Gavilan College Academic Senate Ethnic Studies Resolution
December, 2020
Whereas California Title 5 Section 55063(b)(2) states that, “Ethnic Studies will be
offered in at least one of the areas required by the subdivision (1),” (i.e. Natural
Sciences, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Humanities);
Whereas the CCC Chancellor’s Office lists Ethnic Studies as a discipline;
Whereas Ethnic Studies classes can provide students safe and supportive academic
spaces to study race, ethnicity, and indigeneity with a focus on the experiences
within the United States to practice theories of resistance and liberation to eliminate
racism and other forms of oppression;
Whereas Gavilan College is committed to the system-wide Equity plan which seeks
to create colleges where success is not predictable by race, and recognizes that an
ethnic studies educational foundation has been proven to close the achievement gap
for students of color and improve outcomes for all students.
Resolved that Academic Senate urges the Gavilan College Curriculum Committee,
Administration, and Board of Trustees to recognize Ethnic Studies as a discipline;
Resolved that Academic Senate urges department chairs and the Curriculum
committee to rename and align the current Cultural Diversity AA requirement with
CSU Ethnic Studies core competencies;
Resolved that Academic Senate urges Guided Pathways to work toward the creation
of a First Year Experience program in which incoming first-time Gavilan students
take ethnic/social justice studies.
Resolved that the Academic Senate urges the Academic Staffing Planning
Committee, Administration, Human Resources, and the Board of Trustees to support
the ongoing hiring of Ethnic Studies faculty whose expertise can guide the
development and enrich the implementation of an Ethnic Studies program at Gavilan
College.
