Our longstanding commitment to diversity and equity grows out of our historic mission. As a land grant institution, Penn State is charged to make education available to the sons and daughters of the working classes. This emphasis on access is addressed, in part, by our recruitment and retention of a diverse student body. While efforts to address inequities experienced by racial/ethnic minorities and women constitute an important foundation for diversity efforts, they by no means delimit the scope of efforts necessary for an inclusive institution. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 1990, for example, mandates equity of access to academic programs and employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities, including appropriate accommodations to facilitate successful program completion and/or performance of job responsibilities. Penn State's nondiscrimination statement includes sexual orientation as a category for which protection against discrimination and harassment is mandated. Veterans and adult learners constitute important populations that contribute richly to diverse classroom experiences, particularly at locations other than University Park. (excerpt from Penn State's Framework to Foster Diversity, Introduction)