To the UCLA Extension Community:
Following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision today, it feels important to reaffirm UCLA Extension’s commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. We at UCLA Extension, along with the entire University of California system, maintain a steadfast commitment to cultivate a welcoming and open environment for all students, faculty, instructors, and staff. This is vital to our mission as an institution, and we must remain proactive and laser-focused on upholding our values, as we have in the face of restrictions on affirmative action in California since 1996.
Echoing the words of Chancellor Block in his earlier statement: “We stand with our peer institutions as they navigate this new landscape, and remain deeply committed to keeping the doors of opportunity open to talented and driven students of all backgrounds.”
At UCLA Extension equity is part of everything we do. This will not change. Our staff have continually worked to improve recruitment and hiring practices for employees and establish a framework to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion within our organization. We are currently recruiting an Associate Dean for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and Chief People Officer, a new position that will further embed EDI into the core of our business. The hard work is not finished, and we are dedicated to enhancing our EDI practices throughout the institution.
Diversity makes UCLA the incredible place that it is. Improving equity is what higher education is all about. These are and will remain core tenets of who we are.
Sincerely,
Eric
Eric A. Bullard, Ph.D. (he/him)
Dean, Division of Continuing Education and UCLA Extension
