Regis University

On June 30, 2023, Regis' President published a "letter in response to the Supreme Court's decision" on affirmative action which states the following: "While the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on affirmative action creates significant access challenges for our students of color, legal framework changes do not alter Regis University’s commitment to diversity and access as a strength and core value. We believe that this decision overlooks the importance of racial diversity in meeting our society's needs, which needs diverse leaders and leaders who value and understand diverse perspectives...This decision does not change what we have always done. We reaffirm our commitment to fostering an inclusive community of caring and to recruit and retain a diverse campus for the benefit of all."

The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusive Excellence released its 2023-2028 Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Strategic Plan. The plan's mission states that Regis "supports the recruitment, retention, and flourishing of our Latine students, but supports all of our students." In 2023, the University's goal to enact "Transformational, culturally-enhancing educational experience[s]" included the plan to utilize "More targeted recruitment with Admissions, incl. from Porter Billups Program."

The University utilizes a "holistic admission" process that breaks down barriers that have created challenges that disproportionately impact individuals from marginalized populations and by admitting candidates with diverse experiences and perspectives. This means that students are no longer required to submit standardized test scores and that candidates are "encouraged to share their unique life experiences" during the admissions process.

The Physical Therapy Department incorporates "Student Awareness, Training and Inclusion" into its program whereby "students complete the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) to form an individualized development plan that will increase their skills in providing culturally responsive care." 

Regarding its "undergraduate core educational experience," the 2022-2023 Regis University Catalog states, "By challenging students to develop the analytical skills necessary to understand relationships of power and privilege in contemporary society, the core educational experience strives to cultivate respect for human diversity and a special concern for the poor and the oppressed."

As part of Regis' "Integrative Core" curriculum, sophomores must take the course "Diversity and Cultural Tradition," which "[e]xplores issues of diversity by examining the issues of groups that historically have been oppressed."

According to the Regis 2022-2023 Academic Catalog, the English major "takes a Diversity Across the Curriculum approach, so most courses discuss aspects of historical or current oppression and marginalization."

Regis' School of Physical Therapy infuses diversity, equity, and inclusion into its curriculum through "Culturally Responsive Teaching" and teaching such topics as "Health Justice."

Under the School of Rehabilitative & Health Sciences, the Community for Belonging, Health Equity, and Social Justice states that its curriculum includes "Inclusive Pedagogy, Culturally Responsive Teaching, Health Justice, and Intercultural Sensitivity."

Regis has a "bias incident reporting form" where students or faculty can report "Any act of intolerance, motivated wholly or in part by bias or prejudice against an individual’s actual or perceived race, color, national origin, sex gender, disability, age, religion, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other legally protected status."

In June 2020, Regis President announced that the University would "implement expanded, required learning opportunities for all faculty, staff, and trustees so they can better support and serve our diverse student population."

The Regis College Diverse Educator (RDE) Scholarship is a full-tuition scholarship for residential undergraduate students who are "committed to the field of education and to serving underrepresented populations in education."

The University has a "Health Services Leadership & Diversity Scholarship" which aims "to award partial tuition scholarships to students from marginalized populations who are pursuing a Bachelor of Health Care Administration degree or a Master of Science in Health Services Administration." Potential recipients include "students of color, first-generation college students, disabled students, undocumented students, LGBTQ+ students, and/or students from low-income families, among others." Two awardees are chosen and awarded a total of $5,000.

Regis University hosted a series of conversations, "Good Trouble Conversations on Race and Justice", focusing on student activism and a "History of Racism and Resilience".

As part of the "Good Trouble Conversations on Race and Justice" initiative, the university hosted the "DESTINY: Navigating in a White World" seminar during the Spring 2022 semester.

The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion published the schedule for its Fall 2023 "Good Trouble Conversations on Race and Justice" series and states, "Join us for moderated, open and free discussions about current race and justice topics and how we can effect positive change."

The Social Justice and Diversity Committee at Regis "provides leadership for RUSGA in the areas of diversity, inclusion and social justice" through the programming and hosting of events.

Regis University Library provides a variety of resources on racism (includes Black Lives Matter readings) and states that "[r]acism in the United States is systemic and pervasive."

As part of Regis' 2023-2024 Academic Catalog, the Racial Justice minor "centers the concerns and experiences of US Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian and Pacific Islander, and other People of Color (POC), while also exploring the roots of whiteness because concepts of race and ethnicity are fundamental to the power of intersecting systems of both oppression and resistance." Additionally, the minor "focuses on Structural/Historical Racism, Interpersonal Racism/Bias, Identity and Social Construction, Resistance Movements, Antiracism, and Race/Religion/Jesuit Values - in an effort to dismantle racial hierarchies and build equitable communities."

In June 2024, the University hosted the AJCU Diversity and Equity Network Conference to "discuss the broad range of issues that significantly impact the education of students of color and the retention of faculty and staff of color at Jesuit institutions of higher education." Dr. Gina Garcia was the keynote speaker. She aims "to transform Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) and other colleges and universities that enroll the most compositionally diverse students."

The Library provides a Justice, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion (J.E.D.I.) guide for faculty and students. The guide "incorporates actionable pieces such as self-reflection, listening to others' voices, practicing emotional intelligence, and educating yourself and others."

According to the 2023-2028 HSI Strategic Plan, the University will utilize "Inclusive Hiring" with the "goal of faculty mirroring the diversity of student body."

In 2019, a faculty member's publication was released regarding the "Challenges and Coping Mechanisms of Whites Committed to Antiracism."

The university announced the creation of the "President’s Council on Race and Social Justice," which "represents [its] continued focus and commitment to creating a more inclusive, antiracist campus."

Regis published its "Diversity Pledge" which states the following: "I pledge to stand up to all forms of hate, bigotry and bullying. I will not stay silent in the face of intolerance based on race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender, religion, ability or any other identity. I will work together with my peers to create safer, more inclusive communities for all and will uphold our Jesuit value of honoring the dignity in all individuals."

In 2020, Regis President Antoinette M. Hays released a statement titled "A Commitment to do Better" on the "injustices toward Black people," racism, and inequality. She stated, "Here at Regis. Black Lives Matter. And Black lives matter at Regis." Hays also explained a number of initiatives that would be starting in response.

The Community for Belonging, Health Equity, and Social Justice includes a Land Acknowledgement that states "Regis University recognizes that Indigenous Peoples are the original stewards of the land we stand on today.... we acknowledge that our presence on this land is due to the forced displacement of Indigenous Peoples from their ancestral lands" and [We] "will continuously reimagine this acknowledgment, act on our responsibilities to the common good and respectfully collaborate with and support members of local Indigenous communities."   

The Community for Belonging, Health Equity, and Social Justice also includes a Labor Acknowledgement that states "We recognize that this nation has benefitted and profited from the labor of enslaved Africans as well as immigrant and refugee communities of color whose labor, whether voluntary, involuntary, trafficked, or forced, contributed to the building of this country and this state."