On behalf of the symposium planning committee, we invite you and your staff and faculty to attend the inaugural EBSE Symposium April 19 – April 23, 2021. Your partnership is critical in engaging all departments in supporting student success. The goal of the symposium is to increase awareness of the Black student experience at UC San Diego with the goal of fostering intentional and sustained action to enhance their experience and promote pro-blackness at UC San Diego.

The symposium aligns with the goals established for the Black Academic Excellence Initiative, the Strategic Plan for Inclusive Excellence , Student Affairs Strategic Plan and the campus Strategic Plan. The symposium is designed to provide participants with knowledge, tools and strategies to create better experiences for undergraduate, graduate and professional Black students. Representatives from the BSU, BGPSA, Student Affairs, and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion collaborated to chair the creation of a shared learning experience that better equips the campus to respond to the concerns voiced by our Black students.

We will be hosting daily themed sessions from noon – 2:00 pm in the following areas of student support:

o   Monday, April 19, 2021: Pre-Matriculation

o   Tuesday, April 20, 2021: Current Students, Campus Safety and Well Being

o   Wednesday, April 21, 2021: Current Students, Retention & Campus Climate

o   Thursday, April 22, 2021: Current Students, Academics

o   Friday, April 23, 2021: Graduation and Beyond

Each day is focused on a particular topic, your staff and faculty may find certain days more aligned to their work within our community at UC San Diego. We invite all who register to a

-          Kick-off workshop on addressing Anti-Blackness and Designing Pro-Black Student Solutions on Friday, April 16, 2021 from noon to 2:00 pm as well as a

-          Keynotes on the student experience on Monday, April 19, 2021 from 9:00 am - 10:30 am.

We are excited to convene this symposium and welcome your support and participation.  We would like your advocacy to support every department having representation at this event.