Return On Inclusion and Wellesley College Athletics Announce Partnership
NEW YORK – Return On Inclusion, which delivers online sport-specific diversity and inclusion education, is pleased to announce the Wellesley College Department of Physical Education, Recreation and Athletics (PERA) as its newest partner.
"In support of Wellesley's commitment to inclusive excellence, we identified inclusion as a core component of our educational program during our recent Strategic Planning process," said Bethany Ellis, Director of Athletics and Chair of the PERA Department.
"Partnering with ROI is the next step for us as we seek to engage in programming that addresses the diverse needs and perspectives of our students, faculty and staff. Strengthening our support for differing identities, agencies, and purposes amongst teams and varsity stakeholders is one of our major areas of focus as we look ahead and we're excited to work with ROI as we continue to educate our faculty coaches and staff to serve our entire student population."
Divided into six self-paced online modules, Return On Inclusion's comprehensive diversity and inclusion training is designed specifically for college athletic departments. Participants receive instruction on a variety of topics, including:
- Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging Foundations
- Cultural Competence & Managing Relationships
- Overcoming Bias, Microaggressions & Covering
- Unpacking Racism, Anti-Racism & Privilege
- LGBTQ+ Inclusion & Gender Stereotypes
- Inclusive Leadership & Strategic Plan Development
Instruction in all six modules is provided by ROI founder Nevin Caple, a national thought leader on diversity, inclusion and belonging in sport. The curriculum was developed by Caple in collaboration with the ROI advisory board – a diverse collection of college athletics administrators and scholars from around the country.
"I am thrilled to share ROI with the community I care so deeply about," Caple said. "We should all have access to the tools we need to do our jobs most effectively. I hope ROI will serve as a catalyst for many institutions to prioritize learning for coaches, athletic administrators, and staff as they embark on their inclusive leadership journey."
As coaches and administrators complete the training, they will be better equipped to support and mentor student-athletes from diverse social and cultural backgrounds. Participants who complete all six modules earn the ROI Inclusive Leader Certificate.
About Return on Inclusion
Return On Inclusion™ (ROI) is a sport-specific diversity and inclusion education platform dedicated to developing inclusive leaders and fostering a culture of belonging across social and cultural differences. Our self-paced modules standardize learning methods, deepening our commitment to helping every coach and athletic administrator develop the skills and competencies necessary to support student-athletes and achieve inclusive excellence in programs, policies and practices.
The ROI Advisory Board includes national thought leaders in college athletics who have made significant contributions to fostering inclusive teams and programs. Board members include: Board Co-Chair Kim Doran, Board Co-Chair John Square (George Washington), Kyle Chilton, Clyde Doughty (Bowie State), Wellesley alumna Jessica Duff '09 (Smith), Jaide-Hinds Clarke (Richmond), Katie Harbert (Oregon), Noah Knight, Yannick Kluch (VCU), Maria Sanchez (Northwestern), Whitney Johnson (BYU).
Visit roinclusion.com or follow @ROInclusion on Twitter for more information.
Wellesley Athletics strives for excellence at the conference, regional, and national levels, while providing opportunities for students to achieve their potential and learn the values of discipline, leadership, critical thinking, and responsibility to oneself and others.