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The Gender and Development Desk (GADD) was created in 2018 under the Academic Affairs Office and is tasked to be the coordinating unit that will provide oversight in efforts to create gender-inclusive and gender-sensitive spaces and opportunities within the University.

In commitment to the Commission on Higher Education’s Memorandum Order 1, Series of 2015 entitled Establishing the Policies and Guidelines on Gender and Development in the Commission on Higher Education and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), United Nation’s Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), Republic Act No. 11313: Safe Spaces Act, and the implementation of the University’s Policy on Diversity and Inclusion, the GADD seeks to the promotion of a culture of respect and acceptance within the University, fully aware that a deepened understanding of and sensitivity to gender-related issues help in eliminating experiences of gender-based violence.

The GADD aims to:

1. Take the lead in educating the University’s stakeholders on gender issues and the University’s GAD program, projects, and activities;
2. Implement activities that focus on gender-related issues and concerns;
3. Coordinate with other offices and units within the University in designing interventions for gender-related issues and concerns;
4. Collaborate with student organizations in promoting gender sensitivity and inclusivity in the campus; and
5. Act as Secretariat in the investigation of gender-related cases.

Culture and Training

• Creation of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Ambassadors program to foster a culture where one ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ Community feel they belong by facilitating learning and communication within work teams about diversity, equity and inclusion
• Convening a Diversity Committee among student leaders, and faculty members
• Curating an ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ collection of resources on diversity, equity and inclusion
• Recognizing and celebrating heritage and history months like Women’s Month and Pride Month
• Supporting anti-harassment enforcement and providing new resources on Anti-Violence Against Women and Children
• Running orientation sessions for new students focused on understanding gender responsiveness and sensitivity.

Building Community

• Creating a Road Map for Effective Institutional Programs on Gender
• Adopting an updated staff recruitment approach that emphasizes a broader and more inclusive hiring process in order to build a more diverse candidate pool:
  o Partnering with student groups on gender mainstreaming
  o Refining the application review process, including requiring implicit bias training.
• Publishing and sharing an annual ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ demographic report to make diversity data available

Teaching

• Creating and teaching a Gender and Development course on General Education and Professional Courses
• Providing new experiential learning for students on inequality issues, including gender-based violence and justice
• Creating new teaching cases on issues involving equity, diversity, and inclusion, sexual orientation and gender identity
• Providing training and support to faculty for inclusive teaching practices in the classroom, including:
  o Strategies for Promoting Classroom Inclusion
  o Inclusive Teaching – Evidence-Based Practice
  o Calling on Students in Equitable Ways
• Broadening courses on diversity, equity, and anti-harassment issues, including Promoting Gender Equality and Equity in the Workplace.

Research

• Running research programs and outreach projects centered on research related to gender and policy.
• Generating significantly more faculty research related to gender sensitivity and public policy choices

Forum and Outreach

• Status: Ending the Stigma on Social Health, Free HIV Testing and Counseling in partnership with ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ SAGA, LoveYourself PH and Durex PH
• TAMTalks: Pagbabagong-hubog sa Mga Talinghaga sa Akda ng Kababaihang Manunulat ni Joi Barrios in partnership with Center for Learning Enrichment and Research for Students, and Digital Content Creation and Development
• Building Empathy and Sensitivity/Inclusivity Talks (B.E.S.T): R.A 9262 – Violence Against Women and Children with Academic Services in collaboration with Student Development, Student Discipline and YWCA – ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ Chapter and TAMang Boto
• Project GEIS (Gender Equality Index for Schools) in partnership with PANTAY – Philippine Anti-Discrimination Alliance of Youth Leaders, Inc. and Pride PH
• Vodcast tackling Gender Issues in collaboration with ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ Digital Content Creation and Development