Diversity at the University of California

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Oiyan Poon
President
University of California Student Association

[Editor's note: These are the remarks delivered by Ms. Poon to the U.C. Regents shortly before they unanimously voted to support the recommendations of a study group report on diversity.]

Today, the UC Regents are considering several items that will significantly affect all 214,000+ University of California undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. As President of the University of California Student Association (UCSA), I observe the Regents’ deliberations and votes, and advocate on behalf of UC students for equity in access, affordability, and the quality of our University. I stand with students from across the state to tell the Regents not to water down the Diversity Report and to compel the Regents and the UC Office of the President to show their true colors by taking aggressive and concrete, action-oriented steps to address the diversity crisis facing our University.

Although I am excited about the completion of the report by the Regents Student Group on University Diversity and its preliminary findings and recommendations, I believe that this is just the beginning. Now, the Regents and the UC Office of the President must take strong leadership in strategically addressing the UC diversity crisis by ensuring that all campuses implement the strategic recommendations of the UC Regents Study Group on University Diversity. Students will vigilantly participate and engage with the UC Regents and Office of the President to make sure that aggressive steps are taken to deconstruct the barriers to UC diversity. The UC Regents and Office of the President must include students in implementing policies to follow through on the concerns and recommendations identified by the Study Group.

It is no secret that the gap between the state’s population of African Americans, Latina/os and Chicana/os, Pacific Islanders, and American Indians, and these communities’ participation on our UC campuses as undergraduate, professional and graduate students, as professors, and as staff and administrators has been at a crisis level. In order to begin addressing this crisis, students ask that Regents 1) ensure that academic preparation programs receive at least $33 million for the 2008-2009 school year; 2) eliminate or at least decrease the use of SAT I, SAT II and GRE scores as eligibility requirements; and 3) reevaluate admissions eligibility requirements, especially A-G required courses.

The University cannot afford to delay the implementation of progressive and well-funded interventions to improve campus climate for diversity, increase opportunities for under-represented students and scholars of color to join the UC community, and increase opportunities to increase the diversity of administrators and staff.