Dear alumni, faculty, and friends of the History Department,
This academic year presented us with unprecedented challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic forced us all online, leaving many of us to mourn the loss of the vibrant community we share at UCSB. At the same time, our circumstances have reminded us how important our virtual connections are. It is in this spirit of maintaining ties to our own broader community that I write to you today.
At the end of the Winter quarter, UCSB went remote. Faculty and students alike had to adjust quickly to a new mode of education. Professors and TAs had to retool their courses and find innovative ways to teach from hastily constructed home offices. Undergraduates faced additional burdens. Many had to relocate quickly, help families, and work long hours at jobs that put them at risk. Our graduate students have also suffered in significant ways. Coming on the heels of a UC-wide COLA movement, they have lost jobs, had fellowships cancelled or postponed, and can no longer travel for conferences or to conduct dissertation research.
Still, we have risen to the occasion, and I could not be prouder of our department. We successfully completed our academic year and earned rave reviews from our students, proving once and for all that historians can indeed work with the most modern of technologies. We celebrated the Class of 2020 by hosting our first ever virtual awards ceremony and graduation. Finally, with the help of the History Associates, the department worked tirelessly to ensure all our grad students received basic financial support that would get them through the tough summer months. We have provided teaching and research jobs to many, while others have been helped by the generous gifts of our donors.
We all face an uncertain future, and it is only with the support of our community that we will emerge from this crisis. We are very thankful to all who have given, but we face critical financial shortfalls in the coming year. For those who are able, please consider donating to the History Department or the History Associates Graduate Fellowships. While it is a cliché, even the smallest amount helps. Most important of all, stay connected with us. We want to know how you’re doing, and we want to keep you up to date on the progress we’re making.
Sincerely,
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Erika Rappaport
Chair, UCSB Department of History
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In Solidarity
The History Department’s Stance on Racial Justice
George Floyd’s slow, excruciating, and brutal death on May 25, 2020 has sparked a global uprising. The History faculty believe that as human beings, as historians, and as a department we have a duty to raise our voices. Understanding and interrogating our racialized past has never been more urgent. We must become part of the solution.
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COLA, COVID-19 and Economic Anxiety
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According to Forbes, the cost of living in Santa Barbara is 23.9% above the national average. Starting early this year, many UCSB History graduate students joined the UC-wide movement called "COLA," or "Cost of Living Adjustment," which seeks to make graduate student salaries livable. With COVID, this has become more urgent than ever.
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A Retrospective on the Year
Despite the year’s challenges, we had much to celebrate, recognizing achievement with the generous award funding from History Associates, our community support group. Here are links to catch you up on some of our accomplishments of the year.
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Inspired Presidental Addresses
Read the inspirational speeches from Raymok Ketema, HGSA President, and Veronica Andrade, History Club President, by clicking their photos below.
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Please consider giving to the Department of History by clicking the button below. We are incredibly grateful for your continued support!
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