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UC Davis

Undergraduate School

Mailing Address
1 Shields Ave
Davis, California 95616
Phone
(530) 752-1011
School Information
"UC Davis is the home of the Aggies — go-getters, change makers and problem solvers who make their mark at one of the top public universities in the United States. Since we first opened in 1908, we’ve been known for standout academics, sustainability and Aggie Pride as well as valuing the Northern California lifestyle. These themes are woven into our 100-plus-year history and our reputation for solving problems related to food, health, the environment and society." The university has a 20:1 student-faculty ratio, offers 102 undergraduate majors, and has 101 graduate programs. (Source: https://www.ucdavis.edu/about/) (Source: https://www.ucdavis.edu/about/facts)
General Information
UC Davis has released its Anti-Racism Syllabus as a resource for its students. Created by the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the syllabus details campus activities addressing bias, racism, and structural inequalities. Further actions to build upon this syllabus have not yet been announced. The university and its departments offer a lot of anti-racism resources. For instance, the university's Campus Community Book Project for 2021-22 is Ibram X. Kendi's "How to Be an Antiracist." The Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences Anti-Racism Action Committee (ARAC) has developed equitable grading practices for EPS students. The university's Environmental Health Sciences Center's Community Engagement Core proposed that the center mandate implicit bias and environmental racism training for all EHSC researchers and staff, and require EHSC grantees to participate in this training. See developments below:

Actions Taken

Admissions Policies
  • On June 29, 2023, UC Davis' Chancellor issued a statement in response to the Supreme Court's ruling on affirmative action which reads in part as follows: "While public universities in California have recruited new classes of students without considering race and gender as main factors since 1996, opportunities available for underrepresented students will become fewer with today’s decision...At UC Davis, we will continue to build on efforts like those of our School of Medicine, where half the class is from Black, Hispanic and Indigenous populations. We will continue to provide equitable access to all Californians."
Anti-Racism, Bias, and Diversity Training
  • The university's Continuing and Professional Education's Human Services offers Antiracism Resources, such as "White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack" by Peggy McIntosh and - UC Davis Human Services Anti-Racist Practice webinars.
  • The university's Environmental Health Sciences Center's Community Engagement Core proposed that the center, "Mandate implicit bias and environmental racism training for all EHSC researchers and staff. Require EHSC grantees to participate in this training."
  • The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion offers "Action Planning for Divisions, Colleges, Schools, and Departments." The office recommends that departments, "Address Histories, Race, Justice, Language – Reflection and Learning," among other actions.
Curriculum Changes and Requirements
  • The Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences Anti-Racism Action Committee (ARAC) is in the process of developing/evaluating "Equitable grading practices for EPS students."
Program and Research Funding
  • The university has been awarded a $27,500, two-year grant from the American Association of Community Colleges Equity Transfer Initiative to increase transfer rates among "African American, Hispanic, and first-generation students."
Resources
  • “Anti-Racism Syllabus” released by the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion detailing campus activities addressing bias, racism, and structural inequalities.
  • The Office for Health Equity, Diversity and Inclusion has an "Anti-racism resources" page.
  • The university will "Address Histories, Race, Justice, Language – Reflection and Learning" and "Work with TJE on organizational reflection and deep dives into organizational history and anti-racism best practices"
  • The university's "DEI-HDT Parenting in a Pandemic Initiative produced 11 webinars geared towards parents of the UC Davis community, City of Davis, Yolo County, and beyond."
  • The university offers "Responses to 10 Common Criticisms of Anti-Racism Action in STEM" as a recommended reading.
  • The UC Davis Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion offered "Being An Ally Requires Being An Anti-racist: 11 Suggested Actions Toward Anti-racism In The Office And On Your Own," The office suggested that community members, "Create or expand anti-racism and other topics promoting diversity and inclusion as part of professional development and community building efforts."
  • The Office of Undergraduate Education's Center for Educational Effectiveness offers workshops on-demand, such as "Foundations of an Anti-racist Pedagogy," "Anti-Racism: Applications to Higher Ed Pedagogy," and "Building an Anti-Racist Classroom Environment."
  • The university's Campus Community Book Project for 2021-22 is Ibram X. Kendi's "How to Be an Antiracist." The university said that programs "will accompany the book project — lectures, discussions, exhibitions, films and more."
  • The Graduate School of Management launched a "21-Week Anti-Racism Challenge," which included excerpts from the 1619 podcast and "Teaching While White: White Fragility Parts 1&2" (an event that featured author Robin DiAngelo).
  • The university's Environmental Health Sciences Center's Community Engagement Core proposed that the center, "Host speaker series on anti-racism and decolonizing research including Indigenous researcher experiences and decolonizing research, BIPOC voices (grad students & professional students included)."
  • The university hosted events in 2021, such as "Raising Antiracist Kids" and "Citizenism: Racialized Discrimination by Design."
  • The School of Management said, "Our faculty diversity committee will continue to create resources and tools to increase diversity, belonging, inclusion, and equity in the classroom."
  • The College of Biological Sciences offers "Anti-Racist Reading Groups," which read Ibram X. Kendi's "Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America."
  • The School of Law had a "Racial Justice Speaker Series 2021-2022," which "invites leading scholars from around the country to explore systemic racism as it pertains to all communities of color and areas of law."
Symbolic Actions
  • The university's Strategic Communications Division will "Commit to pursuing opportunities to further learning about anti-racism, inclusion, diversity and history through ongoing training, reading, listening, etc."
  • As part of its strategic plan, UC Davis Library will, "Ensure that our collections embrace equity, reflect diverse populations and adapt to meet clinical care, research and educational needs."
  • On January 27, 2023, the school's Chancellor and Police Chief released a statement on the "Killing of Tyre Nichols" and stated, "We wonder when we will see true change that make such incidents a thing of the past. All too often, a person of color at a traffic stop can feel like Schrödinger’s cat — existing in an uncertain state that can be simultaneously considered both alive and dead."
Last updated June 21st, 2024
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