Equal Opportunity
Photo credit: Christopher Perez
Caltech is committed to equal opportunity for all persons without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition (cancer-related or genetic characteristics), genetic information, pregnancy or perceived pregnancy, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, protected veteran or individuals with disabled veteran status or any other characteristic or condition protected by the state and federal law. [Read more]
The BLP is committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment for all trainees, and has an appointed Diversity Committee consisting of faculty, staff, postdocs, and graduate students. Committee members are available for confidential consultations via email, phone or in-person meetings.
They can be reached at:
Email: ccedei@caltech.edu
Website: CCE Diversity Committee
Weekly Office Hours with Vice Provost Weinstein
Professor Cindy Weinstein, Vice Provost and Chief Diversity Officer, offers weekly office hours for student-initated meetings to address topics, questions and/or issues of concern. Fifteen minute meetings are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Please visit Parsons-Gate 104 to reserve a meeting time.
Caltech WAVE Program Collaborates with the Biotechnology Leadership Program
Caltech's WAVE Fellows program aims to foster diversity by increasing the participation of underrepresented students in science and engineering Ph.D. programs and making Caltech's programs more visible and accessible to students not traditionally exposed to Caltech. The program supports Caltech's commitment to training a diverse set of science, technology, engineering, and math leaders. The program is extended, but not limited, to underrepresented minorities, women, first-generation college students, geographically underrepresented students, educationally and financially disadvantaged students, and students with disabilities. The WAVE Fellows program is generously supported by Edison International and the Genentech Foundation.
Caltech is committeed to providing up to four summer undergraduate fellowships in the WAVE program to students aiming to (a) join Caltech as graduate students and (b) participate in the Biotechnology Leadership Program once they are eligible.
Caltech Participates in the California Alliance for Graduate Education
In April 2015, Caltech hosted the California Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate's second annual retreat, entitled "The Next Generation of Researchers.1 The Alliance was formed in 2013 by Caltech, UC Berkeley, UCLA, and Stanford to support underrepresented minority graduate students in the fields of mathematics, the physical sciences, computer science, and engineering. More specifically, the Alliance aims to provide a clear path for underrepresented students and postdoctoral scholars to aspire to and populate the ranks of the faculty at competitive research and teaching institutions. The Caltech retreat brought together graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, research scientists, and faculty from the four institutions and national labs in California for mentoring and network-building opportunities. Caltech is addressing the challenges highlighted by the Alliance through the development of new programs and the strengthening of existing ones that create access to resources, build community, and leverage relationships.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
Students with disabilities are encouraged to discuss specific support services and accessibility concerns with one of the Associate Deans for Graduate Studies: R. Darrell Peterson and Natalie Gilmore. Email: gradofc@caltech.edu. Phone: (626) 395-6346.
Graduate Women's Group: The Graduate Women's Group is ongoing and open to new members. It meets on Tuesdays from noon to 1:00 p.m. Lunch is served in a relaxed setting at the Women's Center. The discussions are led by the students in an open forum where grad women come to talk about issues that concern them, or just have light conversation over lunch with female peers.
Intercultural Discussion and Support Group: The Intercultural Discussion and Support Group provides a forum for Caltech students to explore the process of cultural adjustment and relating across cultures, and to discuss how this process can impact relationships here at Caltech. This Group is facilitated by the Counseling Center and International Student Program, and meets every Monday during the academic year from noon to 1:15 p.m. at the ISP area in the Center for Student Services. Whether you are from India or Indiana, you are welcome to join us as the group is open to Caltech students, graduate and undergraduate.
Caltech Health Advocates Program
The purpose of the Health Advocate Program is to provide Caltech undergraduate students with training to become qualified "advocates" for their fellow students' emotional and physical health. The expectation of the Health Advocate is that they will respond to situations in their House and within the campus community that require emergency first-aid, attention to routine medical problems, peer counseling or crisis intervention.
Caltech Center for Diversity (CCD)
The mission of the Caltech Center for Diversity (CCD) is to provide policy and programming support for the campus' initiatives associated with student access, equity and inclusion.
Need confidentiality? Contact Taso Dimitriadis, Erin-Kate Escobar or Hanna Song.
If you are not sure what to do, please visit the CCD or contact Hanna Song by email or at (626) 395-6207.
If you have an emergency after-hours or on a weekend, please call Campus Security at (626) 395-4701 to have a counselor paged.
Title IX questions or concerns? Contact Felicia Hunt by email or at (626) 395-3132. Title IX information is available on the Institute's Title IX site.
Meet the BLP Executive Director, Allison Kinard.
Students who are enrolled at Caltech and considering participation in the Biotechnology Leadership Program (BLP) are invited to request a meeting with our Program Executive Director, Allison Kinard. Allison will answer any questions you may have about the program, accommodations you may need, and support the program can provide. Please contact Allison Kinard by email to request a meeting time.
Caltech Maps
Links to campus maps can be found here.
All BLP mentor laboratories are ADA accessible.