RFUMS' official website for information on the Pre-Matriculation Program (PMP).
Sign the Petition #AdmitTheSix
"Four Black students and two Latinos were denied admission to Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine's (RFUMS) Chicago Medical School due to systemic and explicit racism in the institution's admission process.
The six racial minority students successfully completed the Pre-Matriculation Program (PMP) at RFUMS with A/B letter grades, which historically, for over 30 years have earned PMP students admission into Chicago Medical School. CHAMPS and the student leadership at Chicago Medical School are demanding their immediate admission for the class of 2024.
The former PMP director, Dr. Fred Richardson, resigned because of these reprehensible acts of racism on several levels. This expert in matriculating minorities into medical school, along with CHAMPS’ leadership endorsed all six candidates. "
The former PMP director, Dr. Fred Richardson, resigned because of these reprehensible acts of racism on several levels. Medical students of Chicago Medical School (CMS) requested his reinstatement in a letter to Rebecca Durkin, Vice President of Student Success and Inclusion, on Feb 20, 2020, but this letter went unaddressed.
June 16, 2020
12PM: Protest & Press Conference concerning the denial of admission for three African American men and a Latina woman, organized by Creating Health and Medical Pathways for Scholars (CHAMPS). From the CHAMPS' press release: "Their denials of admission were irrespective of their successful completion of the Pre-Matriculation Program (PMP) at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and their contributions to the community including participation in mentoring programs for students interested in health careers and the establishment of an ethics organization on campus. The president Wendy Rheault, PhD and Dean Archana Chatterjee, MD of the Chicago Medical School have refused to meet with CHAMPS Alumni Development to determine a process remediation/resolution or best guidance on how to gain places in the Chicago Medical School (CMS) Class of 2024 for these four proven students. Unfortunately, this is not the first time students of color have experienced unwarranted exclusion. Five years ago, CHAMPS met with the previous medical school leadership and this same issue was resolved along with the production of an articulation agreement (the result of a Task Force)."
July 21, 2020
SNMA sends its petition out to RFUMS Administrators, The Diversity and Inclusion office, and The Board of Trustees. Response to this letter and petition requested by Monday, July 27, 2020
July 27, 2020
Dr. Fred Richardson sends a letter to RFU President, Senior Administrators, Deans, Faculty, Students and Board of Trustees members.
July 28, 2020
Dr. Richardson provides a video summary of the protest movements at RFUMS
July 29, 2020
Dr. Richardson sends a follow up letter to RFUMS administrators as he did not receive a response to his letter sent on July 27, 2020
Blueprint for the future as presented and discussed in 2013, proposed by Dr. Richardson
August 27, 2020
"A New Civil War" by Dr. Fred Richardson
PMP Town Hall, hosted by Dean John Vitale
Meeting notes written by student allies accessible to those with RFUMS emails
September 7, 2020
CHAMPS Alumni Development (CAD) Advocacy Team's protest & press release
"Until all six racial minority students are admitted this year, we are requesting these actionable items for individuals and corporations to act on immediately:
1) Sign our online petition: admit the six (no donation requested at this time from CHAMPS).
2) Inform the Board of Trustees that you and/or your company will cease all investment, funding and/or collaborations until the six racial minority students are admitted this year (please contact us if would like to assistance with this matter).
3) Contact the LCME about the Chicago Medical School’s systemic racism in denial of these 6 racial minority students’ admissions into the medical school (again, contact us if you need assistance with this matter).
4) Participate in continued marches and sit-ins at the RFUMS, starting this Monday, September 7th at 6:00 PM
5) Contact your local Chicago Area Media about this life-threatening systemic racism issue where the medical school refuses to admit the six proven students."