Guidance for Optional Statements
MyInfoVault (MIV) allows for the inclusion of several different statements, each used to supplement the advancement review process. Our Step-Plus guidelines allow for additional half-steps to be awarded for outstanding contributions in the areas of Research, Teaching, Service, or Professional Competence. These optional statements may highlight contributions to these areas that may not otherwise be fully realized or apparent in the dossier.
Common questions about the optional statements and their answers can be found on the "Frequently Asked Questions" tab.
- Candidate Statement
- Candidate Statements serve as an opportunity for academics to highlight their greatest accomplishments in all review criteria for their series. For example, academics required to do research or creative activities as part of their position responsibilities are always encouraged to explain the context and impact of their academic endeavors in their Candidate’s Statement so that reviewers can recognize their uniqueness and importance. While all areas of research, scholarship, and creativity are valued, candidates often appreciate the opportunity to highlight unusual and distinguishing features of their work, such as influencing public policy, international research and engagement, public scholarship, work with underrepresented groups and disadvantaged communities, etc. Highlighting such efforts in the Candidate’s Statement can provide important insights not always evident in an advancement dossier. Rather than factually duplicate what is already available to reviewers, candidates should be analytic, interpretive, and tell a story about their research that would otherwise not be captured. Statements are also an opportunity to go beyond merely listing university and public service by addressing the time commitments and impacts. Similarly, candidates can highlight their teaching and mentoring with respect to, for example, commitment, philosophy, innovation, and inclusion, interpretively going well beyond the listings in the dossier. There is a five-page limit for the candidate's statement.
- Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is intended for academics to reflect on contributions to promoting equity, inclusion, and diversity in their professional careers during the review cycle. For example, you may have worked with members of communities or local organizations, in politics, or with university constituents such as students, staff, or faculty to further the goals of equity and inclusion. We respect and recognize such activities as consonant with our mission at UC Davis: to advance the human condition through improving the quality of life for all, using a framework that connects its land-grant history to a transformative vision for the 21st century. There is no page limit for this statement.
There are many valuable ways that faculty at UC Davis have contributed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and exemplified the university's strategic plan To Boldly Go. Examples include (but are not limited to):- Commitment to using a faculty position to be a force of enlightenment and change by opening up opportunities to students who may have never known of the intellectual and life options that abound at our university.
- Creation of programs that provide access and establish a pipeline in disciplines for students in traditionally underrepresented groups.
- Enriching the classroom environment through providing exposure to new perspectives on cultures, beliefs, or practices, or the teaching of cultural humility or other aptitudes and skills to enhance the ability of our students to engage with inclusivity in a pluralistic society.
- Exposure to research opportunities for individuals historically excluded from disciplines on the basis of their gender or ethnic identity.
- Leadership in any capacity that tangibly promotes an environment where diversity is welcomed, fostered, and celebrated.
- Mentoring students from traditionally underrepresented groups and at-risk students to provide the guidance needed to help ensure their academic experience is a welcoming and positive one, to promote university resources when needed for retention, and to serve as transformative role models for those who may not yet understand their real potential in an academic environment.
Additional Resources:
Writing and Evaluating Statements of Contributions to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Module (UCLC)
Frequently Asked Questions and Diversity Resources- Statement of Contributions to Public and Global Impact
- Faculty scholarship includes engaging locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally, but the full breadth and impact of that work is not always appreciated or easily understood by those who evaluate their merit and promotion dossiers. It is important to understand, visualize, and evaluate the scope of faculty activities that fall under these cross-cutting and high-priority areas for the university. These activities span the pillars of faculty research, teaching, and service. As such, this optional statement provides faculty with the opportunity to specifically address areas of public and global impact in their dossier. Public and global impact may be evidenced by, for example: peer-reviewed publications, high-impact reports, community-based programs, knowledge being brought into the policy and decision-making process, improving professional practice, pedagogical innovations, public exhibitions/installations, grants, contracts or competitive awards, and ways in which faculty public and global impact intersects with efforts to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Submitting this statement may help your colleagues evaluate holistically the impact of your publicly and globally-engaged work and appreciate with greater depth how this work fits within (or cuts across) your research, teaching, and/or service portfolio. There is no page limit for this statement.
Additional Resources:
Guidance for Faculty on Writing the “Statement of Contributions to Public and Global Impact”
Video Explanation for Public and Global Impact Statement (12/4/2023)
Transcript for Video Explanation for Public and Global Impact Statement (12/4/2023)
- COVID Opportunities and Challenges Statement
- UC Davis welcomes all members of its academic community to avail themselves of the opportunity to share with their colleagues and reviewers the impact the COVID pandemic has had on their next advancement since the pandemic began in Winter 2020, particularly research, scholarship, and creative activities; teaching and mentoring; and university and public service. This is a one-page limit for this statement.
Additional Resources:
Guidance for composing and providing COVID-19 Opportunities and Challenges Statements - Strike Impact Statement
- The Strike Impact Statement allows academic to explain the impact the strike had on faculty research and teaching activities and any extraordinary efforts faculty may have made in service of the university’s teaching mission. Moreover, faculty will be able to include these extraordinary efforts under University Service in MIV. When writing about the strike and impact, ensure that you include dates describing the nature of the strike and when it occurred. There is a one-page limit for this statement.