Goals
UC is dedicated to achieving excellence through diversity in the classroom, research lab and the workplace. It strives to establish a climate that welcomes and promotes respect for the contributions of all students and employees.
In September 2007, the Board of Regents adopted the University of California Diversity Statement as UC policy. The statement renews the University's commitment to recognize and nurture merit, talent, and achievement by supporting diversity and equal opportunity in its education, services and administration, and research and creative activity. It also acknowledges the acute need to remove barriers to the recruitment, retention and advancement of talented students, faculty and staff from historically excluded populations who are currently underrepresented.
Diversity is essential to the University's mission. The Diversity Statement defines this as "The variety of personal experiences, values and worldviews that arise from differences of culture and circumstance. Such differences include race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, language, abilities/disabilities, sexual orientation, gender identity1, socioeconomic status, and geographic region, and more."
Narrative
The indicators in this chapter provide a broad overview of the University community — students, faculty and staff — by race/ethnicity and gender. Student survey data are provided to give an indication of the "climates" on campuses. Students' reported experiences of feeling respected by others on their campus are presented by race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and religion. Diversity by income, parental education and first-generation status is shown in other chapters of this report.
Throughout the chapter, attention is paid to the extent to which the University's students, faculty, and staff are more or less diverse from the pools from which they are recruited. In the case of undergraduates, California high school graduates constitute the pool. In the case with faculty, the pools are national in scope. Faculty and graduate students are broken down into discipline groups to demonstrate differences among the disciplines.
Finally, a word about terminology. The 2010 Census shows that no single race/ethnic group claims majority status within the state of California — that is represents more than 50 percent of the population. All race ethnic groups are in the minority. As a result, this chapter does not use the term "minority" to describe any race/ethnic group. It uses the term "underrepresented" to refer to African Americans, Chicano/Latinos and American Indians — groups that are typically less represented in the University population than in the state population.2
Looking forward
Changes in the state's demographic composition and in various University policies will impact UC's population in ways tracked by this chapter's indicators. During the next several years, the data will be watched to evaluate the effect of tuition increases, changes to admissions policies (beginning in fall 2012, a larger number of students will be entitled to a full review of their application), and other programs and policies that are developed to ensure a diverse and respectful University environment.
This section will be developed in future years to track changes in campus climates. As a result of several bias-related incidents on various UC campuses during spring 2010, UC President Mark G. Yudof convened the President's Advisory Council on Campus Climate, Culture and Inclusion consisting of both UC and external community members. To achieve the charge of the Council, five working groups were created in December 2010, including one on metrics and assessment. The work of the Council will be reported to the Board of Regents in September 2011 and may influence this chapter in future years.
For more information
The Accountability Sub-Report on Diversity explores the issues highlighted in this chapter in greater detail. It includes a deeper analysis of campus climate and what UC is doing to support an inclusive climate on all its campuses. The Sub-Report also looks at student outcomes by race/ethnicity and gender, analyzing graduation rates for different groups.
Detailed information about the diversity of UC students, faculty and staff can be found on UC's diversity website. It contains links to reports and initiatives both at the systemwide level and at each campus.
All UC campuses demonstrate their commitment to diversity, inclusivity and respect for differences among people by expressing these values in their Principles of Community statements.
1 In September 2010, the Regents adopted a recommendation from the Academic Senate, endorsed by President Yudof, to include recognition of gender identity in the Diversity Statement.
2 These three groups — African Americans, American Indian and Chicano/Latinos — are the ones historically defined as underrepresented. This definition is linked to the fact that these three groups are below the average eligibility rates for UC.