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ISPO’s Commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

The International Students & Programs Office (ISPO) is committed to cultivating an inclusive and welcoming campus community where students of all backgrounds and identities have an opportunity to thrive.

We celebrate and value our differences of race, nationality, ethnicity, culture, language, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, socioeconomic status, abilities, political beliefs, education, experience and more.

In accordance with UC San Diego’s Principles of Community and the NAFSA: Association of International Educators, ISPO maintains and advocates for high standards in diversity, equity and inclusion through a strength-based approach to student-centered advising, services and programs.

UC San Diego, ISPO and Global Initiatives have many resources that support and promote understanding of our differences. ISPO proudly hosts regular programs that partner with various campus offices in promoting the in-depth exploration of social-justice issues and initiatives.

Diversity and inclusion are central to our vision, mission and core values.

Federal immigration documents (such as the I-20 and DS-2019) and government databases (such as SEVIS - Student Exchange Visitor Information System) require that we use information as it appears on the government issued passport. When not federally required, ISPO will always use and be respectful of pronouns, genders, and lived names.

UC San Diego Principles of Community

UC San Diego has a campus community of varying identities and political views. Each member of the UC San Diego Community must abide by the Principles of Community to ensure that we value and respect all community members.

Anti-Racism

"Anti-Racism" is a word first coined by Dr. Angela Davis, a UC San Diego Alumna, which has been associated with Dr. Ibram X. Kendi in reference to his book, "How to Be an Antiracist."

Racism is harmful intentional or unintentional discrimination, bias, or impact on someone or a group of people because of their race, color of their skin, country of origin, and ethnic background. Anti-racism is a concept that implies active practice and opposition to racism and racist practices.

Here are some resources from the VC Division of EDI.

Behavioral Health, Wellness, Counseling and Support Resources

Alert

If you are experiencing a crisis, please call a crisis hotline.

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is committed to promoting student mental health and well-being.

In coordinated efforts with Student Affairs, CAPS strives to:

Provide the highest quality of care and services, commensurate with available University resources, to enrolled undergraduate, graduate and professional school students at UC San Diego;
Support students in their efforts toward their academic success and personal development, as they cultivate interpersonal relationships, leadership skills, and the unfolding of their potential in their quest for meaningful and balanced lives;
Advocate for student’s welfare from CAPS commitment to diversity, multiculturalism, social justice, and respect for the dignity of each individual;
Work to identify national and local trends affecting campus life to provide relevant consultation services and strategic, innovative outreach programs in alignment with current needs; and
Training the next generation of mental health professionals and engaging in research to deliver interventions based on empirical evidence and best practices.

General Resources

Black Resource Center (BRC)

Established in 2013 as a unit of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, the Black Resource Center (BRC) is a Campus Community Center which serves the entire population of UC San Diego while emphasizing the Black experience.

Bystander Intervention Trainings

It may help to be more informed, prepared, and educated on how to act when witnessing any harassment or acts of hate.

IDEAS is UC San Diego’s Bystander Intervention Techniques Model for taking action as responsive bystanders who are part of the campus community. The model provides students, staff, and faculty options to intervene and prevent violence on campus. Interested in learning more about how to be a responsive bystander? Complete the CARE at SARC Program Request Form.

There are also Bystander Intervention Trainings offered by Hollaback!, a nonprofit working to end harrassment in all its forms.

CARE at the Sexual Assault Resource Center (SARC)

CARE at the Sexual Assault Resource Center (SARC) is the UC San Diego confidential advocacy and education office for sexual violence and gender-based violence (dating violence, domestic violence, stalking) which offers free and confidential services for all campus community.

Disability and Accessibility

UC San Diego understands the significance of accessibility for all our campus community. You can find campus disability and accessibility resources here:

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI)

UC San Diego has a Vice Chancellor Division and Office committed to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (VC EDI). Under the VC EDI, our campus has several campus community centers and resources to support our campus community of varying identities.

Gender Recognition Act

In accordance with the California Gender Recognition Act, ISPO honors our LGBTQ+ community by respecting their pronouns, genders, and lived names. ISPO has processes in place which keep legal names confidential in our information systems (databases) and strives to respect our queer, nonbinary, and trans students’ identities.

Note:The Gender Recognition Act is a California state law; Federal immigration documents (such as the I-797, DS-2019, etc.) and government databases (such as SEVIS) require that we use the name on our students’ passports.

Federal documents/database which require ISPO to use information as noted on passport biographical page:

SEVIS: F-1/F-2 and J-1/J-2
I-20: F-1/F-2
DS-2019: J-1/J-2
Form I-765: Employment Authorization Request

Resources:

I-House

International House (I-House) is an on-campus globally-focused housing community that fosters international awareness and intercultural understanding. They have events and programming for all residents, including international students. For questions about housing availability, please inquire directly with I-House.

iRESOURCE: On-Campus Resources to Support International Students & Scholars

ISPO's iResource page is a comprehensive list of on-campus resources to support UC San Diego’s international students, scholars, and researchers. The list is grouped into five broad topics (Academic & English Learning Support, Career & Professional Development, Cultural Engagement, Student Health & Well-Being, and Other Resources).

LGBTQ+ Allyship

UC San Diego and the ISPO team are committed to respecting all identities of our students, which includes the LGBTQ+ community. ISPO is incorporating inclusive gender identity practices in accordance with federal, state, University of California (UC) system-wide, and UC San Diego policies. This includes the Gender Recognition Act.

Additional Resources:

San Diego Specific LGBTQ+ resources

Name Pronunciation

ISPO recognizes the importance of respecting names and identities.

Resources:

This Pinyin chart is a resource for pronouncing Chinese names.
NameCoach is a resource to share your name pronunciation.

Office for the Prevention of Harassment & Discrimination (OPHD)

Office for the Prevention of Harassment & Discrimination (OPHD) addresses complaints of discrimination and harassment at UC San Diego.

You can report any incidents of harassment, discrimination, sexual and relationship violence, and stalking involving members of the UC San Diego community (including yourself).

Raza Resource Centro

The Raza Resource Centro (RRC) is one of the Campus Community Centers under the Vice Chancellor of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at UC San Diego.

They are a Campus Community Center with administrative staff and student interns who offer activities, events and resources to connect students, staff, faculty, and alumni. The RRC is open to everyone, and they strive to emphasize and foster the access, retention, and graduation of Chicanx-Latinx students as well as create strong connections with their surrounding community.

Report Off Campus Hate

If you are or witness someone in immediate danger, you may call 9-1-1. If you are on campus, you will be connected with the UC San Diego Police Department. You can also report any off campus hate crimes or attacks.

Women's Center

The UC San Diego Women's Center is a space in which people work collaboratively to foster the educational, professional, and personal development of diverse groups of women. The Center provides education and support to all members of UC San Diego regarding gender issues, with the goal of promoting an inclusive and equitable campus community.