
Lehidy L. Frias
- Director
- Diversity
The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ODEI), within the Office of the President, and is home to the Center for Disability Access and the Office of Institutional Equity (Title IX and Affirmative Action).
The Office of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion leads institutional initiatives that promote a diverse, inclusive, and equitable campus community. Our mission is to access, equity and social justice across the college and the community.
Lehidy Frias
We promote inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff and members of all protected classes. Our office works as a partner to advance concrete actions across academic and administrative departments and offices to strengthen inclusion and diversity. We also enforce processes that support our commitment to uphold our college Nondiscrimination and Affirmative Action Policy with the intention to foster a diverse, supportive, welcoming, and safe campus climate for all.
Rhode Island College is committed to fostering an inclusive campus culture that rejects bias in all forms, including: racism, sexism, ableism, discrimination, and other forms of marginalization. Our bias reporting system is one way for all members of the college community to share their experiences of bias incidents. All information collected is used to identify trends and patterns of bias and discrimination observed by our faculty, staff, students, and visitors. This data will inform future campus climate initiatives.
Since the summer of 2023, the Latino Policy Institute has been working with RIC, members of the General Assembly, and other policy and educational advocacy organizations to develop a report that analyzes the state of Latino students in higher education and what opportunities and barriers exist for them. This report provides recommendations and best practices to continue the work of promoting the success of Latino students in our state.
The staff within the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion are committed to ensuring compliance with state and federal civil rights laws and guidelines, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, and the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and 1991 (among others).
The Center for Disability Access serves students with all types of disabilities: mobility, hearing, vision, motor, psychological, learning (including attention disorders), speech, chronic disease, and other conditions.
The Office of Institutional Equity provides education, training and outreach regarding issues of access, equity, opportunity and Title IX.
Victoria Threshier, a 2022 graduate with cum laude honors, is the new LGBTQ+ advocate at Sojourner House.
Federal designation unlocks opportunities to earn capacity building grants that strengthen the college’s ability to serve all populations.