Reflecting to Serve: What We Gain in our DEI Journey
There is a silver lining to the challenges we faced in 2020. Our response clearly
affirmed that our system is full of bold and compassionate leaders who do whatever
it takes to put students first. In the wake of a once-in-a-lifetime global pandemic
and a national uprising for racial justice, we took action commensurate with the urgency
of the moment. Our faculty and staff helped lead the COVID-19 recovery and responded
to the needs of our surrounding communities during an unimaginable crisis.
We further crystallized our commitment to end racial disparities in our colleges and
instituted a Call to Action to revamp efforts to dismantle systemic racism and address
barriers to student success. We recommitted ourselves to creating a culture that values
every single individual who steps foot on our campuses, but there is still work to
be done.
Faculty and staff are the heart of our system. You are in the classrooms, advising
students, building and maintaining the systems that have allowed us to make the monumental
shift to all-remote learning in less than a year. California Community Colleges can
only truly reflect and represent the communities and students we serve when our faculty
and staff do, too.
As the largest and most diverse system of higher education in the country, we have
a tremendous opportunity to improve the lives of millions by breaking down existing
barriers to equity. Through diversifying our faculty and sta , and continuing to integrate
DEI priorities into our work, we can — and will — become the best possible version
of our system for current and future generations of students.
- Research shows that students who benefit from a diverse faculty are better-educated and better-prepared for leadership and professional competitiveness. By committing to building a diverse sta , we can leverage this fact to remove barriers our students of color face, foster a more culturally responsive environment and improve overall student outcomes.
- Diversification also improves retention rates for faculty and sta by making our system more inclusive for faculty of all backgrounds.
- The makeup of our faculty and staff are not keeping pace with the diversity of the students and communities we serve. The biggest disparity between faculty and staff and students is among self-identifying Black and African American Students and Hispanic demographics. And this disparity is growing.
How we measure progress:
We measure progress on our DEI journey in three core outcomes: cultural diversity,
promoting equity and fostering inclusion.
- Cultural diversity: Commitment to culture and policies that support people in all the ways their lives differ.
- Promoting equity: Removing advantages and barriers to provide everyone the same access to opportunities.
- Fostering inclusion: Students and employees feel supported and valued and are able to be their authentic selves.
Tangible steps to strengthen our system
Every person within the California Community College’s system has a crucial role to
play in creating a more diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce — from unions to
the Academic Senates, Board of Governors and the Chancellor’s Office. From the Vision
for Success to Guided Pathways, we are continuing to build a better, more inclusive
learning environment for students from all backgrounds through actions both big and
small.
We have adopted cultural competency policies, fostered faculty and student mentoring
and developed other programs that reflect inclusive values for our sta and students.
We remain focused on improving teaching and learning structures, policies and practices
that reflect our commitment to student equity.
Last summer, we looked inward to implement the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Integration
Plan on an accelerated timeline, and sought out innovative strategies to advance our
Vision for Success and diversify faculty and staff. This work is happening all the
time and impacting the entire California Community College’s system for the better.
As we continue to make progress and pursue DEI and anti-racism work, real change with
lasting impact is possible. This kind of transformation will require a redistribution
of power and money, but faculty and sta diversification will help us achieve systemic
change and build a more culturally competent and campus culture for our students long-term.
If we commit fully to putting diversity, equity and inclusion at the heart of our work from this point onward, California Community Colleges can take a giant leap toward being a system that truly works for all our students.
– From the California Community College Chancellor’s Office
Share, retweet and/or like the DEI Awareness Month video message highlighting our system’s commitment to DEI and anti-racism and welcoming new voices and leaders to join in the work ahead. Watch the video.
Download DEI Awareness Month Zoom backgrounds.
Download California Community Colleges DEI Awareness Month Graphics
HASHTAGS:
#DEIandCCC
#DEIAwarenessMonth
#CCCTakesAction
#InThisTogether
Visit the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office DEI Website
Read the resolution passed by Associated Students Napa Valley College (ASNVC) supporting the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion work of the Student Senate for California Community Colleges.