Equity and Inclusion
Our commitment to creating an inclusive community
The University of Rochester envisions itself as a community that welcomes, encourages, and supports individuals who desire to contribute to and benefit from the institution’s missions of teaching, research, patient care, performance, and community service. In a pluralistic culture, that community includes faculty, students, and staff who represent important differences.
Read more:
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The University’s statement on diversity and inclusion
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The University’s statement of educational philosophy
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The University’s Vision and Values
Equity and Inclusion: Schools and Centers
Each of the University’s schools and colleges have offices devoted to diversity initiatives at the school level.
- Arts, Sciences & Engineering
- Eastman School of Music
- School of Medicine and Dentistry
- School of Nursing
- Simon Business School
- Warner School of Education
- University of Rochester Medical Center
- UR Libraries
News and announcements
Mercedes Ramírez Fernández, associate vice provost for strategic affairs and diversity at Virginia Tech, will join the University on July 1 as Rochester’s first vice president for equity and inclusion. University President Richard Feldman announced Fernández’s appointment, which follows a national search that began this past fall. The University Board of Trustees also announced that this position has been endowed through donations and named the Richard Feldman Vice President for Equity and Inclusion to honor President Feldman, who is stepping down at the end of June.
The vice president will lead the new Office of Equity and Inclusion and work closely with deans and other senior leaders and campus constituencies to create, implement and lead an institution-wide diversity strategic plan that includes recruitment, training, communication, policy and metrics. Working with campus diversity leaders, the vice president will integrate this strategy with federally mandated anti-discrimination compliance, and will also identify and pursue opportunities to foster a welcoming and inclusive environment, including promoting the University’s Vision, Values, and Culture of Respect.
Adrienne Morgan, assistant dean for medical education diversity and inclusion in the School of Medicine and Dentistry, has been named associate vice president in the University’s Office of Equity and Inclusion established this past summer. The associate vice president supports the chief diversity officer in advancing the strategic goals and initiatives that promote inclusivity throughout the University and ensuring that individuals from all cultures, backgrounds and abilities feel welcomed and supported here.
Mercedes Ramírez Fernández, the Richard Feldman Vice President for Equity & Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer, announced Morgan’s appointment, which will begin on Dec. 2.
“I am very happy to welcome Adrienne to the Office of Equity and Inclusion. Having worked with her extensively already in my time here, I know that she brings the leadership qualities and commitment to drive sustainable change and institution-wide initiatives to further our progress in building a Culture of Respect,” said Ramírez Fernández. “She is a proven and collaborative professional with many years of service to the University community, and someone who has been very successful in implementing effective diversity strategies. She is highly respected for this important work.”
Join fellow alumni, parents, students, and for a private screening of the 2017 Academy Award-winning film, Moonlight.
Experience the groundbreaking coming-of-age story of a young African-American man grappling with his identity and sexuality while experiencing the struggles of childhood, adolescence, and adulthood.
A welcome will be given from the program assistant in the Paul J. Burgett Intercultural Center, Miles Perry ’20 as well as remarks from the Founder and Chair of Rochester Black Pride, Adrian Elim ’13
CTSI and Rochester PostDoc Partnership present: DEAF ROC 2019: Navigating Deaf and Hearing Collaborations in Science from August 8-9, 2019 at the University of Rochester.
This two-day national conference will bring together scientific faculty, postdocs, graduate and undergraduate students, and staff from DeafHH and hearing backgrounds to network and build stronger collaborations
Programs and Initiatives
Racism and Hate Speech: ‘We’re better than THAT’
The “We’re better than THAT” campaign educates students, faculty and staff on ways to approach difficult conversations on divisive topics and to stop hate speech and racism in our community.
Safe Space Training
The Safe Space program addresses ways to reduce homophobia and heterosexism to make our institution a safer and freer environment for all members of our community regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.
BUILD Xavier
BUILD Xavier (Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity) is a part of a larger initiative by the National Institutes of Health: Enhancing the Diversity of the NIH-funded workforce. Xavier University of Louisiana has developed a program called Project PATHWAYS, which includes several components targeting students, faculty, and several non-academic centers on Xavier’s campus. The University of Rochester is one of the partnering institutions with Xavier University. This program encourages diversity in the scientific research workforce.
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