Almost four weeks have passed since Roger Williams University was yanked out of its low-key summer schedule and into a swirl of controversy following the revelation that its longtime chairman of the board of trustees uttered a racial epithet during a board meeting and then worked behind the scenes to remove three trustees who called for him to step down.

Less than a month later, the Bristol campus has made several changes — some symbolic, some substantive — and administrators and students say they are optimistic about the fresh direction the university’s leadership is taking. However, some faculty, student and minority groups say they will push for the university’s governing board to become more transparent and consider asking back the three ousted trustees.

Ralph R. Papitto, 80, was a trustee for 39 years, chairman for the last 20. Founder of a Fortune 500 company, Papitto donated $2.8 million to Roger Williams over the years, according to the university, and pledged millions more. The state’s only law school was named after him in 1996.

Today, Papitto’s name appears nowhere. His name was taken off the law school building last month, just days after Papitto publicly requested its removal on July 18. Promotional materials now use a shortened logo: Roger Williams University School of Law. The school’s Web site does not mention the man credited with helping to establish the law school in 1992. Law students received an e-mail recently, telling them they can replace their “Ralph R. Papitto School of Law” identification cards for free. Alumni will be given the option of erasing Papitto’s name from their diplomas and their resumés — a request several alumni made after Papitto’s use of the word “n-----” at a May 2 trustee meeting was made public July 14.

In a letter to law school graduates that will be mailed out “as soon as the new stationery comes in” according to law school Dean David A. Logan, the dean briefly addresses the controversy.

“Finally, as you likely know, in July the law school returned to its original name, the Roger Williams University School of Law,” Logan wrote. “We will soon be contacting alumni/ae about an opportunity to request a diploma with the original school name.”

University officials said that Papitto no longer held the honorary “emeritus” status he was granted when he resigned from the board July 9, five days before his use of the racial slur became public. Papitto, therefore, is not expected to attend board meetings or continue to have a formal relationship with the university, said RWU President Roy J. Nirschel. The board’s former vice chairman and Papitto’s lawyer, John A. Tarantino, who was granted “emeritus” status July 9, is not expected to attend meetings either and has stepped down from the law school’s board of directors, Nirschel said.

OTHER CHANGES ARE in the works, starting at the top of the university — the board of trustees. The trustees constitute the governing body of the university, and oversee the budget, capital projects, professor tenure and all other legal, financial and academic matters.

Changes include expanding and diversifying the board; revamping bylaws; instituting term limits; adhering to a new conflict of interest policy; and strengthening trustee committees.

These steps were recommended by the regional accrediting body, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, which issued a rare “Notice of Concern” to Roger Williams in April. The association criticized the makeup and running of the board — which at the time had 16 members, 2 women and 14 white men, many with close personal or business ties to Papitto. Nirschel said he is waiting for the new chairman, Richard L. Bready, to schedule this month’s board meeting, when about a dozen new trustees will be nominated. Bready is a longtime associate of Papitto’s and succeeded him at the helm of Nortek, the building products company Papitto founded.

Nirschel said he could not release the names of the new trustees until they had been approved, but said the list includes women, minorities, alumni and business and education leaders from foreign countries.

“When you talk about diversifying the board, you’re not only looking for diversity in ethnicity and background,” Nirschel said. “You’re also looking for diversity of experience and expertise.”

Nirschel said he plans to recommend that at least one faculty member serve as a liaison to the board and participate on one of the new committees, along with a student representative to a committee.

The university has experienced growth and a rise in academic rankings during Nirschel’s six-year tenure.

“The most difficult thing about these jobs is managing change, because not everyone is comfortable with change, but our faculty and staff and students and alumni have embraced dramatic change — and the results speak for themselves,” Nirschel said. “I am thrilled the board has now embraced that culture and climate of change.”

FACULTY, STUDENT and minority leaders say they are pleased with the steps the university has taken to address the controversy, but want more to be done.

Faculty leaders sent Bready a letter July 30 requesting a meeting and more information about the controversy. So far, they have received no response, said June Speakman, president of RWU’s Faculty Senate.

Speakman said she was unaware of the president’s plan to request faculty participation on trustee committees, but would welcome it.

“That would be a huge step from where we are now, with no representation and no transparency,” Speakman said.

Students groups are calling for the reinstatement of the three trustees who were removed from the board after they called for Papitto’s resignation: Dr. Barbara Roberts, Papitto’s former cardiologist; Joseph A. Caramadre, a philanthropist and owner of Estate Planning Resources; and Sally E. Lapides, owner of Residential Properties.

“Our first concern is the whistleblowers,” said Matthew Jerzyk, president of the American Constitution Society. “It’s a continuing problem that the whistleblowers have not been communicated with about why they were unceremoniously removed and why they have not been reinstated.”

Jerzyk said students are working with Logan and Nirschel to develop a symposium on race and free speech for fall.

“To a degree there was a victory and the school is moving forward,” said Kim Ahearn, co-president of Alliance, a gay student group. “But it’s important that the board recognize the three people who brought all this to light and invite them back.”

Clifford R. Montiero, president of the Rhode Island branch of the NAACP, agrees. Montiero said the university needs to show its commitment to diversity by reinstating the three ousted trustees and ensuring diversity at all levels — trustees, faculty, staff and students.

“Their reinstatement is critical,” Montiero said. “We owe a great deal to them. This is a board with no one of color, with only two women — both of whom were removed. It’s a disgrace. Roger Williams has to be the school of diversity because Roger Williams himself talked about diversity and religious freedom and tolerance.”

jjordan@projo.com