CBS DEIJ Initiative Grant

Overview 

Faculty, staff, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers across the College of Biological Sciences (CBS) have taken crucial steps to enhance excellence in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ) through grassroots efforts. To support the longevity and impact of these initiatives, the CBS DEIJ Initiative Grant provides funding for events or programs led by CBS community members that promote Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice in the College of Biological Sciences and the broader UC Davis community. Recognizing that DEIJ issues intersect with many aspects of education, development, and professional success, we welcome and encourage a wide range of funding proposals that advance DEIJ goals in diverse ways.

Who Can Apply

Faculty, staff, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers affiliated with CBS.

  • Individual applicants must be in or affiliated with a CBS graduate group, department, or center
  • Organizations, committees, and/or programs must have a primary representative from a CBS graduate group, department, or center. 
  • Applications from groups outside of CBS will not be considered.
Eligible Activities

Projects, initiatives, activities, or events with explicit aims or primary programmatic components that address DEIJ issues will be considered. 

  • Funding proposals must have an explicit aim to advance DEIJ within the CBS community. Proposed activities may aim to achieve any of the following goals: 
    • Dismantle barriers to success, development, and/or resources (i.e., reduce equity gaps) 
    • Broaden participation to historically marginalized groups
    • Promote inclusion within the workplace
    • Support professional development, leadership development, or mentorship
    • Foster community development  
  • Funding proposals to support research or publication expenses, teaching-related activities, or travel to primarily research-focused conferences will not be considered unless these activities/publications are primarily focused on the advancement of DEIJ in CBS
  • Funding proposals to support research stipends will not be considered. However, funds to support small facilitator stipends and/or speaker honoraria are eligible for funding
  • Funding can be used to support food and beverage costs, but are not to be used to purchase alcoholic beverages under any circumstances
  • Funding proposals must be for an upcoming event or program. Activities held prior to a review date will not be considered. Funding proposals for activities held within three weeks of the application deadline may be declined due to time constraints related to application processing time

Funds related to emergency support and/or basic needs will be considered but will not be prioritized. 

Award Amount

An individual or group can be funded up to $1,000 per academic year. 

  • An applicant’s total grant request may not exceed $1,000 even if their project’s budget is greater than $1,000
  • Because we aim to fund as many initiatives as possible, submitted proposals may be awarded partial funding
  • With a total budget of $5000 for AY2024-2025 supported by the CBS Dean's Office, we expect to award most applicants with $100-$500

Though applicants may apply multiple times throughout the academic year regardless of the decision on past funding proposals, we will prioritize proposals from individuals or groups who have yet to receive funding in the current academic year

  • We will only consider proposals if the applicant’s prior funding does not sum to $1000 in the current academic year

Again, we strongly encourage applicants to pursue additional funding opportunities through their department, graduate group, the UCD Office for DEI, Graduate Studies, the Graduate Student Association, and other relevant UCD and industry entities. 

Application Deadlines & Award Timeline

Applications will be reviewed twice per quarter during the academic year (September to June). Application materials must be submitted by 11:59pm on the dates listed below:

Fall Quarter 

  • Thursday, November 21, 2024
  • Thursday, December 5, 2024

Winter Quarter

  • Thursday, February 6, 2025
  • Thursday, March 6, 2025

Spring Quarter 

  • Thursday, April 24, 2025

Applications will be reviewed and award decisions with the funding amount (if applicable) will be sent via email within three weeks of the application deadline. The CBS Dean’s Office will coordinate the use of awarded funds via purchasing or reimbursement. Awarded funds must be used prior to the next academic year.

Conditions for Funding

Those who fail to adhere to the conditions for funding may be exempt from future grant opportunities.

  • List the College of Biological Science as a co-sponsor of your program/activity/event in the advertising and program documentation (e.g., list as a sponsor in a conference program and website) using the materials provided with the award notification
  • Submit an end of the year report that summarizes how awarded funds were used
  • Presentation: Grant recipients must agree to participate in our annual Open House Event in the spring, presenting a poster that details how the grant-funded event impacted the DEIJ environment.
Contact 

Please contact Madhura Patankar and Nate Herrera with questions or for additional information.