September 2021 DEI Updates

Division News
  • DEI
  • 01 September 2021

DEI 

We are pleased to share the DEI Final report! We're proud of all that we've accomplished in the short time since the launch of DEI and we thank you for your continued support. 

Link to the report: go.rowan.edu/deireportjune21

The Antiracist Pedagogies & Practices Taskforce 

The Antiracist Pedagogies and Practices Task Force is made up of faculty, staff, and students from across all Rowan colleges and campuses. Our goal is to draw from research and experience in and beyond our community in a bottom-up effort to support antiracist work on our campuses. We will collaborate to assess the assets and needs for antiracist efforts at our institution, taking account of local histories and current realities as we: (1) craft shared language around racism and antiracism on campus; (2) establish certificate programs in antiracist pedagogies and practices for faculty and staff; and (3) build a program for student leadership in antiracism. 

To join, please email Rachael Shapiro, shapiror@rowan.edu

The Law Enforcement and Community Collaborative (LECC)

The Law Enforcement and Community Collaborative (LECC), created in 2020, has a mission to bring together the Rowan community with local law enforcement professionals to address the following strategic priorities: (1) develop professional development for law enforcement rooted in a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion; (2) identify and disseminate evidence-based practices that facilitate meaningful engagement with diverse communities; and (3) develop an infrastructure to research, grants and program evaluation for LECC members and the broader community.

To join, please email Rowan DEI, DEI@Rowan.edu

Center for Neurodiversity

SAVE THE DATE! October 20th, 2021: Launching of The Center for Neurodiversity 

Neurodiversity is an important aspect of Rowan University's DEI efforts to be the leading university committed to addressing persistent issues related to diversity, equity and inclusion that result in positive outcomes for students, faculty, and staff. The Center’s core values are rooted in teaching, research, and service that recognize neurodiversity as critical to inclusivity and cultural models of disability, that support student-led neurodiversity initiatives, while disseminating resources on and off-campus to build inclusive pedagogy that goes beyond access in order to support meaningful and dignifying participation for all.
 
The Center for Neurodiversity at Rowan University is grounded in the perspectives of neurodivergent people and leaders in the neurodiversity movement. In creating diverse, equitable and inclusive environments for students, faculty and staff, the Center will provide communities with research, resources, and advocacy to support meaningful access to higher education and beyond. The term neurodiversity was born in the disability community, specifically by those identified with autism. Therefore, Rowan’s Center for Neurodiversity embraces the mantra outlined by Charlton (1998) “nothing about us, without us” and will advocate for inclusion and representation in all aspects of the Center’s work.  The Center will also be the home of the Office of Accessibility Services formerly the Office of Disability Resources.
 
More information on the event will be coming soon! 
  

Center for Access, Persistence and Achievement (CAPA) 

On July 1st, Achieving Success through Collaboration, Engagement, And Determination (ASCEND) was rebranded as the Center for Access, Persistence & Achievement (CAPA). 

The Center will consist of the following programs/offices:

  • ASCEND
  • CHAMP/ GEAR UP Program 
  • LSAMP-Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation in STEM Upward Bound
  • The Launch Pad at Camden 

 The Launch Pad at Camden is the new initiative to support first generation students in the city of Camden.

“Rowan University is proud to again team up with AT&T Foundation to bridge the digital divide for students in the city of Camden,” said Dr. Dawn Singleton, Assistant Vice President for Student Success and Inclusion Programs at Rowan University. “This collaboration is particularly important for the first-generation college students served by the Launch Pad. It will enhance the educational access programming and resources we provide to students and families in the city of Camden.”

Read more here: https://www.insidernj.com/press-release/att-foundation-contributes-40000-support-camden-young-people-affected-digital-divide/

https://www.google.com/amp/s/whyy.org/articles/a-donation-that-could-advance-the-futures-of-students-in-camden/amp/

SJICR 

Join SJICR as we kick off our 2nd Annual Speaker Series with Iranian poet, author, and activist Roya Hakakian.
RSVP is required. Please register in advance HERE. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Please email Roxie Patton, patton@rowan.edu for more information! 

SJICR Speaker Series with yellow and brown background colors

OSEC
OSEC is preparing for the upcoming school year and actively seeking students to be apart of the Student Advisory Council. To join, please email Julia Lowman, chair, at lowman53@students.rowan.edu.

Rowan SOM 
On July 12, RowanSOM welcomed the Class of 2025 at their first day of orientation. The group is the most diverse class in history, according to the 2021 admissions report, 24% of incoming class are from underrepresented minority groups. RowanSOM is proud to support medical education to produce a more diverse physician workforce to serve diverse patients!