Overview
The Staff as Students of Social Justice (SSSJ) Program is an opportunity for campus staff to learn first-hand from leading scholars about the intersections of race, ethnicity, and gender, dig into subjects of personal interest, and build connections with faculty, students, and fellow staff colleagues.
The SSSJ Program is an important expression of the campus’s commitment to the intellectual and professional development of staff, especially around issues of equity, inclusion, and diversity. The program is made possible by funding support from the Division of Equity and Inclusion, the Division of Undergraduate Education, and People & Culture, and is a keystone effort of the university’s work towards Becoming an Anti-Racist Campus.
Why SSSJ?
At UC Berkeley, dozens of staff groups have been organizing EID activities with the help of the Division of Equity and Inclusion and the first Director of Diversity and Equity in People & Culture. There is a palpable hunger for conversation and education, as evidenced by the growing number of reading lists, websites, webinars, and programs that have been organized and shared.
In addition to staff-led informal efforts, we are fortunate to have an incredible wealth of anti-racist scholars among our faculty—leaders in public health, education, sociology, ethnic studies, political science, law, history, environmental science, anthropology, comparative literature, and more. Conveniently, many teach American Cultures courses, which provides an exciting opportunity to bridge the university’s academic and work environments in a way that is mutually beneficial, meaningful, effective, and inexpensive.
Learn more and Apply
Each semester, SSSJ is offered to a cohort of UC Berkeley staff. You can learn more about the curriculum, requirements, and find the application on the American Cultures SSSJ website.
