The Department of Environmental Sciences is committed to creating an environment of mutual respect by welcoming participation of students, staff, and faculty from all groups. We pledge to work towards equitable treatment and accessibility in our policies and procedures. This commitment is critical to sustaining the communities of our department, UCR, and the State of California. We recognize that historically marginalized groups are underrepresented within the sciences. This is particularly relevant for environmental sciences, as our field often reveals structural inequities in environmental impacts related to human activities, such as communities experiencing a higher burden of pollution. Moreover, we recognize that: 1) the diversity of California’s population has been, and continues to be, the source of innovative ideas and creative
accomplishments throughout the state’s history, and 2) the University of California is mandated to make higher education available to all. We are committed to fulfilling that mandate to the best of our abilities through our department’s words, actions, and policies.