Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

students at Founders Day

Our mission is to create a community where all students, staff and faculty are supported, valued, and treated with dignity. This requires prioritizing equity, diversity and inclusion in the access and representation, climate and culture, and educational mission of every Arts and Humanities department, institute and program.

Our belief is that the rhetoric of equity, diversity and inclusion must be accompanied by resources and opportunities that remedy systemic inequality, and that structural change is necessary to avoid the “illusion of inclusion.”

We want to grow meaningful conversations and initiatives that highlight how arts and humanities effect change in the university and diverse communities across our city, region and globe. Ours is a collaborative effort, one dependent on cultivating conditions in which everyone will thrive.

“The goal of an education in the arts and humanities is not to build intellectual comfort, but to strip it away. If we are restless and upset, it is because we question the status quo. In the face of inequality and injustice, we continue to ask the uncomfortable questions that inspire action and change.” — School of Arts and Humanities Dean Cristina Della Coletta

Equity Advisors

Faculty Equity Advisor

Jessica Graham, Associate Dean of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
(858) 534-6270 | jlgraham@ucsd.edu

Staff Equity Advisor

Anthony King, Assistant Dean, Strategic Engagement
(858) 822-7824 | apk006@ucsd.edu

Arts and Humanities Strategic Plan for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

The mission of the School of Arts and Humanities is to deliver “an education for the common good” following the core principles of equity, diversity and inclusion as foundational to our instructional, research and administrative functions.

Led by former Associate Dean of Academic Personnel and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Luis Alvarez, an EDI planning team spent months gathering input from stakeholders across the School to identify goals for growing success in all matters equity, diversity and inclusion.

The result was the very first Arts and Humanities Strategic Plan for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Guided by the UC San Diego Strategic Plan for Inclusive Excellence, the school’s plan provides a multi-dimensional approach emphasizing access and success, climate and culture, the educational mission, accountability, and transformation.

Our work continues. A complete report summarizing 2019 best practices from across campus (PDF) is available.

View report highlights below.

Faculty: Access, Success and Climate

Continued to fulfill the long-term initiatives piloted with the 2019 UCOP grant “A More Diverse Humanism: Faculty Retention and Academic Climate” and with additional support from the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Highlights for this year include the launch of an ambitious Mentoring Across Gender, Race and Ethnicity program that involves 32 mentors and 32 mentees, and includes monthly workshops with campus and external experts on topics including “Approaches to Mentoring Across Gender, Race and Ethnicity,” “Supporting, Promoting and Teaching Anti-Racism,” “Grant Writing and Fundraising,” “How to Prepare Your Academic Personnel File,” etc.
Development-led fundraising to establish the first endowed chair honoring an African-American colleague, establishing the Cecil Lytle Endowed Chair in African and African American Music.
Inclusive Excellence ad-hoc funding support: Speaker recognition for the 2020 UC San Diego Workshop on Philosophical Issues in Contemporary Social Crises and support for the “Incarceration, Deportation, and Resistance in Southeast Asian and Pacific Islander Communities in Southern California” program.
Summer Research Support Grants: promoting junior faculty’s summer research projects and community-outreach initiatives related to EDI, social justice and anti-racism.
Completed one-on-one meetings between the Dean and nearly all untenured faculty members (38 of 39 total) to hear about challenges and needs related to the pandemic and beyond.
Led by the Dean and Associate Dean, assisted departments to guide their departmental EDI-related climate work. This includes recommending departments to develop EDI plans that address unique issues yet align with the school-wide and campus EDI strategic plan; creating and updating policy and committee structures for EDI; documenting EDI work on the Academic BioBib for merit and promotion.
Established a new grant and award initiative centered on EDI that includes three EDI-related awards (faculty-to-faculty mentoring, faculty-to-student mentoring, and community engagement).
Review of school-wide and departmental bylaws, including the recommendation that appointment of and transition to new leadership reflect a commitment to anti-racism, gender equality and faculty equity.

Students: Access, Success and Climate

PATH Integrated Internship fellows: With the renewed Mellon Foundation grant, the school launched an initiative geared to professional training and leadership development of graduate students in collaboration with the San Diego Community College District. Fellow activities included: Pathways Retreat (addressing anti-Black racism), cabinet and senate meetings, shadowing/mentorship, Title V Taskforce (Hispanic Serving Institution compliance).
The expanded PATH program added mental health services specific to the transfer-student population.
For undergraduate professional training and leadership development, the PATH Peer Mentee initiative continues to be one of the most successful components of our Mellon-funded PATH program: 55% of participants are URM.
Inclusive Excellence ad-hoc funding for the 2021 Summer Program for the Advancement of Women in Philosophy (Philosophy), and speaker honorarium for the Art for Change graduate independent studies program (Visual Arts) were awarded.
Established the Arts and Humanities Diversity Projects and Programming Fund in 2020, where funds raised explicitly support student-led research.
Launched of the Black Diaspora and African American Studies major and the Asian American and Pacific Islander Studies Program (and minor), both housed in the Institute of Arts and Humanities. Providing these culturally focused, interdisciplinary programs allows students to feel seen and explore opportunities for inclusive exploration, contributing to the overall climate.
Through a $5 Million gift we established the university’s first Center for Taiwan Studies to expand cultural understanding of Taiwan and Taiwanese Americans.

Staff: Access, Success and Climate

Inclusive Excellence ad-hoc funding support: Professional development access for EDI training and preparation in communications and promotions (school wide)
LEAD Fellows: Communications director Anthony King completed the advanced LEAD Academy, and assistant dean Alma Palazzolo completed the LEAD Fellows program.
Hosted specific Race Talk sessions with staff, facilitated by the campus LEAD Fellows program.
Began staff meeting with an “EDI check-in,” allowing time to discuss concerns, successes and questions in a supported environment.
Contracted with an outside leadership consultant to host a retreat that was attended by ~80 staff, giving staff the opportunity to learn about their colleagues’ work styles.
Made accessible core EDI Policies, Principles, and Anti-racism, Harassment and Mediation Resources via new Diversity portal on our website

Select Resources

In addition to the School of Arts and Humanities one-sheet of campus-based resources (PDF) that includes core policies and principles, and whistleblower procedures, below is an expanded list of material and links for support.

Anti-Racism Resources from the Office of EDI

The Office for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion supports our campus community through a number of initiatives, programs and workshops, and are available to engage with you and your team in a variety discussion formats on anti-racism.

Their website is updated regularly with resources to support your personal edification and discussions with students, colleagues and teams regarding racism, including:

Key Terminology and Concepts
News and Expert Opinions
Podcasts
Research, Reports and Actionable Resources
Videos, Webinars and Virtual Panels
Resources directly for the UC San Diego Community
An EDI Engagement and Resources Request Portal

Anti-Racism Resources from the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion >>

Anti-Racism Guide: Resources for Education and Action from the UC San Diego Library

This Libguide, organized in consultation with the UC San Diego Library Diversity and Inclusion Committee with contributions from other units across the library, is by no means a definitive guide. The guide will evolve over time and The Library welcomes thoughts, suggestions and corrections.

The guide is compiled to flow from educating users to the topics of racism and anti-racism, taking a deeper dive into details and exploration of the scholarship, delivering educational resources to use in the classroom or for self-education, and then to build sustained and actionable practices for individuals and institutions.

Access the complete Anti-Racism Guide: Resources for Education and Action >>

Strategic Planning Toolkit

In the Strategic Planning Toolkit (PDF), you will find a proposed outline to guide the school, department and unit planning process.

This outline has been developed through extensive research of strategic planning processes nationwide — both academic and otherwise — and maps directly back to the intended outcomes of the UC San Diego Strategic Plan for Inclusive Excellence.

Strategic Planning Blueprint

Pre-Planning
- Identify your planning leads and team members, establish a timeframe and conduct a kickoff meeting
Data Analysis and Goal Setting
- Gather and review data to identify strengths and opportunities that will inform your plan's vision and accountability metrics
Creation and Development
- Draft strategic plan, review with the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, and revise and finalize
Implementation
- Broadcast your plan to your wider unit or school, advise leadership on strategy and expectation, and monitor your progress

Download the Strategic Planning Toolkit (PDF) >>

21-Day Anti-Racism Challenge Material

Diversity scholar Dr. Eddie Moore, Jr. created the 21-Day Challenge concept to promote deeper understandings of race, power, privilege, supremacy and oppression.

The UC San Diego Chancellor's 21-Day Challenge took place Friday, Aug. 7, 2020 through Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, with material and resources available for continued education.

We recognize the 21-Day Anti-Racism Challenge is the beginning, not the end, of anti-racism work.

Section 1: How We Got Here >>
Section 2: Intersections of Power, Language and Visibility >>
Section 3: Black Joy as a Form of Resistance >>
Section 4: Allying, Action and Accountability >>
Recorded Webinars >>
Continuing Anti-Racism Work >>

Access all material from the UC San Diego 21-Day Anti-Racism Challenge >>

Strategic Plan for Inclusive Excellence

As a campus, we strive to be a leader in inclusive excellence — to foster a more positive and supportive climate and to live out our strong commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion on our campus.

Read the UC San Diego Plan