A Culture of Equity and Inclusion

February 10, 2021

As a member of Minnesota State, Anoka-Ramsey Community College is part of the largest, most diverse network of higher education providers in the state of Minnesota. The college’s strategic plan pushes beyond diversity and challenges Anoka-Ramsey to close equity gaps and become a more inclusive college for students, faculty and staff.

Through the Minnesota State Office of Equity and Inclusion, four priority areas have been defined in the Equity 2030 plan for colleges to:

• build equity-minded administrators, faculty and staff through professional development opportunities;
• ensure all students have access to equitable opportunities in all aspects of their education and that all colleges and universities are student ready to serve a more diverse student body;
• improve support and resources for colleges and universities related to compliance with federal and state civil rights laws and supporting board policies;
• ensure welcoming and inclusive environments across the colleges and universities.

With these goals in mind and building on the college’s Strategic Diversity and Inclusion Plan chartered in 2016, Anoka-Ramsey engaged in the Equity by Design initiative as just one approach to inform and implement this work.

But what does equity mean in the college environment?

“We all have diverse abilities and backgrounds, and our educational process should reflect that,” shared Melanie Melendrez-Vallard a biology instructor and faculty representative for the department in the college’s Equity 2030 workgroup.

“As educators our role is to determine what a student needs to be successful and provide that; to individualize that student's educational journey as much as we can to ensure they have the same education, the same opportunities, a set of new skills and a strengthening of the skills they already have that make them unique and indispensable.”

As a college, it also means using data to understand the equity gaps that exist. One example of this is the graduation rate for students from diverse backgrounds. Anoka-Ramsey has reviewed data for the past three years, the Equity by Design process will allow the college to ask how we look at the data and work it’s doing through an equity lens to consider how to get to parity and reduce the equity gap.

Through this process, it is easy to recognize opportunities and want to quickly jump in to make a change but making a change to an organizational culture takes time to be sustainable.

“This work is mission critical, not only to our students but our entire college community,” said Steve Crittenden, interim vice president of academic and student affairs. “We need to understand what equity is and see gaps through data and experiences. Then we can incorporate best practices and new practices to get to where we need to be.”

Anoka-Ramsey is ready to remain committed to the long-term goal of creating a community where students are part of defining their success and the college plays a role in providing the resources needed to achieve their goals.

“Every student is capable, every student is unique, every student has the potential to be a productive member of our society,” said Melendrez-Vallard.  “As instructors, I believe, we should provide them the tools they need and show them how capable and amazing they are. That's equity.”

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This story is an article from the Winter 2021 edition of the Anoka-Ramsey Community College Newsletter, visit the Alumni and Community page to read the full issue.