Cultural Diversity in a Thriving Song Academy
**Herb Alpert School of Music at UCLA Takes Steps to Enhance Diversity and Inclusion**
The Herb Alpert School of Music at UCLA is making significant strides in prioritising anti-racism, equity, diversity, and inclusion. In response to ongoing concerns and the nationwide call for change, the school has established an Anti-Racism Action Committee to critically examine its practices and offer a concrete plan of action before classes resume in the fall.
One of the key focus areas for the committee will be the development of an action plan specific to the school. However, while details about the plan are not yet available, we can suggest some common strategies that institutions often implement to address issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
1. **Assessment and Policy Development**: The school will conduct thorough assessments of current policies and practices to identify gaps in diversity, equity, and inclusion. Based on these assessments, they will develop and implement policies that promote diverse hiring practices, inclusive curricula, and equitable access to resources.
2. **Education and Training**: The school is committed to educating its community on implicit bias, prejudice, and discrimination, structural racism, white supremacy, and cultural sustainability. Regular workshops and training sessions will be provided to staff and students to help them recognise and address these issues.
3. **Community Engagement**: The school is fostering partnerships with diverse community organisations to enhance outreach and recruitment efforts. They are also creating opportunities for students to engage in community service and projects that promote social justice.
4. **Inclusive Curriculum Development**: The school is revising its curricula to include diverse perspectives, histories, and creative works. They are ensuring that musical programs and performances reflect a wide range of cultural backgrounds.
5. **Support Systems**: The school is establishing support networks for students from underrepresented groups, including mentorship programs and counseling services. They are also creating safe spaces for discussion and feedback on issues related to diversity and inclusion.
6. **Accountability and Evaluation**: The school is committed to regularly evaluating the effectiveness of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. They will use data-driven approaches to track progress and make informed decisions about future actions.
In addition to these strategies, the school is taking immediate action to examine its relationship with local law enforcement and UCPD's practices and policies. They have also increased the percentage of transfer students by 21%, doubled the number of African American transfer students, and increased the percentage of low-income transfer students by 38%.
The school has also allocated scholarship funds to support Black students and has appointed a new Associate Dean for Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, Arturo O'Farrill, to help promote access and representation within the school. Emergency funds dedicated to the support of historically underrepresented students, especially African American students, are also available.
The work of this committee will be embedded in the school's long-term strategic plan, with an initial draft to be submitted to campus leadership in October. The school is encouraging continued feedback and ideas, and invites those interested in serving on the committee to contact Danielle Rosales.
The Herb Alpert School of Music affirms that Black Lives Matter and will uplift BIPOC voices. The school is committed to creating a more inclusive and equitable environment for all students, faculty, and staff. For specific details about the school's action plan or to report an incident, please contact UCLA Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion or the school's ombudsman, Associate Dean Arturo O'Farrill.
The education and self-development efforts at the Herb Alpert School of Music extend beyond music to include initiatives focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Part of this includes the development of an action plan specific to the school, which will involve assessing current policies, implemented education and training programs, fostering community engagement, revising the curriculum to include diverse perspectives, establishing support systems for underrepresented groups, and regularly evaluating the effectiveness of these initiatives.
