Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Student Access, Success and Equity
Updated June 15, 2020
Dear RWU Community Members,
We stand in unison with Black students and employees at Roger Williams University. Recent events, especially the horrific deaths of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Breonna Taylor in Louisville, and Ahmaud Arbery in S. Georgia, have heightened societal awareness of police killings and other violence toward Black people as well as the complex, long history of systemic racism and implicit bias. This is occurring simultaneously with a worldwide pandemic that has taken many lives with disproportionate impact on communities of color. We recognize all of this has been distressing for many RWU community members, most especially for our Black students, faculty, and staff.
Many students have or are preparing to take action for positive social change. This may include being a listening ear to others, engaging in activism with Black Lives Matter, getting involved with social justice opportunities on and off campus, expressing yourself creatively through the arts, and/or making financial contributions to worthy causes. Many white students and employees are taking this opportunity to more deeply focus on their white privilege and what they can do individually and collectively to support meaningful change. It might also mean that you are taking a break from news and social media, and that is certainly understandable too. We encourage you to continue to take care of yourself as you actively seek to improve the world around you.
We stand ready to support you. As a reminder, staff in the Counseling Center, the Intercultural Center, the Queer and Trans Resource and Advocacy Center, and the Center for Student Academic Success are available remotely to provide you support for your academic, emotional, and interpersonal needs. Please visit our respective websites referenced below to learn about what we can offer and explore the list of resources provided below you might find helpful during these challenging times.
Stay safe and be well,
The Staffs of the Counseling Center, the Intercultural Center, the Queer and Trans Resource and Advocacy Center, and the Center for Student Academic Success
Examples of on-line and off-campus resources:
Resources for Persons of Color:
Contemporary self-care tips for Black people
7 Mental Health Resources for Black People
44 Additional Resources for Black People
Meditation App for the Black Community
Persons of Color Crisis Text Line (free, 24/7/365): Text STEVE to 741741
Trevor LGBTQ Helpline (free, 24/7/365): 866-488-7386 or text START to 678678
Resources for Allies:
Direct actions you can take as an Ally
Anti-racism Education for White People
75 Actions White People Can Take Right Now
Resources for Everyone:
Coping Strategies
RWU Contact Information:
The Counseling Center
The Intercultural Center
The Queer and Trans Resource Advocacy Center
The Center for Academic Success
Updated May 10, 2020
During this challenging time of COVID-19, we want you to know we see you, we care for you, and we are here for you.
The Intercultural Center and our initiative areas have listed ways to connect with staff and other students:
Let's Hang Out, Virtually
The Intercultural Center team is working to develop a weekly virtual hangout and we would love for you to join us! We are meeting on Thursdays at 3pm. Please check our Instagram (@RWUIntercultural and @RWU_QTRAC) and Facebook (RWU Intercultural Center) for Zoom ID and Password.
Once the semester is over, please know we will continue to be available. Here is our Summer schedule:
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International Student and Scholar Initiatives
The best way to get in touch with Assistant Director Cassidy Hammond (she/her/hers) is via email: chammond@rwu.edu and her office phone line: (401) 254-3400 Tuesdays from 9am to 4pm EST.
Click Here to Request an Appointment with Cassidy (Please remember appointments will be scheduled on Eastern Standard Time)
Cassidy is staying connected with students on a platform called Microsoft Teams with virtual meetings for individuals and groups.
She is hosting weekly virtual meetings for specific populations via Microsoft Teams:
- Mondays, 2-3 pm: The International Students On Campus Group Meets
- Tuesdays, 10-11 am EST: The International Students Abroad Group Meets
- Wednesdays, 11 am-noon EST: The International Student in the U.S. Group Meets
She is working with government officials to monitor changes to immigration regulations and communicates this information to students.
Multicultural Student Initiatives
The best way to get in touch with Assistant Director Takara Roderick (she/her/hers) is via email: troderick@rwu.edu and phone: (401) 400-1148. Available Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 5pm.
Takara is holding weekly class for our SOAR Program using Microsoft TEAMS, working closely with the Pathway to Purpose Program, and staying connected with students through telephone calls, FaceTime calls, text messages, emails, and Microsoft Teams.
If you would like to connect with Takara virtually, please visit this link and make an appointment: Click Here to Make an Appointment
Queer and Trans Student Initiatives
Best way to reach Assistant Director Gabby Porcaro (she/her/hers) is via email: gporcaro@rwu.edu. Gabby is checking in with students via Zoom, GroupMe, Instagram, Text, and Discord. She continues to meet with org leaders and members.
Zoila Quezada (she/her/hers) is holding weekly meetings using Microsoft Teams with QTRAC employees and Queer and Trans Student Initiatives students while Gabby is away for part of March and April.
Intercultural Center and Queer and Trans Resource and Advocacy Center
Zoila Quezada, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is checking in with students and meeting virtually with IC and QTRAC student employees, Barbershop, and ILA students on a weekly basis. She continues to connect with students via FaceTime, text, GroupMe, Google Hangouts, and Microsoft Teams
Follow our Instagram accounts: Intercultural Center and QTRAC for tips and updates.
Follow our Facebook account: RWU Intercultural Center
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Student Access, Success and Equity
Roger Williams University is an open, accepting and affirming community of citizen scholars. We stand firmly committed to creating a campus that is diverse and inclusive as well as welcoming to and accepting of all people regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, ability, socio-economic class, age or spirituality. We reflect this in our many programs, initiatives, organizations, and clubs throughout the university, ranging from our undergraduate programs to the School of Law.
Who We Are
Roger Williams University has historically valued the importance of diverse perspectives in a dynamic learning environment. The elements of diversity are embodied in our core values and we consistently engage the entire community in promoting diversity awareness.
Get involved. At RWU, you can connect with students of many different backgrounds from around the country and around the world:
Intercultural Center
The Intercultural Center creates transformative, capacity building experiences for minoritized student populations that leverage high-impact practices to close opportunity gaps and help students find success at - and beyond - college.
International Student & Scholar Initiatives
The Office of International Student & Scholar Services welcomes you to RWU’s international community, which represents over 35 countries. This office works with student services and academic departments across campus to ensure the success of international undergraduate, graduate, and law students as well as visiting scholars.
Multicultural Student Initiatives
RWU's Multicultural Student Initiatives aims to foster a campus culture that promotes equity, diversity, and inclusion, and provides a welcoming space for students of various races and ethnicities. Our student-centered programs and services are rooted in challenging and supporting students to be conscious citizens who find unity within our differences.
Queer and Trans Student Initiatives
At RWU, we work with and support students to raise awareness and acceptance of the various communities that make up our larger queer and trans community (for example; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, pansexual, or questioning communities). Through the Intercultural Center and the QTRAC, we offer a direct resource area for all members of the queer and trans communities and their allies.
P.E.A.C.E Program
PEACE (Peer Empowerment, Activism/Advocacy, and Community Engagement) is a community of students who value equity, diversity, inclusion, intercultural learning, community engagement, and social justice activism. The program seeks to build strong leaders who understand the importance of critical social justice literacy and fluency.
The Zine
The Intercultural Center is proud to showcase the voices, stories and experiences of the RWU student body through our new Zine: New and Dangerous Ideas (NaDI)