Dallas College
PA-5: Diversity and Equity Coordination

Dallas College values a culture that integrates diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) throughout the institution. The newly established Dallas College Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) area focuses on six goals:

(1) Equal Access to Opportunity for Students: Enrich recruitment, retention and graduation of students from underrepresented populations

(2) Equal Access to Opportunity for Employees: Increase recruitment, retention and advancement of faculty and employees from underrepresented populations

(3) Welcoming Campus Environment: Advocate for an environment where students, employees and community partners feel included and supported.

(4) DEI Education: Provide a foundation for effective communication using DEI tools and appropriate cross-cultural interactions; make available cultural awareness topics within programming and events.

(5) Community Relations: Provide our students access to diverse groups, businesses, employers and industry and community partners that represent, advance and support DEI.

(6) Engagement Through Reporting and Communication: Inform everyone of all related DEI initiatives, resources and events available and outcomes of the same.

Dallas College recently partnered with Prospanica, National Black MBA Association, and National Association of Asian American Professionals to increase recruitment, retention and hiring of diverse students and employees. Human Resources will host an internal hiring Expo.

Among its many initiatives designed to foster equity and excellence, Dallas College has two campuses with a center for diversity and inclusion. At Dallas College Eastfield Campus, the Center for Equity, Inclusion and Diversity works to eliminate the challenges that keep students from enrolling in college and offers programming that enhances students' development and sense of belonging. At Dallas College Richland Campus, an interdisciplinary and interdepartmental community of full-time faculty, staff and administrators called the Center for Studies in Cultural Diversity raises awareness around issues of diversity, equity and inclusion. Through engagement and education, both initiatives are advancing the pursuit of learning and justice in their respective campus environments and neighborhoods.

The Dallas College Board of Trustees established the Board Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (BCDEI) to: Raise the college's shared consciousness around diversity, equity and inclusion; Eradicate racism and injustice through Dallas College's curriculum, outreach, recruitment, retention, development, and advancement to foster an equitable, diverse and inclusive environment for employees and students; Communicate these efforts to community stakeholders in an informed and effective manner.

Dallas College has offered professional development and training in these topic areas for several years. Examples of professional development available to all employees, student employees, and some student organizations and honor societies include:
- Advancing Equity across Professional Development by Professor of Psychology Mwauna Maxwell
- Promoting Equity and Combating Racism Starts with Me - The Instructor's Role in Anti-Racism by Professor of ESOL Cynthia Alva, Dean of Institutional Effectiveness Joselyn Gonzalez, Professor of Psychology Mwauna Maxwell, and Professor of Humanities Vanessa Mercado-Taylor
- It Starts With Me: Understanding & Managing Microaggressions in the Workplace and Classroom by Student Life Program Services Coordinator Carmen McIver
- LinkedIn Learning Playlist of five modules: Adding Value through Diversity, Confronting Bias: Thriving Across our Differences, Cultivating Competence and Inclusion, Diversity Inclusion and Belonging, and Driving Change and Anti-Racism.

The new Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion has established new goals for learning and development that will offer a free certificate for employees, students, and community members called the Community Diversity and Inclusion Program. The CDI Program will cover five areas:
1 - Introduction to DEI
2 - Emotional Intelligence
3 - Social Justice and Social Awareness
4 - Generational Diversity
5 - Deliberative Dialogue and Deep Dive Discussion

The presentation documentation to support this credit submission is the presentation to the Board of Trustees Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee on May 4, 2021.