University of Rhode Island

On June 29, 2023, URI issued a statement on the Supreme Court's ruling on affirmative action in higher education which reads in part as follows: "The University of Rhode Island does not consider race as a deciding factor for admission. The University is reviewing the court’s ruling for any possible influence on other existing University programs. The court’s decision notwithstanding, the University of Rhode Island is committed to fostering an inclusive, people-centered culture. URI is—and will continue to be—an institution that values and advances diversity, equity, and inclusion."

The Student Affairs Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Steering Committee promotes and advocates “for social justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion” through a number of actionable strategies and resources including student employee training across justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) education.

The university offers a Social Justice, and Inclusion Microcredential that “offers anti-oppression educational development workshop modules.”

Through the Office of Community, Equity, and Diversity, the Diversity Dialogue series is an "undergraduate-led initiative that offers dialogue-based diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice workshops for student groups and organizations on campus." Topics discussed include implicit bias, microaggressions, and social identity, power, and privilege.

One of the goals of URI's 2023-2033 Strategic Plan is to "[i]mplement professional development programming focused on anti-racism and building awareness of anti-Black racism, and encourage active discourse and develop opportunities for interaction between diverse groups and individuals."

As part of the Bachelor’s degree general education requirements, all undergraduate students are required to complete 3 credit hours of Learning Outcome C3 - Diversity and Inclusion responsibilities.

One of the goals of URI's 2023-2033 Strategic Plan is to "[e]nsure a diversity-infused curriculum, with equitable support for diversity fellowships and mentors for faculty of color, and value evidence-based faculty contributions to anti-racism and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility."

The Bias Resource Team at URI "reviews information about reported bias incidents and refers campus resources to those who have witnessed or experienced an act of bias." The team defines a bias incident as "one which has a negative effect on an individual or group and is based on or motivated by bias against race, color, creed, nationality, sexual orientation, gender...."

The Office of Community, Equity and Diversity hosts the "mini-grants initiative" which funds proposals up to $1,000 that focus on DEI and social justice initiatives.

The university pledged to, "Create diversity coordinators in each college and division of the university who will work in collaboration with the Office of Community, Equity and Diversity on issues specific to their college/division related to recruitment and retention, professional development, student success, and curriculum development."

Within the Office for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning at the university, the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) division promotes faculty developing inclusive curriculum by offering resources on “Grading for Equitable Learning,” an “Inclusive Syllabus,” and “Anti-Racist and Decolonizing Pedagogy.”

Community, Equity, and Diversity (CED) at the university has established the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 365 Symposium. The theme of this year’s symposium is Allyship.

The Community, Equity, and Diversity (CED) offers a number of resources, including a Bias Resource Team as well as Diversity Dialogues and Open Forums to promote equity and inclusivity.

URI's Counseling Center provides anti-racism resources which include "Resources and Information to Help White People be Anti-Racist."

URI's Office of Community, Equity, and Diversity published its 2017-2022 Strategic Plan in order to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion on campus.

URI will be redesigning the interior of its "Memorial Union" space because the existing murals did not contain "diversity and a sensitivity to today’s complex and painful problems."

The university has appointed a "diversity, equity expert as interim head of Multicultural Center."

In June 2020, URI's Center for Student Leadership Development posted a Black Lives Matter statement which reads in part as follows: "To our Black community members: We see you, we acknowledge your trauma, we are here for you. We will listen and we commit to action to confront and dismantle white supremacy, anti-Blackness, and systems of inequity in place in our community, and even in our own department."

On August 8, 2023, URI News announced that 15 students were honored at the University’s 26th annual Black Scholar Awards. This award "acknowledge[s] the diverse achievements and contributions of students of African descent." One of the awardees was a "student leader with the Africana studies student advisory council" and was an "executive board member of the Black Lives Matter RI political action committee."