Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Grays Harbor College is Committed to Fostering a Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive Learning Environment for All
Our College Plan is our Promise
GHC’s College Plan integrates Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion throughout its priorities and actions. Key objectives include:
- Fostering student success by closing equity gaps;
- creating a culture of belonging;
- fostering racial, social, and economic justice for students, faculty, and staff; and
- ensuring all students meet their educational goals.
These objectives and our work toward them are described in the GHC Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Strategic Plan.
GHC’s overall plan to address equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging is heavily influenced by The Inclusive Excellence Framework and the University of Missouri’s use of this tool. The guiding principle of Making Excellence Inclusive was created by the Association of American Colleges & Universities in 2005. Read the AACU article on Making Diversity Work on Campus (pdf).
The Inclusive Excellence Framework encompasses five dimensions:
- Access & Success
- Institutional Climate and Intergroup Relations
- Education and Scholarship
- Institutional Infrastructure
- Community Engagement
GHC’s college priorities address these areas with training and institutional assessment elevated to a high priority for students, faulty, and staff with the recent support of our legislature (see below for more information).
EDI Summary of Accomplishments Across the College Since 2020
Since 2020, the Diversity Advisory Committee (DAC) has worked to engage the college community around diversity, equity and inclusion through participation in all-college meetings, organizing workshops in partnership with TwinStar Credit Union, and the development of a Land Acknowledgement Statement. This statement recognizes and respects Indigenous Peoples as traditional stewards of the land the college lies on and the enduring relationship between Native Americans and their traditional territories. The Multicultural Club has been re-established, and a page on GHC’s website was established to serve as a repository for diversity, equity, and inclusion resources.
A Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Rubric has been developed by the DAC to help GHC assess and improve some of the College’s major institutional processes including curriculum, hiring, student onboarding, and program centers. Additionally, data on topics such as student progress, completion and retention gaps for historically underrepresented students, and our ‘sense of belonging’ have been reviewed to identify additional action items the committee will take to facilitate additional progress in the future.
During the 2021 Legislative Session, two senate bills were passed signaling a system wide approach to ensuring equitable access and educational success for all residents, particularly from communities of color, students with disabilities and low-income communities. Put another way, these monies allow GHC to 1) invest financial resources behind our already existing EDI priorities, action plan, and objectives, 2) expand GHC’s efforts and commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, and 3) provide ongoing EDI and anti-racist training for faculty, staff, and students.
Metrics of Success
- Disaggregate Data on Student Progress and Completion Metrics
- Promote student, faculty, & staff success - College Priority #2 Scorecard
- Foster a diverse, equitable, and inclusive learning environment – College Priority #3 Scorecard
- Strengthen enrollment, partnerships, and pathways to student achievement – College Priority #5 Scorecard
Recent Senate Bills Provide Support for EDI
During the 2021 Legislative Session, two senate bills (SB 5277 and SB5194) were passed into law which establish a system-wide approach to ensuring equitable educational access and success for all residents, particularly for students from communities of color, students with disabilities, and low-income communities.
College Climate Assessments
Pursuant to SB 5227, community colleges in Washington are now expected to regularly administer campus climate assessments to students and employees and post the findings. Reports will be posted here as they become available.
Students EDI Survey and Focus Group Results
- Spring 2022 - CCSSE Race/Ethnicity Survey Results
- Spring 2023 - Listening Sessions with Cultures Connecting
- Spring 2023 – Listening Session Survey Results
- Sense of Belonging Survey Results Compilation – Fall 2023
- Student Listening Sessions - Spring 2024
Employees
- Winter 2021 - Personal Assessment of the College Environment Race Ethnicity Survey Subscale
- Winter 2023 - Personal Assessment of the College Environment Race Ethnicity Survey Subscale
- Winter 2023 – Personal Assessment of the College Environment Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Qualitative Report
Diversity Training
GHC is committed to ongoing training around diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. Our training curriculum is in line with our overall philosophy of Inclusive Excellence and addresses the multiple areas of a college and college life where anti-racism and anti-discrimination strategies can significantly improve things for Historically Underserved Student of Color (HU-SoC), LGBTQIA+, and other marginalized groups.
During Fall 2023, the College Priority 3 – EDI Training Framework and Professional Development/Training Sub-Committee met to 1) review SB 5227 & SB 5194 implementation timeline and GHC summary of progress, 2) review EDI training frameworks and discuss establishing a framework for GHC and 3) brainstorm an annual EDI/anti-racist professional development and training calendar.
Using the Inclusive Excellence Framework, the sub-committee charted The College’s priorities, action plan, and objectives. The sub-committee discussed additional college-specific variables and elements and identified professional development and training topics that should be considered within each framework pillar.
The sub-committee is meeting in early January 2024 to continue to work on this training framework and professional development/training list in advance of the larger committee meeting at the end of January. This website will be updated as the sub-committee continues to make progress.
Training for Students
Anti-racist and additional EDI training opportunities coming spring 2024.
Training for Employees
In addition to the “DEI in the workplace – Higher Ed – All Employees” training that is required for all new employees, GHC is committed to providing ongoing training, both targeted and general, for the institution, division, departments, and employees.
| Date and Details of Sessions(s) | Evaluation Results |
|---|---|
| Winter 2023 – Facilitated session about Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (Cultures Connecting led); all employees | Evaluation Results |
Ongoing training opportunities the College is exploring include, but are not limited to; Safe Zone Training, Mental Health First Aid and Bystander Intervention.