Department Efforts

The Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering is currently implementing action plans at the department level to ensure that faculty, staff and students are fully complying to the diversity, equity and inclusion values set forth by the university. The committee of communication and activities is creating a document containing information and resources available on campus to be distributed to faculty, staff and students.

The Department of Biomedical Engineering formed a committee to empower voices within the UC Davis Biomedical Engineering community and create an environment of health, equity, and wellness where social justice is celebrated. The community thrives and achieves excellence as they actively listen and promote varied outlooks and diverse social experiences in research, teaching, service, and leadership.

The Department of Chemical Engineering offers a program called the ChE Programming Geek Squad. Geek Squad develops the programming skills of at-risk and underserved students as they encounter difficulties in their courses by coaching them on how to implement their ideas using programs such as Matlab, Python, Aspen Plus, and SuperPro Designer.

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering has prepared a robust document with racial and social justice resources. The document is a department-wide effort and was compiled from students, staff and faculty. The document is currently focused on racial injustice and trauma.

The CEE Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee is planning over a dozen events occurring in the second-half of the year focused on diversity, equity and inclusion. These events will host students, post-docs, staff and faculty and provide an open space to share experiences, comments, questions, feedback or concerns.

The Department of Computer Science established the Graduate Diverse Genders in Computer Science and Engineering (GDGCSE) club at UC Davis. The graduate student club aims to create an environment where underrepresented genders - including cis women, trans women, trans men, non-binary people and more -  in computer science and computer engineering can find support and empowerment in their graduate careers. GDGCSE encourages and promotes the success of underrepresented genders in academia and industry through community, mentorship and professional development.

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering organized a Bring Your Daughter/Niece to Work Day as part of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Photonics initiative Introduce a Girl to Photonics. In collaboration with the UC Davis Optics Club, ECE ran interactive demos and led lab tours. Girls were able to experience technical tasks in engineering such as aligning lasers, playing Laser Khet, and bending light through a lens.

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering recently founded Club of Future Female Electrical Engineers (COFFEE) which promotes academics, retention, and community among women in the ECE department. COFFEE holds weekly study sessions throughout the quarter and hosts speaker events featuring women in industry, academic, and alumni who share their experiences as a female in electrical engineering. COFFEE is open to all genders who share the values of inclusiveness and sense of community and support.