Student Equity needs for document to the President—A.N. 010915

Equity Defined

  • “Parity in the achievement and success of all student populations” (ASCCC, 2010)
  • Ed Code 78220—“to ensure equal educational opportunities and to promote student success forall students regardless of race, gender, age, disability or economic circumstance”

Student Equity as defined by SB1456 Student Success Act

Since 2012, the Student Success Act has served as the impetus to review and update the student equity planning process. In December of 2012, the Chancellor’s Office convened a Student Equity Workgroup, made up of representatives of community college stakeholders across the state. SB 1456 requires colleges to coordinate the development of the Student Success and Support Program (SSSP) Plan with the Student Equity Plan to ensure that each college has identified strategies to address and monitor equity issues as well as attempt to mitigate any disproportionate impact on student access and achievement. Colleges were further required to coordinate interventions or services to students at risk of academic progress or probation (Title5, §55100).

State Equity Charge to California Community Colleges--SUMMARIZED

  • Increase Student Access, Retention, Degree and Certificate Completion and Transfer
  • Monitor student access and achievement (Research and Data), as well as the impact of SSSP requirements
  • Identify strategies to address and monitor equity issues and mitigate disproportionate impact on student access and achievement

Title 5 section54220

§ 54220. Student Equity Plans.

(a) In order to promote student success for all students, regardless of race, gender, age, disability, or economic circumstances, the governing board of each community college district shall maintain a student equity plan which includes for each college in the district:

(1) Campus-based research as to the extent of student equity in the five areas described in paragraph (2) and the determination of what activities are most likely to be effective;

(2) Goals for access, retention, degree and certificate completion, ESL and basic skills completion, and transfer; for the overall student population and for each population group of students, as appropriate. Where significant underrepresentation is found to exist in accordance with standards adopted by the Board of Governors, the plan shall include race-neutral and/or gender-neutral measures for addressing disparities in those areas, and, when legally appropriate, goals for addressing a disparity in representation of students with disabilities, and where required by federal law, race-conscious and/or gender-conscious measures for addressing a race or gender disparity;

Note: Authority cited: Section 70901, Education Code. Reference: Sections 66010.2, 66010.7, 66030 and 70901, Education Code.

Student Equity at College of the Desert

In January 2014, College of the Desert Superintendent/President, Dr. Joel Kinnamon, released our College’s “Agenda for the Advancement of Student Success and Community Development.” This agenda lays out a framework for the College to focus its financial and human resources to achieve its overarching focus of student success and to better align our planning process, Trustee Goals and Student Success Plan. Within this agenda, it states that College of the Desert will support the development and implementation of a student success plan.

Shortly thereafter in late spring 2014, College of the Desert formed 8 Student Success Initiative (SSI) Task Forces and five of the eight Task Forces met in spring 2014. One of the 8 task forces is the Student Equity (SSI Equity Task Force). The Faculty Co-Chair was appointed by the Academic Senate and the Administrative Co-Chair was appointed by Leadership in spring 2014. With the work from the SSI Task Forces that met in spring 2014 completed, the Office of Institutional Effectiveness, Educational Services and Planning sent out an initial invitation October 3rd, 2014 to call the first meeting of the SSI-Equity Task Force. The SSI-Equity Task Force first met on October 15th, 2014 to begin the initial work of developing a preliminary Student Equity Plan for College of the Desert. The SSI Equity membership includes students, staff, faculty and leadership. The Office of Institutional Research provided the initial data for disproportionate impact for all the required fields and required groups (i.e. Veterans, Foster Youth, Students with Disabilities, etc.) of the Student Equity Plan and the State Chancellor’s office. From the initial data, some groups were identified; however it was clear that further research will need to occur during the upcoming years to continue to identify and serve our at risk students and lead them through a successful pathway. In total for this fall 2014, the SSI Equity Task Force met 5 times and opened up 3 days with 15 hours of open sessions (a total of 15 hours), and email feedback windows to solicit more ideas and input. The Student Equity Plan is a living document so feedback and discussion will continue in spring 2015 when the SSI Equity Task Force and the Diversity Council will reconvene.