Diversity Education

Taj Smith
Executive Director for Culture and Diversity Education

585-475-2224
tpsddi@rit.edu

Diversity is a science that involves exposure, knowledge, skills, ideals and ongoing application.

The Department of Diversity Education leads and partners with others on campus to offer a variety of active and passive educational programs annually. Building off of the Diversity Education Module that is available to new incoming students and all employees, our goals are to:

Facilitate educational experiences which contribute to a more welcoming, inclusive and open-minded campus environment.
Create meaningful skill-building opportunities that can be applied to the classroom, residential, or workplace setting.
Organize small, medium and large-scale events and programs that offer tangible ways to find belonging.
Assist students, staff and faculty in finding opportunities to interact across their commonalities and differences.
Assess and respond to attitudinal, structural, and cultural transformation that contributes to the common good and RIT’s values.

65%

of employees have engaged in at least one diversity education program (Year 5)

636

have completed the certificate program to date (Year 5)

Programs

This program offers a group of participants a practice opportunity to learn how to dialogue rather than debate. Debate is often focused on winning. Dialogue focuses on how we can effectively communicate our ideas, make connections and demonstrate empathy.

Circles is a 5-week sustained dialogue experience. Participants in each circle must commit to attending the once a week one-hour session. Each circle is limited to a max of 15 people.

Spring 2024 Offerings are:

What is Social Change? Who Gets to Decide It? (Thursdays, 5pm – 6pm)
Breaking Down Project 2025 (Mondays, 3pm - 4pm)
Higher Ed: Where do we go from here? (Wednesdays, 12pm - 1pm)
But I Don't Have Culture - TBD

A special edition of Breaking Bread will be offered occasionally. The purpose is to respond to current social issues. It will be a one-time experience and open to more members of the RIT community. The format will use a wide-range of communication strategies including a Socratic Circle method. Register here

The Co-Lab is short for the Community Laboratory. It is an intentional effort to create a greater sense of community within the residence halls. We partner with residential advisors to offer 45- minute to an hour experience using activities or facilitating conversations. Students will acquire knowledge and practice skills to live, learn and socialize in diverse communities.

Cultural humility is a life-long self-examination and accountability process. It helps people think critically about their own assumptions, beliefs, biases, and values in order to address historical and current inequalities and polarizing relationships. While uncomfortable learning moments will arise, this process is designed to create humble, thoughtful and emotionally intelligent people rather than experts who never make mistakes.

This certificate is only available to faculty, staff and interested graduate students. Each participant must complete six workshops. Four are considered core requirements. The fourth core does change annually. The remaining two workshops are electives. Participants can choose the electives that they are most interested in.

We celebrate U.S. and global history by recognizing the unique cultural practices, contributions and talents of specific populations that are often less known in our society.

Hispanic/Latine Heritage – Mid-September – Mid-October
Native/Indigenous Heritage – November
Black Heritage – February
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage – April

Other groups’ histories and heritage are represented in academic courses, events hosted by the Center for Campus Life and some student organizations. While we should celebrate all heritages all the time, it is strategic to highlight at specific points in an academic year to maximize focus and attendance.

We also plan a week of programming to acknowledge the unique journey of students who are first in their families to attend and eventually graduate from college.

Opportunity to learn tips that minimize bias and create a welcoming atmosphere by using effective practices throughout the hiring process. Register via Talent Roadmap.

Faculty, teaching staff and graduate students interested in teaching will learn about and discuss best practices for creating an inclusive learning environment for a diverse student population.