Equity & Inclusion

Priorities

• Formally assess BIOE dept. climate
• Better support URM graduate student retention/success
• Educate ourselves and department about how to be better, more thoughtful, more empathic leaders, working to ensure diversity, equity, and inclusiveness are a hallmark of our dept.

Actions to Date

• Moment of inclusion @ faculty meetings
• Grad student support: hidden curriculum seminar series
• Inclusion Seminar Series developed
• Included session on DEI @ faculty retreat
• Allocated a designated meditation space open to all students
• Created Women in BIOE Initiative
• Registered Rice into National Name Exchange to help identify potential underrepresented students to recruit
• Launched a departmental Gulf Coast Undergraduate Research Symposium initiative to build relationships with exceptional undergraduate researchers from diverse backgrounds
• Created a DEI Book/Journal Club

Actions in Progress

• Connect to larger university/school efforts, especially for climate assessment