Diversity Profile
Rhodes Equal Employment Opportunity Policy prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, veteran status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or disability.
Discrimination and harassment on grounds of race, gender, color, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and national or ethnic origin are forms of misconduct that undermine the institutional mission of the College and thus will not be tolerated. All members of the College community are responsible for maintaining an environment of mutual respect for all persons. 
The College’s policy on sexual harassment and assault is contained in a separate document. This document contains the College’s policy governing other forms of harassment as well as discrimination. The Judicial Coordinator is responsible for ensuring that students are informed of this policy. The Dean of the Faculty and the Director of Human Resources are responsible for taking necessary steps to notify College faculty and staff of the provisions of this policy.
Rhodes College reserves the right to modify these policies and procedures as needed in order to maintain the environment of mutual respect for all persons that is an objective in issuing this present document.
Diversity-Related Offices
Chaplain’s Office
The Chaplain’s Office serves as a gateway to many religious and service opportunities. For more information, contact Walt Tennyson at tennysonw@rhodes.edu, 310 Briggs or 901.843.3804.
Office of Disability Services
The Office of Student Disability Services (SDS) is committed to ensuring that educational programs are accessible to all qualified students in accordance with the provisions of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and expanded by Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. To guard against discrimination on the basis of disability, reasonable and appropriate accommodations, academic adjustments, and/or auxiliary aids are determined on a case-by-case basis for otherwise qualified students who have a demonstrated need for these services. For more information, please contact Melissa Butler McCowen at mbutler@rhodes.edu or 901.843.3885.
Office of Multicultural Affairs
Established in 1990, the Office of Multicultural Affairs has a unique role in offering programs & services that enhance the overall quality of life for students of color and other underrepresented populations. All of the cultural organizations such as All Student Interested in Asia (ASIA), the Black Student Association (BSA), the Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA), the Hispanic Organization for Language & Activities (HOLA), and Rhodes Indian Cultural Exchange (RICE) reside under the Office of Multicultural Affairs. These organizations, along with the Multicultural Resource Center are located on the 4th floor of Burrow Hall, and are open to all faculty, staff, and students. For more information contact the Assistant Dean of Multicultural Affairs at 901.843.3885.
Academic Departments
Academic departments such as African American Studies, Asian Studies, Latin American Studies, Religious Studies and Gender & Sexuality Studies are also available sources of information.
A diverse learning community is a necessary element of a liberal arts education, for self-understanding is dependent upon the understanding of others. We, the members of Rhodes College, are committed to fostering a community in which diversity is valued and welcomed. To that end, Rhodes College does not discriminate – and will not tolerate harassment – on the basis of race, gender, color, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and national or ethnic origin.
We are committed to providing an open learning environment. Freedom of thought, a civil exchange of ideas, and an appreciation of diverse perspectives are fundamental characteristics of a community that is committed to critical inquiry. To promote such an academic and social environment we expect integrity and honesty in our relationships with each other and openness to learning about and experiencing cultural diversity. We believe that these qualities are crucial to fostering social and intellectual maturity and personal growth.
Intellectual maturity also requires individual struggle with unfamiliar ideas. We recognize that our views and convictions will be challenged, and we expect this challenge to take place in a climate of open-mindedness and mutual respect.
Established at Rhodes in 1990, the Office of Multicultural Affairs fosters a campus-wide climate of respect. It advocates for the promotion of a culturally diverse and nondiscriminatory campus community, preparing students for pursuit of lifelong learning. The Office is open to assist all students regardless of race, gender, color, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and national or ethnic origin. However, the Office has a unique role with regard to enhancing the overall quality of life for students of color on campus by focusing on retention, programming, leadership development, diversity education, and assisting with recruitment.
The Office is available to the campus community as a resource for crisis intervention. It is also responsible for developing and implementing formal and informal programs and services to educate the entire campus community regarding issues of diversity. As an integral part of the mission of Rhodes, the Office strives to foster an environment conducive to teaching and learning, and supports and nurtures in its students, faculty, and staff, intellectual development and openness to a range of ideas and human possibilities.
Students, faculty, and staff may use the multipurpose Resource Center to: 
- Watch movies as well as read books and magazines that offer insight about the history, issues/concerns, and achievements of ethnic minority groups (See resource list for details.)
- Access the computer lab for multicultural research
- Facilitate dialogue in a small, intimate, and safe place about diversity-related issues such as race, gender, class, sexual orientation, disability, etc.
- Conduct tutoring, discussion, or study groups
- Meet with the Assistant Dean of Students for Multicultural Affairs
The Rhodes LGBT Working Group, which was established by Dean of Faculty Michael Drompp and Dean of Students Carol Casey, continuously assesses the college’s LGBT policies and environment to ensure that the Rhodes campus offers the broadest possible inclusivity.
Safe Zones serve as a source of support and information, free of judgment and hostility. They display the Safe Zone logo to indicate that they have completed Safe Zone training and have signed a contract expressing their commitment to Safe Zone policies and procedures. Safe Zones are also expected to challenge assumptions and prejudices related to sexual orientation and gender and to address heterosexist comments or behaviors in an educational and informative manner.
SOS matches first-year students with upper-class peer mentors to help them make the academic and social transitions to college life. Mentors help new students feel more connected to the Rhodes community.
The Multicultural Affairs Office works closely with several cultural organizations on campus to produce seminars, off-campus experiences, speakers, cultural celebrations and workshops. These programs explore and support the intellectual, social, cultural, political and spiritual development of the entire campus.
Our city and our connections to it are as much a part of the Rhodes education as any lab or lecture hall. Home to Fortune 500 companies such as FedEx and International Paper, and a major hub for biomedical research, distribution and industry, Memphis offers prestigious internships and research opportunities. The city′s independent spirit makes it fertile ground for arts and culture, non-profits, community service and do-it-yourself leaders of all kinds. 
Life in Memphis
- The Beale Street Historic District, the Cooper-Young Entertainment District, and the South Main Arts District are all just minutes from campus.
- Hailed as the birthplace of both the blues and rock-and-roll, Memphis music is as diverse as our city. World-class entertainers play at clubs and concert venues year-round.
- Restaurants are almost as legendary as the Memphis music scene. Our students all have their favorites, for everything from downhome barbecue and burgers to fine dining and ethnic specialties.
- The city also boasts one of the top urban park systems in the US, covering 7,000 acres, and one of them, Overton Park, is right next to our Midtown campus (as is the famous Memphis Zoo).
- Memphis hosts year-round sports action, with the NBA Grizzlies, the Mississippi River Kings (ice hockey), and the Memphis Redbirds, the minor league baseball team affiliated with the St. Louis Cardinals.