DIVERSITY, EQUITY, +
INCLUSION

We maintain a policy of inclusiveness that recognizes, values, and reflects the diversity of the community it serves. 

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) introduces individuals to facets of difference, enables all to succeed, and creates an environment that respects and values individual differences along varying dimensions. The integral values of DEI guide our academic and institutional development, serving our mission to prepare learners to be forces of change in their industries, communities and the world.

two students sitting outside and talking

Join the Diversity Alliance

We encourage all students, faculty, and staff to be a part of the Inclusion, Equity, and Diversity Alliance (IDEA). IDEA is a group of individuals committed to improving the quality of student life by providing resources, opportunities and civic engagement to people of all backgrounds.

The Alliance supports, inspires and empowers equity and inclusion through community outreach and leadership training.

To join, contact the Diversity, Equity, + Inclusion Coordinator, Tya Anthony (tanthony@rmcad.edu).

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Diversity Initiatives

Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design is a forum for free expression. The college is constantly working together on new initiatives to further support, celebrate, and elevate our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and extended diverse community. Our involved community asked to know more about these initiatives, so some of our recent milestones are listed below.

Read the full blog post here.

  • Implemented mandatory sensitivity training for all current and future faculty and staff members.
  • The Fall Faculty Convocation was a deep dive into how we participate in upholding or dismantling the inequities in our college, course curriculum, and interactions. Faculty explored what it means to become a reflexive practitioner, create identity awareness, and navigate intent vs impact. Sessions were led by Dr. Jennifer Dale, an expert on advocating for diversity in education. This one of the first steps in a continuous, ongoing learning opportunity for RMCAD faculty and a required part of their training.
  • Identified and addressed curricular bias to make changes in the structures that inform racial bias. 
  • The Animation department is reviewing both their Storytelling and History of Animation courses, reexamining the courses with a focus on diversity
  • Education (EDMT + Art Education) is reviewing all Art Education courses focusing on literacy and ELL (English Language Learner) standards along with faculty conversations around instructional practices related to diversity, equity, and inclusion within department meetings.
  • The Graphic Design and Photography departments are hosting faculty meetings with the Diversity Coordinator. Both departments will include more online links to designers’ portfolios and projects that are diverse. Additionally, they plan to show more diverse designers’ work in their campus courses.
  • The Illustrative Design department is working with faculty and the Diversity Coordinator for a training session/conversations specific to Illustrative Design. They are working cross-departmentally with the Illustration and Graphic Design departments to broaden the representation of designers in their curriculum. They are creating a diverse advisory board that represents designers and illustrators working today.
  • Interior Design is developing a list of courses with space to include more diverse projects and content through their Curriculum summit meeting. The summit meeting and CIDA review of Cultural diversity indicators will help the Interior Design department identify projects and assignments to be added to their curriculum. The department will work with DEI to provide cultural diversity sensitivity training to faculty in all-faculty meetings.
  • Online course and resource updates will be implemented in connection with RMCAD’s Diversity, Equity + Inclusion Alliance, and faculty requests.
  • The Program Review and Assessment Committee is identifying Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) opportunities to incorporate within the assessment process. They are also implementing a revision of our cultural learning institutional learning outcomes.
  • Diversity Town Hall Meetings are being offered to students, staff, and faculty on a regular basis. The first event will be on October 2. Along with these meetings, we are in the process of developing a Strategic Plan directly tied to Diversity. 
  • The Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Alliance (IDEA) has created a report that aims to highlight and share current research and creative work of Inclusivity, Diversity, and Equity by the RMCAD Faculty & Students. Click here to view the Spring A 2021 IDEA Report.

    • Th Spring A 2021 IDEA Report also includes a special initiative, the RMCAD United poster project. These signs will be a community wide installation consisting of collaborative artwork to promote visibility and change. To download a digital poster, click the desired size: 8.5×11 or 11×17.

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Common Questions

Giving voice and value to human differences enables all to succeed by propelling the fair distribution of systemic benefits, opportunities, resources, and respect.

Equality means that everyone is treated the same but, since everyone is different, just one treatment does not actually affect all people proportionally. Equity is when treatment is varied to meet the unique needs of disadvantaged individuals.

For example, imagine that you and a friend are at an art festival. There is a muralist working, and you’re watching from behind a fence. You are tall — a privilege — and can see over the fence, but your friend is shorter and their view is blocked.

In this scenario, you have equality because you both are able to attend the event, but you do not have equity because your friend cannot see. 

But, if you get a step for your friend to stand on and see over the fence, you have created equity because now you can both watch the muralist.

Pronouns are often gender implied, leading to assumptions that are not always correct. To avoid making a mistake ask, “What are your proper pronouns?” Learn More >

RMCAD is committed to providing the best possible educational environment for its students. We encourage an open and inclusive atmosphere in which any conflict, complaint, suggestion, or question receives a timely response from RMCAD staff and/or faculty. RMCAD strives to ensure fair, honest, and equal treatment of students. Students, faculty, and staff are expected to treat each other with mutual respect at all times. When students have issues of concern that do not fall under the discrimination policy, harassment policy, or the grade appeal procedure in the Student Handbook, they should follow the Conflict Resolution procedure to resolve any other issues that occur between them and the faculty or staff of the College. You may also submit your grievance by completing the form below.

Concerns + Complaints 

First Name Change: Many students choose to go by a name other than their legal name. This may be a nickname, middle name, or preferred name. At RMCAD, students can use their chosen name in the LMS, school email, and ID card.

Legal Name Change: The legal name change process can be costly and often requires an attorney (typically occurring through marriage or divorce). Legal names are used in all official college records including the faculty and student portal, transcripts, and diplomas. 

rmcad students of different races, genders, and sexual orientations

Diversity Statement

Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design (RMCAD) maintains a policy of inclusiveness that recognizes, values, and reflects the diversity of the community it serves. As an academic institution, the college fosters a dynamic learning and working environment that encourages multiple perspectives and the free exchange of ideas. Diversity encompasses multiple dimensions, including but not limited to: race, culture, nationality, ethnicity, religion, ideas, beliefs, geographic origin, class, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, disability, and age. 

Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design continually strives to build an inclusive and welcoming community of individuals with diverse vision, talents, and skills. We welcome people from a multitude of backgrounds who are committed to creativity, academic excellence, societal and cultural evolution and betterment, civility, mutual respect, social justice, and the free and open exchange of ideas. 

Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design commits itself to these tenants of change, growth, and action, which embrace diversity as an integral part of the academic and professional community.

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