For Your Information | July 9, 2020

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Dear Colleagues,

Wow, it’s July! Last week, on July 1, I celebrated my first year with you, and posted a “Thank you video” on Twitter. I’ve also posted about our new, incoming president for the UC, Dr. Michael Drake, and the UC’s pending lawsuit and our support for international students.  From a life/work balance perspective, I’ve even posted about my garden, which includes my kale plant that came from our own UC Davis Student Farm.  I’m struck by the fact that it is summer and that time is flying. I hope that you are finding some time to rest, despite our Coronavirus quarantines and all of the work that we have on our plates. My own “vacation” will be spent unpacking boxes, because despite being in California for a year, I still haven’t fully moved in. Next week, I will take some time for that.  

This week, UC Davis announced the results of the economic analysis for the Aggie Square project, noting that it is slated to add more than 25,000 jobs, and approximately $5 billion dollars to the Sacramento region’s economy.  Some of our DEI team members have been in meetings related to this project, and more community-driven input is in the works. DEI partners with the Greater Sacramento Urban League (GSUL), and Cassandra Jennings, GSUL’s president and CEO stated, “The projected economic impact of Aggie Square is an opportunity for social transformation, lifting up neighborhoods and moving beyond gentrification gaps. Inclusive community engagement planning ensures full access and participation in economic prosperity …” Councilman Eric Guerra (District 6) also commented on Aggie Square, saying  “ … A critical partnership with UC Davis and the community stakeholders will ensure that the benefits materialize for the surrounding communities for better jobs, housing and local opportunity.”  It’s an exciting project! 

This summer, I’m going to ask you to become even more familiar with the Diversity & Inclusion Strategic Vision. You’ll recall that the first part of Goal 3 in our University-wide Strategic Plan (To Boldly Go) asks all of us to implement the D&I Strategic Vision across our units. We’re going to work on that together in the coming year. The Vision has 5 goals, and we are looking at ways to assist you with implementing those goals. Take a fresh look at the D&I Strategic Vision’s goals and objectives. Think about implementation planning. (This is great summer reading!) As you give thought to what you’re already doing, and to what you want to do in the next year, please plan to engage with us, because we are working on a plan to share what schools, colleges, and units are doing in this upcoming implementation phase. We want the upcoming actions and plans that you’re developing or solidifying to be aligned with the goals and objectives that committees have already outlined. In many cases, there may not be questions of how to implement the goals, because recommendations have already been made internally by the HSI Taskforce, constituent groups, administrative advisory committees, and other stakeholders.  Externally, there are recommendations listed in documents such as the National Academies’ report on the Science of Effective Mentoring in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, and Medicine) which also has an online guide with tools – and many of these recommendations for mentoring can be extended to the social sciences, arts, and humanities.   

As you take some time for yourselves this month, please continue to do so with safety in mind. My own face coverings “for the summer” are the lightweight, disposable, paper versions which are perfect for summer activities and being outdoors. When UC Davis makes their branded versions available, I’ll look forward to having one of those. Thank you for planning to participate in our upcoming activities such as next week’s  film series on race by the California Newsreel(complete with a facilitated discussion), “Addressing Privilege and Anti-Blackness” sponsored by the Feminist Research Institute, Global Affairs’ The Future of International Education workshops, and other events that you’ll see below. Finally, as always, thank you for your support.

Kind Regards,

Renetta G. Tull, Vice Chancellor

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Michael V. Drake Named New UC President
The University of California Board of Regents late this afternoon (July 7) announced the appointment of Michael V. Drake, M.D., as the 21st president of UC’s world-renowned system of 10 campuses, five medical centers, three nationally affiliated labs, more than 280,000 students, and 230,000 faculty and staff. READ

Content Submission Form
Do you have a DEI-oriented event, announcement, or article that you would like us to help promote through our DEI communication channels? Did your unit/department or a member of your unit/department receive recognition that demonstrates your commitment to DEI? If so, please send us your information through this online form.

Understanding U.S Department of Homeland Security Guidance for Fall 2020
Global Affairs has published a series of announcements, an upcoming webinar, and some guidance for international students and scholars and allies eager to learn more about the guidelines to colleges and universities offering remote instruction in the fall. LEARN MORE

Racial Trauma Resources
A culmination of many stressors, including ongoing racism leading to the disproportionate loss of lives of people of color across America, has left our community traumatized and seeking answers. At UC Davis, we affirm our support for Black lives, acknowledge racism and connect with a shared commitment to address it. The office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion has created a website with resources to support our community as we continue to find ways to build and strengthen our diverse culture at UC Davis. LEARN MORE

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UPDATES & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Office of Campus Community Relations | AEVC Rahim Reed

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION EDUCATION AND TRAINING
The Diversity and Inclusion Education and Training team has continued to provide educational courses and training for the campus community throughout the pandemic. In shifting to remote instruction, the team has conducted 22 sessions across 13 departments for over 640 total participants. In partnering with Staff Development & Professional Services, the team has been able to conduct an additional 14 sessions, serving over 350 participants.

Campus Community Relations also offered a training on "Understanding Microaggression: Towards Greater Diversity Consciousness" on July 1. Due to the sizable interest shown by the campus community, additional sessions will be offered on July 20, July 30, and August 6. Although these additional sessions are already full, other sessions (yet to be scheduled) will be available through SDPS in the next academic year. 

For information on registering for SDPS sessions, please visit here. 
For more information on other DEI topics offered through SDPS, please visit here.

FILM SCREENING: RACE - THE POWER OF AN ILLUSION 
The Office of Campus Community Relations invites you to engage in learning and dialogue with your campus community while coming together, remotely, to watch this three-part documentary. Space is limited and Zoom registration is required.

The division of the world's peoples into distinct groups - "red," "black," "white" or "yellow" peoples - has become so deeply imbedded in our psyches, so widely accepted, many would promptly dismiss as crazy any suggestion of its falsity. Yet, that's exactly what this provocative, new three-hour series by California Newsreel claims. Race - The Power of an Illusion questions the very idea of race as innate biology. Yet race still matters. Just because race does not exist in biology does not mean it is not very real, helping shape life chances and opportunities.

• "The Difference Between Us" (Ep. 1) – July 16, 11am - 12:15pm • Registration Link
• "The Story We Tell" (Ep. 2) – July 22, 11am - 12:15pm • Registration Link  
• "The House we Live In" (Ep. 3) – July 28, 11am - 12:15pm • Registration Link
• Debrief - Film Screening: Race the Power of an Illusion – July 31, 11am-12:15pm

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: 2021-2022 CAMPUS COMMUNITY BOOK PROJECT (CCBP)
The Campus Council on Community and Diversity (CCC&D) invites all members of the campus and greater community to nominate books related to the topic of “social justice in practice” for the 2021-2022 Campus Community Book Project (CCBP). As an educational institution, we endeavor to explore and engage thoughtfully about issues that impact our lives, directly and indirectly, with the goal of building a community that promotes diversity. You can read more about the 2021-2022 call for book nominations at here.

The Campus Community Book Project aims to foster dialogue among students, faculty, staff, and residents of the surrounding areas about important social issues.  It also promotes learning about varied perspectives and ideas concerning the chosen topic.

We welcome nominations of books that meet the following criteria: 

• Compelling and thought-provoking to engage us in dialogue about contemporary controversial issues and to raise questions that have many possible answers.
• Well-written, accessible, and engaging to a general audience.
• Short enough to be read within the time frame usually allotted for coursework.
• Provocative and intriguing to as many members of the community as possible, to invite diverse participation and integration into discussion groups and courses across disciplines.
• Written by someone who is still living.
• Author is a guest to the campus.

Any published work that is still in print in paperback – including non-fiction work, plays, novels, collections of short stories or essays – is eligible. An additional consideration for the recommended title is that the book's author will be available to speak as part of the Mondavi Center's Speakers Series for the 2021-2022 season.

To make a nomination or if you're interested in serving on the CCBP Selection Committee, contact Sunny Dosanjh at ssdosanjh@ucdavis.edu. Please include the book’s title and author, plus a short description and explanation of why the nominated title complements the topic and represents a worthy selection. The CCBP Selection Committee will begin reviewing nominations in late July, so recommendations are requested by July 24, 2020.

Office of Health Equity, Diversity and Inclusion | AVC Hendry Ton

HOSPITAL EARNS JAMES BEARD FOUNDATION AWARD FOR 2ND YEAR
For the second year in a row, UC Davis Health’s hospital café received a prestigious designation from The James Beard Foundation as a Smart Catch Leader. This recognition is particularly important because it aligns with and reinforces our Anchor Institution Mission. As Hendry Ton explained recently, “For us to truly improve the health of communities, we must continue to be more than the best provider in the region. We must also continue to improve access to care. And we must leverage UC Davis Health's resources to improve the economic vitality of underserved communities - essentially serving as an ‘anchor’ for communities buffeted by socioeconomic instability. This is the goal of our new Anchor Institution Mission - our AIM for Community Health Initiative. By developing and supporting jobs for local community members, partnering with local businesses, and purchasing and investing locally, we can help generate wealth that stays and grows within those communities.” You can read the full article here. 

Office of Academic Diversity

FACULTY PROMOTIONS
Verónica Martínez-Cerdeño, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, 2019 ADVANCE Scholar Award recipient, CAMPOS Scholar, promoted to Professor! 

Natalia Deeb-Sossa, Chicana/o Studies, CAMPSSAH Faculty Affiliate, HSI Taskforce member, promoted to Professor! 

Wilsaan M. Joiner, Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior (College of Biological Sciences), Neurology (School of Medicine), CAMPOS Scholar, promoted to Associate Professor! 

FACULTY PARENT SUPPORT GROUP: SPECIAL SUMMER ASSISTANCE
From the most recent edition of “Academic Insight,” the newsletter published by Academic Affairs: With the continuation of remote work, the pressures on faculty with young children are significantly higher than usual, making it even more challenging to respond to work demands. The convener of the Faculty Parent Support Group, Professor Diane Wolf, is generously making herself available throughout the summer to listen to faculty concerns and, if needed, help develop strategies to navigate these new challenges. To arrange a one-on-one confidential meeting at your convenience by phone, Zoom or any other venue, please email Diane directly at dlwolf@ucdavis.edu. 

EVENTS

Thursday, July 9

Growing as a Community: Moving from Ally to Advocate
As our communities across the nation grapple with the injustices of violence, we must actively confront these systemic injustices and understand the importance of healing racial trauma for the wellbeing of all our communities. Presented by the Office for Health Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Virtual discussion hosted from 12-1pm, by Colleen Sweeney, Ph.D, Ian Kim, MD, MBA, and Mercedes Piedra, MS. Register for the event here.

Friday, July 10

Racial Healing Circle
A technique for proactively building authentic dialogue and relationships to create collective impact. Join the UC Davis Health Office for Health Equity, Diversity and Inclusion for our virtual racial healing circle, facilitated by Mercedes Piedra, Director, Office for Health Equity, Diversity & Inclusion and Rangineh Azimzadeh Tosang,Founder of Solh Resolutions International. We are creating a safe space for supportive dialogue to build a community of belonging for a collective impact on racial justice. Register

Tuesday, July 14

Asking Different Questions: Addressing Privilege and Anti-Blackness in Research Culture
What are we doing to address ongoing anti-Blackness and amend for generations of exclusion? How must our departments, professional organizations, research systems, mentoring practices, and administrative structures change? We will share resources to learn and identify sites for personal and collective action. Read more and register on the Feminist Research Institute's webpage.

Thursday, July 16

Understanding U.S. Department of Homeland Security Guidance for Fall 2020
On July 16 at 11 a.m. (PDT) Services for International Students and Scholars (SISS) within Global Affairs is hosting immigration attorneys from Wolfsdorf Rosenthal LLP for a webinar, Understanding U.S. Department of Homeland Security Guidance for Fall 2020. The UC Davis international community is invited to attend this free webinar and submit questions in advance. Register today and submit your questions in advance.

The Future of International Education: Leadership Perspectives from Around the World
The Institute of International Education (IIE) and the University of California, Davis, present The Future of International Education: Leadership Perspectives from Around the World, a five-part series of leadership conversations about the future of the university and of international education, including the role internationalization has in advancing university missions.

Online events bring together senior leaders in academia for critical global and regional discussions on the consequences of COVID-19 and what they mean for global engagement and the future of both international education and higher education, in 2020 and beyond. For more information and to register visit the Global Affairs website.

• The Future of International Education: Leadership Perspectives from Latin America: Thursday, July 16, 9-10 a.m. PDT (4-5 p.m. UTC)

Friday, July 17

New Realities for Higher Education
How can California’s higher education systems address the challenges facing the state in the wake of COVID-19 and amid persistent concerns about racial inequality? Join us for a wide-ranging conversation with the leaders of California’s public institutions: Janet Napolitano, president, University of California; Eloy Ortiz Oakley, chancellor, California Community Colleges; and Timothy White, chancellor, California State University. 11:00A - 12:00P, learn more and register in advance here.

Friday-Saturday, October 9-10 

2020 Improving OUTcomes Conference 
This conference will bring together health care providers from the Greater Sacramento area to build transforma-tional leadership and community with the common goal of culturally competent care for all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ+) people and their families. LEARN MORE

RECOMMENDED READING

UC poised to sue federal government over new visa policy for international students
The University of California today (July 8) announced new plans to file suit against the federal government for violating the rights of the University and its students when the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) directed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to bar international students from staying in the country if they attend U.S. universities that offer only online courses during the COVID-19 health crisis. READ

Please also see the lists of Recommended Reading on our Racial Trauma Resources webpage here.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES         

UC Davis Services for International Students and Scholars (SISS) within Global Affairs is committed to supporting international students and scholars, especially regarding the U.S. Department of Homeland Security new guidance for the U.S. Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) related to online courses for fall 2020 that concerns students on F-1 nonimmigrant visas (please note: this applies only to F-1 and M-1 students). If you are an international student affected by this, have questions about these restrictions, or are concerned about your immigration status, please contact your SISS Advisor through the staff directory on the SISS website.

Pandemic EBT (P-EBT)
Families that have school-aged children who qualify for free or reduced lunch (and aren’t receiving CalFresh/Food Stamps currently), are eligible to apply for a new federally funded, Pandemic EBT program. In response to CA school closures, families with children eligible for free or reduced-price meals at school will soon receive a pre-loaded EBT card in the mail for every eligible child. This EBT card is separate from the traditional EBT card. Families that are currently active on CalFresh will automatically be mailed a card beginning in May 2020. For non-CalFresh households, an application is required before June 30, 2020. The online application will launch in late May. Please refer to this website for up-to-date information. 

Free Transportation for Vulnerable Elderly Adults
United Cerebral Palsy is offering free (donation optional) trips to vulnerable adults over 65 years of age, individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, individuals with compromised immune systems, as well as to individuals with serious chronic medical conditions. They can accommodate wheelchairs or other assistive mobility devices e.g. canes, walkers. In addition, they are available to do delivery trips such as picking up a pre-purchased grocery order, meals, prescription, pharmacy items, etc. For more information please visit their website. 

The UC Davis Office for Health Equity, Diversity and Inclusion developed a COVID resources page on our website in English and Spanish to reach our communities and we are actively updating with new resources

We invite you to share and submit your thoughts and items for our newsletter (either current or future news and events) at diversityinclusion@ucdavis.edu

Thank you for your dedication to diversity, equity and inclusion!

#ThinkBigDiversity
https://diversity.ucdavis.edu/