UCR Principles of Community

The University of California Riverside is committed to equitable treatment of all students, faculty, and staff. UCR's faculty, staff, and students are committed to creating an environment in which each person has the opportunity to grow and develop, and is recognized for their contribution.  

There are three objectives that our campus must strive toward in order to achieve these goals.
 

• First, we must ensure that we have an environment that nurtures the intellectual and personal growth of our students, faculty and staff.
   

• Second, we must ensure that our campus sets an example of respect for all people.
   

• Third, we must ensure that our campus is a safe and welcoming environment for everyone.
   

We take pride in the diversity of the campus community and in ourselves by using the campus environment as a place, committed to academic integrity, where all members are encouraged to use their unique talents to enrich the daily life of the community in which they live, work, teach and learn. Respect for differences and civil discourse must become the hallmark of how we live and work together to build our community of learners at UCR.  
 

We as members of the University of California Riverside affirm our responsibility and commitment to creating and fostering a respectful, cooperative, professional and courteous campus environment. Implicit in this mutual respect is the right of each of us to live, study, teach, and work free from harassment or denigration on the basis of race/ethnicity, age, religious or political preference, gender, transgender, sexual orientation, nation of origin, or physical abilities. Any violation of this right by verbal or written abuse, threats, harassment, intimidation, or violence against person or property will be considered a violation of the principles of community that are an integral part of the University of California’s focus, goals and mission (and subject to sanction according to University policies and procedures).  

We recognize that we will all need to continually work together to make our campus community a place where reason and mutual respect among individuals and groups prevail in all forms of expression and interaction.

University of California Diversity Statement

The diversity of the people of California has been the source of innovative ideas and creative accomplishments throughout the state’s history into the present. Diversity – a defining feature of California’s past, present, and future – refers to the variety of personal experiences, values, and worldviews that arise from differences of culture and circumstance. Such differences include race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, language, abilities/disabilities, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, and geographic region, and more.

Because the core mission of the University of California is to serve the interests of the State of California, it must seek to achieve diversity among its student bodies and among its employees. The State of California has a compelling interest in making sure that people from all backgrounds perceive that access to the University is possible for talented students, staff, and faculty from all groups. The knowledge that the University of California is open to qualified students from all groups, and thus serves all parts of the community equitably, helps sustain the social fabric of the State.

Diversity should also be integral to the University’s achievement of excellence. Diversity can enhance the ability of the University to accomplish its academic mission. 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. Ideas, and practices based on those ideas, can be made richer by the process of being born and nurtured in a diverse community. The pluralistic university can model a process of proposing and testing ideas through respectful, civil communication. Educational excellence that truly incorporates diversity thus can promote mutual respect and make possible the full, effective use of the talents and abilities of all to foster innovation and train future leadership.

Therefore, the University of California renews its commitment to the full realization of its historic promise to recognize and nurture merit, talent, and achievement by supporting diversity and equal opportunity in its education, services, and administration, as well as research and creative activity. The University particularly acknowledges the acute need to remove barriers to the recruitment, retention, and advancement of talented students, faculty, and staff from historically excluded populations who are currently underrepresented.

Adopted September 20, 2007
Amended September 16, 2010

View UC Regents Policy 4400