Equity Resources

EQUITY RESOURCES

Equity Statement

The Department of Art Practice is committed to diversity in the curriculum, the classroom, the studios, the gallery, and the workplace. We value difference as well as affinity between individuals and groups. To us, diversity includes race, ethnicity, sex, gender, trans and nonbinary identities, sexual orientation, religion, dis/ability, age, citizenship, caste, tribe, underrepresented groups, marital status, socioeconomic status, and language. We value varied teaching, learning, and communication styles, as well as a diversity of perspectives, thoughts, and ideas. 

Art Practice recognizes that students do not all begin with or continue to benefit from  the same economic, social, cultural, or prior educational resources. We recognize that all members of our community - students, staff, and faculty - experience different advantages and disadvantages, and that many endure barriers and systemic inequalities that are often unseen. Our department is committed to equity and fairness within the procedures and processes we employ to narrow disparities, and to ensure that everyone has equal access to opportunities and resources available to us.

The Department of Art Practice strives to create an environment in which individuals and groups feel supported, respected, and valued to fully participate. We recognize that no one person can or should represent our whole community. We believe that the inclusion of all adds value and creates balance in the face of power differences.

Equity Officer

The Art Practice Equity Officer is Professor Al-An deSouza.
Email: adesouza13@berkeley.edu
Office: Anthropology & Art Practice Building 316 

The Equity Officer works  as a resource for addressing equity and inclusion issues that affect the department’s cultural climate. They work with staff, faculty, and students to ensure that the department’s policies, practices, and procedures foster a friendly, fair, and professional environment. More info about UC’s Faculty Equity Officers here.
See also the Department of Art Practice Policy Page, managed by the Equity Officer.

Disability Statement 

Art Practice considers disability not through a medical lens, but through a Disability Studies perspective that considers socio-political and cultural aspects of disability. Unlike the medical model of disability, where the body needs to be “normalized,” a social model calls for implementing accommodations, services, and anti-ableist equity for disabled people. Disabled people, as socially oppressed and marginalized individuals, experience various intersectional oppressions and exclusions depending on their race, gender, class, and sexual orientation. 

Art Practice commits to examining work spaces, studios, and shops through a lens of disability to understand and document the varying levels of accessibility and where improvements can be made.  We pledge to embrace equitable and inclusive practices encompassing the broadest spectrum of disabilities

Campus Organizations

The Centers for Educational Justice & Community Engagement (EJCE) at UC Berkeley is a collaboration between offices and centers that advocate for, build capacity with, and dialogue among and across diverse communities. Their community engagement approach enriches the academic success of students while fostering a campus climate that honors the dignity of all people. 

Each partner space is steeped in rich and vibrant legacies and established community-centered praxes of educational justice: leadership development, access, activism, academic excellence and social justice. Their work reflects interconnected identities and experiences through our collective and individual commitments to support and advance future global leaders.

Participating organizations and resource centers include:

The African American Student Development Office
The Asian Pacific American Student Development Office
The Chicanx Latinx Student Development Office
Gender Equity Resource Center
LGBTQ+ Resource Center
Multicultural Community Center
Native American Student Development Office
Sexual & Dating Violence Resource Center
Transgender Resource Center
Women's Resource Center

The Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) provides first generation, low-income, undocumented, and underrepresented college students with the guidance and resources necessary to succeed at Berkeley.
 EOP academic counselors and student staff work alongside amazing students who, despite their unique responsibilities and challenges, transform their lives through academic achievement and personal growth. EOP’s individualized academic counseling, comprehensive support services, and extensive campus referral network help students develop the unique gifts and talents they each bring to the university while empowering them to achieve. 

The Centers for Educational Equity and Excellence (CE3) ensure non-traditional students excel at the top public University in the world. For many students, gaining admission to UC Berkeley is only half the battle — once they are on campus, they face other challenges. It is critical to have in place resources necessary to help students succeed — particularly historically marginalized students. By respecting every undergraduate as a unique individual, CE3 programs empower UC Berkeley students to achieve and lead. 

The Disabled Students' Program (DSP) promotes an inclusive environment for students with disabilities. They equip students with appropriate accommodations and services to achieve their individual academic goals. They are dedicated to supporting students and collaborating with the campus community to remove barriers to educational access and embrace the University’s values of equity and inclusion. They believe that an accessible environment universally benefits everyone. UC Berkeley is dedicated to going beyond legally required accommodations to provide student services that assist our students with disabilities in finding success at Cal and beyond and reaching their own goals and aspirations. Learn more about these services.

The Undocumented Student Program (USP) provides guidance and support to undocumented undergraduates at Cal. USP practices a holistic, multicultural and solution-focused approach that delivers individualized service for each student. The academic counseling, legal support, financial aid resources and extensive campus referral network provided by USP helps students develop the unique gifts and talents they each bring to the university, while empowering a sense of belonging. 

The Transfer Student Center provides services to assist students who transfer to Cal from other colleges and universities with navigating the academic and cultural landscape of this research university. 

The Re-entry Student Program provides resources and community for students who once deferred their lifelong goal of earning a college degree. Re-entry students (undergraduates 25 and older) bring their life and professional experience to Berkeley along with ethnic, and cultural diversity that powerfully and positively impact our learning environment.  

The Basic Needs Center provides for the food, housing, and economic security of our community. We understand that basic needs have a direct impact on the mental-emotional-physical health, wellness, academic performance, professional development, and holistic success of students. Basic Needs is committed to accomplishing food, housing and economic justice on the UC Berkeley campus through a robust model of prevention, intervention and emergency relief efforts. 

International Students Association at Berkeley provides a positive intellectual and social atmosphere for students from diverse backgrounds. We host numerous events to promote awareness of international culture for the campus community, whilst strengthening Berkeley's multicultural community.

Student Organizations at UC Berkeley - there are over 1300! - offer guidance, support, mentorship, and academic services. Many of these organizations are organized by and offer support to students of specific cultural, religious, racial, ethnic, ability, gender, and sexual identities. A wide range of affinity groups offer support for students’ diverse life experiences and aim to meet their specific needs and challenges. 

Tip: there are so many student organizations! When visiting the website, click the “Categories” menu to find the one that’s right for you.