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University Equity and Inclusion
  • Our Work
  • University Diversity Messages

Please read the selected messages below that convey our university commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Messages from the Senior Vice President for Equity

Enobong (Anna) Branch headshot

Drawing a Larger Circle

Sept. 23, 2024
On October 9 at noon, I invite you to join me for the inaugural Navigating Tensions, Affirming Community Lecture titled “Staying Resilient, Drawing a Larger Circle.”

 

Call for CACP Award Nominations: Due Oct. 11

Sept. 10, 2024
I am delighted to invite you to nominate staff, faculty, and students for the Committee to Advance Our Common Purposes (CACP) Awards!

 

Diversity Plan Progress Inventory - Live Now

April 1, 2024
We received nearly 1000 action item submissions that reflect both the breadth and depth of activity occurring across the university within Chancellor-led and central administrative units. 

 

Our Community Commitments

January 17, 2024
There are many ways to meet this moment, but not all are productive. I am excited to share our community commitments that challenge us all to meet this moment with humanity.

Read more messages from Enobong (Anna) Branch

Universitywide Diversity Messages

Jonathan Holloway

A Vital Mission and a Shared Humanity

January 16, 2024
To excel in our mission as a community requires that we engage in genuine curiosity and commit ourselves to understanding one another—even around the most difficult and divisive topics. For our community to thrive, we must embrace our shared humanity, with all its messiness and contradictions.

Vandalization of Center for Islamic Life at Rutgers–New Brunswick

April 10, 2024
Hate has no place at Rutgers. Islamophobia and all forms of intolerance come from a place of ignorance. They have no place in our hearts, in our minds, and at our university. 

Battling Antisemitism with Education – My Congressional Testimony

May 23, 2024
Given the critical importance of the subject matter, I wanted to share with you the text of my Oral Testimony, which is pasted below. In addition, I invite you to read the written testimony that I submitted to the committee this week, which is posted to my site. 

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  • Thanking Our Veterans at Rutgers

    November 10, 2023
    Each year at this time, we pause to honor the women and men who have served this nation in the armed forces. As we prepare to observe Veterans Day tomorrow, these courageous souls have my enduring admiration and gratitude for their commitment to protecting our freedom

    Responding to the Violence in Israel and Gaza

    October 29, 2023
    We, as a community of students, faculty, and staff, cannot bring an end to this violence, but we can operate from a place of compassion and empathy. We can, and must, understand that we are all experiencing this violence in our own personal, and sometimes profound, ways.

    Reaffirming Our Commitment to Community

    October 18, 2023
    In these challenging times, it is vital that we come together to support one another, to listen to each other’s experiences and perspectives, and to engage in dialogue that fosters understanding. We must stand against hate in all its forms, including Islamophobia and antisemitism, and strive to be a safe and supportive place for our students, faculty, and staff.

    A Message in These Troubling Times

    October 11, 2023
    These are deeply troubling times, and emotions are understandably raw as we witness these brutal attacks and the ongoing hostilities. While we can and will disagree on politics and policies, I ask that we be sensitive to one another in recognition of the challenges we are all facing. 

    Today's Supreme Court Ruling on Race in College Admissions

    June 29, 2023
    As you may already know, the Supreme Court of the United States today rendered a decision in two cases regarding the use of race as a consideration in college admissions. Those cases are Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina and Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard University.

    Responding to Violence with Compassion

    February 14, 2023
    We are devastated by the news that three Michigan State University students were fatally shot, and five more students were critically injured, by a gunman on the MSU campus last night. Our hearts are with our fellow Big Ten institution, whose faculty and staff collaborate with our own and whose student-athletes compete alongside ours, and we grieve the loss of these innocent victims of another mass shooting, another act of senseless violence.

     

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  • Thank You, Veterans at Rutgers

    November 11, 2022
    I want to offer my own thanks to everyone in our Rutgers family—students, parents, alumni, faculty, staff, donors, and board members—who is serving or who has served the United States in one of our military branches. We are proud to salute you.

    Marking Juneteenth

    June 16, 2022
    Tomorrow, June 17, Rutgers will begin an annual practice of observing Juneteenth as a university holiday on the third Friday of June, which is also the observance of the state holiday.

    Implementation of the Chosen Name Initiative

    June 14, 2022
    In recognition that some individuals use first names other than their legal names in the course of their daily life at Rutgers, I am pleased to announce that we are taking steps to enable students, faculty, and staff to use their chosen or preferred name in university communications.

    Rutgers Forward: University Diversity Strategic Plan

    March 30, 2022
    After a thoughtful process that began in the first months of my presidency and builds upon effective initiatives already in place at Rutgers, I am pleased to announce the completion of our first-ever Diversity Strategic Plan.

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  • Rutgers Will Observe Juneteenth as a University Holiday

    November 19, 2021
    I am pleased to announce today that Juneteenth will be a recognized as an official university holiday starting in 2022, when it will be observed on Friday, June 17. We will follow the observance of the recently established state holiday, which places it on the third Friday of June.

    Gratitude for Our Veterans

    November 11, 2021
    On behalf of Rutgers and on my own behalf as the proud son of a U.S. Air Force veteran, I want to wish the very best to all our Rutgers students, staff, faculty, and alumni who have served in the armed forces as we observe Veterans Day 2021.

    Investing in Faculty Diversity at Rutgers

    August 5, 2021
    We are pleased to announce a new, university-wide Presidential Faculty Diversity Initiative that strategically aligns with the overarching goals we have set for creating systemic change at Rutgers. In establishing this initiative, we are committing up to $45 million from central administration funds over an initial 5-year period.

    Statement on Hatred and Bigotry

    May 29, 2021
    At Rutgers we believe that antisemitism, anti-Hinduism, Islamophobia, and all forms of racism, intolerance, and xenophobia are unacceptable wherever and whenever they occur.

    From President and Chancellors: The Chauvin Verdict

    April 20, 2021
    A guilty verdict has been rendered by the jury in the murder trial of Derek Chauvin, the former police officer whose brutal and callous actions during the arrest of George Floyd last May prompted international outrage.

    From President and Chancellors: Affirming Our Asian Community

    March 11, 2021
    Amid rising anti-Asian sentiment and violent hate crimes, Dr. Holloway and the four chancellors express solidarity with the Asian community at Rutgers and around the world.

    Statement from President and Chancellors on the Breach of the U.S. Capitol

    January 6, 2021
    President Holloway and the four Chancellors speak to the community about shared values in light of the violent breach of the U.S. Capitol on January 6.

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