Mission Statement
The mission of the Asian Resource Center (ARC) is to educate, promote, and encourage the interaction and dialogue among the diverse ethnic groups within the Asian American community at UCSB. The Center provides a supportive environment for students, staff, faculty, and community members to develop an appreciation for one's identity and to affirm an institutional commitment that recognizes one’s community.
Our Story
The creation of the EOP Cultural Resource Centers came as a direct result of student activism in the late 1990’s, during which time students from various historically excluded groups petitioned the University for dedicated safe spaces on campus. On October 22, 1998, students occupied Cheadle Hall and impressed upon the campus administration the need to support the lives of marginalized students. One of the student “demands” called for the construction of a new building to “house student resource centers designed to meet the specific needs of non-traditional students and student parents (to include childcare), the Queer student community, the Native American student community, the Chicano/a Student community, the Asian American student community, the African American student community, and the Middle Eastern student community.”
Following the completion of the Student Resource Building and the opening of the new Cultural Resource Centers in February 2007, the CRCs have served an invaluable role in our community as spaces that facilitate cultural-based programming and strives to foster safe environments for both individual students and culturally affiliated campus organizations. The CRCs serve as a hub for students and are foundational for the events and meetings necessary to sustain cultural organizations at UCSB.
Center Goals
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To educate the UCSB community about the diversity that encompasses the APIDA cultural community.
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To provide a physical space that reflects the many perspectives and cultures of APIDA students.
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To provide educational, cultural and social programming that affirms and celebrates APIDA identities and values, as well as the awareness of the diverse social, political, historical and cultural realities of these communities.
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To broaden and facilitate the channels of communication between APIDA students and the greater UCSB student community.
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To support the identity development of APIDA students.
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To participate in the university’s effort to provide multicultural education to the greater UCSB student community.
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To provide information to enhance cultural awareness at UCSB.
