Lewis and Gaines Center for Inclusion and Equity | Bridgewater State University
Source: https://bridgew.edu/student-life/lgcie
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:39
Lewis and Gaines Center for Inclusion and Equity | Bridgewater State University
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Free tuition and mandatory fees
for families earning $125,000 or less.
Learn about the Bridgewater Commitment »
Lewis and Gaines Center for Inclusion and Equity
A New Name for a Renewed Mission
The
Lewis and Gaines Center for Inclusion and Equity
(LGCIE —
Legacy
) encourages equity and promotes the celebration of cultural pluralism at Bridgewater State University.
LGCIE strives to create a community that appreciates the history, culture and traditions of students of color, and believes in the positive relationship between multiculturalism and student achievement.
LGCIE also fosters cross-divisional collaborations that assist with the retention of BSU students.
If you are looking for a community of students committed to intercultural student success and offering a welcoming and supportive environment for all, we invite you to visit LGCIE (Rondileau Student Union, Room 101). LGCIE offers faculty and staff office hours, programming, support, and a home away from home. All resources and opportunities offered by LGCIE are open and accessible to all members of the campus community.
Events and Activities
rgb(76,114,36)
LGCIE sponsors a variety of cultural and social activities open to all BSU students who wish to acknowledge and celebrate our diverse community.
Services and Support
rgb(76,114,36)
LGCIE is dedicated to holistically supporting the needs of our student body. We host an array of programs that connect students to and create awareness of the plethora of support services provided by the University.
Resources
rgb(76,114,36)
LGCIE is fully committed to creating opportunities that support persistence, retention and graduation of our students.
Honoring Legacies
On Sept. 24, 2020, the Bridgewater State University Board of Trustees approved the renaming of the Center for Multicultural Affairs to the Lewis and Gaines Center for Inclusion and Equity. This name change reflects our deep commitment to racial equity and our relentless determination to close achievement gaps. The change also formally recognizes the renewed mission of the Center for Multicultural Affairs and celebrates two of our most esteemed alumni.
The change from Multicultural Affairs to Inclusion and Equity better reflects the mission of the Center by underscoring the focus on student success and by ensuring that all students — one student at a time — have access to the resources and supports they need to persist, graduate and reach their highest potential.
Read more
Sarah Lewis
was Bridgewater State University’s first graduate of color. Coming from nearby Fall River, she was accepted into Bridgewater State Normal School in February 1867 and was awarded her diploma on January 26, 1869 — one year before Harvard conferred its first undergraduate degree to a Black student. Sarah went on to teach in the Fall River Public Schools.
When
Paul Gaines, G’68
died in June 2020, BSU lost a member of our community who did as much to advance racial justice on our campus as anyone in our history. He devoted decades of his life to advancing equality and equity for all and changed fundamentally and forever the entire culture of BSU. When he was appointed our first director of minority affairs in 1968, there were 11 students of color enrolled at Bridgewater. Paul laid the groundwork for making BSU the diverse institution it is today with 25 percent students of color.
Featured News
Alumni Profile
April 23, 2026
How BSU's CPDC Helps Kids Gain Strength and Confidence
An alumnus’s family reflects on progress, milestones, and independence
Study Abroad
April 21, 2026
Bridgewater State Students Explore China Through Travel Course
Study abroad trip features academic and cultural activities
Student Spotlight
April 16, 2026
Making Every Voice Count
BSU’s new student trustee aims to ‘push the needle’ on inclusion, identity
Contact Us
Meet the LGCIE Staff
Lewis and Gaines Center for Inclusion and Equity
Rondileau Student Union, Room 101
Bridgewater State University
Bridgewater
,
MA
02325
United States
508.531.6166
Office Hours
The Center is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Take the next step
Inquire
Visit
Apply
This is a content holder for the one-button emergency notification system.
Quicklinks
My BSU
BridgeNet
Academic Calendar
Course Search
Register for Class
Pay Bill
Health Services Patient Portal
Student Health Plan Waiver
Info For
Families
Alumni & Friends
School Counselors
Give to BSU
Student Crisis Info
Menu Close
Free tuition and mandatory fees
for families earning $125,000 or less.
Learn about the Bridgewater Commitment »
Lewis and Gaines Center for Inclusion and Equity
A New Name for a Renewed Mission
The
Lewis and Gaines Center for Inclusion and Equity
(LGCIE —
Legacy
) encourages equity and promotes the celebration of cultural pluralism at Bridgewater State University.
LGCIE strives to create a community that appreciates the history, culture and traditions of students of color, and believes in the positive relationship between multiculturalism and student achievement.
LGCIE also fosters cross-divisional collaborations that assist with the retention of BSU students.
If you are looking for a community of students committed to intercultural student success and offering a welcoming and supportive environment for all, we invite you to visit LGCIE (Rondileau Student Union, Room 101). LGCIE offers faculty and staff office hours, programming, support, and a home away from home. All resources and opportunities offered by LGCIE are open and accessible to all members of the campus community.
Events and Activities
rgb(76,114,36)
LGCIE sponsors a variety of cultural and social activities open to all BSU students who wish to acknowledge and celebrate our diverse community.
Services and Support
rgb(76,114,36)
LGCIE is dedicated to holistically supporting the needs of our student body. We host an array of programs that connect students to and create awareness of the plethora of support services provided by the University.
Resources
rgb(76,114,36)
LGCIE is fully committed to creating opportunities that support persistence, retention and graduation of our students.
Honoring Legacies
On Sept. 24, 2020, the Bridgewater State University Board of Trustees approved the renaming of the Center for Multicultural Affairs to the Lewis and Gaines Center for Inclusion and Equity. This name change reflects our deep commitment to racial equity and our relentless determination to close achievement gaps. The change also formally recognizes the renewed mission of the Center for Multicultural Affairs and celebrates two of our most esteemed alumni.
The change from Multicultural Affairs to Inclusion and Equity better reflects the mission of the Center by underscoring the focus on student success and by ensuring that all students — one student at a time — have access to the resources and supports they need to persist, graduate and reach their highest potential.
Read more
Sarah Lewis
was Bridgewater State University’s first graduate of color. Coming from nearby Fall River, she was accepted into Bridgewater State Normal School in February 1867 and was awarded her diploma on January 26, 1869 — one year before Harvard conferred its first undergraduate degree to a Black student. Sarah went on to teach in the Fall River Public Schools.
When
Paul Gaines, G’68
died in June 2020, BSU lost a member of our community who did as much to advance racial justice on our campus as anyone in our history. He devoted decades of his life to advancing equality and equity for all and changed fundamentally and forever the entire culture of BSU. When he was appointed our first director of minority affairs in 1968, there were 11 students of color enrolled at Bridgewater. Paul laid the groundwork for making BSU the diverse institution it is today with 25 percent students of color.
Featured News
Alumni Profile
April 23, 2026
How BSU's CPDC Helps Kids Gain Strength and Confidence
An alumnus’s family reflects on progress, milestones, and independence
Study Abroad
April 21, 2026
Bridgewater State Students Explore China Through Travel Course
Study abroad trip features academic and cultural activities
Student Spotlight
April 16, 2026
Making Every Voice Count
BSU’s new student trustee aims to ‘push the needle’ on inclusion, identity
Contact Us
Meet the LGCIE Staff
Lewis and Gaines Center for Inclusion and Equity
Rondileau Student Union, Room 101
Bridgewater State University
Bridgewater
,
MA
02325
United States
508.531.6166
Office Hours
The Center is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Take the next step
Inquire
Visit
Apply