about
us
Mission
Statement
The
Mission of the American Indian Resource Center's (AIRC) is
to play a leadership role in creating and maintaining a positive
climate for racial/ethnic diversity at the University. In
carrying out this mission the Center has focused on four components
of diversity as outlined by Hurtado (1999). These components
are: 1) Historical Legacy of Inclusion/Exclusion, 2) Structural
Diversity, 3) Psychological Climate, and 4) Behavioral Dimensions.
The
Center has carried out its mission in the following ways:
1.
Historical Legacy of Inclusion/Exclusion
a. We have strived to not only form a liaison with the Ohlone
People but have worked to have indigenous people acknowledged
on campus.
b. We have strived to include tribal people as presenters as
well as guests to events that we provide.
2.
Structural Diversity
a. We have made a significant effort to recruit students to
the University, through our REACH Program, our visits to
College Motivation Days and to form a liaison with selected
high schools.
b. We have worked with some faculty on campus to
advocate for Native American cluster hiring of faculty as
outlined in the Academic Senate's Diversity reports of 1998
and 1999.
3.
Psychological Climate
a. The staff at the Center serve as advocates for tribal students
experiencing racial tension and to address issues of discrimination.
Further, the staff at the Center serve as consultants and
as liaisons to other units to address racial tension, perceptions
of discrimination, and prejudice.
4.
Behavioral Dimensions
a. The staff at the Center worked extremely hard to bring the
Program on Intergroup Relations, Conflict, and Community
(IGR) to UCSC to provide a forum for social interaction
among different groups to discuss issues of diversity.
b. The staff at the Center has presented in classrooms and
attempted to foster ties with two academic departments.
AIRC
offers a variety of support services that includes advising,
counseling, advocacy, as well as leadership opportunities,
and involvement in the American Indian Science and Engineering
Society (AISES) and Society for the Advancement of Chicanos
and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS).
Finally,
an important facet of the Center's mission is to develop a
partnership with the indigenous people of the Central Coast,
specifically the Amah Mutsun, the Esselen Nation, and Muwekma
Ohlone. This partnership with the indigenous people of California
will also extend to other Native communities, reservations,
and rancherias as the Center continues to develop a program
of community engagement.
Reference
Hurtado, S., Milem, J., Clayton-Pedersen, A. & Allen,
W. (1999). Enacting Diverse Learning Environments: Improving
the Climate for Racial/Ethnic Diversity in Higher Education.
Washington D.C.: George Washington University.
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