University of California, Irvine. Women's Resource Center

The Women's Center at the University of California, Irvine opened in the 1973/1974 academic year and was staffed by five volunteer coordinators and other volunteers.

Supported by the Associated Students of UCI, the Center's goal was to become the umbrella organization for all women's programs on campus. Its activities and services included a library, a calendar of activities, and several committees. The Center also offered a reading group, self-defense classes, consciousness-raising groups, day care, and information on health services. The Women's Resource Center (WRC) was established in September 1977 to serve as the umbrella organization for campus women's programs, including the Women's Center. The WRC also housed a library and reference service and provided a meeting place where campus women could discuss their issues and concerns. Originally located on the third floor of Gateway Commons, the Center relocated its offices to the first floor of that building in 1981. A representative of the WRC served on the Chancellor's Advisory Committee on the Status of Women beginning in February 1979. WRC representatives also served on various chancellor's committees such as the Affirmative Action Committee and the Think Tank on Diversity, as well as on the board of the UCI chapter of California Women in Higher Education. In addition to serving as an umbrella organization, the WRC organized a number of its own projects. These included child care, annual women's leadership retreats, rape prevention education, sexual harassment projects, and tackling concerns like campus lighting and mature women returning students. Funding for women's programs on campus was allocated by the Women's Program Board, which was created in October 1975 to provide a vehicle for the ongoing and cooperative involvement of campus women's groups in the design and implementation of women's programs for students. Each organization was to send one representative to vote on all matters of funding and policy that the board considered. Organizations not represented at each meeting would forfeit their vote on the issues presented. A member of the Assistant Dean of Students' office and from the Women's Center served on this board. Beginning in 1979 the WRC also had a representative. California Women in Higher Education (CWHE) was a statewide organization begun in 1972 to advocate, protect and promote the status of faculty, administrators, staff, and students in higher education. The UCI chapter of this organization was established in 1974 and was housed at the WRC. In the fall of 1994 the Women's Resource Center became the Center for Women and Gender Education. In the fall of 2001, the Center was renamed the Center for Women and Men. Supported by the Office of Student Affairs, the Center offers programs concerning gender issues for both women and men, while continuing to address the special needs and interests of women.

From the description of University of California, Irvine, Women's Resource Center records, 1969-1994. (University of California, Irvine). WorldCat record id: 163581240

Historical Background

The Women's Center at the University of California, Irvine opened in the 1973/1974 academic year and was staffed by five volunteer coordinators and other volunteers. Supported by the Associated Students of UCI, the Center's goal was to become the umbrella organization for all women's programs on campus. Its activities and services included a library, a calendar of activities, and several committees. The Center also offered a reading group, self-defense classes, consciousness-raising groups, day care, and information on health services.

The Women's Resource Center (WRC) was established in September 1977 to serve as the umbrella organization for campus women's programs, including the Women's Center. The WRC also housed a library and reference service and provided a meeting place where campus women could discuss their issues and concerns. Originally located on the third floor of Gateway Commons, the Center relocated its offices to the first floor of that building in 1981.

A representative of the WRC served on the Chancellor's Advisory Committee on the Status of Women beginning in February 1979. WRC representatives also served on various chancellor's committees such as the Affirmative Action Committee and the Think Tank on Diversity, as well as on the board of the UCI chapter of California Women in Higher Education.

In addition to serving as an umbrella organization, the WRC organized a number of its own projects. These included child care, annual women's leadership retreats, rape prevention education, sexual harassment projects, and tackling concerns like campus lighting and mature women returning students.

Funding for women's programs on campus was allocated by the Women's Program Board, which was created in October 1975 to provide a vehicle for the ongoing and cooperative involvement of campus women's groups in the design and implementation of women's programs for students. Each organization was to send one representative to vote on all matters of funding and policy that the board considered. Organizations not represented at each meeting would forfeit their vote on the issues presented. A member of the Assistant Dean of Students' office and from the Women's Center served on this board. Beginning in 1979 the WRC also had a representative.

California Women in Higher Education (CWHE) was a statewide organization begun in 1972 to advocate, protect and promote the status of faculty, administrators, staff, and students in higher education. The UCI chapter of this organization was established in 1974 and was housed at the WRC.

In the fall of 1994 the Women's Resource Center became the Center for Women and Gender Education. In the fall of 2001, the Center was renamed the Center for Women and Men. Supported by the Office of Student Affairs, the Center offers programs concerning gender issues for both women and men, while continuing to address the special needs and interests of women.

From the guide to the Women's Resource Center records, University of California, Irvine, 1969-1994, (University of California, Irvine. Library. Special Collections and Archives.)