The Board of Trustees for New York's state universities has adopted a diversity policy calling for a chief diversity officer on every campus.
The new policy defines diversity to include race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, age, socio-economic status, status as a veteran, status as a student with a disability, first-generation students, international students or those transferring between colleges.
According to state officials, the goal is to improve services and support and to make clear SUNY's commitment to be welcoming and inclusive.
The board has also approved new data collection where students who register can voluntarily self-identify their sexual orientation, gender identity and other status.
The entries can be updated each semester, with the universities able to review retention and completion patterns.
