On Monday, February 10th, during the student senate’s general meeting, Dr. John King, Vice President of Student Life, and Dr. Ravello Goods, Vice President for Equity and Inclusion & Chief Diversity Officer, hosted an open forum addressing questions related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Topics discussed included a post-election overview, recent federal decisions impacting DEI efforts, and opportunities for questions from attendees.
Dr. Ravello Goods opened the session by outlining their progress since the election. She and the President’s Cabinet have been closely monitoring news and keeping up-to-date with policy changes and presidential orders. The Cabinet meets weekly to discuss and evaluate DEI-related matters and is actively strategizing on how to comply with federal laws while fostering a sense of belonging and community at RWU.
Dr. King then started discussing active policy changes that are affecting RWU, the main policy change being the update to NCAA rules and regulations. The NCAA has recently removed its protections for transgender women due to President Trump’s presidential order. The NCAA’s new policy states, “A student-athlete assigned male at birth may not compete on a women’s team.” Dr. King explained that RWU will have to adhere to this policy, in order to remain a member of the NCAA and our athletic conferences.
The conversation then opened up for questions from all senate and audience members. Discussions included RWU’s stance on DEI, opinions on the Bias-Based Incident Report, and Dr. Ravello Goods’s current plans surrounding DEI initiatives.
When asked about RWU’s stance on DEI, Dr. King emphasized that the university would comply with any laws and regulations that are required to maintain federal funding sources. RWU aims to ensure that federal resources, such as Pell Grants, work study grants, and subsidized loans, remain available for eligible students. However, while adhering to these regulations, RWU is committed to protecting its marginalized students, and Dr. King noted that they will do all they can to continue to uphold the Chosen Name policy option.
Many student senators and audience members expressed concern about the lack of a university statement on DEI since President Trump took office. Attendees participated in a poll to gauge whether students wanted the university or the senate to release a statement regarding their DEI stance. Everyone present agreed that both the university and the senate should send an email addressing their positions on DEI. Although the poll was not an official decision, it provided the Senate, Dr. Ravello Goods, and Dr. King with insight into the strong sentiment among the student population regarding the need for a clear statement.
The conversation then shifted to thoughts on the Bias-Based Incident Report, revealing that most attendees were unaware of its existence or how to access it. Any student experiencing a bias incident is encouraged to report it through an online form or to various in-person offices. Reporting allows the university to support affected individuals, track incidents, collect aggregate data, and investigate appropriately. Additionally, many attendees expressed uncertainty about when it was appropriate to report incidents and felt discouraged to do so due to habitual experiences with bias.
Dr. Ravello Goods shared her office’s current plans regarding DEI, noting efforts from the Intercultural Center and the Enrollment Management team to diversify the student body. The Class of 2028 is of the highest in RWU’s history, with 23% of students identifying as people of color. She also expressed her desire to meet with multicultural student organizations and DEI-related clubs on campus to understand their stories and experiences better.
Dr. King and Dr. Ravello Goods made efforts to reassure students about presidential orders and DEI rollbacks, acknowledging the need to comply with federal regulations to secure student funding. Keep your eye out for an upcoming article focused on how DEI is affecting RWU students.