Symposium on Enhancing the Experiences of Students of Asian, Pacific Islander, and Middle Eastern Descent 

June 15 & 16, 2022 | Price Center West Ballroom  

This in-person Symposium was a multi-day, tracked learning opportunity whose goal was to increase awareness of the experiences of students of Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern, and Asian descent at UC San Diego, with the goal of fostering intentional and sustained action to enhance their experience, promote student success and well-being, and demonstrate an understanding of the diverse experiences that students from these populations have. 

Participants were encouraged to attend both days and participate fully in the pre-Symposium work and in as many sessions as possible across the two days of workshops and lectures curated to engage participants to learn more about our diverse Asian, Pacific Islander and Middle Eastern student populations and to consider ways to create environments that best support our students. 

We checked for Green Thumbs on the Symptom Checker on each day. In addition, in consideration of attendees health and well-being, we required that all participants to wear mask at this event.  See more event guidelines at UC San Diego Return to Learn.

Symposium Learning Outcomes

1. Participants will understand that there are a multitude of identities that students of Asian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern descent can have. 
2. Participants will understand how the experiences of students of Asian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern descent can impact how they navigate campus services. 
3. Participants will understand how the experiences of students of Asian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern descent can impact how they navigate the campus climate. 
4. Participants will be able to implement resources for enhancing the experiences of students of Asian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern descent. 
5. Participants will develop methods in their own work in the effort to be more inclusive of students of Asian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern descent. 
6. Participants will be able to identify key differences between the domestic and international experiences for students of Asian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern descent and create culturally competent interventions to engage all populations.
7. Understand how specific and intentional terminology is more beneficial than using broad terminology when working with populations of students of Asian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern descent.

Who are Students of Asian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern Descent?

The broad group of student identities and student experiences focused on in this symposium mean it is essential to specifically define these identities to accurately understand how students engage with the campus.  Since these are used in an American context, even to describe our international students, information will draw on how these indentities have been constructed in the United States.

Due to the vastly different experiences students from these backgrounds may experience, the word "Descent" is used to illustrate that ancestral origin ties these groups of students together, rather than nationality.