Ray Rodriguez, MPH, MCHES, is the Title IX and Americans with Dissabilities Act (ADA) Compliance Officer at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (RMUoHP). Ray received his Master of Public Health degree from the School of Community Health Sciences at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Ray is also a Master-Level Certified Health Education Specialist and adds great value to RMUoHP.
Ray brings so much knowledge from previous experiences within the realm of Title IX and ADA compliance. Ray says, “I started my career when I was still an undergrad at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County in 1988, when I wrote and received funding for an HIV-prevention grant to provide prevention and intervention training for local communities. Since then, I’ve worked at UNLV, Duke University, and Iowa State prior to coming here to RMU, usually working within violence prevention (a major component of Title IX), alcohol and other drug abuse prevention, and sexual health.”
“Overall, we want to promote our core values. Our diversity makes us stronger as an institution, and we know the world is getting smaller and more diverse year after year. We know more people each year are asking about disabilities, and that professionally, every student knows that able-bodiedness is a temporary thing for most people. At some point, nearly everyone has a disability, such as a cast, a vision issue, or clinical diagnosis with depression or attention issues. I can best support students by educating them about what my office does, and by being the resource they need if and when they need us.”
“My role in the ADA is to ensure that all students have both equitable opportunities for success, regardless of ability, and that the RMUoHP community has a voice to represent them should they experience discrimination based on disability. My office is a ‘one-stop shop’ for all things related to disability resources,” says Ray. Currently, under the Americans with Disabilities Act, students with disabilities may request academic accommodations to assist them in their studies. These aren’t to give them an unfair advantage, but rather to help them achieve equally with those without said disabilities.
Any student who needs to request such an accommodation can speak with Ray directly or review information and submit a form at https://rm.edu/student-services/ under “Academic Accommodations and Accessibility.” The process takes a couple of weeks, so doing so early in a semester, or even before the start of one, is recommended.
Title IX is an addition to the Civil Rights Act, federally enacted in 1972. It is designed to provide for equity on all college campuses that receive federal funding (which RMUoHP does, as part of its college loan and grant programs). Discrimination based on gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation is prohibited, based upon the 2014 standards and currently being upheld by federal courts. Sexual and interpersonal violence has also been added to the growing list of activities that Title IX is detailed to prevent or address.
For students who may have experienced discrimination based on gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation, Ray’s office is here to prevent such occurrences, investigate them if they happen, and provide remedies that stop the behavior, address ways to alleviate the harm that has been done, and prevent it from happening again. Ray also provides education on gender discrimination and violence prevention so that the campus is aware of these federal rules and policies, as well as RMUoHP policy. You can find more information at https://rm.edu/institutional-equity/.
In addition to the work that Ray does in assisting students, he is also responsible for creating partnerships with other healthcare institutions. Ray states, “As the university grows, we’re always looking to partner with healthcare institutions, including clinics and universities. If you know of a good partner that might want to send its employees or students to Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions, come speak with me, and let’s see if we can arrange an articulation agreement that would result in them receiving preferred admission and RMUoHP enrolling the best students.”
As we continue to enroll an increasing number of students, and as our population in the US continues to see increasing diversity, Ray says, “I see my office’s role expanding and being accepted into the greater conversations on where RMUoHP is and where it plans to be as a leader in world healthcare education.” As the US includes a greater recognition of gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation, and the ability of those with disabilities to work and be recognized in our communities without stigma, we will continue to see an increased need for encouraging this diversity both within our student populations and in the patients and clients our graduates are treating.
Ray’s passion for the work he does clearly comes through when he is asked about his job. “It is an absolute pleasure to wake up, come to work, and serve the best students I’ve encountered in my career. We don’t expect anyone to experience discrimination or harassment on campus, but if it does happen, we are prepared to address it immediately and provide aid to those who’ve experienced it. We’re also a lot of fun and we enjoy students stopping by just to say hello, and we to encourage you to enjoy and experience all that RMU and Utah has to offer you. If I can be of service in any way to you, please drop me a line (rrodriguez@rm.edu, 385-375-8798) and chat with me!”
