Representative Assembly 1/25/96
Enclosure 2

RESOLUTION ON DIVERSITY POLICIES


Preamble to Motion on Diversity Policies
On July 20, 1995, a three-fifths majority of Regents, in an atmosphere charged with political meaning, voted to terminate Affirmative Action in the University of California. By acting against the considered educational judgment and the expressed will of the President of the University, the Council of Chancellors, the Academic Council, and the Associated Students of the University of California, these Regents compromised a long tradition of active partnership between Regents and University. Since the University is founded on the understanding and respect of its various constituents, this regental action endangers the collaborative spirit that has contributed greatly to the distinction of the University.

I. Statement of Principle

  1. Diversity in the educational mission of the University takes many valued forms;
  2. A great public university has a responsibility to serve the rich diversity of the state and nation;
  3. The University of California as a system takes pride in its efforts to foster diversity.

II. Motion Expressing Procedural Concern
Whereas the Board of Regents of the University of California has a fiduciary relation to this University, whereas Standing Order 105.2 states that the "Academic Senate, subject to the approval of the Board, shall determine the conditions for admissions," whereas the American Association of University Professors concurs that "the faculty should have primary responsibility about [admissions]" to which the administration should take exception only in "rare instances and for compelling reasons which are stated in detail," whereas many valued attributes have been included in the criteria for admission to the University of California to foster a diverse student body (all subject to the condition that any student admitted is academically eligible for admissions), whereas the intellectual vitality of the University has been strengthened by diversity to race, ethnicity, and gender with benefits to both teaching and research, and whereas the Board of Regents has disallowed diversity as a criterion for admissions, therefore be it resolved that:

  1. By disallowing certain valued instruments for implementing admissions in the absence of specific cause, the Board of Regents interfered with a stated prerogative of the faculty and puts University governance in jeopardy.
  2. The long-established trust between the Board of Regents and the University requires continuing vigilance so that the enduring values of the University are not subject to topical and transitory demands.
  3. The Regents' ruling of July 20, 1995, with respect to student admissions should therefore be rescinded.

III. Motion of the Faculty Regarding Faculty Employment
The faculty of the University of California consider its involvement in the hiring and promotion of faculty to be among its most important responsibilities. Entailed in this responsibility is the goal to employ the most highly qualified faculty while assuring that equal opportunity is guaranteed to all candidates in the hiring and promotion process. Be it resolved therefore that:

  1. The faculty of the University of California, Irvine, continues to support equal opportunity as a means to achieve diversity in the faculty while maintaining nationally recognized excellence.
  2. The Board of Regents should respect the tradition of shared responsibility in the hiring of faculty that historically has served the University well.
  3. The Regents' actions taken in July diminish the faculty's responsibilities in faculty hiring and should therefore be rescinded.

(Approved by the Executive Committee of the Academic Senate on January 9, 1996.)