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

Building the capacity to do the work of diversity, equity, and inclusion on the UC Davis campus has been a multi-year, multi-pronged process to assess and understand the opportunities at UC Davis. The importance of this work and a desire to sustain the momentum has led to the appointment of Dr. Renetta Tull as the first UC Davis Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

The Vice Chancellor oversees a new Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (VC-DEI), which is comprised four previously-existing units: Office Campus Community Relations (OCCR); Office of Academic Diversity; the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Davis Campus (UCD-ODI); and UC Davis Health’s Office for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (UCDH-OEDI). Affiliated units include the Office for Student and Resident Diversity (OSRD); Faculty Development and Diversity at UC Davis Health (FDD); and the UC Davis Center for Reducing Health Disparities (CRHD).

In addition to the DEI office, the Diversity & Inclusion Executive Leadership Team (DI-ELT) consists of senior leaders whose units have, as a core part of their role, the responsibility of promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion at UC Davis. The group includes senior-level leaders from the offices of Academic Affairs, Campus Counsel, Compliance and Policy, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Global Affairs, Graduate Studies, Human Resources, Student Affairs, Undergraduate Education and UCD Health. The foundational purpose behind establishing this group was to ensure the coordination of diversity, equity and inclusion activities across the UC Davis and UCD Health campuses and to have a unified advisory body made up of key leaders who oversee academic, staff, and student diversity, equity, inclusion and climate issues. The DI-ELT is charged with responsibilities such as providing guidance to senior leadership on issues related to equity and inclusion, working with the Chancellor and Provost to develop strategic approaches for units to own and embrace diversity and inclusion strategic planning and affirmative action goals, and establishing professional standards and expectations for equity.

Link to UC Davis Diversity, Equity and Inclusion website: https://diversity.ucdavis.edu/office-diversity-equity-and-inclusion

Diversity & Inclusion Education and Training, a unit within the Vice Chancellors Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, offers various educational opportunities to staff, faculty and students on fostering an inclusive and respectful environment that honors our diverse campus community and operationalizes the UC Davis Principles of Community, an aspirational statement that reflects the ideals the campus seeks to uphold and embodies the commitment to understand and value both the individual differences and common grounds for the UC Davis community.

Diversity & Inclusion Education and Training includes workshops, trainings, presentations, courses, seminars and other educational initiatives that enhance our understanding of and appreciation for the diversity that makes up our campus community. The professional development courses are offered in partnership with UC Davis Staff Development and Professional Services (SDPS) and Human Resources Learning & Development, and cover topics around awareness and inclusion in the workplace for various campus communities. Unit and Department Trainings offer facilitated training on topics including diversity awareness, understanding privilege and oppression, cross cultural communication, conflict management, and more. Trainings are available for academic and non-academic staff as well as students.

The Vice Chancellors Office for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion was created as a result of the UC Davis Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Vision which was published in 2017. The Diversity & Inclusion Education and Training unit and its mission are aligned with the Chancellors “To Boldly Go” strategic plan and Goal 3: Embrace diversity, practice inclusive excellence and strive for equity.

Link to the UC Davis Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Vision: https://diversity.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk731/files/inline-files/Diversity%20and%20Inclusion%20Strategic%20Vision%20Plan%20June%2029%202017.pdf