Graduate Anti-Racism Toolkit

Resources and Tools for Faculty, Staff, Graduate Students and Programs

Dismantling racism in graduate education requires the investment of faculty, students, scholars, and staff, as well as a shared willingness to build capacity and forge stronger communities.  No one training path will work for everyone, and to that end, we offer this toolkit of resources and available trainings, as well as a framework for putting together a plan for individual graduate programs and groups. Whether you are a seasoned practitioner or a novice in this work, this toolkit will provide new insights for you to engage in the process of working toward a more equitable graduate education. 

 

I. Anti-racism professional development

 

  • Available campus wide professional development 

  • Anti-Racism:  UCD Courses, Workshops, and Learning Materials

    Graduate students

    Faculty

    Staff

    Departments

    Understanding and Enacting Anti-Racism

    Making The Unconscious Conscious: Understanding and Mitigating Bias (synchronous virtual or in person course offered through the UCD Learning Management system)

    X

    X

    X

    X

    Unpacking Oppression (online course offered through the UCD Learning Management system)

    X

    X

    X

    X

    Microaggressions: Towards Greater Awareness and Understanding (online course offered through the UCD Learning Management system)

    X

    X

    X

    X

    Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for Graduate Students 

    (in development)

         
    Admissions & Recruitment

    Holistic Review (Grad Studies)

         

    X

    Graduate Admissions: Best Practices in Application Review (online course offered through the UCD Learning Management system)

           
    Mentoring & Advising

    Graduate Mentoring Initiative (Grad Studies)

     

    X

       

    Professional Development: Advising Graduate Students For Success (synchronous online course offered through the UCD Learning Management system)

     

    X

    X

     
    Teaching

    Just-in-Time Teaching Guides (CEE):

    Anti-Racist Teaching, Charged Discussions, Microaggressions, Inclusive Practice, Implicit Bias

    X

    X

       

    Anti-Racist Teaching Workshops & Spark Sessions (CEE)

    X

    X

     

    X

    Asynchronous workshops for graduate students:  Building an Anti-Racist Classroom Environment & Beyond 101:  Addressing Racism & Microagressions in the Classroom 

    X

         

    Asynchronous workshop for faculty:  Foundations of an Anti-Racist Pedagogy

     

    X

       

    Anti-Racist Pedagogy Learning Community (CEE)

     

    X

       

    Creating and Supporting Inclusive Learning Environments (session included in orientation for new teaching assistants)

    X

         
    Supervision & Hiring

    Diversity Awareness for New Supervisors and Leads (online course offered through the UCD Learning Management system)

     

    X

    X

    X

    Intercultural Recruitment and Selection (online course offered through the UCD Learning Management system)

     

    X

    X

    X

    Avoiding Bias in the Hiring Process (online course offered through the UCD Learning Management system)

     

    X

    X

    X

     

  • Additional professional development available to members of the graduate education community

  • Quarter
    Training
    Audience

    Fall: Late Sept/Early Oct

    Graduate Program Advisor Training

    Graduate Program Advisors

    Fall: Late Sept/Early Oct

    Graduate Program Chair Training

    Graduate Program Chairs 

    Fall: Oct-Dec

    Graduate Mentoring Initiative

    Faculty

    Fall: Nov

    Holistic Review

    Faculty

    Fall: Oct

    Graduate Admissions: Best Practices in Holistic Review

    Graduate Program Coordinators

    Fall: Nov

    The Graduate Academic Experience

    Graduate Program Coordinators

    Fall: Nov

    Graduate Program Policy and Administration

    Graduate Program Coordinators

    Fall: Nov

    Supporting International Students

    Graduate Program Advisors

    Winter: Jan

    Academic Graduate Funding and Financial Management

    Graduate Program Coordinators

    Winter: Jan-March

    Graduate Mentoring Initiative

    Faculty

    Winter: March

    Supporting Distressed Students

    Graduate Program Advisors

    Spring: April-May

    Graduate Mentoring Initiative

    Faculty

    Spring: April

    Student Progress Assessment Training

    Graduate Program Advisors 

    Spring: May

    The Graduate Academic Experience

    Graduate Program Coordinators

    Spring: May

    Graduate Program Policy and Administration

    Graduate Program Coordinators

    Spring: June

    Graduate Admissions: Best Practices in Holistic Review

    Graduate Program Coordinators

    Summer: August

    Academic Graduate Funding and Financial Management

    Graduate Program Coordinators

 

II. How to put together an anti-racism training program, guided by the Principles of Community   

Racism is systemic and so anti-racism work must improve existing systems and build new ones guided by inclusion and excellence. The campus-wide Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan (DISV) is a framework that helps get DEI and anti-racism work started by bringing into focus several structural areas that are critical to achieving true inclusion. Communities are stronger when everyone is included, and inclusion is a life-long process as individuals and groups change. This work is not easy and requires a strong, ongoing DEI training plan in departments and units.

    

Step 1: Readiness

  • Organize a standing DEI Committee (if not yet already done) to help guide your organization and make training recommendations to leadership. Include faculty, students, staff, and be mindful of supporting diverse voices and rotating membership.
  • Empower your DEI Committee by naming liaison positions to other standing committees (Executive, Admissions, Educational Policy, etc.)  Institutionalize the committee in your program bylaws.
  • Commit to learning the history of US racial injustice and its consequences for modern institutions (see reading suggestions)
  • Reintroduce the Principles of Community to your group and use the opportunity to implement a strategy to assess your unit’s DEI climate to help inform directions of needed DEI training 
  • Familiarize your program with the campus five DEI goals from the Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan (DISV); which is goal three of the Chancellor's To Boldly Go strategic vision for UC Davis:  

 

 

Step 2: Taking Inventory and Starting to Plan 

  • Assess what DEI training your organization already has in place that helps promote positive outcomes related to the DISV 
  • Identify potential gaps in DEI training 
  • Consider initiating a climate survey to assess the needs of your students
  • Begin drafting plans to strengthen current DEI training and implement fixes and the creation of needed structures/plans to promote access and an expectation to complete relevant DEI trainings 

 

Step 3: Engagement and Research

  • Engage all members of your organization in the planning process and build “buy in”
  • Work with your DEI committee to develop organization-wide and individual ongoing professional development plans
  • Consider inviting campus experts in for workshops, consultations, and advice
  • Gather additional recommendations from campus partners
  • Gather research and data to support your organization’s DEI training work 

 

Step 4: Implementation 

  • Write your Action plan
  • Develop your implementation plan
  • Gather resources, set a timeline, and start implementing 

 

Step 5: Sustain, Assess, and Iterate

  • DEI work is a life-long process therefore work to Institutionalize your plans and focus on both short and long term sustainability
  • Create an evaluation/assessment plan and tools to assess progress
  • Note: This work can be reported on the Annual Performance Evaluation– Contributions to the Principles of Community and DEI

 

III. Educational Resources