The UC Riverside Department of Physics & Astronomy is committed to creating an inclusive environment for research, learning, and service.

We recognize the ongoing systemic racism and violence toward black/indigenous/people of color (BIPOC). Our academic disciplines benefit from and further perpetuate racist systems that hinder BIPOC people. We take this time to listen and educate ourselves about our responsibilities to actively fight racism. We pledge ourselves to a path forward that requires accountability and action in service to an inclusive community.

What Inclusion means to UCR Physics & Astronomy

We value the merit of a diverse community of faculty, staff, and students. We recognize the challenges faced by non-traditional members of this department and pledge to continue to strive for equity. We view our research, teaching, and outreach as a service to our community that has the potential to transcend boundaries. Our enterprise is global and combines the efforts of people from all over the world, from all walks of life, and from a plurality of backgrounds. 

We recognize the positive impact of diversity in our mission. We recognize that inclusion is critical to our excellence.

Our definition of diversity is broad and includes--but is not limited to--race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, religion, disability, socioeconomic background, political affiliation, ability status, marital status, and the span of personal realities to which individuals may identify.

Our plan for inclusivity and diversity

Our department vision is shaped by its committee on diversity & inclusion and committee on women in physics. It has the support of the department chair and the faculty at large. We support and welcome the leadership of student groups including the Society of Physics Students' freshman mentoring program and the Physics Organization for Womxn and the Underrepresented (POWUR).

Together, we are committed to forming an inclusion action plan that involves frank assessment, specific objectives, and a timeframe to implement them. Our steps toward this include:

• Being a partner institution for the APS Bridge Program
• Participation in the Cal-Bridge program
• Participating in the UCR Grad Edge and Graduate Student Mentoring Programs
• Undergraduate mentoring programs from faculty and peers
• Continuous assessment of the department's climate of inclusion

We continue to pursue innovative ways to grow and support diversity in our department. One pillar of these efforts is our own accountability. To this end, we seek external review of our department environment by third parties such as the APS Committee on Minorities and Committee on the Status of Women in Physics, and the AAAS  Equity Achievement (SEA) Change.

Our Goals

We are committed to establishing programs that provide access to the study of science for students from groups that are underrepresented in STEM. We promote research opportunities for individuals from historically excluded populations. We demand a classroom environment where diversity is welcomed, fostered, and celebrated. We mentor students from underrepresented and at-risk groups. We serve as role models for those who may not yet see their own potential in the academic community. 

We continuously seek ways to strive for the best practices to foster an inclusive department. This includes encouraging diversity in recruitment at all stages and recognizing the institutional barriers to entry that face members of disadvantaged groups.

We respect the dignity, individuality, and freedom of our community members to be themselves; we welcome them as they bring their uniqueness to our department. We pledge to learn from one another as we learn about the universe together.

Resources
 

• Diversity @ UCR maintains a comprehensive list of resources for complaint resolution. This is a good place to start if you have an inclusion issue and are not sure who you can talk to or how to address it.
• American Institute of Physics: Diversity Initiatives
• APS: Committee on the Status of Women in Physics
• APS: Committee on Minorities in Physics
• American Association of Physics Teachers: Committee on Diversity
• AAAS SEA Change
• Cal-Bridge
• APS Bridge Program
• AAS: Committee on the Status of Minorities in Astronomy
• AAS: Committee on the Status of Women in Astronomy
• Equal Employment & Affirmative Action at UCR
• Academic Senate
• UCOP Whistleblower
• Labor Relations
• UCR Disability Management
• UCR Student Conduct
• UCR Student Special Services
• UCR Campus Advocacy Resources & Education (CARE): intervention and prevention support program committed to ending sexual violence at UC Riverside
• Report a Hate Crime (University of California)
  
   

Nondiscrimination and Affirmative Action Policy

It is the policy of the University of California Riverside not to engage in discrimination against or harassment of any person employed or seeking employment with the University of California on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender, gender expression, gender identity, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, or service in the uniformed services. Furthermore, University policy prohibits retaliation against any member of the University community filing a complaint of discrimination or harassment. This policy is intended to be consistent with the provisions of applicable State and Federal laws and University policies.

UCR Land Acknowledgement

We at UCR would like to respectfully acknowledge and recognize our responsibility to the original and current caretakers of this land, water, and air: the Cahuilla [ka-wee-ahh], Tongva [tong-va], Luiseño [loo-say-ngo], and Serrano [se-ran-oh] peoples and all of their ancestors and descendants, past, present, and future. Today this meeting place is home to many Indigenous peoples from all over the world, including UCR faculty, students, and staff, and we are grateful to have the opportunity to live and work on these homelands.