University of California, Merced
PA-5: Diversity and Equity Coordination

The establishment of the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in 2019 led to the establishment of multiple EDI initiatives that have served to uplift EDI champions throughout campus. Initiatives such at the People’s First Workgroup, Campus Experience Survey Workgroup, Valuing Black Lives Initiative, Chancellor’s Advisory Committees (Anti-Racism and Equity, Status of Women, and Queer Issues), affinity groups (Staff and Faculty of Color Association, UC Merced Black Alliance, and Language Accessibility Committee), have included the voices and contributions of faculty, staff, and students. Programming related efforts such as the Equity and Justice Awards, Equity and Justice Grants, and Dialogues that Matter serve to increase campus visibility and support of diversity related efforts. Through these intentional efforts, in 2021, the Equity and Justice Board was created. This board is representative of faculty, staff, community members, and both undergraduate and graduate students to advise the Vice Chancellor and Chief Diversity Officer on equity and justice related issues. They meet quarterly to ensure decision making is inclusive of the needs of all campus constituency groups. Furthermore, Academic Affairs has multiple committees and workgroups to advance justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI). These include: Academic Senate’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee, Inclusive Excellence Workgroup for undergraduate’s general education experiences, and Quantitative Science Biology’s DEI workgroup. This infrastructure is critical given that all Schools – Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts, Engineering, and Natural Sciences, all have established JEDI oriented strategic goals.

Since 2019, the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (OEDI) has focused on delivering programming centered on healing, connection, and visibility of the EDI related education. Through Virtual Dialogues, Dialogues that Matter, and the inaugural Free Speech Week, OEDI has provided campus community critical insights on the issues underrepresented faculty and staff confront. In regard to faculty professional cultivation, the Center for Engaged, Teaching, and Learning and the OEDI led the Equity Advancing Showcase on Education event to highlight the year-long multi-disciplinary learning community committed to advance anti-racist pedagogy and teaching. During AY 21-22, UC Merced will launch its Inclusive Excellence Institute for faculty and staff to increase campus capacity in advancing inclusive excellence.

Additional URL websites that can be referenced for diversity and equity include:
http://www.ucmerced.edu/diversity
http://chancellor.ucmerced.edu/campus_climate
http://senate.ucmerced.edu/committees/diversity-and-equity-de