Catalysts for Change
In 2015, the Division for Equity and Inclusion developed the Catalysts for Change report to highlight nine case studies of how UC Berkeley had deployed a diversity catalyst model to drive innovations in equity and inclusion on our campus. One of the case studies was on College Writing 50AC/150AC, 'Researching Water in the West,' an AC course, which highlighted the connection between the historical resources of the university and collaborations between an AC faculty member, Pat Steenland, Bancroft Librarian, Theresa Salazar, and AC alumna, Jenna Cavelle, and Native American tribal leader, Harry Williams, to preserve the history and legacy of the Owens Valley Paiute tribe (page 19-22). In addition, a holistic case study was conducted on the American Cultures Engaged Scholarship Program discussing the integration of ACES courses with communities inside the classroom and the importance of institutionalizing such a curriculum for its impact on student learning (page 29-30).
William S. Simmons Report
In March 1989, the UC Berkeley Senate produced the Simmons report to propose "a one-semester breadth requirement to be satisfied by a series of courses from many disciplines that will focus on important themes in United States history, society, and ethnic diversity". The report was critical in developing and establishing the American Cultures Breadth Requirement later that year.
Student Learning in American Cultures Courses at UC Berkeley
In 2014, Dr. Cynthia Gordon da Cruz published her observations of the impact of American Cultures courses on student learning. Her report established the role that AC courses played in eliminating inequality content, and also observed the importance of community engaged scholarship, a pedagogy in incorporating authentic, mutually beneficial partnership between the university and communities. Download report.