In furtherance of Focus URI Strategic Priority 3 to foster an inclusive, people-centered culture, the President has appointed a University Diversity Council (UDC). The UDC advances, assesses, and amplifies inclusive excellence initiatives at URI.
In alignment with the University’s mission and foundational values, the University Diversity Council:
- Coordinates University-wide inclusive excellence initiatives, eliminating silos and enhancing collaboration.
- Develops and regularly updates institution-wide definitions related to inclusive excellence.
- Reviews and recommends inclusive excellence training programs to the Presidential Stewardship Council (PSC) for consideration as optional or required for the University community.
- Contributes to regular assessments of campus climate.
- Evaluates proposals for competitive grant programs to advance inclusive excellence.
- Collaborates with Human Resources to develop criteria and review applications for employee resource group recognition.
- Prepares and presents an annual report to the PSC. The UDC is not, however, an internal review board and is not charged with reviewing the actions or work of any individual University office or personnel.
The council meets bi-monthly during the academic year (September – May).
UDC members represent a diversity of professional and personal backgrounds, as well as university constituencies, including:
- Faculty: tenure/tenure track, clinical, teaching, and other instructional staff (2-year term)
- Staff: classified and non-classified, union and non-union (3-year term)
- Administrators: administrative and academic units (3-year term)
- Student: Graduate and Undergraduate (1-year term)
- Community Affiliates: Chaplains, Extension, OLLI (2-year term)
- Campuses: Kingston, Providence, Bay, and Alton Jones.
UDC members are selected from an open nomination process. Self-nominations will be accepted. Nominees will be asked to complete a brief application. A nominating committee composed of CED staff will review applications and make recommendations to the president, ensuring representation from each of the categories outlined above. The president will make the final decision on all members, as confirmed by appointment letters sent to each selected member and their dean, division leader, and direct supervisor. Selected members will be asked to commit to six meetings per academic year (three meetings each semester) and attend subcommittee meetings as needed.
Nominate yourself, classmate, or colleague to serve!Past Agendas
Past Minutes
The 19-member University Diversity Council was established in Spring 2020 in response to recommendations from the Community, Equity, and Diversity external review completed September 2018, as well as a proposal developed by an ad hoc working group in summer 2019.
Diversity Council ARCHIVE