University Commission on Diversity and Affirmative Action

Grants & President’s Award for Leadership & Diversity

Overview 

UCDAA strongly believes in promoting a campus culture that values and nurtures diversity.  Therefore, in an effort to promote the goals of diversity and affirmative action at the University at Albany, UCDAA, with support from the President’s Office encourages the campus community to submit proposals for our Affirmative Action Grants or President’s Award for Leadership & Diversity.   

Any department, program, office, committee, group, or individual may apply. 

UCDAA Affirmative Actions Grants for 2008-2009 

The UCDAA Affirmative Action Grants are awarded to creative, innovative, and results-oriented projects aimed at recruiting, retaining, and supporting protected class persons at the University at Albany. “Protected class” persons include people of color, women, people with disabilities, and military veterans of recognized campaigns.  Collaborative projects that cross traditional disciplinary boundaries are encouraged.  

This is the 15th year of the Affirmative Action Grants Awards and we are truly pleased with the breadth and depth of applications received this year.  Applications totaling $29,381 in requests competed for a pool of $12,000 in available funding for the 2008-2009 academic year. Some of the programs receiving funding included: 

President’s Award for Leadership & Diversity for 2008-2009 

The President’s Award for Leadership & Diversity is given to persons or campus units who have made significant contributions to the advancement of campus diversity. Particularly sought are efforts that have resulted in a spirit of fairness and tolerance for differences that will promote an environment of greater understanding and respect within our campus community. 

This year’s UCDAA President’s Award for Leadership & Diversity was given to the Gender and Sexuality Concerns Office of the Student Association. The Office has taken part in designing programs to benefit the student body during Coming Out Week, Transgender Week of Remembrance, and Sexuality Week. One of the major events that the office has provided for the past thirteen years is the Northeast Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Conference. As stated in their application, the conference “has opened up the campus to a multitude of perspectives and has acted as a doorway to diversity.” The Gender and Sexuality Concerns Office states that the office “views diversity as a beautiful complex word that enables our distinguishing features to be embraced and allows others to see the beauty of our individuality.” Congratulations to them on this award. 

Guidelines for the 2009-2010 Awards Program will be announced in early fall 2009.