An increasingly important part of creating a welcoming graduate program is to acknowledge and address the fact that the cost of living in Santa Cruz creates a hardship that disproportionately affects graduate students from minoritized groups. These inequities create barriers to achievement and success, and the Ocean Sciences Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism Fund helps support Ocean Sciences graduate students who face these barriers.
Your gift will:
- Help with students’ moving expenses or necessary personal travel, such as to visit close family members;
- Alleviate unexpected financial hardship due to the cost of living in Santa Cruz;
- Purchase a laptop computer or other necessary equipment.
This fund is making an impact in our community, as evidenced by the following testimonials.
“I am immensely grateful for the profound impact that the DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) fund has had on my academic journey. The DEI fund really helps me alleviate the financial stress and foster my professional development. As an international student, I have encountered numerous additional challenges and unavoidable difficulties when it comes to traveling internationally for conferences and research visits, primarily due to visa issues. These obstacles have added a layer of anxiety and made my PhD life even more arduous. I found myself spending considerable time and effort grappling with these challenges just to access the wonderful academic opportunities. that await me. However, with the assistance of the DEI fund, I have received invaluable support and relief. The financial assistance provided has made it possible for me to overcome the financial barriers and allowed me to focus more on my research and personal growth. I would like to express my gratitude to our department, and everyone involved in contributing to the DEI fund.”
“As a first-gen student who cannot rely on family for financial support, it can be difficult to afford unexpected expenses. Funds provided by the OS DEI committee helped me pay for such an expense, and allowed me to focus on my degree progress rather than having to worry about finding a way to meet an unexpected financial obligation.”
“I am writing this testimonial to thank the DEI committee in providing this fund. The award money has helped alleviate my financial burdens as a first generation graduate student and has allowed me to focus on my education and research. I greatly appreciate the support and the effort in making this possible. Thank you!”
This fund was established and is administered by the Ocean Sciences Department Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. We thank you in advance for your contribution and for supporting our students.
Visit us at https://science.ucsc.edu/department/ocea/diversity-equity-inclusion/
