Mission
The Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Antiracism (DEIAA) Office supports the Palomar Community College District in cultivating a respectful, inclusive, and accessible learning and working environment for all. Grounded in compliance with state and federal regulations, the Office focuses on building the District’s cultural competency and ensuring that institutional policies and practices are equitable, inclusive, and accessible within the scope of the law.
As a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), Palomar College affirms its responsibility to serve an increasingly diverse community through intentional strategies that remove systemic barriers and promote institutional effectiveness. The goals of the DEIAA Office are aligned with Palomar’s vision, mission, and values, as well as its key strategic plans, including Vision 2035, the Student Equity Plan, and the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Plan.
The Office supports districtwide efforts to expand access to educational and professional opportunities by fostering practices that are data-informed, legally compliant, and designed to serve all members of the campus community equitably.
Policy Alignment
- Board Policy 1200 Mission, Vision, Values
- Board Policy 3000 and Administrative Procedure 3000 Anitracism
- Board Policy 3410 Nondiscrimination
- Board Policy 3420 and Administrative Procedure 3420 Equal Employment Opportunity
- Board Policy 3430 and Administrative Procedure 3430 Prohibition of Harassment
- Board Policy 5300 and Administrative Procedure 5300 Student Equity
- Board Policy 7100 Commitment to Diversity
Honoring the Land – Palomar College’s Land Acknowledgement
The resilient and continued presence of the Payómkawichum/Luiseño, the Kuméyaay /lpai/Diegueño, the Kuupangaxwichem/Cupeño, and the Ívillyuatem/Cahuilla Nations compels Palomar College to take sustainable, respectful action to engage the land and its First People with justice and compassion as fellow human beings. Palomar College acknowledges it benefits from the unceded ancestral lands of these sovereign Nations and commits to promoting indigenous knowledge systems and practices in its educational mission. Palomar College pledges to foster a successful learning environment that supports Indigenous students and engages the needs and concerns of the Nations who continue to occupy this land.
More than a Designation
Palomar College is proud to be recognized as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) by the U.S. Department of Education—a designation granted to colleges and universities where at least 25% of the undergraduate student population identifies as Hispanic. With approximately 51% of our students identifying as Hispanic or Latinx, this designation reflects both who we are and our ongoing commitment to serving our diverse community.
As an HSI, we are dedicated to fostering a supportive, inclusive, and culturally responsive environment where Hispanic/Latinx students feel seen, valued, and empowered. We aim to surround our students with a strong sense of belonging, meaningful peer connections, and access to high-quality resources that support their academic success and personal growth.
Learn more about what it means to be a Hispanic-Serving Institution and how we support our Latinx community.
Accessibility in Action
Accessibility is an integral part of our diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and antiracism values. It reflects both our compliance with federal and state standards and our alignment with institutional strategic plans, ensuring that accessibility is embedded in how we design, teach, and serve our community. Accessibility matters because we serve people, and all people deserve equitable access to our classrooms, services, and campus. Compliance with federal accessibility laws is required, and all digital content must be accessible by 2026. Palomar College is undergoing a culture shift to build strong habits to ensure lasting access for all.
An accessibility work group is collaborating with the Chancellor’s Office frameworks and accessibility best practices to provide the tools and resources needed to support this work. Learn how we’re building an accessible Palomar.
Your Voice Matters and Your Experience Counts
If you’ve faced discrimination, whether because of your race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, immigration status, or any part of who you are, you are not alone, and your story deserves to be heard.
Reporting discrimination helps protect not only you, but your community. By speaking up, you can help bring accountability, prevent future harm, and make California a more just and inclusive place for everyone. You can access support resources or submit a report by completing the Incident Reporting Form.