Progress
In 2021, RRI made seven recommendations for change, all of which were unanimously approved by the Board of Trustees — including extending RRI’s initial one-year charge and observing an annual Reconciliation Day.
Every year, we receive updates on the progress made across the university on the recommendations.
2023-24 Updates
TCU should develop and implement a comprehensive strategic plan to promote equity and inclusion in graduate and undergraduate student admissions, faculty and staff recruitment and retention, and the illumination of TCU’s full history through curricula programs such as Frog Camp and UNLF.
- Academic Affairs initiatives to diversify faculty continue to produce results. To date, nine meritorious teacher-scholars have been hired through the Shared Cost Hiring Initiative for tenured or tenure-track underrepresented faculty. Since 2022, two postdocs have been hired and a search for an additional DEI postdoctoral scholar is in progress.
- The five-year plan to diversify faculty continues with an 8% increase in BIPOC full-time faculty since 2018. An increase to 30% of BIPOC students enrolled in 2023, up from 28.4% in 2022. Retention for BIPOC students rose to 94.6% from 89.3%, and six-year graduation rates rose from 78.7% in 2022 to 85.6% in 2023.
- To champion student success, as part of the Agile Analytics Initiative, official accommodations were provided for 1,815 students, an increase of 5.52% from 2022. A new academic advising platform reached more students across campus, and the Peer2Peer Tutoring Pilot completed 2,228 appointments during 2023, with more than 97% of participants highly recommending the program.
- Spanish-speaking DFW families are welcomed to campus with multiple events through the calendar year. Information sessions are led by Spanish-speaking Admissions staff and tours are guided by Spanish-speaking students.
- In light of the recent Supreme Court decision that addressed race-conscious admission, Admissions developed and incorporated programming for families of color into Experience TCU, our premier campus visit program for admitted students. These students and their supporters are invited to a special breakfast during which they not only connect with future classmates, but hear from faculty, staff and administrators of color, reinforcing the idea that when students come to TCU they will see themselves in their role models.
- Collaborating with the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid, Admissions developed a new scholarship program: Four Directions Scholars Program, that acknowledges leaders and emerging leaders in Native communities. To continue building bridges, this program includes mentorship and covers the cost of attendance.
- Admissions increased the number of students offered the Inclusive Excellence Scholarship with the hope of enrolling 40 students (up from 20). Increased scholarship amount from $10,000 to $20,000 annually. Scholarships are stackable with academic scholarships with first-year and transfer students also receiving scholarships.
- In the wake of increased antisemitism around the country and specifically on college campuses, Admissions held a focus group with Jewish students to understand the climate at TCU and how we can promote ourselves to prospective Jewish families.
- HR continued participation in the North Texas Lead program designed to attract and create a pipeline of diverse leadership candidates.
- HR’s N2TCU Orientation & Onboarding helps acclimate new employees to the TCU workplace. Self-paced content includes TCU DEI and Race & Reconciliation Initiative.
2021 Recommendations
We recommend that TCU develop and implement a comprehensive strategic plan to promote equity and inclusion in graduate and undergraduate student admissions, faculty and staff recruitment and retention, and the illumination of TCU’s full history through curricula programs such as Frog Camp and UNLF.