Institutional Office of Equity and Inclusion
A Commitment to ‘Ever Better’
The University of Rochester Institutional Office of Equity and Inclusion is dedicated to cultivating an equitable, respectful, and welcoming culture at the University of Rochester. We strive to weave diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the University’s mission to learn, discover, heal, and create.
We celebrate our connections to the Rochester community and affirm that in a pluralistic culture, the definition of community includes individuals who represent every race, creed, color, ability, sexual identity, and gender.
Happening now
Masih Alinejad
Thursday, March. 30, 2023, 6–7:30 p.m.
Hawkins-Carlson Room, Rush Rhees Library.
Masih Alinejad is an Iranian-American journalist and women’s rights activist who gained worldwide attention when she removed her veil, or hijab, and posted a photo on her Facebook page.
The University celebrates Women’s History Month
Throughout Women’s History Month, campus organizations are sponsoring art exhibitions, lectures, films, book readings, and performances to celebrate and remember women’s history.
Check the calendar for events throughout the month of March »
Presidential Stronger As One Diversity Awards
We are proud to announce the winners of the 2023 Presidential Stronger as One Diversity Awards. The event highlighted the impact and achievements of the award winners and celebrated diversity and inclusion on our campus.
Our work focuses on five institutional priorities.
Developing and sustaining an infrastructure to support equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Enhancing the recruitment and retention of our representational diversity of faculty, staff, and students.
Cultivating an inclusive climate, culture, and University Community.
Advancing the University’s mission through an equity, diversity, and inclusion lens.
Community engagement for racial and social justice.
News and announcements
Drop-in counseling sessions for students, virtual healing circles for those affected by the violence in Memphis
The beating that led to the death of Tyre Nichols in Memphis, Tennessee, has prompted conversations about the increased levels of violence in Rochester and across the country. The Office of Equity and Inclusion along with the M.K. Gandhi Institute … Continued
Statement on Monterey Park shooting
The University of Rochester joins the Monterey Park, California, community in grief and sorrow after eleven people were killed and nine injured at a Lunar New Year celebration. We are devastated at the loss of life during a time that … Continued
Message from University leadership: Tragedy in Buffalo
Read the full message to the University of Rochester community from President Sarah Mangelsdorf, and Mercedes Ramírez Fernández, the Richard Feldman Vice President for Equity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer.
Subscribe to our Encompass Newsletter to get the latest messages, along with other updates from our office. You can also see previous issues in our Encompass Newsletter archive.
The University of Rochester has received the 2021 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education.
As a recipient of the annual HEED Award—a national honor recognizing US colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion—Rochester will be featured, along with the other recipients, in the INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine.
Programs and Initiatives
Our office oversees a variety of initiatives and teams to ensure safety, equity, and diversity across the University.
Equity and Inclusion: Schools and Centers
Each of the University’s schools and colleges have offices devoted to diversity initiatives at the school level.
Stay connected
Like us on Facebook, subscribe to our Encompass newsletter, visit our YouTube page, and use #urdiversity on Twitter to connect with us!