April 20, 2026

Dear URI Faculty and Staff,

At the University of Rhode Island, promoting equal employment opportunity for all goes beyond compliance. As part of our commitment to fostering a work environment free from discrimination and harassment, the Office of Equal Opportunity has continued to monitor guidance from the Rhode Island Department of Administration Division of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, which is responsible for enforcing Rhode Island General Laws §§ 28-5-1, as well as guidance issued by the federal government.

We invite you to access the executed FY25-FY26 Non-Discrimination Plan and a summary of the workforce data reported, and other resources found on the Equal Employment Opportunity tab:

• A definition of permissible affirmative action;
• An updated Civil Rights Compliance Toolkit for Employee Recruitment, Selection, and Hiring;
• An Accessibility Considerations Checklist and other resources for Hiring Managers, Search Chairs, and Search Committee Members.

To access these materials in an alternative format or to schedule a training, please email equalopportunity@uri.edu or call 401-874-4009. For TTY assistance, contact R.I. Relay Services at 711.  

Thank you,

Dorca P. Smalley
Director, Office of Equal Opportunity
ADA/Section 504 Coordinator