Home / 2024 / February / Addressing Bias and Bigotry: Call for Ideas

Addressing Bias and Bigotry: Call for Ideas

To: UCSC Community

From: Lori Kletzer Campus Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor and Anju Reejhsinghani Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

February 08, 2024

The University of California Office of the President (UCOP) is providing each campus with on-time funds to combat bias, bigotry and discrimination stemming from recent global events. Our campus has been allocated $500,000 to address the specific climate issues of our campus. These funds will be distributed in two phases. 

Phase 1 proposals were due to UCOP on January 16, 2024. Due to the quick turnaround time, we submitted and were approved for a spending plan developed by Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Anju Reejhsinghani and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Success Akirah Bradley-Armstrong. Some critical and urgent climate issues funded include culturally congruent support services for students and synchronous and asynchronous training for faculty and staff on Islamophobia, antisemitism and other forms of hate. 

We are now requesting faculty and staff ideas and feedback for Phase 2. Student groups are also being engaged for ideas. Our Phase 2 spending plan is due March 1, 2024. Phase 2 covers activities that will take place during spring quarter 2024 and the 2024-25 academic year. We welcome ideas that address the needs and aspirations of our community given the ongoing impact of global and domestic events. Three areas identified by UCOP for programming are:  (1) mental health and trauma support, (2) educational programming, and (3) leadership training for students, faculty and staff.

We are using a Qualtrics survey to gather your ideas. We appreciate your input. Your thoughts really matter to us as we strive to address issues impacting our community.  The survey will be open until Wednesday, February 21.