Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Diversity and Inclusion
College of Science
A welcoming and inclusive environment is at the heart of a successful student experience. The College of Science commits to working toward a diverse and supportive college community full of open discussion, collaboration, and authentic allyship.
The principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice are fundamental pillars of the College of Science. In June 2017, a team of College of Science faculty and staff launched a five-year plan guided by these pillars to foster a more inclusive environment across the college. The Inclusive Excellence Initiative was funded by a $1 million grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) and has since transitioned into a broader DEI initiative in the College of Science.
Today, the College of Science Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives aim to provide education and resources to our community. We commit to supporting our colleagues and scholars by driving change to make our college more welcoming, equitable, and inclusive.
Message from Leadership
We commit to DEI efforts not because they are easy, but because they are complex and necessary to strengthen the mission of the College of Science.
André Hudson
Dean, College of Science
We understand commitment is more than words. It is action and a promise to continue despite challenges.
Lea Michel
Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, College of Science
Community Building Initiatives
DEI Summer Book Club
Every summer, we bring together students, staff, and faculty to read and discuss a book focused on the topics of identity, equity, science, and higher education.
Books we’ve read previously:
- Whistling Vivaldi by Claude M. Steele
- Race Talk and the Conspiracy of Silence by Derald Wing Sue
- White Fragility by Robin Diangelo
- Diversity’s Promise for Higher Education by Daryl G. Smith
- How to Argue with a Racist by Adam Rutherford
- The Privileged Poor by Anthony Abraham Jack
To recommend books or topics for future book clubs, fill out the DEI Book Club suggestion form.
TogetherRIT
The RIT Division of Diversity and Inclusion hosts a day of dialogue called Together RIT each Fall. The College of Science DEI team participates by hosting a resource table, arranging exhibits or speaker events, and offering companion programming in the science buildings.
Black Mental Health Matters
Counseling and Psychological Services hosts an annual event called Black Mental Health Matters with resource sharing, small speaker sessions and workshops, and community-building activities. Our DEI team partners with the College of Science ALANA (COS ALANA) student club to offer resources and support networking among ALANA students.
LGBT STEM Day
In 2022, The College of Science LGBTQ+ Inclusivity in STEM Club (COSLISC) hosted its first annual LGBT STEM Day, a day-long celebration of queer identities and excellence in STEM. This event is open to the whole RIT community and includes speaker panels, invited speakers, mixers, and information sharing around LGBTQ+ identities and needs. Check out the signed LGBT STEM Day poster in Gosnell Hall!
Invited Speakers
We host invited speakers each year to talk about the intersections between social justice and science. Our goal is to bring our community together in a casual environment to think more deeply about the culture of science, the way science has been misused to support bigotry, and how we can make science a space that’s open to everyone.
For Our Students
AfteRIT
In 2023, the College of Science hosted its inaugural AfteRIT event for graduating seniors. This day-long annual retreat includes workshops led by RIT alumni and community leaders on topics related to personal and professional development, such as:
- Advocating for What You Need to Thrive
- Informal Networking and the Rules of Golf
- Whether (and How) to Come Out at Work
Workshops
We offer several workshops each year on DEI topics that are of particular interest to our students, such as Unconscious Bias and Healthcare Disparities. These workshops are developed in response to student opinions and are open to both undergraduate and graduate students.
College of Science Student Clubs
We are committed to working with student affinity groups to provide and support community-building programs such as celebrations, vigils, talks, and panels. We are currently working with the College of Science LGBTQ+ Inclusivity in Science Club (COSLISC) and College of Science ALANA to support their community-facing programming. If you are a College of Science student interested in creating additional affinity groups and would like our support, please contact Dr. Jacquie Ludwig.
Research Support
Emerson Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships
The Emerson Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships fund students to complete 10 week, full-time summer research experiences with faculty in the College of Science. Any student enrolled in a BS or BS/MS program within the College of Science the following Fall is eligible to apply.
Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)
REU is an NSF-funded program to support active research participation by undergraduate students. Generally, REUs include funding to complete a 10-week summer research project, on-campus housing, and professional development programming. The College of Science houses the following REU programs:
- Interdisciplinary Problem Solving in Human Dominated Wetland Ecosystems
- Discipline-Based Education Research (DBER)
- Extremal Graph Theory and Dynamical Systems
- REU in Multi-messenger Astrophysics
Black Awareness Coordinating Committee Summer Research Fund
The BACC Summer Research Fund was established in 2017 by Dr. Rick Kittles, a 1989 biology alumnus, and provides funding to RIT students enrolled in a program within the College of Science. Funding will be used for applicants to conduct summer research with a College of Science professor and to support the costs associated with presenting research at conferences.
RIT U-RISE is an NIH-funded training program to support Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Bachelor’s-level students (U-RISE Trainees) who want to pursue a Ph.D. in biomedical, biobehavioral, or clinical research fields. RIT U-RISE pays qualified RIT undergraduate D/HH students to participate in mentored intensive research experiences and professional activities for up to three years.
LSAMP, McNair, and CSTEP
The McNair Scholars, Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP), and Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) programs are university-level initiatives aimed at supporting marginalized students. McNair Scholars is focused particularly on students who are interested in pursuing a doctorate after college, and CSTEP and LSAMP are focused on supporting STEM majors.
Women in Science (WISe) Travel Awards
WISe grants student travel awards ($500 each) to four students each year. WISe is composed of College of Science of faculty, staff, and Ph.D. students. Its members organize and participate in events such as workshops to support undergraduates applying to graduate school or summer research opportunities, external speakers, and community outreach events through partnerships with local museums and the Boys and Girls Club of Rochester. Learn more and apply for support on the WISe webpage.
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DEI Strategic Plan
In March 2021, the College of Science created a strategic plan for diversity, equity, and inclusion. In the spirit of continuous improvement, we are re-evaluating the needs of our college and will be posting an updated plan based on those needs.
We strive for our DEI initiatives and Strategic Plan to be in alignment with Diversity and Inclusion initiatives at RIT.