Applicant Contributions to Diversity Statements in Senate Faculty Searches

SENATE FACULTY

Re: Applicant Contributions to Diversity Statements in Senate Faculty Searches

Dear Colleagues:

I have decided to extend the requirement for applicant contributions to diversity statements in all Senate faculty searches launched during the 2018-19 academic year, and through the subsequent assessment period.

The requirement was implemented in October 2017, with a commitment to assess its impact and effectiveness at the end of the first year. The assessment is informed by a survey completed by search committee chairs, as well as consultation with the academic senate and campus leadership. However, many of 2017-18 searches were launched before the requirement went into effect, and for searches that did require statements, only half of the surveys have been completed. An assessment at this time would be premature.

The extension will allow for additional collection of quantitative and qualitative information from the 2018-19 hiring cycle, which wraps up during spring/summer 2019. The assessment will begin in summer 2019, with senate consultation occurring fall 2019. If you have not yet completed the Search Committee Chair Survey in UC Recruit, I urge you to do so.

I appreciate the efforts of the Senate Committee on Affirmative Action and Diversity to give guidance to candidates regarding diversity statements: https://senate.ucsc.edu/committees/caad-committee-on-affirmative-action-and-diversity/DivStateGuidelines.pdf

I am also grateful to all of the department chairs, deans, and search committee members for their tireless efforts to recruit outstanding faculty who will strengthen our commitment to diversity at UC Santa Cruz.

Cc: Deans
Department Managers
Divisional Academic Personnel Coordinators
Vice Provost Academic Affairs Lee
Assistant Vice Provost McClintock