UCOD Meeting Notes (November 12, 2024)
UCOD Meeting
November 12, 2024 / 2PM / Zoom
Attendees
Voting Members:
Fang-I Chu, Christine Craib, Travis Lee, Sanaz Nabati, Quinn O’Connor, Sylvia Page, Harold Pimental, Emilia Podesta, Sal Santa Ana, Caitlin Solone, Alexa Vaughn
Absent:
Yasamin Boulourian, Michael Garafola, Adam Kipust, Carolanne Link, Kayla Kirsten Regalado, Nicholas Shinghal
Guests:
Kelly Goodman, Roxas Haze, Brandie Kirkpatrick, Raghava Kodavatikanti, Leroy Moore, Darren Naruse, Omar Newland, Shannon OMalley, Spencer Scruggs, Tadeo Spencer, Jessie Yu
Agenda
1. Intros (TL, 10 mins)
2. Newsletter Nov/Dec issue preview (Newsletter subcommittee, 5 mins)
a. November and December issues will be combined into one issue with the theme of gratitude.
b. If interested in submitting to upcoming newsletters, please contact Fang, Travis, or Carolanne.
c. Add EDI Student Leadership Award to the newsletter
3. Post-election resources for disabled community (QO, 15 mins)
a. Can UCOD be included as a resource on campus page for post-election resources: Election-Related Resources?
b. If anyone has additional resources to add, please contact Brandie.
c. Could UCOD create a resource list for local community? This may be a future project.
d. Some potential resources for disabled students seeking support or expressing concerns about their rights post-election: Student Legal Services, RISE Center, Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement
e. UCOD could include get out the vote and other civic engagement efforts during future Disability Pride Weeks.
4. Major inequity in resources available for disabled students receiving accommodations during exams (TS, 10 mins)
a. Important to ensure software used for exams allows for extended time accommodations
b. Issues with not being able to access professor or TA to ask clarifying questions, lag time between providing professors with completed tests and grading, and tests with incomplete information.
c. CAE is exploring options to make communication between professors and TAs and CAE staff.
d. A cultural shift is needed: faculty need to be accountable. Mandatory disability training module, specifications in accommodation letters, and education targeting large enrollment exam-heavy departments could be helpful.
5. Bruin Access transportation issues (RH, 10 mins)
a. Issues with wait times, late/early arrivals, sliding van doors being difficult to open, and no vans available at certain times.
b. Transportation is currently undergoing a driver shortage. The department just hired new drivers to bring up to capacity once trained. Currently the department has two vans but is hoping to expand due to a grant.
c. Is there a way to communicate with drivers during emergency route changes? Drivers are directed not to use the phone. Updates are added to the app, but may not reflect real time.
d. For better funding: raise at the UCOP level? UCSA?
6. Disability Studies Unseen movie screening (CS, 5 mins)
a. November 12 (4pm-6pm) in Ackerman Grand Ballroom
b. Includes Q&A with creator of film and the person featured
7. Closed door session for voting members (10-15 mins)
a. Travis will include language around expectations for exam accommodations in the disability training module for faculty.
b. Christine will take the lead on the transportation issues.
c. Members vote to request CAE include the number of pages and the number of questions as required fields for instructors submitting exams.
Action Items
- Christine will contact Spencer about adding page number and question number to the exam submission process.
- Sanaz will reach out to Alexa and Christine for informational interviews for an upcoming workshop for students with disabilities applying to graduate and professional schools.
