Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values that are essential to creating a welcoming environment at San Jacinto College. We are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels valued and supported when achieving their goals.
Our Goals
-
To serve as a resource in understanding the nature of diversity in the community and the importance of diversity and inclusivity.
-
To serve as a recommending body to the Strategic Leadership Team.
-
To serve as a resource to the College and the community in creating diversity and inclusivity awareness.
-
Research and maintain awareness of topics and issues relating to diversity and inclusivity within the College and the community.
The Council on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (CODEI)
Name: Council on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Led By: Dr. Allatia Harris, Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives, Workforce, Community,
and Diversity, and Dr. Eddy A. Ruiz, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity,
and Inclusion.
Membership constitutes 20 to 25 individuals and is intentionally diverse and inclusive
of district campuses, employee groups, and other demographic variables.
Members and Their Roles:
- Harris, Allatia- Vice Chancellor, Strategic Initiatives, Workforce, Community, and Diversity
- Ruiz, Eddy (Chair)- Assistant Vice Chancellor, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- McWaine, Lamar- Dean, Education, Equity, and Excellence
- AlAyyadhi, Salem- Senior Graphic Designer, Marketing and Public Relations
- Banks, Lindsay- Chair, Health Sciences
- Crosby, Richard- Sargent, Police
- DeJesusGil, Jose- Dean, Enrollment Services
- Elizondo, Adriana- Director, Advising, Career, and Transfer
- Farias, Teddy- Dean, Health and Natural Sciences
- Gonzalez, George- Director, Institutional Research and Data Sciences
- Helms, Rosselle- Coordinator, Executive Operations
- Jones, Karyn- Librarian
- Kennebrew, Kara- Dean, Compliance and Judicial Affairs
- Lopez, Stephen- Professor, History
- McShay, Juli- Professor, Government
- Murray, Krissy- Coordinator, Education and Workforce
- Murray, Robbie- Director, Mental Health Services
- Orand, Denise- Director, Adult Education Grants
- Penn, Ralph- Professor, Computer Information Technology
- Prasifka, Matt- Director, Auxiliary Services
- Ragaisis, James- Dean, Business, and Technology
- Reiland, Mandi- Manager, Executive Operations
- Sanchez, Ronald- Vice President, Organization and Talent Development
- Silman, Shawn- Dean, Liberal Arts
- Solis, Shannon- Professor, Mathematics
- Tewes, Crystal- Professor, Education
- Townsend, Sonia- Dean, Student Development
CODEI is the backbone of an intra-organizational collective impact model that aligns equity work, facilitates communication, and advances student success and inclusive learning environments across the institution by:
- Facilitating courageous conversations that advance understanding and respect.
- Reviewing curriculum and training to empower the next generation’s workforce.
- Creating a culture of inclusivity in classrooms and through engaged learning.
- Implementing strategies that reduce bias and increase inclusive excellence in recruiting, hiring, and retaining San Jacinto College employees.
- Achieving equity in student outcomes by program and course across ability, enrollment status, racial/ethnic, sex, and socioeconomic differences.
CODEI relies on multiple workgroups to conduct activities or research within and across units to address these commitments. Teams meet regularly to strategize, share data, review progress, and report to CODEI throughout the year.
The Council of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion will:
- Employ a college-wide approach in addressing DEI matters.
- Utilize an adapted collective impact model that respects the work and leadership of various campus units.
- Provide transparent communications to colleagues and other employees regarding processes and decision-making.
- Ensure consistent standards and processes across departments and campuses.
- Advocate and support work that advances student success through DEI efforts.
- Report on workgroup efforts and seek input from colleagues.
- Deemonstrate the college’s values in all its work.
CODEI will provide an annual report that includes workgroup activities, findings, and progress.
- Workgroups include but are not limited to: Community Engagement, Curriculum, Facilities and Fiscal Services, Learning Resources, Policy Language, Professional Development, Program Outcomes, San Jacinto College Employment Outcomes, Student Employment Outcomes, Student Engagement and Support, Student Resources, and Student Voices.
- CODEI will develop a communication plan to update the campus community on the work happening across all areas of San Jacinto College.
- Members will collectively meet 5 to 6 times annually.
- Meetings will last 2 to 3 hours.
- Meetings include team building, status updates, training, or guest speakers.
- Gatherings provide a brave space to question, express differences of opinion, and respectfully learn from one another.
Terms:
Members shall serve three-year terms. Rotations will be staggered to allow for one-third to be rotated out in the first year, one-third in its second year, and one-third in its third year, based on the needs and functionality of the group.
Timeline Anchors
Start: Fall 2020
End: Ongoing
The Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity Council’s Workgroups
Our Council workgroups ensure that specific campus areas and issues are covered effectively and foster belonging. Our teams have unique focuses to help improve diversity, equity, and inclusivity at San Jac. Learn more about each of them below.
Workgroups: Student-Focused
Student Engagement and Success
The team examines student-facing DEI initiatives related to student activities, extra-curricular initiatives, co-curricular initiatives, and student organizations. They work to identify processes, align and coordinate efforts, market programs, and plan a timeline that supports engagement and belonging.
Student Resources
The SR group communicates efforts across departments about services for students and makes recommendations for the administration of services.
Student Voices
This team gathers student perspectives. They report on activities on and around campus that encourage and amplify the student voice.
Workgroups: Outcome-Focused
Employment Outcomes
The technical program data about graduation, employment, and earnings for one year and five years after graduation are examined. Data is disaggregated by race/ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status and enrollment (PT or FT) to highlight successes and opportunities.
Program Outcomes
The workgroup reviews current data sets and recommends dashboard measures. The team shares reports of significant findings, ask questions, and develops potential interventions and solutions.
San Jacinto College Employment Outcomes
The workgroup evaluated recruitment and hiring practices. The team recommends employee dashboard metrics to observe patterns and recommends opportunities to improve practices.
Workgroups: Community and Communication
Community Engagement
The workgroup catalogs and coordinates our participation with community groups that connect students with services. The team works to involve the college community in various organizations, and to identify and enhancing campus-community relations.
Professional Development
Professional Development enhances communication across departments, shares training availability and supports campus conversations.
Workgroups: Facilities and Faculty Focused
This team reports on changes occurring in instructional areas to enhance and expand culturally inclusive teaching. They work to develop qualitative and quantitative reporting metrics.
This team reports on changes occurring in instructional areas to enhance and expand culturally inclusive teaching. They work to develop qualitative and quantitative reporting metrics.
This team examines inclusion (e.g., ADA, medical privacy rooms, access) and campus practices to foster belonging.
The workgroup curates resources where employees can find readings, webinars, and websites that inform conversations, and advance learning and equity. They manage an online learning repository for the campus.
The work of policy review and management happens from the Chancellor’s Office. The team reviews policy for inclusive language and identifies and adjusts language that is not current.
DEI Report Recommendations
