Update from One Merriman Lane | Improving Ripon’s Diversity and Inclusion Practices

Dear Ripon College community,

The murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the protests around the nation and the world in the past three weeks have delivered a long overdue message that institutions (and the individuals that lead and work within them) need to go beyond words of support and find solutions to become better and more inclusive organizations.

I have asked a group of faculty, staff, administrators and students to begin work this summer by critically examining Ripon College’s diversity and inclusion practices. Kara Kinas Jankowski, Chief of Staff to the President and the Dean of Faculty, will chair the committee and make recommendations from the group’s work to the Administrative Council.

While there is no limit to the areas of examination, I would like the group to particularly focus on how to improve the College’s admission and financial aid policies, use of student support services, hiring practices, and retention and graduation rates.

Now is the time for all of us to listen to each other, work together and respond. We need to do more than make statements of solidarity and become a fairer and more inclusive college (and nation). The work ahead may not be easy. The solutions will likely take many of us out of our comfort zones, but the time is now to find solutions. I know we can do better.

Best,

Zach Messitte
President