Contributions to Diversity Statements

Please see the message from UC System Provost Katherine Newman for updates to contributions to diversity statements at the University of California. 

Diversity, accessibility, and inclusion are integral to the University of California’s mission and pursuit of excellence. According to the UC Board of Regents Policy 4400, “Diversity aims to broaden and deepen both the educational experience and the scholarly environment, as students and faculty learn to interact effectively with each other, preparing them to participate in an increasingly complex and pluralistic society.”

In alignment with that promise, UC San Diego has a strong interest in ensuring that candidates hired for faculty appointments have an opportunity to describe their commitment to broadening educational access and  success. 

The purpose of the statement is to give candidates the opportunity to demonstrate how their knowledge, experiences, and professional skills can help the university advance its institutional diversity and equity goals. It should describe the past, present, and future contributions to diversity and equal opportunity in an educational context.

Guidelines for Writing Statements

As outlined in APM 210-1-d, 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 inequalities.” 

The Contributions to Diversity Statement should describe a candidate’s past or present efforts, as well as future plans to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in an educational context. It should also demonstrate a candidate’s understanding of the present and historical barriers facing women and underrepresented minorities, and what they can do to meet the educational needs of a diverse student population.

While there is no wrong way to write a Contributions to Diversity Statement, candidates can refer to these guidelines, and consider the example statements below.

Sample Contributions to Diversity Statements:

• Biology example
• Physical Sciences example
• Engineering example

Guidelines for Evaluating Statements

Departments and search committees should consider a candidate’s statement as part of a holistic and transparent evaluation of their qualifications. See UCOP's guidance on evaluating diversity statements>>

For field or school-specific guidance evaluating contributions to diversity, please contact your Faculty Equity Advisor.