Mission
The Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Plan of the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering builds upon the University of California Diversity Statement, the UCLA Chancellor’s Statement on Diversity, and the efforts of the UCLA Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
The University of California Diversity Statement was adopted by the Assembly of the Academic Senate and endorsed by the President of the University of California in 2006. The statement defines diversity as “…the variety of personal experiences, values, and worldviews that arise from differences of culture and circumstance.” Furthermore, “…the University of California renews its commitment to the full realization of its historic promise to recognize and nurture merit, talent, and achievement by supporting diversity and equal opportunity in its education, services, and administration, as well as research and creative activity. The University particularly acknowledges the acute need to remove barriers to the recruitment, retention, and advancement of talented students, faculty, and staff from historically excluded populations who are currently underrepresented.”
The UCLA Chancellor’s Statement on Diversity states that “UCLA has a great legacy of preparing leaders from all segments of society who have gone on to make significant contributions all over the world. We are deeply committed to ensuring the continued diversity of our campus. We will do whatever we can, legally and appropriately, to preserve and expand the diverse nature of our university community.”
Per its mission statement, the UCLA Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion “…leads and advances strategies for enhancing equity, diversity and inclusion; protecting civil rights; and upholding dignity for all in our community.” Furthermore, their slogan is “Build equity for all.”
Objectives
- Enhance the diversity of the UCLA Samueli undergraduate and graduate student populations.
- Enhance the diversity of the UCLA Samueli faculty and staff.
- Provide ongoing support to all UCLA Samueli students, including those who are historically underrepresented in engineering and computer science.
- Help faculty create inclusive classroom and research lab environments in which all students can feel welcome and achieve at their highest levels.
- Help students, faculty, and staff appreciate how different perspectives shared by members of the UCLA Samueli community can influence interpersonal interactions, and develop strategies for creating an inclusive and equitable environment.
- Facilitate collaborations amongst students, faculty, and staff to engineer more equitable and inclusive solutions to society’s most pressing problems.