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Diversity at Rochester Institute of Technology

In the words of President Destler: "If the U.S. is to maintain and enhance its current standard of living in the new knowledge economy, American colleges and universities will need to expand opportunities on their campuses to members of historically under-represented groups such as African Americans, Latino/a Americans, Native Americans, and in some areas, women, if we are to have the trained workforce we will need in years to come." It is, the president continues, "a matter of our future economic survival."

The university is currently working toward a set of diversity goals that have been regularly monitored and updated by the president. Current goals are:

Access Goals

  1. Increase the percentage of women in the first-year class from 31.5 percent in Fall 2008 to 40 percent in Fall 2013
  2. Increase the percentage of AALANA students in the first-year class from 10 percent in Fall 2008 to 14 percent by 2012
  3. Increase the percentage of women in tenure-track faculty positions from 30 percent in Fall 2008 to 32 percent in Fall 2012
  4. Increase the percentage of AALANA in tenure-track faculty positions from 9.1 percent in 2007 to 11.5 percent in 2012

Retention Goals

  1. Increase the retention rate of first-year AALANA students from 88.4 percent (89 percent for majority students) in 2006 to 93 percent by 2012
  2. Retain AALANA tenure-track faculty at the end of two years at 95 percent
  3. Retain AALANA non-exempt staff at a rate commensurate with non-AALANA non-exempt staff in similar job categories
  4. Retain AALANA exempt staff at a rate commensurate with non-AALANA exempt staff in similar job categories

Excellence Goals

  1. Increase the six-year graduation rate for AALANA students from 57 to 72 percent by 2012
  2. Increase the percentage of AALANA staff in exempt-level positions

In partnering with the president to set and achieve these goals, the chief diversity officer is greatly aided by the existence of the Executive Diversity Council, the President’s Commission on Pluralism and Inclusion, and the Council on Diversity and Inclusion.

More information about diversity at RIT can be found by visiting the following: