SUBJECT:

Message from Chancellor Caserio-Affirmative Action

In this first opportunity to address you in my new role, let me say
that it is my sincere pleasure to serve as your Interim Chancellor. I
appreciate your support and pledge to uphold the standards of
excellence long held at UCSD.

I have been approached by many concerned faculty, staff, and students
about the resolutions adopted by The Regents of the University of
California which prohibit considerations of race, color, ethnicity or
gender in admissions, employment and contracting decisions. Because
there is concern and discussion on this issue throughout the campus, I
would like to address it at this time.

Although I did not welcome The Regents' decision on this matter, it
does present us with both a challenge and an opportunity to rethink
our diversity efforts. Despite our past affirmative action efforts,
UCSD is far from being the diverse community we all desire. Our
challenge is to create such a community and ensure that all people of
California have equal opportunity to participate in the University as
students, faculty, and staff.

One such approach has been initiated by the Office of the President
which recently established three task forces charged with reviewing
and recommending policies for student admissions, faculty and staff
employment, and business contracting.

The UC Admissions Task Force has until the end of next year to
complete its task. Meanwhile UCSD has begun discussions on the
revision of admissions criteria and strategies to increase diversity
in our student body. Key to these discussions will be the Academic
Senate Committee on Admissions. Many innovative programs are being
considered and some projects already have been initiated to improve
our outreach efforts. Clearly our priority is to reach out to the
primary and secondary schools to foster student preparation for
success in the University. I encourage each of you to support this
effort and participate to whatever extent possible.

Vice Chancellor Relyea has already written you concerning the issue of
faculty and staff employment and business contracting. In large
measure, UCSD's substantial research contracts, and the positions
which those contracts fund, are regulated by federal laws which
supersede actions by The Regents. For this reason, we do not
anticipate major changes in our employment and contracting procedures.
However, we do need to enhance our outreach and diversity efforts to
ensure compliance with both federal requirements and The Regents
resolutions. The UC task forces established to review faculty and
staff employment and business contracting are expected to make
recommendations by mid-October regarding implementation of The Regents
decision and furthering diversity goals. Our campus will have the
opportunity to respond to those recommendations at that time.

Among the many goals and objectives for UCSD is a faculty, staff, and
student body representative of the public we serve. I am committed to
working with you towards fulfilling this critically important goal.

Marjorie C. Caserio Interim Chancellor