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Johnson and Wales University Providence Campus

Undergraduate School

Mailing Address
8 Abbott Park Pl
Providence, Rhode Island 02903
Phone
(401) 598-1000
School Information
At Johnson and Wales University, we want you to imagine everything your future can be. And then we’ll help you work toward it—because when you work, so does your education. With campuses in Providence, North Miami, Denver, and Charlotte, each with distinct offerings, your options are as open as your potential. As one of the first colleges founded by two women, Gertrude I. Johnson and Mary T. Wales, a progressive approach to learning is at our core. Since 1914, our goal has been for students to make the most of their time at college—to bring out their potential and turn it into a career. What began as a business school has since become known not only for culinary and hospitality expertise, but for cultivating a supportive environment where students and faculty work together to bring out the best in each other. We continue to evolve as we apply our passion and knowledge to everything we teach, from engineering to marketing. Johnson and Wales University (JWU), is a private, nonprofit NECHE-accredited institution with more than 15,000 students from over 100 countries. JWU offers 80+ undergraduate, graduate, online, continuing education and accelerated programs in arts & sciences, business, culinary arts, hospitality, technology and education; more than 105,000 alumni are forging successful careers in exciting industries.
General Information
Johnson and Wales University is vocal about its commitment to anti-racism and inclusivity. The University posts a variety of resources supporting Black Lives Matter, including in its online library. The University’s library is particularly outspoken in combating systemic racism and oppression. Students are “encouraged” to complete an online diversity and inclusion training module on identity, bias, power, and privilege. Faculty training is expressly required to undergo this training, covering material such as “anti-racist practices.” The Bridge Center for Diversity, Equity, and Social Justice operates within JWU to advance social justice.

Actions Taken

Anti-Racism, Bias, and Diversity Training
  • Under "Black Lives Matter Resources," JWU seeks to conduct "in-person discussions" on "topics such as...student training on how to spot bias and micro-aggression."
  • "All incoming and returning students will be encouraged to complete an online diversity and inclusion training during the fall semester." This module "introduces key concepts related to identity, bias, power, and privilege."
Disciplinary Measures
  • JWU links to its Bias Incident Report Form and states, "Members of the JWU community who may have been a target of, or witness to, a bias incident are encouraged to report the incident to the university."
Faculty/Staff Requirements
  • "Training regarding anti-racist practices is conducted with all faculty and staff prior to the start of the semester as well."
Political Actions and Support for Anti-Racism
  • JWU "commits to anti-racist work and offers academic and co-curricular opportunities that are welcoming, education and open spaces of inclusivity and exploration for all students, faculty, staff and alumni."
  • JWU Library offers "Black Lives Matter and Anti-Racism Resources" through articles, eBooks, print books, films, and podcasts. The library also issued a statement saying that it "stands with Black Lives Matter in denouncing systemic racism and working to address oppression."
  • JWU offers resources linked to Amnesty International on how to plan a protest. "The guide includes information on your rights as protestor, what to do, what not to do, what to bring, what to wear and how to deal with teargas."
Program and Research Funding
  • JWU established "The Bridge Center for Diversity, Equity and Social Justice" which "promotes policies and practices that advance the JWU culture of inclusion and social justice."
  • The Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Fellowship Program is "designed to support JWU academic colleges and administrative departments in enhancing campuswide [sic] knowledge and awareness of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging issues." The program works directly "with the Bridge for Diversity, Equity & Social Justice and the Center for Teaching & Learning."
  • Created in 2021, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB) Faculty Fellow, was "designed to support JWU academic colleges and administrative departments in enhancing campus wide knowledge and awareness of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging issues." Christofer Westgate was chosen for the 2023-24 school year and plans to "strengthen faculty recruitment and hiring practices" and "contribute to curriculum development" on DEIB issues.
Resources
  • The JWU Library DEI Educator Guide provides guidance for teachers on building an inclusive classroom and poses the following question: "How can we incorporate anti-racism and inclusive pedagogy into our courses?"
  • JWU offers a course titled "Cultural Awareness and Diversity in Criminal Justice" which "offers a comprehensive examination of existing influences of culture, race, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation in multicultural communities within criminal justice." The course also discusses "police/community mutual stereotypes, implicit biases, the importance of verbal de-escalation in law enforcement, as well as the importance of improved cross-cultural competency, and improved cross-racial and interethnic relations."
  • JWU offers a course titled "Communicating for Social Change" which is described as follows: "Students focus on the use of media to enable participation in the processes that can lead to social change. Media and communication can facilitate social change that has a direct effect on many diverse constituencies, especially those that are often underrepresented."
  • JW Faculty Member Alana Dagenhart studies "how spaces of oppression and deterritorialization can silence the voices of people of color and reinforce hegemonic ideology." The Professor also states that "[a]n effective study of any literature should compare texts from many perspectives to examine trans-hemispheric aspects of; culture, gender, ethnicity, critical theory, diaspora, marginalization, and concepts of home."
Last updated August 23rd, 2024
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