UCLA Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Homepage

Overview and Purpose

UCLA’s Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) leads and advances strategies for enhancing equity, diversity and inclusion; protecting civil rights; and upholding dignity for all.  At UCLA, EDI is everyone’s responsibility.  The EDI Student Leadership Award recognizes contributions of individual UCLA students who have exhibited exceptional leadership in work that aligns with and contributes to the EDI Office’s mission and dimensions.

Award Details

UCLA EDI Student Leadership Awards are granted once per academic year subject to the timeline provided below.  Up to four (4) undergraduate students and four (4) graduate students may be awarded in any given academic year.  Each recipient will receive a $500 award^{[1], [2]} and a commemorative gift to honor the achievement.  The decision to grant awards during any given academic year is at the discretion of the Interim Vice Provost for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and is subject to funding availability.

Eligibility

Current UCLA undergraduate, graduate, and professional students are eligible for the UCLA EDI Student Leadership Award.^[1]  To receive consideration, an individual student must be nominated by a current UCLA student, faculty, or staff member.  Self-nominations will be accepted.  However, nominations made on behalf of student organizations will not be considered.

Current UCLA students are eligible to receive the EDI Student Leadership Award only once during any academic year for a total of $500.  Priority will be given to nominees who have not previously received an award.

Timeline

Nominations for the EDI Student Leadership Award should be submitted to the UCLA Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in accordance with the following timeline and procedures.  Late submissions will not be accepted.

EDI Leadership Award Timeline

*Only award recipients will be notified of award status.

Nomination Procedures

Nominations for the EDI Student Leadership Award must be submitted via the online nomination form by the published submission deadline.

Please note that incomplete and/or late submissions will not be considered.

Nominations (both self and by others) must include:

• A one-page Statement of Contribution
• A copy of nominee’s resume/curriculum vitae
• Contact information for at least one (1) professional reference who can validate the nominee’s EDI work (acceptable references include, but are not limited to, professors/TAs, current or former supervisors, advisors, etc.)

Selection Criteria

During each award cycle, nomination submissions will be evaluated by a committee of EDI Office staff to identify eligible students who have excelled in making significant and positive contributions to the advancement of EDI at UCLA.  Strong nomination submissions will identify specific work and clearly describe how the nominee’s contributions reflect the following evaluation criteria:

• Alignment with the EDI Office’s Mission and Dimensions
• Leadership in EDI-related Service, Programming, or Research at UCLA
• Innovation in Addressing EDI Issues within the UCLA Community
• Demonstrated History of Engagement in EDI Efforts

The selection committee will evaluate nominations using a standardized rubric based on the criteria indicated above.

➡ UCLA EDI Student Leadership Award – Evaluation Rubric

[1] Undocumented students are eligible for the cash award if they have AB540 status.  International students may be subject to eligibility limitations.  Interested students and potential nominators may contact Anyssa Llerena-Tobin in the EDI Office for additional information.

[2] Please note that receipt of cash gifts may impact a student’s financial aid award.  Interested students are encouraged to contact the UCLA Financial Aid & Scholarships Office to discuss the potential impact of the EDI Student Leadership Award on any financial aid award.