Racial, Equity and Justice Institute (REJI)

The Racial Equity and Justice Institute (REJI) is a higher education consortium committed to identifying and implementing data-informed strategies that eliminate racial equity gaps in higher education.  The work of REJI aligns powerfully with Queensborough’s Strategic Plan goals to close equity gaps in student outcomes.

Queensborough joined the REJI consortium during summer 2022 and convened a working group of diverse stakeholders from offices across the college. Participants attend a minimum of two meetings per month. One meeting is specifically for the Queensborough team and focuses on building community and the competencies of the campus team. The second meeting is with the entire REJI consortium. Each month, the REJI facilitates virtual convenings to offer information and experiences that will be useful in member campuses’ work to become equity-minded institutions.  In addition to providing critical professional development, the REJI consortium meetings offer an opportunity to dialogue with other higher education professionals who are also engaged in closing equity gaps. The meetings facilitate fellowship and also information and strategy-sharing about challenges and successes.

Click here for a handbook detailing some of the successes REJI institutions have had.

Queensborough is actively recruiting its third cohort of the Racial Equity and Justice Institute.

The fall semester will be dedicated to intensive professional development via campus-based and consortium-wide meetings. During winter break, REJI team members will apply what they learned during the fall and develop office-specific projects to assess and/or address equity gaps. The spring semester will be dedicated to implementation.

Equity-minded Data and Inquiry

December 5, 2024, 1:00-2:30PM EST

Presenter: Dr Roman Liera 

 The REJI is based on the knowledge that in order to transform our campuses, the work for equity-mindedness must be advanced campus-wide. The REJI understands that how we each implement equity-mindedness varies in part by the roles we fill.

Join us to learn about the REJI’s Transformation Through Equitable Action Model (TEAM) portal offering a suite of equity-minded competency development materials for major functions on our campuses. After an introduction to the TEAM portal, Dr. Roman Liera, noted equity-minded scholar and educator, will provide an overview of the TEAM module he created for all REJI members on equity-minded data and inquiry.

All members of the REJI are invited to attend this launch of the TEAM portal available only to the members of the REJI. 

Register Here

Equity-minded Trustee Leadership

January 29, 2025, 5:00-6:30PM EST

Presenter: Dr. Raquel Rall 

The REJI is dedicated to supporting the growth and development of racial equity leaders campus-wide. Trustees have a unique role in advancing racial equity in higher education. We invite Trustees, Presidents/Chancellors, Equity Officers, Cabinet Members, and all other interested members of the REJI to join us for a special virtual convening on strategies for infusing racial equity into Trustees’ 9 key roles in higher education. Presidents will receive a direct invitation to attend with registration link to provide to members of their Board of Trustees.

Participants will be introduced to the REJI Transformation Through Equitable Action Model (TEAM) portal with extensive professional development materials for trustees and those that work with them focused on equity-minded trustee leadership. You will also have the opportunity to hear from Dr. Raquel Rall, one of foremost scholars in America on equity-minded trustee leadership, who is partnering with the REJI in the creation of these materials

Register Here

Equity-minded Teaching and Learning 

February 27, 2025, 1:00-2:30PM EST

Presenter: Dr. Isis Artze-Vega (Primary author of the Norton Guide to Equity-minded Teaching) 

The REJI is dedicated to supporting the growth and development of racial equity leaders campus-wide. The work of faculty and librarians is central to equity-minded transformation in higher education. We invite all members of the REJI to attend this session to hear from Dr. Isis Artze-Vega, national leader on equity-minded teaching and learning. Faculty, Provosts, Deans and other academic leaders most welcome. Participants will be introduced to the REJI Transformation Through Equitable Action Model (TEAM) portal with extensive professional development materials for faculty members and academic affairs administrators and staff to aid you in leading for racial equity.  

Register Here

Operationalizing Equity 

March 27, 2025, 1:00-2:30PM EST 

Presenters: John L. Cox, President of Cape Cod Community College; Cathy McCarron, Dean; Kathleen M. Vranos former Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs; William Berry, Faculty Member; Sara-Ann P. Semedo, Academic Coordinator; Shuqi Wu, Director of Institutional Research and Planning

Attend this virtual convening to hear how REJI campus member Cape Cod Community College (CCCC) advanced their equity-minded practice. Five years ago, conversations deepened at CCCC about the need to disaggregate their institutional student outcomes data and use it to engage in equity-minded work. Today they have created an institution-wide operating plan premised in equity-mindedness. Come hear their story of equity-minded campus change and learn actionable strategies they are utilizing on their campus. 

Register Here

The Racial Equity and Justice Institute (REJI) will engage in a collaborative process of reading, reviewing, and discussing the materials listed below. We invite all members of the Queensborough community to join us in this endeavor and read along.

What is Equity-mindedness by Dr. Estela Bensimon (2024)

Five Principles for Enacting Equity by Design by Bensimon, Dowd & Witham (2016)

Leading for equity from where you are: How leaders in different roles engage in shared equity leadership by Holcombe, et al. (2022)

REJI Practioner Handbook Volume 1