UC Berkeley's Support
for Ethnic Studies
May 7 Agreement
Throughout the past two weeks of controversy over Ethnic Studies,
the administration, the faculty of Ethnic Studies, and the students
have shared their belief in the importance of Ethnic Studies and
are determined to make certain that the University of California,
Berkeley has a strong Ethnic Studies program now and in the future.
As a university, Berkeley has always been committed to excellence.
We undertake only those programs in which we will excel. The following
agreement is based upon this longstanding commitment to excellence
and to what we believe will be essential to sustain and build the
quality of our Department of Ethnic Studies.
I
Securing a Strong Ethnic Studies Department
A. Within the framework of university processes overseen by the
Department, the Dean, the Budget Committee of the Academic Senate,
the Provost, and the Chancellor, the Chancellor supports eight FTE
searches during the next five years. Three of the non-tenured vacancies
are authorized immediately for searches. The sequencing of the other
five searches, their relationship to the current programs in Ethnic
Studies, and their relationship to the broadly related disciplines
within the University, will be the product of a five-year plan.
While respecting the principle of departmental autonomy, this plan
will be developed by a committee appointed by the Chancellor in
consultation with the Department and the Academic Senate. Ethnic
Studies faculty shall constitute a majority of the committee. The
remaining committee members shall be constituted by other Berkeley
faculty, scholars from other institutions, and students. The committee
will be chaired by Professor Robert Brentano. This committee should
consider senior appointments at the beginning of the recruitment
process. The committee may recommend additional future FTEs for
the department. Before implementation, any plan must be approved
by the Ethnic Studies Department. Once the plan is approved by the
Ethnic Studies Department the committee shall be disbanded.
B. The University will provide, at a minimum, the annual resources
necessary to sustain the curricular offerings at a level consistent
with the average of the Ethnic Studies Department's offerings over
the past five years.
C. The Chancellor's Office will provide seed money of $100,000
per year for five years for an institute of race and gender studies,
with the target of beginning funding on July 1, 1999. To initiate
the proposal for this center immediately, Professor Charles Henry
of African American Studies will be asked to assemble a committee
including student representatives. Special attention will be given
to Native American Studies.
The Ethnic Studies Department, the University administration, and
the Development Office will work together to identify and pursue
extramural funds in support of this institute and to advance the
goals of the Ethnic Studies Department.
D. The administration will review the equity of space allocation
available to the Ethnic Studies Department.
II
Supporting Student Diversity
A. The Chancellor has already agreed to make an annual commitment
of $90,000 for student recruitment efforts. Subject to an agreement
between the student Recruitment and Retention Centers and the Ethnic
Studies Department, the University may allocate up to $40,000 per
year of those funds available to Ethnic Studies Department for outreach
to community college students.
B. The University will identify temporary space for a multi-cultural
student center with the expectation that it will be available by
fall 1999. The multi-cultural center will be funded by registration
fee funds equivalent to registration fees allocated to similar resource
centers. Eventually the center will be permanently housed in the
space being created for a new student activities center. Students
will participate in the planning process.
C. Subject to the normal review of campus art, the University will
approve a mural for a wall in the space occupied by Ethnic Studies
in Barrows Hall. Students will have input into the selection of
the artist and the content of the mural.
III
Agreement Regarding Student Conduct Issues
The following terms apply to Student Conduct offenses that occurred
during demonstrations at Barrows Hall on April 14, Zellerbach Hall
on April 30, and California Hall May 4.
Students who were cited and released no more than two times, and
have no prior Student Conduct violations, will receive letters of
admonishment.
The remaining students will go through the normal student conduct
process. These students are entitled to full due process per the
Code of Conduct.
IV
Monitoring the Agreement
A. Professor Pedro Noguera will chair a committee made up of one
faculty member from Ethnic Studies, one faculty member from African
American Studies, one Ethnic Studies graduate student and one Ethnic
Studies undergraduate student to review the progress of implementation
of this agreement every six months and to recommend action to assure
its implementation.
Robert M. Berdahl
Chancellor
Robert Brentano
Chair, Academic Senate
Convener and Facilitator
Ling-chi Wang
Chair, Department of Ethnic Studies
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