Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Location:  Fisher Student Center, 2nd Floor
Phone:     401-232-6900
Email:      dei@bryant.edu 
Website:   Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

The Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (IDEI) focuses on campus wide strategic initiatives to create and maintain an inclusive community. IDEI works with every divisional leader to align university efforts and oversees the work of the Council for Inclusive Excellence and the Student Advisory Board for Inclusive Excellence. This office assumes the organizational responsibility for the PwC Center for Diversity and Inclusion which is comprised of the Intercultural Center, the Hochberg Women’s Center and the Pride Center.

Location:  Fisher Student Center, 2^nd Floor
Phone:     401-232-6946
Website:   PwC Center for Diversity and Inclusion

Through outreach, empowerment, advocacy, and education, the PwC Center for Diversity and Inclusion (PwC CDI) works to promote an inclusive campus environment in which the voices and experiences of diverse individuals are valued and embodied. Our focus on the intersectionality of identities highlights the multidimensional and complex values that each of us bring to Bryant and emphasizes the imperative of being culturally competent. We view diversity and inclusion as relevant to all members of the Bryant community and define diversity in its broadest sense to include, but not to limit to, race, ethnicity, color, religious identity, spiritual beliefs, assigned sex, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, physical/mental ability, national origin, socioeconomic status, and age. The PwC CDI is comprised of the Intercultural Center, the Hochberg Women’s Center and the Pride Center.

We work to advance Bryant University’s commitment to developing and enhancing global and diverse perspectives by:

• Ensuring Safe Spaces that welcome our constituent groups and all members of the Bryant community; and serve as a safe space for conversations, exploration, and collaboration
• Facilitating diversity and social justice education by partnering with campus and community groups to create opportunities that help expand diversity knowledge, skills, and competencies
• Supporting retention and success of diverse students through advocacy, mentoring programs, support groups, and other sources of support
• Cultivating community by sponsoring social events and educational programs that promote inclusion within marginalized identities and across communities; and supporting students working to build communities oriented towards social justice

Location:  Fisher Student Center, 2^nd Floor
Phone:     401-232-6946
Website:   Intercultural Center

The Intercultural Center (ICC) is a place for international and domestic multicultural students and organizations. The Center supports and advocates for students and groups by providing culturally enriching programs and educational workshops that focus on race, culture, ethnicity, and social justice.  Staff at the ICC serve as advocates for international and domestic multicultural students and are available for consultation. The Center creates programs to enhance appreciation for and awareness of cultural diversity.  As part of the PwC Center for Diversity and Inclusion, the Intercultural Center works in tandem with the other centers that comprise the PwC CDI to ensure an inclusive Bryant Community.

Available to all members of the University community, the ICC provides an inviting seating area, a kitchen, and a multimedia conference room. The seating area serves as an informal gathering, to exchange ideas, and facilitate the mutual sharing of perspectives. The kitchen is available for individuals to share a home-cooked meal, warm up a meal, or make a dish together.  The conference room is available for small group meetings, and teleconference communication, and can be reserved for video/phone interviews or for individual video calls to home.

The Intercultural Center (ICC) offers social and educational programs related to diverse traditions, self-identity development, community building, social justice, race and ethnicity, and power and privilege. Other programs of the Center include heritage month celebrations, dialogues about culture and current events, awareness/commemoration weeks, annual awards banquets, and social/food gatherings. The staff advises two major student organizations – The International Student Organization (ISO) and the Multicultural Student Union (MSU).

Location: Fisher Student Center, 2^nd Floor
Phone:    401-232-6470
Website:  Pride Center

The Pride Center is safe space for all members of the Bryant community to enhance their understanding of the LGBTQ+ community and related issues through social and educational programs and trainings. The Pride Center offers opportunities for dialogue and education pertaining to gender and sexuality and affirms and celebrates the intersectional identities of its community members. The Pride Center is home of Bryant Pride, a student organization. As part of the PwC Center for Diversity and Inclusion, the Pride Center works in tandem with the other centers that comprise the PwC CDI to ensure an inclusive Bryant Community.

Available to all members of the University community, the Pride Center provides an inviting seating area and a comfortable meeting space. The seating area serves as a space for informal gatherings, to relax, to do homework, to engage in dialogue, and to provide mutual support. The meeting space can be reserved by students, staff, and faculty for small group meetings, programs, support groups, and confidential conversations.

Available to all members of the University community, the Pride Center offers the Safe Zone program to all student, staff, and faculty at Bryant University to explore issues of gender and sexuality and to nurture a more open, affirming, and safe university community for LGBTQ+ identified individuals and their allies.

The Pride Center offers a variety of materials including films and literature as well as referrals to hotlines, programs, and organizations, related to gender and sexuality issues.

Location:  Fisher Student Center, 2^nd Floor
Phone:     401-232-6854
Website:   Women’s Center

 The Gertrude Meth Hochberg Women’s Center engages the campus community in meaningful discussions surrounding gender equity, women’s empowerment, gender, and sexuality. The Hochberg Women’s Center is committed to enhancing the quality of life for women at Bryant University by providing a forum for all students to discuss issues facing women; both on campus and around the world. The Women’s Center is the home of the Alliance for Women’s Awareness, a student organization, and violence prevention and advocacy services. As part of the PwC Center for Diversity and Inclusion, the Hochberg Women’s Center works in tandem with the other centers that comprise the PwC CDI to ensure an inclusive Bryant community. 

Available to all members of the University community, the Hochberg Women’s Center provides an inviting seating area and a comfortable meeting space. The seating area serves as a space for informal gatherings, to relax, to do homework, to engage in dialogue, and to provide mutual support. The meeting space can be reserved by students, staff, and faculty for small group meetings, programs, support groups, and confidential conversations.

The Hochberg Women’s Center provides social and educational programs relating to women’s empowerment, gender equity, healthy sexuality, body positivity, and power-based personal violence. These initiatives offer the campus community the opportunity to enhance their understanding of gender-related issues. The Center is proud to collaborate with staff, faculty, and student organizations to strengthen co-curricular education and foster Bryant’s student-centered learning environment.

The Hochberg Women’s Center also offers Violence Prevention and Advocacy Services. The Advocacy Helpline, which provides guidance, support, and empowerment to survivors of violence, is operated by trained faculty and staff First Responders and is available 24/7 during the academic year. The Women’s Center is also home to the University’s on-campus Advocates, who are prepared to provide private support, guidance, referrals, and both on- and off-campus resources to Bryant community members impacted by violence.

Bryant University admits students of any race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, color, and national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally afforded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate unlawfully on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, color, or national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarships and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. In addition, Bryant University does not discriminate unlawfully against the disabled and is in full compliance with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Inquiries/complaints with regard to discrimination on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, color or national or ethnic origin should be directed to the Vice President for Student Affairs:

Bryant University
1150 Douglas Pike
Smithfield, RI 02917-1284
401-232-6046

Inquiries with regard to disabled student issues should be directed to the Office of Accessibility Services, 401-232-6830, accessibilitysvcs@bryant.edu

Persons may also contact Director, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights, Region One, Boston, MA 02109, regarding the University’s compliance with regulations.