Building an equitable, supportive community

Yesterday, a small group of students gathered in front of Chamberlain Student Center on the Glassboro campus to listen to a student’s concerns about allegations of bias and discrimination at Rowan and how the University responds to those complaints. We applaud them for gathering and demonstrating their commitment to building an equitable and supportive community. However, we are writing today to provide clarification and additional information.

From June 1, 2019, to Nov. 16, 2021, Rowan received 78 complaints of bias and discrimination University-wide. These complaints included allegations of bias and discrimination based on race, gender, religion, political affiliation, sexuality, and LGBTQ+. Of the 78 cases, 53 were complaints related to race. The Office of Student Equity & Compliance worked with the Office of Employee Equity in Human Resources and departments in Student Life to respond to all 78 complaints. Currently, 14 of the cases are still under active investigation. 

Not so many years ago, complaints of this nature were addressed by disparate offices, making it challenging to provide a comprehensive report on efforts throughout the institution, let alone try to coordinate improvement in the process. In 2019, however, Rowan established the Division of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, the first such division at a New Jersey college or university. 

From the start, the division was designed to foster a more equitable and welcoming community, as well as discover and remove obstacles to progress. It works closely with other units such as Human Resources and Student Life to address priority issues such as those described above. 

The division’s work is complex and nuanced, but tremendous progress is being made. Under DEI’s leadership, faculty, staff and administrators are working with student groups as part of the division’s systematic examination of bias and discrimination concerns throughout the University.

In the student’s concerns expressed yesterday, there were claims that the University is falling short on its responsibilities of addressing bias and discrimination cases. Part of the challenge of this work is that many times cases are resolved, but due to confidentiality laws, the institution is permitted to share only general outcomes with those making the original complaint—a situation that understandably can leave some in the community frustrated and disappointed because they may not see what they consider closure.

No matter how challenging this work is, we are committed to creating an environment where individuals can be confident their complaints will lead to action. We will make progress together, working with groups both large and small. 

Thank you for joining us in this important effort to recognize, respect and encourage each other.  

Respectfully, 

Monika Williams Shealey
Senior Vice President, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Tony Lowman
Provost

Kevin S. Koett
Vice President for Student Life/Dean of Students