CSRC Highlights from Annual Report 2002-2003

Under a new director, Dr. Chon A. Noriega, the CSRC continued existing programs, developed new research and archival projects, and strengthened community relations through a series of new public programs, including community forums, legislative briefings, and research exchanges. The CSRC placed an emphasis on policy-oriented research through the appointment of a senior research sociologist and the establishment of a new series, the Latino Policy & Issues Brief.

Faculty and graduate student research support. The CSRC awarded $160,000 in grants and fellowships to fifteen faculty and four graduate students. These awards generated a significant five-to-one return on their investment: the grantees received over $800,000 in external funding over 2002-03.

External funding for projects. The CSRC received gifts and was awarded grants of over $370,000 for research and archival projects. The research projects involved eighteen faculty from other campuses and six graduate students from UCLA. The archival projects included ongoing collaborations with the UCLA Film and Television Archive and the UCLA Music Library.

Publications. In addition to publishing the field's flagship journal, the CSRC introduced two new policy-based publications: Latino Policy & Issues Brief (six issues) and CSRC Research Report (one issue). The CSRC also initiated an electronic monthly newsletter and provided subvention grants for two faculty book publications.

Library Upgrade. The CSRC expanded library resources through several external grants that allowed for the hiring of a full-time archivist and upgrading of equipment and facilities to include multiuse space, computer-based resources, and processing workstations.

Student training and instruction. The CSRC involved hundreds of students in its research projects, library, publications, and other activities. Of that number, forty-eight students worked as research assistants on faculty projects and eleven acquired hands-on experience on CSRC projects and activities. In addition, the CSRC held three student workshops on research skills and publishing that drew over fifty students and sponsored two courses through the César Chávez Center for Interdisciplinary Instruction.

Public Programs. The CSRC organized twenty-one events reaching over 2,500 people and that included faculty research exchanges, community forums, and exhibitions. The CSRC also hosted an artist-in-residence. Off-campus events included a teach-in at Creative Artists Agency, benefit concerts at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and the Ford Theater in Los Angeles, and a faculty exchange with the University of Veracruz in Mexico. The CSRC also co-sponsored four events on campus and provided logistical support for one community event.

Fifteen Year Review. In October 2002, the UCLA Chancellor concluded the CSRC fifteen-year review process per the UC guidelines for Organized Research Units, approving the center's continuation. All ORUs must establish a rationale for continuance, in terms of scholarly or scientific merit and campus priorities, at fifteen-year intervals. The next fifteen-year review will be in 2015.

Strategic Planning Process. Throughout 2002-03, the CSRC Faculty Advisory Committee initiated a strategic planning process that included an assessment of the research and teaching capacity for Chicano Studies at UCLA. The CSRC identified forty-two Chicano Studies faculty across twenty departments at UCLA and another thirty-three positions that were needed across twenty-five departments. Based on that assessment, the CSRC explored possible appointments for its open FTE with five departments. In the end, the CSRC decided to split its open FTE between two areas-Public Health and Information Studies-with each school providing the other half of the FTE. These searches will take place during 2003-04.

Faculty Diversity Initiative. In February 2003, the CSRC joined with the American Indian Studies Center, Asian American Studies Center, and Ralph J. Bunch Center for African American Studies in proposing an increase in the number of institutional FTE allocated to the centers. This initiative received a favorable evaluation by the Office of the Chancellor as well as strong support on- and off-campus. A final decision from the Chancellor is still pending.

Budget Cuts. During 2002-03, the CSRC received a 10 percent permanent budget cut-with another 10 percent slated for the next year. These cuts required staff reduction and pose a long-term threat to the center's infrastructure and its ability to serve the campus and community. Nevertheless, the CSRC remains committed to supporting research that makes a difference.

Annual Report Archive

PDF 2002-2003

PDF 2003-2004