Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility+ Committee

The Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility+ Committee is a standing committee of the Steering Committee.

Purpose Statement
The purpose of the committee is to understand how we, as an institution, can actively identify and eliminate structural racism and bias within the college. As such, the committee will focus on developing and implementing a wide array of initiatives and measures designed to lead to an improved college culture of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility+ (DEIA+). The "A+" in DEIA+ includes but is not limited to the important work done in support of anti-racism, anti-hate, anti-violence and accountability. The work of the committee supports the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Call to Action, Vision for Success and Vision 2030.

The committee works in cooperation with all shared governance committees to advance the college mission by ensuring diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility+ are embedded throughout the institution. The committee engages in a comprehensive review of institutional policies, practices and plans to develop actionable strategies for improvement toward achieving institutional goals and collegewide objectives related to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility+ as indicated in the Strategic Plan and in support of the college mission, vision and values to foster an improved college culture.
(ACCJC Standards: 2.4, 2.8, 3.1)

2024/2025 Responsibilities

• Spread awareness and promote the work being done by the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility+ Committee
• Assess and share data received from the student and employee diversity, equity and inclusion surveys and focus groups
• Continue to develop strategies to address the items in the gap analysis completed by the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force which focused on the following areas:
  • inside the classroom and curriculum
  • outside the classroom and student support services
  • human resources, employees and professional learning
• Partner with the workgroup focused on creating an equity-minded syllabus template
• Create and oversee the Accessibility Taskforce, which will assess the college's existing accessibility practices and provide recommendations on how to advance accessibility campuswide
• Identify diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility+ professional learning needs and opportunities
• Promote and support cultural heritage months and holidays
• Implement the rollout of employee resource groups

Continuing Responsibilities

• Advise, respond to requests and provide feedback on board policies and administrative procedures as they relate to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility+
• Advise on and advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility+ in alignment with campus planning documents while working with other pertinent standing committees of the Steering Committee
• Partner with the office of institutional research, planning and effectiveness to assess, monitor, share data and guide dialogue and reflection relating to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility+
• Promote and guide collegewide dialogue on matters related to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility+
• Foster and promote cultural competence and equitable practices across the campus community
• Serve as a resource to the college regarding compliance standards or legislation that requires the college to address components of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility+ practice and policy
• Work alongside the superintendent/president to move the college toward the following vision statements as developed by the DEI Task Force:
  • Inside the classroom: Students will learn in a classroom environment that is inclusive, accepting and reflective of all races, genders, cultures and backgrounds. Students will see images and instructors that reflect the diverse backgrounds of the student body and use contextual ideas that show their cultural competency. Learning spaces will be communities that foster authentic cultural experiences, where student thoughts, feelings, ideas, curiosity and intelligence are embraced, welcomed and honored.
  • Outside the classroom: The college is deeply committed to and embraces diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility+ at every level. By building diverse events/activities, developing relevant support centers/services and proactively conducting equity assessments, the college will close equity gaps.
  • Personnel: College faculty and staff diversity will reflect the student population and college faculty and staff will practice the behaviors that are reflective of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility+.

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The PDF files offered on the DEIA+ site have undergone remediation to improve accessibility for users with disabilities, particularly those who rely on assistive technologies like screen readers.