ADVANCING FACULTY DIVERSITY GRANT, 2018-2019
Background About Our Grant
The Advancing Faculty Diversity Grant provides UC Davis with $422,347 in funding from the UC Office of the President for the purpose of recruiting faculty committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion through open searches conducted in the 2018-2019 academic year. Details as follows:
UC Davis' Office of Academic Affairs will conduct eight open-discipline searches, most of which are open rank, during the 2018-19 academic year for tenure-track faculty in coordination with the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion as well as the deans of the participating schools/colleges.
The searches will be college or school-wide, without specification of a specific discipline or department, provided that an applicant’s area of expertise falls within a discipline embodied in the academic unit. The goal of these broad searches is to attract the widest possible pool of candidates. Participating schools or colleges include:
- College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
- College of Biological Sciences
- College of Engineering
- Graduate School of Management
- School of Education
- School of Law
- School of Medicine
- School of Veterinary Medicine
Each of these schools/colleges will be allowed one hire through this grant. These recruitments are announced on the UC Davis Recruit website and available for application here: https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/.
What Do Applicants Need to Know When Applying?
In addition to a strong record of research and teaching excellence, successful candidates will also have an accomplished track record (calibrated to their career stage) of teaching, research or service activities addressing the needs of African-American, Latino(a)/Chicano(a)/Hispanic, and Native American students or communities. Successful candidates will have a clearly articulated vision of how their work at UC Davis will continue to contribute to the University’s mission of serving the needs of our diverse state and student population and an understanding of the barriers preventing full participation of underrepresented minorities in higher education. Applicants’ track record of engagement and activity related to diversity, equal opportunity, and inclusion as well as their plans for future engagement will be a significant part of the overall evaluation of the candidate’s qualifications for a faculty appointment.
The initial screening of candidates will be based on the evaluation of the candidates’ Statement of Contributions to Diversity.
What Should a Statement of Contributions to Diversity Accomplish?
- Indicate awareness of inequities and challenges in education faced by historically underrepresented minority students and faculty (African-American, Latino (a)/Chicano (a)/Hispanic, and Native American), and the negative consequences of underutilization.
- Demonstrate a track record tied to your career stage and measure of success in activities (such as mentoring, teaching, or outreach) that aim to reduce barriers in education or research for underrepresented minority students and faculty (African-American, Latino (a)/Chicano (a)/Hispanic, and Native American).
- Describe specific plans to contribute through campus programs, new activities, or through national or off-campus organizations.
- Provide a clearly articulated vision of how their work at UC Davis will continue to contribute to the University’s mission of serving the needs of our diverse state and student population.
Only those candidates with a strong and compelling Statement of Contributions to Diversity will move forward in the evaluation process. Applicants are strongly encouraged to read the following guidelines for writing a diversity statement before completing their application materials.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Is the process of relying on a Statement of Contributions to Diversity to evaluate candidates consistent with University of California Policy?
A: Yes. UC APM 210.1-d which governs appointment, appraisal and promotion, recommends that faculty be given recognition in the academic personnel process for activity that promotes inclusive excellence:
“The University of California is committed to excellence and equity in every facet of its mission. Contributions in all areas of faculty achievement that promote equal opportunity and diversity should be given due recognition in the academic personnel process, and they should be evaluated and credited in the same way as other faculty achievements. These contributions to diversity and equal opportunity can take a variety of forms including efforts to advance equitable access to education, public service that addresses the needs of California's diverse population, or research in a scholar's area of expertise that highlights inequities.”
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Q: Why is UC Davis requesting a Statement of Contributions to Diversity to include in my application?
A: We encourage applicants to go to the following website, to better understand why this is so important to our university: https://academicaffairs.ucdavis.edu/why-does-uc-davis-seek-diversity-statements-applicants.
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Q: By focusing on a candidate's Statement of Contributions to Diversity in the search process, will UC Davis maintain its standards of academic excellence in research, teaching, and service?
A: Yes. Consistent with our standards for all faculty hires at UC Davis, all candidates will be evaluated using the same standards for excellence in research, teaching, and service. that are applied in all faculty searches at UC Davis. The process of relying on Statements of Contributions to Diversity to inform our evaluation of excellence in the areas of research, teaching and service, is consistent with existing University of California Policy. APM 210.1-d which governs appointment, appraisal and promotion, recommends that faculty be both encouraged and rewarded for activity that promotes inclusive excellence:
“The University of California is committed to excellence and equity in every facet of its mission. Teaching, research, professional and public service contributions that promote diversity and equal opportunity are to be encouraged and given recognition in the evaluation of the candidate's qualifications. These contributions to diversity and equal opportunity can take a variety of forms including efforts to advance equitable access to education, public service that addresses the needs of California's diverse population, or research in a scholar's area of expertise that highlights inequities.”
The Chronicle of Education has recently posted on this subject as well, in their article, "In Defense of Diversity Statements" by Charlotte M. Canning and Richard J. Reddick.
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Q: Can I apply to more than one search?
A: Yes. If you feel that your academic training and/or area of research are applicable to more than one college or school at UC Davis, you may apply to more than one search.
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Q: Am I able to apply if I am not a US citizen?
A: Applications are accepted from US and non-US citizens. Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Certain positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check. More information is available https://www.e-verify.gov/.
International scholars can also find additional resources at the Global Affairs webpage.
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Q: Will administrators check to see if my application is considered complete?
A: It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that all documents associated with their application is uploaded appropriately and that their application is complete. Please only upload files as PDF's and Word Documents in RECRUIT.
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Q: Who do I contact if I have questions about this hiring initiative?
A: Questions can be sent to our support team at opensearchsupport@ucdavis.edu. Messages to this address will be handled in a confidential manner.