Welcome to Encompass

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Message from Mercedes

Hello, and welcome to the first edition of Encompass, the official newsletter for the University of Rochester’s Office of Equity and Inclusion. While these are challenging times with institutions around the world responding to the COVID-19 outbreak, our office is committed to delivering this newsletter every other week to communicate news, events, and updates on the important work happening at the University.

While these are unprecedented times with programming and academic pursuits all happening online, our shared values and our love for the University of Rochester keep us connected to each other and to this great place. No matter if we're on campus, online, or at home, we continue to live up to the standards of equity, leadership, integrity, openness, respect, and accountability.

For that reason, the University of Rochester celebrates inclusion over stigmatization and discrimination. We also embrace diversity over racism, sexism, and homophobia, and we commit wholeheartedly to a culture of equity and respect over hate, transphobia, and xenophobia.

Those values must not be ignored or forgotten. I am proud to say that I see them in action in everyone from the staff at our medical center who are on the front lines in the fight against COVID-19, to our students, faculty, and staff who overnight had to change the ways they study, teach, and work.

One challenge we face is redefining what diversity, equity, and inclusion work looks like in online and virtual settings. In the coming editions of Encompass, I will discuss some of the innovations happening at Rochester and other institutions that will help us ensure that our work continues both in person and online. Of course, to do that, we will need to focus on several strategic priorities, including training and professional development, programs to improve faculty and staff diversity, and bold initiatives to enhance our community engagement and strengthen our relationships throughout greater Rochester.

I will also discuss in future issues of this newsletter the important ways we are restructuring our office and realigning our work to meet those priorities. In the end, these are changing times and we need to change with them. The communities we serve and the work we do are just too important to do otherwise.

Thank you, for taking the time to read this first issue of Encompass. I invite you to join the conversation by subscribing to this newsletter. Also, if you have submissions you would like us to consider, please email them to encompass@rochester.edu. We look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,
Mercedes Ramírez Fernández
Richard Feldman Vice President for Equity and Inclusion
Chief Diversity Officer

OEI Launches New Insights Podcast

Photo of young man working on a laptop. Image is a link to the podcast episode.

In the first episode of OEI's new Insights podcast, Mercedes Ramírez Fernández, Adrienne Morgan, and Jim Ver Steeg joined Student's Association president Jamal Holtz ’20 in a teleconference to discuss "Equity and Inclusion in a Pandemic." The conversation ranged from how we can ensure and celebrate diversity in the midst of social separation, and the damaging effects of xenophobia in virtual and physical college spaces. Transcripts are available upon request.

Equal Opportunity Welcomes New Investigators

The Office of Equity and Inclusion is pleased to announce that Rachel Koegel has been named director of Equal Opportunity Investigations. In her new role, Koegel oversaw the hiring of two new Equal Opportunity investigators, who are tasked with reviewing and investigating concerns pursuant to Policy 106. Please join us in welcoming investigators Jazmin Adams and Jennifer Senter to the OEI team. The Equal Opportunity Investigations team continues to conduct Policy 106 investigations during this COVID-19 pandemic. If you personally have concerns regarding discrimination or harassment based on a protected class, or if you are aware of someone having such concerns, please file a Policy 106 report via the University’s new online Policy 106 report form. Any reports filed via this link will be sent directly to the Equal Opportunity Investigations team for prompt review and handling.

University Responds to Coronavirus

On March 11, the University of Rochester announced that for the rest of this academic year, instruction for most undergraduate and graduate students will take place online. Please visit the University's Coronavirus website for the latest updates and information.

Food Pantry Broadens Services

To help meet increased need, the Food Pantry on the River Campus is expanding its eligibility to all current University students and postdocs. To minimize health risks for students and pantry staff, the pantry will no longer serve students in a supermarket format. Instead, online orders will be processed for grocery bag pickups. If you would like to support the Food Pantry, you can make donations through its Amazon Wish List and Crowdfunding page.

Support Services Continue

The Office of Equity and Inclusion continues to offer its full range of services and resources remain available to students, faculty, and staff regardless of whether they are physically on campus. Additionally, if you are concerned about a student who is struggling, please utilize the CARE network to share your concerns. The University Counseling Center (UCC) also announced that they will be open throughout the semester, and University employees looking for support should contact the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

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Office of Equity and Inclusion
University of Rochester
500 Joseph C. Wilson Boulevard
Rochester, NY 14627

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