Naming

At the upcoming Feb. 12th meeting of the systemwide Assembly of the Academic Senate, a name is up for a change:

Amendments to Academic Senate Bylaw 140

Background and Justification: At its January 28, 2026 meeting, following a systemwide Senate review, the Academic Council approved revisions to Senate Bylaw 140 to update the name of the University Committee on Affirmative Action, Diversity, and Equity (UCAADE). The revised name—University Committee on Diversity and Equity (UCODE)— and committee charge remove references to “affirmative action” while retaining the committee’s existing core responsibilities.

During the systemwide review of an earlier, more extensive proposal, comments from Senate divisions and committees indicated broad support for removing “affirmative action” from the committee’s name.

However, reviewers raised significant concerns about other proposed revisions, noting that they would weaken UCAADE by eliminating explicit references to diversity, removing language naming historically marginalized groups, and diluting core functions related to data collection, evaluation, coordination, and reporting. Several divisions expressed concern that the proposed revisions reduced clarity and accountability and could be perceived as politically motivated or overly reactive to external pressures.

Reviewers emphasized the importance of maintaining clear authority, scope, and accountability mechanisms, including the committee’s role in tracking inequities, coordinating divisional Senate committees, maintaining institutional memory, and producing regular reports.

In response to this feedback, UCAADE returned to the Academic Council with a significantly narrowed proposal limited to removing the term “affirmative action” from its name and corresponding references in its charge. No other substantive changes to the committee’s responsibilities were proposed.

UCAADE was established during a period when the University of California, like many institutions nationwide, sought to address longstanding structures of inequity affecting students, faculty, and staff. In the current environment, increased sensitivity to the term “affirmative action” and its potential misinterpretation, particularly in relation to Proposition 209, prompted the committee to reconsider the continued references to this term. Although “affirmative action” does not refer to activities prohibited by Proposition 209, UCAADE determined that retaining the term may cause public confusion. UC does not practice affirmative action and remains in full compliance with state law; however, the committee’s work to promote equity, diversity, and the elimination of discrimination remains essential. Removing the term from the committee’s name clarifies this distinction and reduces the risk of misinterpretation, while preserving the committee’s mission and functions.

The University Committee on Rules and Jurisdiction (UCRJ) found that the proposed amendments are consistent with the Code of the Academic Senate.

Per Senate Bylaw 116.E, modification of a Senate bylaw requires the approval of two-thirds of all voting Assembly members present.

ACTION REQUESTED: The Assembly is asked to approve the proposed revisions to Senate Bylaw 140.

Source: https://senate.universityofcalifornia.edu/_files/assembly/assembly-agenda-2-12-26.pdf (p. 16)