The University of California supports diversity in its student body, faculty, and staff. The University of California Regents policy includes:
“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, 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 nurtured in a diverse community. The pluralistic university can model a process of proposing and testing ideas through respectful, civil communication. Educational excellence that incorporates diversity can thus 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.”
The Department of Animal Science at UC Davis commits to creating an environment where all members of the campus community have an opportunity to reach their full potential. Furthermore, the department promotes strategies that intentionally develop a pipeline for a rich and diverse student body who successfully contribute to all aspects of the scientific and social communities. The Department of Animal Science also addresses research topics that reach state-wide, national, and international stakeholders with the goal of improving the lives and well-being of animals and communities.