Rochester Institute of Technology
PA-6: Support for Underrepresented Groups

“RIT does not discriminate. RIT promotes and values diversity within its workforce and provides equal opportunity to all qualified individuals regardless of race, color, creed, age, marital status, sex, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, veteran status, or disability.” See https://www.rit.edu/nondiscrimination.html

The Multicultural Center for Academic Success (MCAS) is committed to maximizing the academic potential and holistic development of students by creating an inclusive, student-centered environment. There are numerous ways for any student to participate and engage with MCAS including personal advising, leadership development opportunities, cultural diversity education, and cultural programming. The Multicultural Center supports the university’s efforts to recruit historically underrepresented students and provides a support network once they matriculate. The New York State Arthur O. Eve Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) is sponsored jointly through a grant from New York State Education Department and RIT. HEOP is committed to the recruitment and academic success of students with strong academic potential and personal initiative who would otherwise be excluded from higher education due to academic and economic disadvantage. The program provides academic support, financial assistance, and advocacy for eligible students in an effort to maximize their success. The Rochester City Scholars Program is designed for high achieving Rochester City students, who are recruited and selected based on their academic achievements, leadership potential, and desire to make a difference in the RIT and surrounding community. The Native American Future Stewards Program (FSP) provides academic and cultural support to students who identify as Native American/Alaska Native/First Nations. FSP also works to recruit Native students, retain Native students, and return Native students to their communities. RIT’s Upward Bound Classic program supports and challenges high school students in their efforts to apply and gain admission to college. The program is designed to help first-generation and/or low-income students who are enrolled in the Rochester City School District (RCSD) and other participating school districts. The Future Faculty Career Exploration Program (FFCEP) is one of a series of recruitment strategies designed to fuel the future pipeline of RIT faculty. The FFCEP also serves as a proactive recruitment tool to provide mutual exposure for faculty to interact with our prospects proactively through exploratory interviews and alerting them to future vacancies. The Future Faculty Post-doctoral Fellowship Program (FFPFP), sponsored by the Division of Academic Affairs and the Division of Diversity and Inclusion, supports visits by individuals who are potential candidates for current and future faculty hires. The program provides two 2-year post-terminal fellowships with the expectation of each candidate being successfully mentored to enter tenure-track assistant professor positions. Additionally, RIT advertises job openings with various targeted diversity recruiting sources to attract diverse candidates for our positions. We also offer exploratory interviews for internal and external candidates through the Office of Talent Acquisition.

The McNair Scholars and Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) programs prepare students for graduate education through professional development activities and research opportunities. The Multicultural Center for Academic Success (MCAS) provides a student-centered environment in which all students have access to personal advising, leadership development opportunities, cultural diversity education, and cultural programming to assist them in their academic career. The MCAS Summer Bridge Program is a 4-week intensive, fully residential program that provides incoming students with two credit-bearing courses, Academic Support workshops, an introduction to Research, and a chance to get acclimated to all things RIT. The cohort of students receives extended support and coaching throughout their first year, and is connected to their Summer Bridge group as well as the entire MCAS family and network of students. The MCAS Pre-Orientation Program is designed for Rochester City Scholars who are unable to attend Summer Bridge, as well as students who aren’t accepted into Summer Bridge. The 3-day program introduces students to RIT, MCAS, and further connects them to the people and programs that will aid them in their success. The Native American Future Stewards Program was established as a result of RIT's commitment to increasing the success rate and number of Native scholars (Native American, Alaska Native, and First Nations) in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) along with other areas of need in Indian country. The New York State Arthur O. Eve Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) provides academic support, financial assistance, and advocacy for students with strong academic potential and personal initiative who would otherwise be excluded from higher education due to academic and economic disadvantage. Students must successfully complete the 4-week, pre-freshmen HEOP Summer Program. Students live on campus while taking two 3-credit courses and one non-credit course in study skills. Students attend mandatory study hours in the evenings where they have access to a computer lab and tutors. In addition, students participate in cultural and social activities sponsored by RIT. HEOP counselors meet regularly with each student. Summer tuition, room, board, and other costs are provided at no charge to the student. The RIT Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP) works to increase the number of historically underrepresented and/or economically disadvantaged undergraduate and graduate students (who are residents of New York State) pursuing a career in either science, mathematics, technology or a New York State licensed profession. RIT’s I’m First initiative strives to ensure success for students who are the first in their family to attend college. Several RIT programs and initiatives (ECCO Center, WE@RIT, WISe) promote students of color and women in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines. The AALANA Faculty Advisory Council (AFAC) serves as an advisory council to the Provost in support of the career success of African American, Latino American, and Native American (AALANA) faculty at Rochester Institute of Technology. The AALANA Faculty and Staff Association (AFSA) connects AALANA faculty and staff in meaningful ways by building a sense of community where respect, inclusion and diversity are the cornerstone of the mission. Dedicated members of AFSA can receive professional training and development modules to strengthen their personal and potential leadership skills.

TThe Future Faculty Career Exploration Program (FFCEP) is one of a series of recruitment strategies designed to fuel the future pipeline of RIT faculty. Program Objectives include: 1. Build the future faculty pipeline by establishing significant meaningful relationships with prospects from underrepresented and underserved populations at RIT. 2. Lay the foundation for opening up future networks with other universities. 3. Strategically prepare for pending human resource needs to cover future curriculum development and course offerings. 4. Proactively seize employment opportunities, where appropriate prospects are found, that can contribute to the University's continuing commitment to cultural diversity. 5. Serve as a bridge to assist in transition from graduate school student to a faculty member. 6. Assist in preparing future faculty for a career in the Institute. The FFCEP also serves as a proactive recruitment tool to provide mutual exposure for faculty to interact with our prospects proactively through exploratory interviews and alerting them to future vacancies. The Future Faculty Post-doctoral Fellowship Program (FFPFP), sponsored by the Division of Academic Affairs and the Division of Diversity and Inclusion, supports visits by individuals who are potential candidates for current and future faculty hires. The program provides two 2-year post-terminal fellowships with the expectation of each candidate being successfully mentored to enter tenure-track assistant professor positions. The Office of Faculty Recruitment also maintains an active and robust job referral database of prospects that are shared with the college search committees during their networking and outreach to diversify their pools. Additionally, the McNair Scholars and Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) programs prepare undergraduate students for graduate education through professional development activities and research opportunities, providing a critical component of the pipeline which may lead students toward careers in academia.

Additional information on the programs mentioned above can be found here: https://www.rit.edu/studentaffairs/qcenter/Publications.html Gender Neutral bathrooms are identified on the campus map under campus amenities: https://maps.rit.edu/