Thriving at UC Berkeley
The Thriving Initiatives work to cultivate opportunities and resources to transform UC Berkeley into a place where every member of our community feels a deep sense of belonging. For all of us to thrive, we must actively interrupt inequity and harm at all levels and in all corners of the university, including the reconfiguration of our structures, processes, and policies to be more holistic and equitable. The ability to thrive is a shared responsibility of all members of our campus community.
Across the Division of Equity & Inclusion (E&I), thriving is rooted in the work we lead to transform UC Berkeley’s ecosystem of services, opportunities, and experiences for students, staff, faculty, and community members. If we want to truly live into our long-standing tradition of excellence in higher education, every campus team, unit, organization, and individual must center thriving approaches.
To thrive, we must promote equity-based, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive values and approaches as throughlines in everything we do (i.e. recruitment, admissions, teaching, learning, advising, research, and professional development, etc). As a campus of colleagues and co-learners, our strategic frameworks, methodologies, and actions must celebrate variations of experience, the existence of multiple definitions of success, and self determined embodiments of excellence that exist for individuals and within/across communities.
Thriving Priorities
1. Enroll, retain, and graduate increased rates of first generation, low income, historically underrepresented undergraduate and graduate students
2. Make UC Berkeley people (student, staff, faculty, community) ready
3. Champion community-centered, liberatory, and engaged research and pedagogy
4. Transformative campus culture change
Rooted in Legacies
These initiatives are deeply rooted in the generations of student activism, academic research, and community leadership that have shaped UC Berkeley's commitment to equity and inclusion. From the persistent advocacy of Black students that led to the formation of the African American Thriving Initiatives, to the dedicated research and organizing that paved the way for the Latinx Thriving Initiatives and the AANAPISI designation, each effort builds upon the legacy of those who fought tirelessly for justice and representation. This work is not only a continuation of their vision but also a collective movement towards long-term systemic change that honors and amplifies the voices of our diverse communities.
In 2015, the African American and African Diaspora Task Force Initiative was established through the collaboration of Vice Chancellor Gibor Basri, Vice Chancellor Harry Le Grande, and the African American Recruitment and Yield Task Force. Responding to the urgent demands of Black students, the African American Thriving Initiatives (AATI) aimed to foster a welcoming and thriving environment for African American and Black students at UC Berkeley.
UC Berkeley was designated by the US Department of Education as an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI) on April 7, 2023. This federal recognition underscores our commitment to enhancing academic, co-curricular, and research opportunities for our Asian American and Pacific Islander (AA & PI) undergraduate and graduate students in our collective pursuit of greater educational access and equity at Berkeley. This designation not only strengthens our institutional support for AA & PI communities; it also advances our goal of becoming a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), calling for a collective reimagining and realization of academic, co-curricular, and research opportunities.
The Latinx Thriving Initiatives (LTI) trace their origins to the Chicanx Latinx Task Force formed in 2016. The findings from this task force provided the impetus for Chancellor Carol Christ’s commitment to the pursuit of HSI designation for Berkeley. Although recognizing that attaining HSI designation alone was insufficient, the initiative evolved to aim for a Latinx Thriving campus. Therefore this shift acknowledges past and current efforts, and commits to long-term systemic change in service to our Latinx campus community members.
Currently, the Native American Thriving Initiative (NATI) is in its formative stages, with the Director of Organizational Transformation for NATI commencing their role in January of 2024. Chancellor Christ outlined her hopes for the initiative’s beginnings in a 2020 memo. The groundwork laid by the NATI Steering Committee in 2021, with the Chancellor Christ’s words in mind, provides a comprehensive framework to guide the initiative’s efforts in its inaugural year. The initiative is centered around 4 holistic aspects to guide holistic change, with seven areas related to each aspect to guide the NATI’s actions and action items:
- Knowing (Acknowledge, Assess)
- Relating (Redress, Trust)
- Visioning (Improve, Imagine)
- Acting (Build, Sustain)
Achievements and Ongoing Efforts
From the establishment of the Fannie Lou Hamer Black Resource Center to the largest African American freshman and transfer class in 30 years, we are committed to fostering a vibrant Black community at Cal. The African American Theme program’s expansion to 84 students is an embodiment of the AATI’s growth and progress as well.
Since April 2023, the AA & PI Thriving Initiatives have engaged with over 75 stakeholders across organizations, departments, and divisions to understand where and how we can create and sustain spaces of belonging for AA & PI students, staff, and faculty on our campus.
Latinx Thriving achievements include the establishment of the Latinx Student Resource Center (LSRC), the expansion of the Casa Mora themed floor, discussions with Academic Chief Diversity Officers (CDO), developing connections with local community colleges, and efforts to intentionally yield more Latinx students. National HSI expert Dr. Gina Ann Garcia’s appointment in the Berkeley School of Education and in relation to HSI and LTI adds to the momentum, guiding our path toward further success.
Building on the extensive commitment of time and energy of faculty, staff and students the Native American Thriving Initiative works to continue community-centered and intentional approaches to creating spaces and opportunities for the Native American community at Berkeley. The spring and summer saw time to lay the groundwork for new place-based educational projects in collaboration with the ‘ootoy initiative, centering on east-bay Ohlone language, knowledge and lifeways. New energy and commitment were poured into the re-establishment of the Chancellor’s Native American Advisory Commitment (CNAAC) calling on both experts internal an external to campus to advise and guide both the NATI and the newly established Office of Tribal Relations in bringing about institutional change that serves Native communities, students, faculties and staff at Berkeley.
Challenges and Opportunities
- African American Thriving Initiatives (AATI): While capacity challenges persist, our volunteers have fueled transformative initiatives. Full-time staffing is on the horizon to expand reach and catalyze further transformation.
- Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander (AA & PI) Thriving Initiatives: While we navigate challenges, opportunities abound. Active participation in the UC Office of the President AANAPISI Summit and the inaugural White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI) higher education summit held at UC Berkeley on April 2, 2024, are exciting prospects for broader community engagement and progress.
- Latinx Thriving Initiatives (LTI): Challenges including space issues and staff transitions are top priorities to address. There are opportunities for collaboration with students, alumni, staff, faculty, and the community at large. There has been significant engagement with campus partners in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, Office of Graduate Diversity, Financial Aid, and University Development and Alumni Relations including our work with local colleges to rethink and reshape what Thriving means now and in the future. All this structural work amid transitions showcases our commitment and adaptability towards becoming a Thriving institution.
Moments of Joy
African American Thriving Initiatives (AATI)
- Fall 2023: Black Homecoming
- Fall 2024: Black Lives at Cal celebrates its third year (pictured)
- Fall 2024: Moving into the 3rd year of the expansion of the Afro Floor (50-84 students)
- Spring 2024: Black History Month Annual Concert
- Spring 2024: Black Grad Reception
- Spring 2024: Celebration of the 6th cohort of the African American Initiative Scholars and selection of the 7th cohort of African American Initiative Scholars
- Summer 2024: Hiring of the Educational Opportunity Program/African American Initiative Black Student Success Counselor (30 incoming first years making a total of 171 scholars since 2018)
- Summer 2024: 2nd cohort of Black students attend the Study Abroad Ghana trip.
- Summer 2024: Hiring of the African American Student Development Assistant Director
- Summer 2024: Oasis Hiring of Advisor for Black Student Organizations
- Summer 2024: HBCU Exchange program to Spelman and Morehouse is relaunched.
Asian American and Pacific Islander (AA & PI) Thriving Initiatives
Engagement with over 75 campus and community stakeholders.
Key convenings such as the “Building Your Home: Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders at Cal” Homecoming Panel have served as important spaces for connection and understanding. The campus also recently received an AANAPISI federal grant specifically designated to support Southeast Asian (SEA) and Pacific Islander (PI) undergraduate students.
Latinx Thriving Initiatives (LTI)
- Spring 2023 LTI Gathering: Featured a panel of staff, grad student, faculty and HSI expert Dr. Gina Garcia
- Fall 2023: Film Screening of “A Million Miles Away” & Q&A w/ Astronaut & Regent José Hernandez (pictured)
- Spring 2024: Intentional yield efforts in collaboration with admissions, alumni associations, and stakeholders for newly admitted students and families at receptions across California and campus events
- Spring 2024: Held multiple student focused meetings, and at the end of spring, LTI Weekly Drop In Sessions
Native American Thriving Initiatives (NATI)
- Spring 2024: The Native Community Center hosted Dr. Brittani Orona (Hupa) for a public talk, Klamath River Fish Weirs: Toward a Decolonial Future. The event was part of a series of public talks this spring focusing on Native and Indigenous scholarship and providing current students and the Berkeley community with greater access to Native and Indigenous scholars. Other speakers in the series included Dr. Kim Tallbear, Native Studies, Public Intellectualism, and Seizing Opportunity in Crisis and a booktalk with Greg Saris, Chairman of Graton Rancheria and UC Regent.
- Spring2024: Native Grad
Looking Ahead
- African American Thriving Initiatives (AATI): Exciting components lie ahead, including a focus on Black Public Arts, the Black STEM Support Program, Black Male Support Program, and dedicated support for Black transfer students and student parents.
- Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander (AA & PI) Thriving Initiatives: As we move forward, we aim to create spaces of connection and belonging for our diverse AA & PI communities, guided by a shared vision of a more inclusive campus climate where all can thrive.
- Latinx Thriving Initiatives (LTI): LTI Advisory Kick Off in Fall 2024 and Action Teams to be formed to continue the implementation of recommendations from the LTI Steering Committee and Chicanx/Latinx Task Force.
- Native American Thriving Initiatives (NATI): The coming year will see stakeholder engagement to align actions that will be steps toward institutional transformation that will provide visibility for issues impacting Native American students and communities at UC Berkeley.
Contact the Directors
- Dr. Elisa Diana Huerta | Associate Vice Chancellor, Community Engagement & Transformative Care, thriving@berkeley.edu
- Liliana Iglesias | Director of Thriving, Latinx Thriving Initiatives (LTI): latinxthriving@berkeley.edu
- Dr. Lisa Hirai Tsuchitani | Director of Engagement, Asian American and Pacific Islander Thriving Initiatives: aapiti@berkeley.edu
- Phenocia Bauerle | Director of Thriving, Native American Thriving Initiatives (NATI): nathriving@berkeley.edu
- Takiyah Jackson | Director of Thriving, African American Thriving Initiatives (AATI): aati@berkeley.edu
This report was developed by Elisa Diana Huerta, Takiyah Jackson, Lisa S. Hirai Tsuchitani, Liliana Iglesias, Phenocia Bauerle with editing support by Monica Garcia and design support by Katherin Velasquez and Ashley Villanueva. Photos by Brandon Sanchez Mejia, Brittany Hosea-Small, and Keegan Houser.