Diversity and Inclusion Tenets and Calendar

The Department of Residence Life has developed a diversity and inclusion calendar as a resource for students and staff to learn more about the variety of holidays, observances, festivals, and more that occur throughout the year. Members of the campus community can use these observances and celebrations as talking points in their daily interactions with one another. We hope that you will find this beneficial in your learning, and that this calendar provides you with additional ways to connect with the diverse array of students at Rutgers. The intent is to make this as diverse as possible through showcasing a variety of historical, religious, and cultural events; however, we want to acknowledge that this is not an exhaustive list. Please send an email to us for additional calendar considerations.

Residence Life’s Five Guiding Tenets

In our continual effort to challenge perpetual and inherent systems of oppression, Residence Life is using a curricular approach with the intention of creating a space for consistent dialogue around all aspects of identity. We are actively engaging in the critique of our processes, practices, and frameworks in order to better serve our students and create a more socially just community. We encourage you to join us on this journey, learn more about our guiding tenets, the how behind our work, and what we stand for.

1: Historical Frameworks

Understanding our histories and providing context to our institutional identity in order to ground the “why” in what we need to change, as we strive for more socially just communities.

2: Engaging and Sitting with Discomfort

Educating on ways to sit with and process levels of fragility. While centering the identities we hold, we recognize how implicit biases can impact how we engage with students, staff and the broader University community.

3: Power, Privilege and Oppression in Organizations

How we engage with, communicate across, and seek to understand systemic issues of oppression and privilege within our institutional systems. Challenging ourselves to expect and promote justice/equity-based decisions in our organization.

4: Equity in Practice  

Critiquing current oppressive practices, processes, and frameworks that guide our day to day interactions personally and professionally. Putting a focus on the impact to all that we serve in our work toward equity and justice.

5: Justice as Action 

Enacting systems of accountability when inequities are identified. Holding oneself and others accountable for addressing and repairing harm caused. Establishing a commitment to continual learning to advocate for and create change.