Mission of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)
Lower Columbia College celebrates and embraces diversity of all kinds, including differing beliefs, cultures, people, and experiences. We commit to institutional and individual changes that recognize, understand, and challenge patterns of social inequity and systemic disparities within our ever-changing world. As part of this commitment, we strive to strengthen practices involving student success, cultural enrichment, diversity education, curricular transformation, and employee development. We are dedicated to promoting an accessible, inclusive, and safe environment that fosters cultural competency, educational equity, and social justice for all students, staff, faculty, and our local and global communities.
DEI Update
Hi LCC Family:
Here is a quick update regarding DEI on our campus. I have received questions regarding funding for our LCC office and whether the Federal Executive Order has affected our work. The state funds us, so there is no current change in funding, and our work will continue. We are constantly meeting with our Assistant Attorneys General, Commissions, and the Executive Leadership Team to make necessary adjustments.
The AAG also advises that we continue to work on campus to serve our LCC population. We will continue to follow the college's policy regarding non-discrimination and all state and federal laws regarding non-discrimination.
If you have any further questions, please email me. The Executive Leadership Team (ELT) constantly monitors the situation and will share any information as it becomes available.
Thanks and have a great day.
Dan Ruiz
Executive Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Lower Columbia College
Longview, WA 98632
DEI Strategic Plan 2022-27
The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategic Plan 2022-27 priorities are listed below.
- Priority Area One: Develop a culture of safety and belonging for all
- Priority Area Two: Invest in a campus experience where all succeed
- Priority Area Three: Create a sustainable infrastructure to bolster continued DEI success
See page 3 of the plan for LCC's definitions of equity, diversity, and inclusion.
A diverse group of campus representatives available to determine a rapid and effective response to incidents of bias. See Bias Response Team.
Pursuant to SB 5227, community colleges in Washington are required to regularly administer campus climate assessments to students and employees, and post the findings.
Located on the 2nd floor of the Student Center, Room 201. See Campus Map.
- Events and Activities - focusing on diversity and equity for students and employees
Participate in diversity-focused events at Lower Columbia College. See Campus Calendars.
In addition to the "Diversity at LCC" training required of all new employees (to be replaced by "DEI in the Workplace - Higher Ed - All Employees" in September 2022), LCC's DEI training framework is a shared, collaborative effort between Human Resources, the Diversity and Equity Committee, and the Instructional Assessment Committee designed to provide both general and targeted training for employees.
Date and details of session/s
Evaluation Results
3/31/2022 - Facilitated breakout sessions re: creating action plans related to equity in the classroom (LCC faculty led); all full-time faculty
8/30/2022 - Search Advocate training (Oregon State University); open to all employees; "The mission of the Search Advocate program is to enhance diversity, validity, and equity in our search and selection processes."
9/9/2022 - "Neutral" Student Grievance Processes in White Supremacist Institutions of Higher Education (Dr. Farhana Loonat); all staff
9/9/2022 - Overview of culture change and the role of guided pathways and equity (Dr. Al Solano); all staff; and Getting our feet wet with the guided pathways and equity typology (Dr. Al Solano); breakout session option during all staff
9/11/2023 - Digital Accessibility: The Essential Rules and Tools You Need to be Compliant and Help Everyone Thrive (LCC web team); all staff
Winter 2024 - VFC: Identities and Inclusion training; all staff
June 2024 - Psychological Safety with Waleed Sadruddin. Available to all employees.
9/16/2024 - Keynote Presentation by Phillip Waddles (senior institutional relationship manager at Ascensus Government Savings) during in-service week. All staff meeting.
9/17/2024 - Exploring the Intersection of Race & Disability (Alé Sanchez-Madrano and Danielle Casey). Available to all employees.
Fall 2024 - DEI Allyship training assigned to all employees.
Overview:
LCC has adopted the Search Advocate program. Established in 2008 by OSU, the Search
Advocate program enhances equity, validity, and diversity in hiring. Search Advocates
are LCC faculty and staff who are trained as search and selection process advisors.
Their preparation includes an 8 hour workshop addressing current research about implicit
bias, diversity, the changing legal landscape in hiring, inclusive employment principles,
practical strategies for each stage of the search process, and effective ways to be
an advocate on a search committee. As a quality assurance measure, advocates who
wish to remain eligible beyond the first year must attend 75% of the Search Advocate
quarterly meetings for the year.
Role:
Each Search Advocate is a non-voting member who advances inclusive excellence by asking
questions to help committee members test their thinking, identifying and promoting
practices that advance diversity and social justice, and minimizing the impacts of
cognitive and structural biases. As external committee members, advocates are able
to explore assumptions, norms, and practices that an internal member might not question.
The search advocate plays a vital role in position development, recruitment, screening,
interviews, and evaluation.
The work of the Search Advocate is intended to advance our principles of equity and diversity, as reflected in LCC’s
Workforce Diversity Plan:
Lower Columbia College is committed to hiring and retaining a workforce that reflects
the diversity of our student body. We strive to increase the diversity of our applicant
pools and ensure equity and inclusion throughout our recruitment process.
Pursuant to SB 5227, community colleges in Washington are required to conduct listening and feedback sessions in any year that campus climate assessments are not administered, and post the findings.
The Safe Zone Project is a new program on the LCC Campus that will offer a visible message of inclusion, affirmation, and support to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people. Trainings will be available to help staff, faculty and students become more aware of the problems facing our students of diverse gender and sexualities and offer guidance on how to support those students.
Our curriculum is a three hour program provided through The Safe Zone Project.
Undocumented students in Washington state have the right to attend colleges and universities. Many qualify for state-funded financial aid because of the Washington Dream Act, also called the The Real Hope Act which was signed into law in 2014.
Learn more about who to contact at LCC, and policies and practices that protect LCC students.
Lower Columbia College is committed to hiring and retaining a workforce that reflects
the diversity of
our student body. Read the Lower Columbia College Workforce Diversity Plan for more information.
All Are Welcome!
Lower Columbia College does not discriminate on the basis of sex and prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX, including in admission and employment. Lower Columbia College provides equal opportunity in education and employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, age, perceived or actual physical or mental disability, pregnancy, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, creed, religion, veteran or military status, or use of a trained guide dog or service animal as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act and ADA Amendment Act, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act and Washington State's Law Against Discrimination, Chapter 49.60 RCW and their implementing regulations. All inquiries regarding compliance with Title IX, access, equal opportunity and/or grievance procedures should be directed to Vice President of Foundation, HR & Legal Affairs, 1600 Maple Street, PO Box 3010, Longview, WA 98632, title9@lowercolumbia.edu, Phone number, (360) 442-2120, Phone number/TTY (800) 833-6388. The notice of nondiscrimination is located at https://lowercolumbia.edu/disclosure/non-discrimination/.