North Seattle College
PA-7: Support for Underrepresented Groups

North Seattle College is a member of the College District VI.

The Seattle Colleges recognize that everyone must play a role to create and maintain an environment where students and employees are free of harassment and discrimination.

We all must:

Work together to prevent any occurrence of harassment or discrimination.
End harassment and discrimination if it occurs.
Remedy the effects of discrimination and harassment on the victim and on the community.

Seattle Colleges is committed to the concept and practice of equal opportunity for all its students, employees, and applicants in education, employment, services and contracts, and does not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity, color, age, national origin, religion, marital status, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran or disabled veteran status, political affiliation or belief, citizenship/status as a lawfully admitted immigrant authorized to work in the United States, or presence of any physical, sensory, or mental disability, except where a disability may impede performance at an acceptable level. In addition, reasonable accommodations will be made for known physical or mental limitations for all otherwise qualified persons with disabilities.

https://www.seattlecolleges.edu/about/annual-public-notice-non-discrimination

http://seattlecolleges.edu/district/policies/policies.aspx?policyID=pro419

The NSC CARE Team (Communication Awareness Referral Education) is the institution's discrimination response team. For non-emergency situations, consult with your supervisor and submit a Student Conduct/CARE Incident Reporting Form. For emergency situations, call 9-1-1 then submit a Student Conduct/CARE Incident Reporting Form, describing the situation and the actions you have taken. Reports filed through the online form are received through the system and reviewed by NSC CARE Team at their next weekly meeting scheduled every Tuesday or if they require a more urgent response, the reports are routed to appropriate staff and offices when applicable.

counseling, Equity Center, Disability Services, Trio Services.
Counseling- would want to validate that experience to let the person they are being heard and acknowledged. Advocating for the complainant to the appropriate person or body, which might include restorative justice, healing circles, mediated discussions, etc. Depending on the circumstance, it may also require referral to support services, like long-term therapy, Title IX, and bias incident report.
advocacy, accountability.

Additionally, the Seattle College District recognizes its responsibility, described in Policy 419, for investigation, resolution, implementation of corrective measures, and monitoring the educational environment and workplace to stop, remediate, and prevent all manners of discrimination. To this end, the Seattle College District has enacted Policy and Procedure 419, Discrimination and Harassment, prohibiting discrimination against and/or harassment of any employee, student, applicant or visitor, and legally defined members of a protected class. Any individual found to be in violation of Policy 419 will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal from the College or from employment.

Any employee, student, applicant, or visitor who believes that he or she has been the subject of discrimination or harassment should report the incident or incidents to the College’s, or District’s Title IX / EEO Coordinator identified below. All District employees (faculty, staff, student employees and administrators) are designated as “responsible employees” and must report actual or suspected discrimination or harassment immediately, subject to limited exceptions for employees who are statutorily barred from reporting. All details of the reports they receive must be shared promptly. If the complaint is against that Coordinator, the complainant should report the matter to the president’s, or Chancellor’s office for referral to an alternate designee.

https://northseattle.edu/care-team/report-concerns

POLICY
The Seattle Colleges are committed to recruiting faculty, staff and students who reflect the cultural diversity of the Puget Sound Region and who will support its values of teaching, learning, students, diversity, and partnerships. http://seattlecolleges.edu/HR/

FACULTY/STAFF
Seattle Colleges posts all positions to HigherEdJobs, and at the request of the committee, will post to Diversity Jobs, use Search Advocates, other specific sites to help recruit talent we may not find otherwise. Job pools are often recast if a pool is not diverse. HR assesses all job descriptions and posting material to ensure alignment with District-wide EDI practices / policies. An Inclusion Advocate is required to be assigned to all Full-time Faculty and director and above searches in order to prepare and guide the search committees.

STUDENTS:
Seattle Promise Scholarship increases access to higher education for our community's students, particularly those from underrepresented groups (e.g. students of color, low-income students, and first-generation college students). The scholarship is open to all graduates from participating high schools, regardless of GPA, income or other factors. All participating students are guaranteed to have one year of in-state tuition covered through a combination of need-based financial aid and scholarship funds. Once enrolled as full-time students, participants can pursue the program that best fits their interests, including academic transfer degrees to prepare for transfer to a four-year college or university, and professional/technical career training for a fast-track into the workforce.

The primary purpose of the TRiO programs is to prepare students from disadvantaged backgrounds to successfully enter, persist, and complete a post-secondary education. In general, these programs identify low-income, first-generation, and students with disabilities and provides them the assistance, support, and encouragement necessary to enter and complete a college education.

The Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) is a National Science Foundation funded program whose purpose is to strengthen the preparation, representation and success of historically underrepresented* students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) majors. Through this program, strategic partnerships- referred to as “Alliances”- are created between local colleges, universities, and other educational institutions to provide academic preparation and career coaching to these dedicated students.

STUDENTS
The Equity & Welcome Center aims to identify and implement equitable strategies to end all racial and other equity gaps at North. The President’s Cabinet, students, faculty, staff and community stakeholders came together in 2018 to develop the framework for the historic Equity & Welcome Center at North. The framework supports and advocates for the success of diverse and historically underserved communities on the NSC campus.

This includes communities from all cultures, ages, religious beliefs, races/ethnicities, sizes, gender identities, abilities, qualities, sexual affiliations, socioeconomic classes, veteran status, political beliefs, and citizenship status and sovereign nations.

The Equity & Welcome Center currently offers you the following:

Multicultural & Gender Equity Student Lounge
Peacemaking Space
Virtual Student Lounges
United Way Benefits Hub
Gender Equity & Multicultural Resources in Canvas, co-created by students and staff
TRiO guidance, tutoring and community for low-income, first-generation and students with disabilities
College Entry navigation help for new students

We have a number of clubs/programs on campus that provide support to underrepresented groups within the student body, such as the Black Student Union, Chinese Student Union, Indonesian Student Association of North Seattle, Korean Student Association, Latinos Unidos, LGBTQIA+ Pride Club, NSC Japonophile Association, Re-Made Christian Fellowship, Vietnamese Student Association, and the Native American Student Organization. NSC also has an International Programs office. There are several Committees working across campus with students, faculty and staff to examine and promote diversity efforts. These include: Guiding Team (Guided Pathways); Undocumented Students Advocacy Committee; Gender and Women’s Studies Committee; First Generation College Students Committee; Diversity and Inclusion Council for Equity; College Council; the Student Equity Board
https://studentleadership.northseattle.edu/clubs/current-clubs

North Seattle College takes approximately 30 students to the Students of Color Conference in Yakima, WA yearly. This conference has proven instrumental in helping students develop a sense of identity and become agents of change. Solicitations go out to faculty and staff to chaperone and participate in workshops as well. http://www.mssdc.com/socc.php

NSC holds regular Transfer and Resource Fairs to educate and inform students.
https://resources.northseattle.edu/college-transfer-students/research-colleges-universities

Seattle Pathways is Seattle College’s version of Guided Pathways. According to SBCTC (State Board of Community and Technical Colleges), Guided Pathways is “a research-based approach that simplifies choices for students. Courses are grouped together to form clear paths through college and into careers, whether students enter those careers directly after graduation or transfer to a university for more study in their chosen fields. Students get intensive, targeted advising to choose a path, stay on the path, learn what they need to know and graduate.”

Embody SBCTC Guided Pathways Principles

Guided Career Pathways work requires embracing radical, equity-minded, transformational organizational change.
Guided Career Pathways work requires an unwavering commitment to racial and social equity.
The voices of students, faculty, staff and community members are essential to engage in effective problem-focused inquiry processes that lead to meaningful action.
Guided Career Pathways work requires a focus on learning and outcomes aligned to community and industry needs.
Guided Career Pathways requires the system to foster learning amongst colleges through partnerships, professional development, and other vital resources.

STAFF/FACULTY
In order to increase the leaders on North Seattle College's campus and to create a more inclusive culture here at North Seattle Community College, the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and the Human Resources Office created the North Leadership Development Program. This program aims to increase leaders on campus, provide leadership development and continue to educate administration, faculty and staff. North has various affinity groups for faculty and staff. North sends Faculty and Staff to the Faculty and Staff of Color Conference. There is a cross district leadership institute focused on racial equity. Faculty and staff had the opportunity to attend NCORE in 2019. There are several Committees working across campus with students, faculty and staff to examine and promote diversity efforts. These include: Guiding Team (Guided Pathways); Undocumented Students Advocacy Committee; Gender and Women’s Studies Committee; First Generation College Students Committee; Diversity and Inclusion Council for Equity; College Council; the Student Equity Board.

The Equity & Welcome Center is excited to announce the North Men of Color Initiative, a collective of students, staff and faculty who connect to empower through mentorship. This is a safe and inclusive environment to develop academically, socially, and emotionally through service and leadership.

Seattle Colleges participates in the University of Washington Graduate Student Equity & Excellence program (GSEE). Administrators and faculty from North Seattle College assist with panels and workshops that focus on students from underrepresented groups wanting to learn more about going into a teaching or education administrator role. Specifically, the UW Graduate Student Equity & Excellence helps NSC create systems to support and prepare future faculty members by promoting and supporting the following areas:
1. Outreach, Recruitment and Graduate Student Success
2. Professional Development and Community Building
3. Graduate Funding Opportunities
4. Scholarship and Research
5. Advocacy, Consulting and Advising

"As a unit of the University of Washington Graduate School, the Office of Graduate Student Equity & Excellence (GSEE) is committed to enhancing equity and social progression to promote the success of graduate students of color..."

"For 50 years, GSEE has worked with graduate students, staff, faculty, and campus leadership to develop initiatives that strengthen graduate diversity, enhance academic opportunities, and encourage and support research exploring cultural diversity. GSEE aims to cultivate a culturally and ethnically diverse academic and social environment in which all graduate students can learn and thrive..."

The institution is working with community partners to have affordable housing units available for students. This is a project that will hopefully come to fruition this next academic year.

NSC Essential Needs Student Reference Guide, https://scedu-my.sharepoint.com/personal/nresources_seattlecolleges_edu/_layouts/15/Doc.aspx?sourcedoc={ca524493-8a4d-4521-8f33-af2a580c32e2}&action=view&wd=target%28How%20to%20Use%20This%20Guide.one%7Ced5b69b1-8b64-48e7-a961-d08323125950%2FHow%20to%20Use%20This%20Guide%7C89aa1797-d3b0-4adc-a83f-ef709585b6e5%2F%29