DAVIS, Calif. – UC Davis has been a model for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) around the country and the Aggie Athletics program is at the forefront of DEI in collegiate athletics.
The use of identity-focused Student-Athlete Resource Groups (SARGs) is how Aggie athletics creates a sense of togetherness, community and awareness. When a prospective student-athlete is recruited to Davis, the priority is to give them the tools to be successful and feel welcome.
UC Davis was already ahead on the DEI front when Associate Athletics Director for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Courtney Randall arrived on campus in the spring of 2022, but that commitment has shined even more.
"When I got here, everything was well established," Randall said. "We had all of our SARGs, DEI philosophy statement and we had the DEI committee. Now, with the creation of our strategic plan, Ignite, one of our focus areas is Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. If you assess our program, we are a leading program in college athletics based on what we have and how much we do."
There are currently three identity-focused student-athlete resource groups on the Davis campus, which are the Asian and Pacific Islander (A&PI) group, the Coalition of African Diaspora Student-Athletes (CADSA) group, and the Athlete Ally group.
The A&PI group's most recent event was a faculty, staff, and student-athlete social at the Schaal Aquatics Center. The group is especially focused on honoring Asian and Pacific Islander culture and infusing it into their everyday experiences as student-athletes.
Led by Co-Presidents Kaitlyn Lyle of the gymnastics team and Katelyn Vuong of the cross country and track teams, the A&PI group has taken off under their leadership and planning.
"When we think of our student-athlete groups, we have to be intentional in creating spaces and connection points so they can establish meaningful bonds," Randall added."
Lyle, a two-time All-MPSF selection on beam, states, "Having resource groups dedicated to student athletes makes Davis so special because it shows the athletes that they are surrounded by staff and coaches that see them as so much more than their accolades. The SARGs help humanize the athletic experience and helps athletes feel more understood, connected and valued as people, not just athletes."
Vuong, a Big West All-Academic selection agrees. "What makes Davis unique is its strong and genuine commitment to fostering DEI across all types of experiences and backgrounds. Working with A&PI SARG has shown me that the DEI program is truly dedicated to creating a space where all student-athletes can feel supported by one another."
The aim of CADSA is to bring Black students on campus together. The focus is empowerment, perseverance, and community. CADSA coordinates events and initiatives throughout the academic year, most recently a game-night. The group has also organized a toy drive during the men's basketball game on Saturday, December 9, at 2 p.m. and during the women's basketball game on Sunday, December 10, at 2 p.m.
All of CADSA's hard work was acknowledged in the summer of 2022, as they were one of four student groups to receive the Black Student-Athlete Organization of the Year Award at the Black Student-Athlete Summit.
Also under the DEI umbrella is the Athlete Ally Group, which is focused on allyship and community-building for our LGBTQIA+ student-athlete population. Athlete Ally creates spaces for student-athletes to socialize and also coordinates representation at annual Pride events.
"I am privileged to serve as an advisor for them but a lot of the things they come up with are up to them." Randall explained. "They are very driven as individual groups. We are happy to be able to support them because they help build community and a connection point for our student-athletes that might be from underrepresented populations."
The DEI educational program serves every team on campus and also includes coaches and staff.
"One of our priorities is providing ongoing education for our programs," Randall said. "The foundational thing we talk about is that DEI is so broad and deep that there is no way for one person to be an expert in all aspects. It is a learning journey for us all. Our DEI Educational Program is to help set an expectation for all 25 of our varsity programs to go through DEI education throughout the year."
UC Davis is a very diverse campus and the goal of the Aggie Athletic Department is to provide student-athletes with opportunities to learn about cultures and identities through engagements that highlight inclusion.
UC Davis athletics continues to be committed to fostering an environment of equity and mutual respect where student-athletes, coaches and staff of all backgrounds are empowered to engage, educate, grow, compete and lead together.
This story is an example of UC Davis Athletics' commitment to the Ignite Strategic Plan Pillar of "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion" by providing student-athletes with community building opportunities and connecting them with identity-based resources by providing student-athletes with resources to create a sense of togetherness, community, and awareness through DEI-related student-athlete organizations. Read more about our strategic plan here; IGNITE
