Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)

Our system’s 2020-2030 Strategic Plan aligns with a bold vision statement approved by the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges in June 2019:

“Leading with racial equity, our colleges maximize student potential and transform lives within a culture of belonging that advances racial, social, and economic justice in service to our diverse communities.”

Please see the full Strategic Plan 2020-2030 document for more information.

The Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion team makes policy recommendations in the areas of equity, diversity, and inclusion, and antiracism by: 

• monitoring and evaluating legislative agendas and actions 
• analyzing data and other information 
• tracking bills and their amendments 
• communicating with legislators and their staff 
• providing legislative testimony 

A significant portion of our work relates to the state legislature’s historic investments in our college system’s equity efforts through five Revised Codes of Washington: RCW 28B.10.145, RCW 28B.10.147, RCW 28B.10.149, RCW 28B.50.920, and RCW 28B.10.151. These laws require diversity, equity, inclusion, and antiracism training, programming, and assessments in the state’s public institutions of higher education. 

The EDI team supports colleges with legislative interpretation, guidance, and support through information sessions, meetings and consultations, a resource repository, and an open-door policy for inquiries and assistance requests. 

See SBCTC Legislative News for updates on Washington State bills. 

The emergence of executive-level equity officers across many of our colleges helped to establish the first Diversity and Equity Officers Commission (DEOC), a formal statewide collective that reports directly to the Washington Association of Community and Technical Colleges (WACTC), the college presidents’ group. The DEOC seeks to advance equity and to address power, privilege, and oppression within the college and technical system and at each of the individual colleges.  

The equity team leans into the expertise of the DEOC and lends support and guidance as they engage in their work. 

The Multicultural Student Services Directors Council (MSSDC) is comprised of representatives from across the college and technical (CTC) system who serve as subject matter experts for diversity, equity, inclusion, antiracism, and social justice. The council promotes the inclusive recruitment, retention, and successful completion of educational programs for CTC students. MSSDC organizes the annual Students of Color Conference (SOCC) as a retention and success strategy and leadership resource for students.

Closing racial equity gaps in access and completion at Washington state’s 34 community and technical colleges is a moral and economic imperative that is reflected explicitly in our system’s vision and operationalized on our college campuses through the strong, collaborative leadership of our equity-minded presidents/chancellors and trustees.

In tandem with the DEOC and in support of their efforts, the WACTC Presidents and ACT Trustees groups recently created robust equity committees to help integrate this work from their roles as leaders on their campuses and throughout the college system.

Throughout our system, colleges are developing and delivering an equity-centered learning agenda and professional development offerings focused on the complex concepts of racial equity; systemic, institutional, and interpersonal racism; culturally responsive pedagogy; social and economic justice; power and privilege; white dominant culture; belongingness; inclusion, accessibility, cultural humility, and more.

From our governor-appointed State Board members to the trustees, presidents, faculty, staff and students at our colleges, WA's community and technical college system continues to position itself to dismantle racism in all its forms and ensure diverse, equitable, and inclusive learning environments.

With leadership from SBCTC's Student Success Center, all 34 community and technical colleges are fundamentally redesigning the college experience for their students. Under a national research-driven movement known as Guided Pathways, our colleges are reorganizing courses, programs, services, and supports into clear pathways that lead into careers and/or allow for seamless transfer to universities. Guided Pathways has been proven to be a powerful way to close equity gaps and improve completion rates among low-income, first generation college students, and students of color. Students receive step-by-step road maps through their certificates and degrees with a network of advising and support services to help students choose a certificate/degree path, stay on that path, and successfully complete their programs.

By request of the WACTC Presidents group, our community and technical college system conducted several system-wide racial policy audits to eliminate barriers for students of color in the areas of admissions, financial aid, and precollege/basic education.

Recommendations from these audits were reviewed and several implemented, including consideration of fee waivers for basic education, equity training for financial aid staff, and additional supports for undocumented students.

A collection of equity resources submitted by our colleges helps to showcase their innovative work in addressing and dismantling inequitable campus practices, and provides additional support and resources for their peers across the system.