UC Davis Principles of Community
The University of California, Davis, is first and foremost an institution of learning, teaching, research and public service. UC Davis reflects and is committed to serving the needs of a global society comprising all people and a multiplicity of identities. The university expects that every member of our community acknowledge, value, and practice the following guiding principles.
We affirm the dignity inherent in all of us, and we strive to maintain a climate of equity and justice demonstrated by respect for one another. We acknowledge that our society carries within it historical and deep-rooted injustices and biases. Therefore, we endeavor to foster mutual understanding and respect among the many parts of our whole.
We affirm the right of freedom of expression within our community. We affirm our commitment to non-violent exchange and the highest standards of conduct and decency toward all. Within this context, we reject violence in all forms. We promote open expression of our individuality and our diversity within the bounds of courtesy, sensitivity and respect. We further recognize the right of every individual to think, speak, express and debate any idea limited only by university regulations governing time, place and manner.
We confront and reject all manifestations of discrimination, including those based on race, ethnicity, gender and gender expression, age, visible and non-visible disability, nationality, sexual orientation, citizenship status, veteran status, religious/non-religious, spiritual, or political beliefs, socio-economic class, status within or outside the university, or any of the other differences among people which have been excuses for misunderstanding, dissension or hatred. We recognize and cherish the richness contributed to our lives by our diversity. We take pride in all our achievements, and we celebrate our differences.
We recognize that each of us has an obligation to the UC Davis community of which we have chosen to be a part. We will strive to build and maintain a culture and climate based on mutual respect and caring.
Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Ecology
A diverse community of ecologists is necessary to ensure that areas of study cover a breadth of topics of concern to all individuals, to enable translation of research to diverse communities outside of academia, and to provide a variety of perspectives and maximize our ability to analyze ecological problems. Diversity encompasses many factors; however, data regarding some types of diversity in the sciences (such as sexual orientation or disability) are largely unavailable. This section will specifically focus on demographic data regarding racial and ethnic diversity, which show that there are large disparities among racial groups in ecology. Across all ecology and evolutionary biology graduate programs in the U.S., an average of 7% students are from underrepresented groups* [1] . In addition, people of color** make up just 9% of membership of the Ecological Society of America [2]. However, data from the National Science Foundation show that 23% of those employed at the doctorate level in STEM fields are people of color [3], indicating a discrepancy between ecology and other STEM fields.
The mission of the University of California system is to serve residents of California, and it is essential that we consider how the significant discrepancies between demographics inside and outside of the GGE and other graduate programs in the UC affect our ability to fulfill this mission. In California, people of color make up approximately 60% of the population, and groups historically underrepresented in universities account for 47% [4] At UC Davis, students from underrepresented groups make up 21% of undergraduates, 14% of graduate students, and 35% of GGE students [5,6]. The GGE is one of the largest graduate ecology programs in the nation [1] – as a result, diversity within the GGE has a large impact on the diversity of the field of ecology. As a leading program in ecology, we have the opportunity and the responsibility to address barriers to diversity within our program and our field. Two ways that students and faculty in the GGE are working towards these goals are through participating in outreach activities and the GGE Diversity Committee. The Diversity Committee specifically addresses diversity within the GGE.
Definitions
* When used in this document, “Underrepresented” refers to people of Hispanic/Latino, African-American, and Native American origin.
** When used in this document, “People of Color” refers to people of Asian, Hispanic/Latino, African-American, and Native American origin.
Literature Cited
1. National Research Council. 2010. A Data-Based Assessment of Research-Doctorate
Programs: Report and Summary Tables.
2. Ortega S., Flecker A., Hoffman K., Jablonski L. Johnson-White J., Jurgensen-Armstrong, M., Kimmerer R., Poston M., Socha A., Taylor J. 2006. Women and minorities in ecology II: Committee report. Ecological Society of America.
3. National Science Foundation. 2006. Characteristics of Doctoral Scientists and Engineers in the United States: 2006. Accessed Feb. 2, 2013.
4. U.S. Census Bureau. 2010. Census State and County QuickFacts: California.
5. UC Davis Undergraduate Admissions. Student Profile.
6. UC Davis Office of Graduate Studies. Data Report: Enrollment Headcount by Ethnicity, Fall 2012, Ecology.