Campus Culture and Engagement
At the 91原创, we are deeply committed to a campus community that reflects the rich and complex diversity of human experience and that embraces possibilities for all. Each person brings a unique identity and perspective that enriches our dynamic campus culture in a way that emboldens all Blue Hens to thrive.
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These听values are bedrock foundational principles that have long guided 91原创鈥檚 mission of education, research and service to others.听 And our commitment to these values should involve constant inquiry through thoughtful reflection, research and respectful dialogue in order to evolve and improve how they are lived out each and every day.听
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This webpage represents our commitment to a collective campus-wide effort to ensure that our shared values are reflected in our language, programs and inclusive practices in a cohesive and comprehensive way for the long term. The University remains committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive campus environment in full while remaining in compliance with current law. We will continue to monitor any legal developments closely while upholding our values and supporting our Blue Hen community.
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Laura Carlson
President
Jos茅-Luis Riera
Vice President for Student Life and听Interim听Campus Culture & Engagement Officer
Our continued focus
The 91原创 is committed to advancing campus culture and engagement through an ongoing, thoughtful and community-wide conversation and planning process. We continue to unequivocally affirm our commitment to our values and their centrality to our mission. 听Importantly, we will preserve key student-facing programs and spaces, leverage financial aid programs for low- and limited-income students to ensure access to 91原创鈥檚 educational opportunities, and support the academic needs of all students.
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This initiative will be guided by four key principles:
- We will continue to foster a sense of community and belonging for all, reflecting our commitment that every member of the 91原创 community can contribute to our shared pursuit of truth.
- We will continue to celebrate 91原创鈥檚 rich and growing diversity of cultures, backgrounds and identities.
- We will ensure that our entire campus community continues to be enriched by the robust debate that emerges through the open and respectful exchange of disparate viewpoints.
- We will continue to uphold the principles of academic freedom and faculty governance pertaining to 91原创鈥檚 educational curriculum.
- May 30, 2025
- March 16, 2026
- September 4, 2025
- April 28, 2026
- June 25, 2026
Near the end of the last academic year, as part of a broader review of program websites, a number of websites were taken offline.听In that process, academic materials and publications that had been housed on the 91原创ARI website were inadvertently also taken offline. That disruption should not have happened. We recognize the concern and frustration this caused, and regret that this has had a negative impact on our community. It was never our intention to remove or suppress access to this academic work, and our commitment to academic freedom and an inclusive campus has not changed. This website听serves to restore access to this information. The University is committed to ensuring this work remains accessible and appropriately housed going forward.
- Fall 2025
- March 16, 2026
- April 20, 2026
OUR ROADMAP FORWARD
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The campus Culture and Engagement Steering Committee has embarked on a series of strategic community dialogues this Fall in order to explore the nature of our campus climate and begin to consider how best to assist the campus community in fostering an environment on campus where everyone feels as though they belong, their voices heard and respected, and that they are welcomed and treated fairly and equitably throughout their 91原创 experience. Your voice is critical to helping us understand how we can continue to move together towards the campus culture that fosters belonging and engagement across difference, and allows for the meaningful learning, growth, critical thinking and development that are at the heart of higher education.听
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Through this phased effort, we will co-create a new framework to be implemented in spring 2026. This framework will:
- Be outcomes-based, system-focused and coalition-driven with a focus on how all may benefit
- Center the University鈥檚 drive towards equitable access for students, staff and faculty.
- Ground our work in the law and data.
- Be designed to acknowledge that our campus culture does drive excellence.
Phase 0: Designing an Organizational Realignment (completed)
Assess and realign organizational structure of campus resources supporting diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
Phase 1: Assessing the Current State听| February-July 2025听(completed)
Review听existing diversity and inclusion programming to understand the current landscape and identify alignment with applicable institutional values听and federal requirements.
Phase 2: Creating a Process | June-September 2025 (completed)
Gather key constituents, faculty, staff and student leaders to obtain input for designing a community-centric process that will enable data collection and analysis to yield a new framework. During this phase, a task force led by Jos茅-Luis Riera, Vice President for Student Life and Interim Chief Diversity Officer, and听John Ernest, Chair, Department of English and Judge Hugh M. Morris Professor will also be launched, which will guide the work throughout.听听
Phase 3: Developing the Framework听|听September-December 2025 (completed)
Gather community input, leadership vision, and benchmarking of best practices. The task force will ultimately synthesize all of that material and vet a framework for the campus community.
Phase 4: Strategic Validation & Steering Committee Wrap-up | January-April 2026
Conclusion of Steering Committee effort and initiate campus engagement to validate framework.
Phase 5: Framework, Adoption and Continuous Improvement | May 2026 and Beyond
Publish and embed the finalized framework into university practices through sustained governance, with ongoing assessment focused on measurable outcomes and campus鈥憌ide culture and engagement success.听
CCE Framework Update
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Dear 91原创 Community,
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We鈥檙e writing to thank you for your tremendous contributions to the Campus Culture and Engagement (CCE) Initiative. With the guidance of the CCE Steering Committee, your feedback has been synthesized into a final version of the framework. Your suggestions were also very helpful as we thought about the framework鈥檚 implementation, the CCE Facilitation Committee鈥檚 mission, and the ongoing work of ensuring a truly inclusive and equitable campus community.
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The CCE Framework includes six Guiding Principles for managing communications, administrative leadership priorities, coordination of 91原创 units and initiatives, and recognition, respect, and support for all 91原创 community members.听
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This Framework will be integrated into the developing strategic plan for the university, so that the methods for ensuring a comprehensive sense of belonging will be built into who we are, how we do our work, what we do, and when we make progress at 91原创.
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Thank you for all that you have shared with us, and thanks for your willingness to engage. We look forward to our continued work together to make 91原创 a truly inclusive and distinctive community.
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Sincerely,
John Ernest and听Jos茅-Luis Riera
The Campus Culture and Engagement Framework presents a collaborative operating system designed to bridge the gap between where we are and where we aspire to be. The framework itself consists of 6 guiding principles:
- Representation and Belonging. Focusing on who is visible in our community, how we sustain cultural centers, organizations, and spaces where community members find belonging, and how we foster an institutional culture where all students, staff, and faculty are valued and supported. We are committed to sustaining and strengthening the spaces and organizations that serve our community while ensuring that university programs and opportunities remain open and available to all.
- Equitable Access. Ensuring that opportunities, services, resources, and support are accessible to all members of the 91原创 community regardless of location, background, or circumstance. This includes strengthening support for international students, improving transitions for commuter, transfer, and associates students, addressing economic barriers to full participation, and extending meaningful resources and institutional attention to all 91原创 sites across the state.
- Inclusive Communication and Transparency. Ensuring the university communicates with transparency and accessibility, and building communication networks that account for the diversity and complexity of our community. This includes improving transparency in decision-making, improving how community members can find the resources and information they need, and telling the stories that foster institutional connection.
- Respect and Recognition Across Roles. Focusing on the gap between how faculty, staff, and students experience the institution based on their role and position. This includes assessing workload equity, performance recognition, respect, and improving communication and consultation on changes to tools that affect daily work. Building a culture of everyday respect, with attention to the daily tasks and functions, how we get things done, and how we show up for each other.
- Academic Freedom and Open Inquiry. Protecting the ability to teach, research, and discuss topics in the classroom, and support academic inquiry and the expression of ideas in academic settings. The University is committed to fostering spaces for open conversation, recognizing that productive dialogue depends on mutual respect, principled debate, and the freedom to engage with challenging ideas.
- Accountability. Tracking progress and reporting outcomes through regular assessment, periodic reporting, and integration of these principles into the University's strategic plan. This is a shared responsibility for all in our community.
Steering committee
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We believe that lasting change begins with listening. The Campus Culture and Engagement Steering Committee exists to engage our campus community - to gather stories, insights, and aspirations that reflect where we鈥檝e been and where we鈥檙e going together, as well as who we are and who we hope to become.
Members of the steering committee were selected to not only represent our faculty, staff, and student communities, but also to capture a wide variety of perspectives, disciplines, roles, and approaches to campus engagement.
John Ernest
John is the Judge Hugh M. Morris Professor and English Department Chair who fosters inclusion at 91原创 and advances scholarship on race and American literature.
Jos茅-Luis Riera
Interim Chief Campus Culture and Engagement Officer
Jos茅 is the Vice President for Student Life and leads efforts to advance inclusion, learning and holistic student success.
Kathy Corbitt
Kathy leads Organizational Development and Engagement, helping 91原创 teams thrive through leadership growth, employee engagement and wellbeing.
Adam Foley
Adam (they/them) leads Diversity Education at 91原创, advancing equity, inclusion and belonging through education, assessment and community engagement.
Stephanie Kuntz-McAllister
Stephanie is a Ph.D. candidate and GSG President who leads research to improve outcomes for young children with disabilities.
Nicole Long
Nicole is the Assistant Vice President for Student Experience and Belonging, advancing inclusion, engagement and student success across 91原创.
Meghan McInnis-Dom铆nguez
Meghan is an Associate Professor and Faculty Senate leader who strengthens 91原创鈥檚 academic community through collaboration, innovation and trust.
Leann Moore
Leann leads community engagement efforts at 91原创, connecting people and organizations to strengthen collaboration and civic impact.
Anu Sivaraman
Anu is an Associate Professor of Marketing who advances equity and student engagement through inclusive teaching, research and service at 91原创.
Lola Sokolskiy
Lola is an Honors junior in political science who leads and serves across 91原创 through student government, theatre and community engagement.
Regina Wright
Regina is an Associate Dean within the College of Health Sciences and works to advance belonging, health equity and brain health research in older adults.
- Student Life Workshop - March 18, 2026
- - April 1, 2026 (4-5 PM)
- - April 3, 2026 (9-10 AM)
Additional invited workshops are currently being scheduled.
Affinity Caucus Chairs
African Heritage Caucus
American Association of University Professors (AAUP)
Associate in Arts (AAP) Faculty
Athletics Staff
Black Leadership Council
Board of Trustees DEI Ad-Hoc Committee
CANR DEI Committee
CAS Business Administrators
CAS Culture and Engagement Committee
CAS Dean鈥檚 Advisory Council
Center for Counseling and Student Development (CCSD)
Chair Caucus
College of Engineering DEI Committee
Deans Council
Faculty Affairs Associate Deans
Faculty Senate Leaders
First Year Seminar Instructors
First Year Seminar Peer Mentors
Fraternity and Sorority Leadership (FSLL)
Georgetown campus community
Graduate Student Government
Graduate Students
International Students
Lerner Diversity Council
Lewes campus community
Library, Museums and Press Staff
Multicultural Greek Congress (MGC) / Special Interest Greek Council (SIGC)
Newark campus community - Faculty
Newark campus community - Staff
Newark campus community - Students
Peer Mentors
Presidential Academic Leadership Program
President Direct Reports
Recruited Panelists from CCE Interest Form
Religious RSO Leaders
Resident Assistants (RAs)
Social Justice Peer Educators (SJPE) / Healthy Hens
Student Advisory Group
Student Athletes
Student Government Association (SGA)
Student Health Center Staff
Student Life DEI Professionals
91原创ARI Committee Chairs
91原创 Association of Retired Faculty (91原创ARF)
91原创 Police Department (91原创PD)
There are many ways for institutions of higher education to address and activate values for diversity, inclusion, social justice and equity. Through the campus culture and engagement effort, 91原创 will seek to come together as a community and examine the new frameworks emerging in the literature to accomplish this work. The result we are seeking is a framework rooted in outcomes, aligned with state and federal law, informed by data and easily understood and accessed by all within the 91原创 community.
An example of a new framework the task force will examine is:
The University remains committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive campus environment while remaining in compliance with current law. We will continue to monitor any legal developments closely while upholding our values and supporting our Blue Hen community.
The University will look at programs, resources, events, groups and other initiatives that are related to diversity issues at 91原创. These may be strengthened, consolidated, reimagined or discontinued, based on how they align with the guiding principles above and any relevant legal requirements.
91原创 has a longstanding commitment to the values of diversity and inclusion. At this time, we are taking a closer look to ensure the way in which we live those values out every day is strong and effective while remaining compliant with all applicable laws.
No. The 91原创 will always be committed to building and strengthening a diverse community where everyone feels welcome and included in our mission.
No, there is no change in position on curricula or academic freedom. We continue to encourage open discussion in the classroom and foster a respectful learning environment for all students and viewpoints.
The U.S. Department of Education recently issued a letter and accompanying FAQs to guide university responsibilities in fostering an inclusive, equitable, and welcoming environment for all students. At the 91原创, we are committed to these principles. The 91原创 encourages open discussion in the classroom, fosters a respectful learning environment for all students and viewpoints, and values academic freedom. Academic freedom means that faculty are free to engage in forms of inquiry and teaching that are professionally competent and ethical, and collectively responsible. Both within and outside the classroom, members of the faculty should exhibit the accuracy, restraint, and tolerance for the opinions and ideas of others appropriate to educators and persons of learning. Members of the University community are encouraged to exercise their right to free speech and freedom of expression as private citizens outside of the classroom.
When 鈥減rogram鈥 is used in the context of campus culture and engagement initiatives, it refers to co-curricular and extracurricular activities sponsored by academic and non-academic units at the University.听 These efforts are not intended to restrict or regulate curriculum development, academic materials, topics, or discussions within the classroom. 91原创 may offer classes that focus on race, sex/gender, and related social justice issues. Course content addressing historical or contemporary inequities remains appropriate and valuable.
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The tool is designed to help units and leaders across the University evaluate whether a program, activity, initiative, scholarship, or similar reflects our values and complies with applicable federal civil rights protections. It is intended for broad use, including, but not limited to, review of:
Institutional initiatives and events
Registered student organizations and other recognized groups
Fellowships, grants, endowments, and institutional funds
Scholarships and awards
Department-sponsored programs, activities, and ceremonies
Partnerships, contracts, collaborations, and sponsorships involving external entities
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Limitations: This tool is not intended for use in reviewing curriculum or class offerings, undergraduate or graduate admissions, financial aid, student housing, or employment matters (such as recruitment, hiring, or promotion), as those areas may be subject to additional requirements and processes.
Using the tool does not constitute institutional, departmental, or legal approval of a program, scholarship, event, initiative, or similar activity. It is one step in a broader review and approval process that would normally be followed under University policy.
Led by Vice President for Student Life and Interim Chief Diversity Officer Jos茅-Luis Riera and Department of English Chair and Judge Hugh M. Morris Professor John Ernest, the task force will represent a wide range of voices at 91原创, including students, staff and faculty.
The design of the process will be a focus of the summer months. The task force will be expected to seek a wide range of input from University stakeholders and constituents, including undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, staff and alumni.
More information about events and other opportunities will be available as they are scheduled, both on this webpage and on 91原创aily. Everyone鈥檚 participation is encouraged. If you have ideas, suggestions, research or helpful examples of other institutions that are undertaking this work, or you would like to take a more active role in this process, you can share your information .
Impacts to research activities are ongoing and can change rapidly.听The Research Office communicates with researchers as information becomes available from federal agencies. The University will provide as further guidance develops. Researchers with questions about their specific awards and funding should contact the Research Office for guidance.听
The University has adopted a comprehensive, multi-pronged strategy to respond to recent federal policy changes and safeguard its operations:
Federal Engagement: We have been working closely with our Delaware federal delegation to convey institutional impacts of federal policy changes and to empower them to help safeguard the University. Those efforts have focused on highlighting the importance of protecting federal programs that benefit our students, faculty, and broader mission, particularly those that听support innovation, scientific research, and public service.
Collaboration with the State of Delaware: We have maintained regular communication with the State of Delaware, particularly the Attorney General鈥檚 Office, to stay informed and aligned on how federal actions may affect the University and its communities.听
Engagement with National Organizations: The University continues to actively collaborate with professional organizations such as the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), the EPSCoR/IDeA Foundation (EIF), and the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR). 91原创 has been involved in developing and coordinating on responses to federal developments. This engagement has also supported advocacy efforts.
Internal Support Strategies: The University is actively working with faculty to support those who are affected by reductions in federal funding. We are helping them pursue alternative funding sources such as philanthropic development, foundation grants, and corporate partnerships. In some cases, we will be providing bridge funding to support students and sustain research continuity.
Scenario Planning: The University has been conducting scenario planning to ensure operational resilience and continuity under a range of potential policy and funding environments.
- Communication with the Community: We are committed to keeping the 91原创 community informed. This has included the development of dedicated web pages that track and explain federal actions and their implications for the institution. More information can be found at 91原创鈥檚 Federal Actions Updates webpage, as well as our pertaining to the 91原创 Research Office.
In response to questions from members of the 91原创 community,听the 91原创 has published guidance听on how to respond if federal immigration enforcement officers arrive on campus or at any University location. This guidance applies to all 91原创 faculty, staff, and students across all University locations. It includes what to do if you encounter federal officers, information on your campus resources, frequently asked questions, and links to external Know Your Rights resources.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND INFORMATION
91原创鈥檚 Statement of Values
Among 91原创鈥檚 institutional values: 鈥淲e welcome and value different backgrounds, perspectives and learning experiences; this is essential for educating global citizens, developing knowledge and advancing and enhancing our world.鈥 Read the full statement of values.
Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance
handles concerns about the work and learning environment, including Title VII, Title IX, Civil Rights Act, sexual misconduct and other compliance issues.
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Federal Actions Updates
The 91原创 is tracking executive orders from the president of the United States and other federal administrative actions for relevant developments and potential impacts on 91原创 and, more generally, on higher education. Information is updated as needed on the Federal Actions Update webpage.