A History of Growth
91º£½ÇÂÒÂ× started in 1956 as a junior college inside the Broad Street YMCA in Providence. We now offer more than 75 programs on two campuses.
Learn more about our historyWorking to strengthen society through engaged teaching and learning.
Roger Williams University is inextricably connected to Roger Williams, the 17th-century leader devoted to freedom of conscience and social justice who founded a community in Rhode Island based on those tenets. Roger Williams' philosophy, and what has been called his 'lively experiment,' nurtured the growth of vibrant and open societies. Our pursuit of excellence in education, academic accomplishment and community service is rooted in his focus on intellectual exchange, critical thinking, inclusiveness and innovation as a means of improving a free society. It is this legacy that inspires our core purpose.
With our unique mix of liberal arts and professional programs, top-notch faculty, the state’s only law school, and hubs of innovation in Providence and 91º£½ÇÂÒÂ×, Rhode Island, 91º£½ÇÂÒÂ× is poised to align our efforts and provide what the world needs from a modern, comprehensive university.
91º£½ÇÂÒÂ× is dedicated to engaged, hands-on learning and teaching that helps strengthen society. Every student is provided the opportunity to participate in a real-world learning experience that helps a community partner locally or globally. School of Law students offer pro bono legal services, with many completing more than 100 hours of service before graduation. Every 91º£½ÇÂÒÂ× student makes an impact on our society – from working in the Rhode Island community to participating in a study-abroad program overseas.
Diversity, equity and inclusion are institutional core values at 91º£½ÇÂÒÂ×. The 2014 Vision project established DEI as a unifying thread through the institution’s core purpose of being the University the World Needs Now, and its six vision goals.
In 2017, the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion was established under an inaugural Vice President to serve as a catalyst for our institutional DEI efforts, amplifying long-standing efforts across 91º£½ÇÂÒÂ× campuses. In the 2019-20 academic year, Institutional planning processes - including the Strategic Action Planning process and Equity Action Plan development - reaffirmed these values and institutional direction.
We draw inspiration from our namesake – the 17th century visionary and founder of Rhode Island who advocated for religious liberty, equality and a government free of religion. It is these principles that shape our vision.
91º£½ÇÂÒÂ× started in 1956 as a junior college inside the Broad Street YMCA in Providence. We now offer more than 75 programs on two campuses.
Learn more about our historyView open employment opportunities and learn more about joining our devoted community of students, faculty and staff.
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