[DEOC] EDI Funds & Training for Students

[Osborne, Priya]

Hello DEOC,

I am returning to work after some time away due to personal reasons (to explain my absence in DEOC responses and workgroups), but now that I have returned, I am working hard to ensure DEI funds are spent down by fiscal year end and to be compliant with the upcoming legislative requirement that all degree-seeking students must be EDI-AR trained starting in AY25.

I am currently working on connecting students with local community-based orgs in the form of a paid 4-to-6-week internship where the CBO will provide mentorship as the service to the student. At the completion of the student internship, the CBO will then be paid using SB 5194 funding where they will then use those funds to pay the student for their completed internship. My goal here is to give $ to those who need it, while strengthening community relationships. I know I can't directly provide a scholarship, so I'm thinking of this as an alternative. I'm waiting on my financial aid office to let me know if/how students could be negatively impacted if they were to receive a paid internship, but in the meantime, I wanted to touch base with you all and see if you've navigated something similar and how you proceeded.

Additionally, I just received approval on a new position (yay!) that will be responsible for providing EDI-AR trainings to students. My goal is that this position will collaborate with external organizations (CBOs, consultants, etc.) to not only meet the EDI-AR training requirement, but to also connect students with the wonderful folks in our community that are already doing this work well.

With that, I am asking for your help and wisdom by sharing your experiences and current plans to clarify my questions below:

  1.
Have you used EDI funds to connect students with community-based organizations, specifically in the form of providing state funds to students (e.g. paid internship, etc.)? If so, how did you go about doing that to ensure the student is not negatively impacted financially?

  2.
How are you all working with various folks on your campus to be compliant with ensuring all degree-seeking students receive EDI-AR training starting AY25? I would rather not create a simple Canvas course that all students must watch (which has been suggested by my leadership), though that would be feasible to do. Instead, I am wondering about other ways in which you might be tackling this? (external orgs/consultants, campus faculty and/or staff facilitated discussions, etc.) Because we are all in this together, I am just curious as to how y'all plan on proceeding to be compliant with legislation.

I know we are all busy, so I really do appreciate any help and guidance you can provide!


With gratitude,

Priya Osborne, B.A.

Director of Student Success, Equity & Diversity | P2C<https://scc.spokane.edu/For-Our-Students/Student-Resources/Multicultural-Center/Passport-to-Careers> Designated Support Staff | BSU Advisor

Center for Inclusion and Diversity<https://scc.spokane.edu/For-Our-Students/Student-Resources/Multicultural-Center>, Building 6—The Lair, Room 115

Spokane Community College

(509) 533-8201

www.scc.spokane.edu<http://www.scc.spokane.edu/>

“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better” – Maya Angelou
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