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About

Our Vision:

The Office of Social Justice Initiatives & Identity Programs advocates for a future where every UC Merced scholar belongs, justice is non-negotiable, and thriving in a multicultural world is not a privilege, but a right. 

Our Mission:

The Office of Social Justice Initiatives & Identity Programs is committed to transforming UC Merced into a space where historically underserved scholars not only stay, but thrive. Through intentional programming, intersectional community building, and unapologetic student empowerment, we foster belonging, justice, and liberation for all. 

Our Commitment:

Rooted in our commitment to UC Merced’s diverse scholar community, we work to dismantle systemic barriers and reshape university culture through bold advocacy and institutional transformation. We aim to make UC Merced a launchpad for justice-driven leadership and a catalyst for meaningful, sustained social change. 

Our Pillars

1. Equity & Justice

We center the experiences of historically underserved scholars and actively challenge systems of oppression to build a campus rooted in equity, justice, and liberation.

2. Belonging & Community

We cultivate spaces of radical belonging and intersectional community where every scholar feels valued, seen, and supported in their full identity.

3. Holistic Development

We empower students through opportunities that support academic, emotional, social, and cultural growth, nurturing the whole scholar.

4. Student Agency & Leadership

We amplify student voice and agency, developing changemakers who lead with purpose, pride, and a commitment to justice.

5. Institutional Transformation

We work to influence campus policies and practices to create lasting, systemic change, positioning UC Merced as a hub for transformative leadership and social justice innovation.

 

Location

Kolligian Library 167 5200 N, Lake Road
Merced, CA 95340
 
 

Community Agreements

The Office of Social Justice Initiatives & Identity Programs is dedicated to the holist development. With that in mind, we have community agreements that we centralize within our space:

 

1. Move in Equity, Not Equality

We recognize that each person carries different identities, experiences, and access to resources. We commit to equitable practices that respond to those differences, rather than treating everyone the same.

Ask: “Who is being centered?” “Who is being left out?”

2. Lead with Curiosity and Compassion

We hold space for learning, unlearning, and growth. We ask questions with openness and listen with the intention to understand, not to respond.

Assume complexity, not perfection.

3. Honor Intersectionality and Lived Experience

We acknowledge that no single identity defines us. We commit to honoring the fullness of each person’s intersecting identities—especially those that are marginalized or erased.

“Nothing about us without us.”

4. Take Responsibility for Impact

We recognize that good intentions don’t erase harm. We take accountability for our words and actions, reflect on impact, and repair when needed.

Practice restorative rather than punitive accountability.

5. Speak Your Truth, Hold Space for Others

We speak from our own experiences using “I” statements and avoid assumptions about others. We also make room for voices that are often silenced.

“Step up, step back.”

6. Practice Collective Care

We co-create a culture of support, care, and mutual respect. That includes respecting boundaries, taking breaks, offering help, and checking in with one another.

Care is a radical practice. Take it seriously.

7. Stay Open to Transformation

Our spaces are designed for growth and disruption. We commit to engaging with discomfort as part of the process of learning, resistance, and change.

Discomfort is not the same as harm.