I am pleased to share that the Racial Equity and Opportunity Commission, which I appointed in October 2020, has completed its work and submitted 31 thoughtful recommendations. The Commission’s Co-Chairs note these recommendations are focused on “making Randolph-Macon a more accessible, welcoming place for all students, employees, and visitors and a place with greater opportunities for historically underrepresented students.” 

I am profoundly grateful to the Commission for its deliberate and consequential work. And I am especially appreciative to the Commission and its leadership for the extraordinary amount of time and energy committed to examining RMC’s practices, culture, and history and for developing astute, strategic recommendations. The recommendations and report can be found here.

It is clear that Commission members thought purposefully about what we can do as the RMC Community to continue making our College a better place for all. I join them – and you – in seeking to foster a campus environment where every student, faculty member, and staff member has a greater sense of belonging and can better maximize their potential. 

The Commission’s recommendations address areas ranging from recruitment to campus life to community engagement. As we seek both meaningful and sustainable change, we will embed diversity and inclusion initiatives in our new strategic plan to ensure comprehensive attention to our goals and objectives. 

Among the Commission’s most significant recommendations is for the College to establish a Chief Diversity Officer-type position with Cabinet rank. We will commence a national search process for such a position very shortly. It is my firm expectation that this important leader will be an enormous asset to accomplishing our necessary goals.

The Commission’s History Subcommittee also undertook extensive research of our College’s complicated history, and it has documented just how RMC’s past – particularly in the antebellum, Boydton era – was intertwined with the institution of slavery. I encourage you to read the report, noting this revelation of our past most certainly does not align itself with the values of RMC. 

The Racial Equity and Opportunity Commission’s work was a deeply important undertaking, and its recommendations provide us with a path to move forward toward becoming a more inclusive campus. I look forward to working closely with our Trustees and the entire RMC community for we all want a campus and culture where every person is respected, valued, and has the opportunity to thrive.

Sincerely,

Bob Lindgren

Robert R. Lindgren
President