Ridgewater College Willmar & Hutchinson, MN Diversity Strategic Plan FY 2013 & FY 2014
Ridgewater College s Mission, Vision, and Values Mission Ridgewater College provides quality educational opportunities for diverse student learners in an inclusive, supportive, and accessible environment. Vision Ridgewater College will be a dynamic educational leader exemplifying innovation and excellence within a student-centered learning environment. Values Ridgewater College values a learning environment that: o Focuses on student needs and student success o Demonstrates and reinforces the value of lifelong learning o Reaches beyond the college s walls to the community, the region, and the world o Promotes ethical and honest behavior and accountability at both an institutional and individual level o Equips students to think critically and creatively, solve problems, and adapt to rapidly changing world o Embraces diversity of thought, diversity of individual background, and affirms the worth and dignity of each 2individual o Centers on continuous improvement by establishing success indicators, measuring against those indicators, and using the results to make strategic decisions Contact Information: Jehana Khan Multicultural Outreach Coordinator Ridgewater College Hutchinson, MN & Willmar, MN (320) 222-5986 or Jehana.Khan@Ridgewater.Edu
Glossary of Terms (Provided by MNSCU): Campus Climate: campus climate is a measure real or perceived of the campus environment as it relates to interpersonal, academic and professional interactions. It refers to the experience of individuals or groups at the institution as they interact with community members. A healthy campus climate is one in which people feel welcome, safe and valued. In an unhealthy campus climate, people often feel isolated, marginalized, and unsafe. Diversity: The MNSCU system recognizes and respects the importance of all similarities and differences among human beings. The system and its institutions are committed, through their programs and policies, to fostering inclusiveness, understanding, acceptance and respect in a multicultural society. Diversity includes, but is not limited to: age, ethnic origin, national origin, race, color, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, color, religious beliefs, creeds, and income. MNSCU s system s commitment to diversity compels it to confront prejudicial, to diversity compels it to confront prejudicial discriminatory or racist behavior and policies. Underrepresented: Underrepresented students include underserved students (African American/Black, Asian, Hispanic, American Indian, and multiracial), plus first-generation students and low-income students. (In specific instances, other groups of students may be considered underrepresented. For example, in a traditionally female discipline, males may be considered underrepresented.) Underserved: Underserved students are those who have been traditionally excluded from full participation in our society and its institutions and include African American/Black, Asian, Hispanic, American Indian, and multiracial students. The basis of exclusion has been primarily on face and color. Affirmative Action: Specific action in recruitment, hiring, upgrading and other areas designed and taken for the purpose of eliminating the present effects of past discrimination, or to prevent discrimination. It is one aspect of the federal government s effort to ensure equal employment opportunity. Executive Order 11246 prohibits federal contactors from discriminating against employees on the basis of race, religion, sex, creed, color, or national origin, and requires contractors to implement affirmative action plans to increase the participation of minorities and women in the workplace. Pursuant to federal regulations, affirmative action plans must consist of equal opportunity policy statement, an analysis of the current work force, identification of problem areas, the establishment of goals and timetables for increasing employment opportunities, specific action oriented programs to address problem areas, support for community actions programs, and the establishment of an internal audit and reporting system.
Goal Action Projected Outcome Responsibility Timeline/Tracking Actual Outcome Have faculty better Counselors/advisors Tracked annually utilize early alert system Academic Support: Retention services for underrepresented and underserved students to ensure that they have the necessary support in order to be academically successful. Increase the enrollment of underrepresented/ underserved students by 1% provide workshops & information sessions to emphasize early alert system Teach Students how to use campus technology: Provide 3 workshops per/semester on technology session: OAR will go over D2L, E- Services, E-mail. 2 other sessions: Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook Teach students to Utilize LinkedIn, networking, web job searches, etc. by providing career workshops throughout semester. 2 Resume & cover letter workshops; 2 job hunting & networking workshops 100% of underrepresented students who are placed on early alert system will be contacted. 75% or more of students on early alert system will create academic plan with advisor/academic support center 100% of students will attend OAR technology session. 100% of students who request additional learning sessions will attend info tech session 90% or more of students will have left learning something new 90% or more of students will have left learning how to navigate the web for job/career purposes Academic Support Center Student Services Department Career Services Student Services Track attendees per session Report per semester Tracked annually; End of May, each year
Goal Action Projected Outcome Responsibility Timeline Actual Outcome Co-curricular: Educational programs and activities which occur outside the formal classroom to increase awareness of self, others, and self in relationships to others. Provide minimum of 2 multicultural activities on campus per semester per campus for students, faculty, and staff to promote Events will provide fun & educational info for students, staff, and faculty so that they can enhance their understanding and interactions with diverse populations Multicultural affairs Disability Services Multicultural Club & PRISM Club Student Senate 2 events per semester per year tracked annually Maintain campus awareness of global awareness Assess campus comfort with populations of diverse backgrounds Determine & develop, and provide diversity workshops for students, staff, and faculty as needed Provide information on various religious/cultural celebrations, news, and happenings Select an appropriate survey instrument to assess the current climate of racial and ethnic diversity on campuses. Assess the comfort level of people from diverse backgrounds. Report survey results to the Ridgewater community. Marketing Multicultural Affairs Update Monthly Track comfort level in FY 2013 Provide workshops Fall FY 2014 Track Comfort level FY spring 2014
Goal Action Projected Outcome Responsibility Timeline Actual Outcome Continue to implement 60% or more of the Student Success learning communities for learning community Coordinator underserved & participants will show a underrepresented success rate (retain, students graduate, or transfer) after each semester. Curricular: Initiatives that affect the teaching, learning, and the generations of knowledge within the academic realm of the institution to promote the success of underrepresented students Work with the faculty to develop a course or course content to ensure that all Emerson students have an opportunity to study multiculturalism 75% or more will earn a GPA of 2.2 or higher for the semester. Faculty Academic Deans
Goal Action Projected Outcome Responsibility Timeline Actual Outcome Encourage High School Multicultural Affairs Spring 2015 for completion & enrollment Admissions Department large event in Post-Secondary Financial Aid Education Community Outreach: Collaborations between local communities and Ridgewater College to increase awareness of how individuals can change and improve economic social inequalities - Monthly visits to local high schools: Litchfield, Willmar, Hutch, ACGC Provide ABE handouts & or information sessions for ELL prospective students Encourage faculty to refer ESL students to meet with multicultural outreach coordinator for ESL info or refer directly to ABE Visit local religious and or community centers to meet with prospective students. Similar to an informal Super Sunday event In combination with HS visits by counselors, Ridgewater will host 1 education night per campus in the spring providing info on: - Financial aid - Admissions - Student life - Programs - Topics TBD 75% or more of ESL students will enroll in ABE, ESL courses (either through ABE or ADC Visits will encourage students to apply to Ridgewater College Advisors Faculty Academic Learning Center Multicultural Affairs Student Success Coordinator Multicultural Affairs Admissions HS visits: tracked monthly
Goal Action Projected Outcome Responsibility Timeline Actual Outcome College Wide Open and Inclusive Environment: Initiatives that increase the comfort level of underrepresented populations on campuses to provide insider environments for students who typically experience outsider level status on their campuses through academic and social support Provide campus tours for current students of undecided majors Develop a plan for encouraging diversity on campus Students who are undecided will declare a major by end of Fall semester Create plan of action with minimum of 3 possibilities for encouraging diversity on campus Admissions Advisors Ongoing; minimum of 2 per year; 1 per semester Diversity Team May 2014 Implement possibilities plan for encouraging diversity on campus Improve students of underrepresented/underserved populations involvement on campus Diversity Team May 2015 Goal Action Projected Outcome Responsibility Timeline Actual Outcome Integrative Learning: Collaborations between multiple units for the cognitive, interpersonal, and intrapersonal development of students Expand opportunities for regional civic engagement and service learning programming. -create connections with local nonprofits for Ridgewater students to volunteer a Ridgewater Students will work to assist students in creating connections for volunteer opportunities within the campus communities. Service Learning Coordinator Ongoing annually