University of Richmond
PA-7: Support for Underrepresented Groups

The University of Richmond prohibits discrimination and harassment against applicants, students, faculty or staff on the basis of race, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, status as a veteran or any classification protected by local, state or federal law.

As a recipient of federal funds, the University complies with federal laws prohibiting discrimination, including Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX). Title IX provides that: “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

The University is committed to preventing and responding to conduct that violates its non-discrimination policy. Any individual whose conduct violates this policy will be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with applicable University policies and procedures.

https://www.richmond.edu/compliance/non-discrimination.html#general-policy

Bias Resource Team: The Bias Resource Team's coordination of the University's official response to bias-related crises should model and facilitate practices that are consistent with the University's values related to difference and inclusion. The role of the Bias Resource Team is to coordinate the University's response to bias activity that is likely to affect the University community and to ensure that individuals or groups who are adversely affected by bias activity receive appropriate support and guidance. The Bias Resource Team supplements, but does not supersede, existing University policies and procedures, and it supports the efforts of University offices and departments that address bias activity.

The specific activities of the Bias Resource Team will be tailored to the nature of the bias activity it seeks to address but may include:

Ensuring prompt, clear communication among relevant constituencies, units, and the University community as a whole
Coordinating support for affected individuals and communities
Promoting learning opportunities for the broader University community
Recommending policy changes
Ensuring that the response to bias activity is appropriate and, to the extent possible, transparent

https://equity.richmond.edu/resources/bias-incidents/bias-resource-team.html

The University of Richmond hired its first director of admission for diversity outreach and partnerships who will directly oversee the diversity recruitment and outreach, international, and off-campus programming teams. The director will work closely with other senior leaders to develop strategies and tactics to attract, recruit, and enroll a talented and diverse student body, including the recruitment of first-generation college students and scholars from community-based organization partners.

The Admissions Office works with partner organizations who support underserved high school students. They sponsor a program with free airline flights for prospective students called the Multicultural Overnight Visitation Experience and run a similar program for admitted students in the spring ((pre-COVID).

Starting in fall 2021, UR will meet the full demonstrated financial need of students with grant aid, not loans, if they enter UR directly from Richmond Public Schools, CODE RVA Regional High School, and the Maggie Walker School.

The Oliver Hill Scholars program is named after Civil Rights icon Oliver White Hill, Sr., an attorney from Richmond, who was instrumental in arguing legal cases concerning equal rights, voting rights, and employment protection. Hill received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1999 in celebration of his contribution to the country. The Oliver Hill Scholars program is designed for academically accomplished, intellectually curious students who are interested in building a community of learners within a multicultural environment. Admission to the program is competitive, and students are selected prior to enrollment at Richmond. During the academic year, Oliver Hill Scholars participate in engaging and culturally stimulating activities, some of which revolve around the African-American community.

The Provosts office utilizes a mix of special programs for diversity hires and trains a faculty diversity advocate for each faculty search. The University of Richmond participates in the Consortium for Faculty Diversity (CFD), a program designed to diversify the faculty at liberal arts colleges. CFD dissertation fellowships and post-docs bring diverse, early career scholars to UR to participate in the intellectual life here on campus through teaching responsibilities and the completion of their own scholarship. Appointments are for one year and can be renewed.

Arts and Sciences appointed an Assistant Dean focused on recruiting a more diverse faculty.

Human Resources and the Provost’s Office provide training and resources for faculty search committees and hiring managers to support anti-bias efforts, and new processes are in place for committees to maximize recruitment of diverse, qualified applicant pools. The faculty hiring workshop occurs every year, includes anti-bias training focused on the hiring process and is mandatory for department and search committee chairs. Diversity and search advocates are trained, search committee members who promote equity,
consistency, and diversity on University of Richmond faculty searches

For staff, the Human Resources office has been training their staff recruiters in best policies for recruiting a diverse staff, attending targeted employment fairs, and working with all hiring managers to assure that the applicant pools are sufficiently diverse before proceeding with the hiring process.

UR became a founding member of the Liberal Arts Colleges Racial Equity Leadership Alliance (LACRELA). Convened by the USC Race and Equity Center, the LACRELA consortium is made up of 51 liberal arts colleges and universities committed to developing and achieving equity goals, fostering campus climates that are inclusive for people of color and other underrepresented groups, and offering shared educational resources and tools for faculty and staff.

URISE is a pre-first year program which aims to increase the number of students from groups traditionally underrepresented in science and math disciplines. It achieves this objective by focusing on skill development, providing authentic research experiences, and building a community of support for the 20 students who currently participate in the program each summer.

The Student Center for Equity and Inclusion cultivates inclusive communities and empowers students to be affirmed in the intersections of their identities. To achieve this mission the center is dedicated to enhancing Multicultural, LGBTQ, and First-Generation student experiences on campus. The SCEI provides social and transition support for underserved students, celebrates and support an increasingly diverse student body, and promotes dialogue between individuals of diverse backgrounds and identities.

Through reallocation of existing University budgets, providing $100,000 in new funding for student cultural organizations for 2020-2022.

The Student Center for Equity and Inclusion connects the many individuals, organizations, and resources in the University of Richmond community to create a safe and comfortable environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and/or queer (LGBTQ) people and their allies at the University. Through advocacy, consultation, and an array of vibrant LGBTQ programs, the SCEI works to ensure that the entire University community benefits from the experiences and perspectives of our LGBTQ members.

The Ally Training Series educates members of the University community about lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer (LGBTQ) issues as well as racially marginalized communities to create a network of allies to create a community of safety and inclusion for all its members. UR LGBTQ offers workshops for staff, faculty, and students designed to help them become more sensitive and informed allies for marginalized communities. At the completion of the workshop, participants will be offered the opportunity to sign a pledge agreeing to advance the Ally Training Series mission and may receive an Ally Training Series sticker or button. Ally Training Series members are also invited to join a listserv to continue discussing and learning about issues of relevance to the LGBTQ and racially marginalized communities.

Gender Flexible Housing (GFH) Option is available to interested students. Students desiring to live in GFH must complete a supplemental application in addition to the Housing Application and pay their housing deposit by the specified dates. The residence hall/apartment options available for GFH will generally match the housing students would most likely receive during the general housing selection process based on social year as determined by the Registrar.

Funds have been raised to support additional capacity for CAPS as needed during acute times for providing first-rate counseling on campus for students, and we are continuing our commitment and fundriasing for Spiders Helping Spiders.

The Student Center for Equity and Inclusion is proud to support Richmond’s first-generation and/or low-income students. Formerly called Spider Firsts, with the inclusion of low-income students we have changed our name to represent both groups of students we support through this initiative F (first-generation) and LI (low-income), FLI. The Spiders FLI Mentor Program features returning first-generation and/or low-income student mentors with small groups of incoming Spiders FLI mentees. The mentors meet with their groups weekly through the first month of the semester and biweekly after that.

Multicultural Pre-Orientation Program: Each year the Student Center for Equity and Inclusion hosts the Pre-orientation (Pre-O) program for incoming Latinx American, Asian American, African American, Native American, and multi-racial American students. Pre-O is a three-day transition program that takes place before New Spider Orientation and introduces first-year students to our diverse campus community and provides them with an opportunity to meet and interact with new and returning students of color who will serve as mentors. During this transition program, students will have a chance to create family-like bonds with their peers and interact with faculty and administrators who will present a series of activities and workshops designed to assist students in establishing a network of peer connections and help them gain familiarity with important academic, social, and cultural supports.

The Multicultural Student Space offers students a comfortable lounge to hang out, hold meetings, host events, and relax and recharge between or after classes. While the Multicultural Student Space was created to primarily serve students of color, it is open to anyone in the campus community interested in connecting with students from backgrounds different than their own.

Cultural Advisors (CAs) are student leaders on campus who work with residential students and residence life staff to help make the halls safe, welcoming, and supportive communities for all students. Cultural Advisors promote learning and understanding across differences, share information about campus resources on diversity and inclusion, and facilitate connections between and among residents. They also coordinate the SpiderNights programs which take place most Saturday nights.

In additional to professional development on diversity, equity, and inclusion for senior leaders, we are offering regular workshops for faculty and staff, as well as white anti- racism lunch discussions, weekly Intersections discussions, and affinity groups for staff/faculty of color.

In spring 2021, UR piloted the Community Dialogue Facilitation Network (CDFN), a home-grown initiative to strengthen our campus community by developing and promoting skills related to group facilitation and managing difficult dialogues. The initiative aims to create and grow a network of practitioners skilled in equity-minded facilitation and community building.

Information Services created a DEI Commitment and Mission Statement, which staff can voluntarily sign, a DEI Plan, and established a DEI Committee to help guide initiatives around DEI in their unit. Student Development is in their third year of their DEI Plan. Other offices continue to initiate plans and connect Equity & Community staff for support and guidance.

The Integrated Inclusive Science program is designed to help STEM-interested students, particularly those who are underrepresented in the sciences, get excited about STEM disciplines and careers early in their college careers. Through interdisciplinary coursework, faculty mentored research experiences, and the development of a close-knit community of peers and faculty, students are prepared to tackle upper-level science courses and to pursue graduate study, medical school, or jobs in STEM fields, including faculty positions.

Students participating in the Integrated Inclusive Science program will gain an early advantage in preparation for science-based graduate programs. Fields such as epidemiology and systems biology demand students that are well prepared in multiple disciplines and scientific techniques. By focusing on the process of science as much as the content, the program prepares students to ask questions and devise novel solutions to complex problems.

In addition to work in the classroom, students engage in summer research that will provide the best possible preparation for the graduate school experience. UR Summer Fellowships, including University-funded research opportunities, ensure students are able to take on the internship or research opportunity that will help them gain an edge in establishing their career path. Faculty-mentored research experiences allow students to pursue original intellectual discovery while also providing them with the laboratory, field, or archival experience that enables them to compete for admission to top graduate programs.

UR Summer Fellowships include eight programs that award fellowships of up to $4,000 to students each summer. Continuing, full-time, degree-seeking University of Richmond undergraduate students in good standing in the School of Arts & Sciences, Jepson School of Leadership Studies, or Robins School of Business may apply, although each program may have additional requirements. In the summer of 2018, the University awarded more than $2 million in fellowship funding to approximately 550 students.

For recent graduates or ABD students from other universities, the University of Richmond participates in the Consortium for Faculty Diversity (CFD), a program designed to diversify the faculty at liberal arts colleges. CFD dissertation fellowships and post-docs bring diverse, early career scholars to UR to participate in the intellectual life here on campus through teaching responsibilities and the completion of their own scholarship. Appointments are for one year and can be renewed.

In the STEM fields, we have post-bac programs for students of color to give them additional work experience before applying to graduate school.

https://equity.richmond.edu/resources/bias-incidents/index.html
https://inclusivescience.richmond.edu/urise/index.html
https://hr.richmond.edu/benefits/index.html
https://inclusion.richmond.edu/students/lgbtqia/index.html
https://inclusion.richmond.edu/students/first-gen/index.html
https://residencelife.richmond.edu/housing/additional/gender-flexible-housing.html
https://inclusivescience.richmond.edu/about/index.html
https://as.richmond.edu/student-research/summer-research/index.html