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University of Massachusetts, Lowell

Undergraduate School

Mailing Address
220 Pawtucket St.
Suite 420
Lowell, Massachusetts 01854
Phone
(978) 934-4000
Email address
admissions@uml.edu
School Information
"Founded in 1894 in the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution, the Lowell Normal School and the Lowell Textile School became places where hardworking students could make a better future for themselves and their communities. Over the next 125 years, those institutions evolved and then combined, eventually creating UMass Lowell, regarded today among the top public research universities in the nation. Throughout its growth, the university has stayed true to its core mission: enable every student to reach their full potential. Since its founding, this institution has made accessible a high-quality and affordable education — and brighter futures for students and for our local, regional and global communities" (Source: https://www.uml.edu/125/). The university offers over 175 degree programs and has a student to faculty ratio of 17 to 1. The university's total undergraduate enrollment is over 11,000 and the total enrollment is approximately 18,000.
General Information
This university has responded to the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery by engaging in numerous anti-racist changes. A current diversity curriculum review is in process. Diversity workshops and training programs are offered but are not required of all students. All students are required to take a course in "Diversity and Cultural Awareness" as part of the core curriculum requirement. See developments below:

Actions Taken

Admissions Policies
  • UMass Lowell's Diversity Portal states that the university strives to "[i]ncrease the recruitment, retention and graduation rates of undergraduate and graduate students from diverse backgrounds."
  • UML's Council on Social Justice and Inclusion states that it would "[p]rioritize the recruitment and retention of diverse faculty, staff, and students in order to build a more diverse, inclusive and equitable institution."
Anti-Racism, Bias, and Diversity Training
  • UMass Lowell offers a diversity and inclusion workshop series for "fostering diversity and inclusion in the UMass Lowell Community.
  • The Students of Color and International Students Sub-Committee plans on developing and deploying "cultural competencies training" for faculty.
  • The Inclusive Campus Recreation Team undergoes "inclusion trainings" and "students who participate are also required to go through the Diversity Peer Educator Program."
  • As part of its "Pillars of Inclusive Excellence," UML's Council on Social Justice and Inclusion states that it would "[e]nhance and elevate training opportunities for all faculty and staff, including leadership training, and student body aimed at building cultural competence and raising knowledge and awareness of experiences of marginalized populations and how discriminatory or exclusionary practices adversely affect individuals and our community."
  • UML provides a workshop titled "Unconscious Bias/Implicit Attitudes" and states, "Sometimes ideas, beliefs, and assumptions are so ingrained in our unconscious mind that we don’t realize how they might be influencing our daily interactions and decisions...Participants will also develop strategies to reduce and eliminate implicit bias."
Curriculum Changes and Requirements
  • The Students of Color and International Students Sub-Committee will "engage faculty in discipline-specific as well as university-wide DEI curriculum review."
  • UMass Lowell's seven Essential Learning Outcomes (as part of its core curriculum) include a Diversity and Cultural Awareness requirement.
  • As part of its "Pillars of Inclusive Excellence," UML's Council on Social Justice and Inclusion states that it would "[e]nsure DEI is embedded in the curriculum of [sic] across all disciplines."
Disciplinary Measures
  • The university outlines its bias reporting protocol and states, "The Response Protocol developed by the Bias Incident Response Team delineates a coordinated approach to bias-motivated situations involving members of the campus community."
Program and Research Funding
  • UMass Lowell received a $241,300 grant from the Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology to "increase diversity in associate and bachelor's degree training programs for technician and engineering positions in the offshore wind industry."
  • The Department of Sociology offers a Racial Equity & Inclusion Concentration as part of its "Degree Pathway for the Bachelor of Arts in Sociology."
Resources
  • The UMass Lowell library offers numerous racism and anti-racism resources.
  • UMass Lowell's DEI Task Force seeks to "write a Campus Wide Diversity Action Plan."
  • UMass Lowell hosts the "The Greeley Peace Scholar Speaker Series on Race and Social Justice."
  • The Students of Color and International Students Sub-Committee recommends that "consistent with national equity and inclusion best practices, a Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) and corresponding DEI office should be established to provide leadership in advancing campus efforts" and "in the interim, a DEI commission reporting to the Chancellor should be formed."
  • In collaboration with UMass Dartmouth, UMass Lowell, Harvard University, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Wheaton, Smith and Mount Holyoke colleges, UMass Amherst's Institute of Diversity Sciences launched a Leadership Academy "led by equity and inclusion expert Nilanjana Buju Dasgupta" in Summer 2020.
  • UMass Lowell's Diversity Portal states that it strives to "[i]ntegrate a curriculum that fosters cultural competencies."
  • UML's Council on Social Justice and Inclusion states that it would "[p]rovide students, staff, and faculty with a culturally responsive education and learning opportunities that incorporate our campus DE&I values."
Symbolic Actions
  • The Students of Color and International Students Sub-Committee will "value participation in DEI as priority and continuous items for self and community growth."
  • The Chancellor made a statement saying, "The UMass Lowell community stands in solidarity with communities across the country to condemn the killings of George Floyd in Minnesota, Breonna Taylor in Kentucky and Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia."
  • On June 9, 2020, the CWW Faculty Associates and Staff created a Black Lives Matter statement and said, "The Center for Women and Work stands with those who call for justice in the killings of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Tony McDade, Breonna Taylor, and for the numerous other black persons, indigenous persons, and persons of color whose lives have been lost or irrevocably altered by violence and racism." Alongside this statement, a list of resources were compiled, including Ibram X. Kendi's "Anti-Racist Reading list."
  • The Office of Equity and Inclusion at UMass Lowell states that the division is "grounded in a social justice and intersectional model" and that the "efforts of the division are anchored with a teaching and education philosophy in addressing interdependent systems of oppression and marginalization."
Last updated February 9th, 2024
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