, we teach about the ideas, events, and institutions that have both expanded and limited human freedom. We help students recognize how struggles over rights, representation, and belonging have shaped the world we inherit—and how knowledge of the past can guide more thoughtful choices in the future.

We encourage our students and colleagues to approach difference with curiosity and respect, to listen across experiences, and to recognize the inherent worth of every individual.

We ask our university community to continue building an environment where all students can learn and thrive—where a broad range of perspectives are welcomed, academic freedom is protected, and every member of Cal Poly is valued for their contributions to our shared educational mission.

Through teaching, research, and public engagement, we seek to cultivate the habits of critical inquiry, empathy, and civic responsibility that define both good historians and good neighbors.