Holistic U Teaches Incoming Graduate Students How to Build a Community Toolbox
Graduate Studies hosted the second annual Holistic U, teaching incoming graduate students how to build community across disciplines and identities. Through a two-day workshop series, participants examined privilege, mindfulness, unconscious bias and self-care and how these factors relate to the graduate student journey.
Josephine Moreno, the graduate diversity officer for the humanities, arts and social sciences and education, developed the program last year. “Holistic U guides students in developing a graduate school toolkit for success," noted Moreno. "This program brings perspective across disciplines to understand what resources are available and who is in our community."
Graduate students shaped their Holistic U toolkit in three competencies: 1) navigating higher education; 2) building community; 3) and connecting to campus resources. By understanding the campus essentials, students identified the significant people and means for support across campus.
Moreno also highlighted some of the program's learning objectives. "Students learn to apply equity, inclusion and diversity to our University and understand how to reflect the Principles of Community at UC Davis. Holistic U allows students to hold space to talk about their fears and issues that come up in the classroom or their courses. By boosting confidence, students can advocate with the tools available and know where to find them when they are most needed."
Incoming students have an opportunity to sign up for Holistic U each summer. For more information about Holistic U and other programs and resources for graduate students, visit our Graduate Diversity Resources page.
About Graduate Studies
Graduate Studies at UC Davis includes over 100 dynamic degree programs and a diverse and interactive student body from around the world. Known for our state-of-the-art research facilities, productive laboratories and progressive spirit – UC Davis offers collaborative and interdisciplinary curricula through graduate groups and designated emphasis options, bringing students and faculty of different academic disciplines together to address real-world challenges.
UC Davis graduate students and postdoctoral scholars become leaders in their fields: researchers, teachers, politicians, mentors and entrepreneurs. They go on to guide, define and impact change within our global community.
For information on Graduate Studies’ current strategic initiatives, visit the Graduate Studies strategic plan page.