[DEOC] Impacts of EDI in higher education

Mon Mar 11 18:45:57 PDT 2024

[heart]         Amanda Ybarra reacted to your message:
________________________________
From: DEOC <deoc-bounces at lists.ctc.edu> on behalf of Sophia Agtarap via DEOC <deoc at lists.ctc.edu>
Sent: Monday, March 11, 2024 10:55:47 PM
To: DEOC <deoc at lists.ctc.edu>
Cc: Sophia Agtarap <sagtarap at sbctc.edu>
Subject: [DEOC] Fw: Impacts of EDI in higher education

Good afternoon, y'all.

Sharing a message our office sent out to the agency today to remind folks of conversations and takedowns happening around the country and even in our institutions.

Use all or parts if it's helpful.

sophia

[Compass]
  Sophia Kristina R. Agtarap (she/siya)

  Director, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

  Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges

[cid:5266c605-b154-4767-b2d3-1093bd4bf2ef]<https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/428a9a0a3cb14afe82036360d2d894a8@sbctc.edu?anonymous&ep=signature>                Book time to meet with me<https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/428a9a0a3cb14afe82036360d2d894a8@sbctc.edu?anonymous&ep=signature>

________________________________
From: Sophia Agtarap
Sent: Monday, March 11, 2024 3:00 PM
To: SBCTC All Staff <SBCTCAllStaff at sbctc.edu>
Subject: Impacts of EDI in higher education

Dear SBCTC colleagues--

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development held a hearing<https://edworkforce.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=410202> titled “Divisive, Excessive, Ineffective: The Real Impact of DEI on College Campuses” to allow testimony from individuals who oppose diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in higher education. The video footage begins around 14:03.

The Legal Defense Fund (LDF) and other groups have been monitoring opposition to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) efforts in higher education nationally<https://www.chronicle.com/article/here-are-the-states-where-lawmakers-are-seeking-to-ban-colleges-dei-efforts> and are leading campaigns to defend against attacks on diversity, equity, inclusion, and ability at the state level. As the LDF wrote in a statement last week<https://www.naacpldf.org/press-release/ldf-releases-statement-on-u-s-house-of-representatives-committee-on-education-and-workforce-subcommittee-on-higher-education-and-workforce-developments-hearing-regarding-dei-on-coll/>, “[t]he hearing is the latest in a series of attacks by extremists seeking to dismantle programs that improve campus climate and remove unfair barriers to opportunities for people of color, LGBTQ+ people, differently-abled people, and other underrepresented students."

On Friday, the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE<https://www.nadohe.org/>), which will hold its annual meeting in Seattle this week, issued a statement<https://www.nadohe.org/statements/house-hearing-march-2024> to recommit to speaking and acting forcefully against those who seek to discredit EDI professionals’ expertise and work.

We can feel somewhat removed from the attempted—and sometimes successful—takedowns of EDI work across the country as we have some legislative support for this work in Washington state and students, staff, and faculty in our community and technical colleges innovate ways to weave EDI and antiracism through policies and practices. The actions they take embody the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges’ vision<https://www.sbctc.edu/about/agency/mission-values/> to lead with racial equity to advance racial, social, and economic justice.

Here at SBCTC, we hope you will continue to engage your head and heart through learning and professional development opportunities made available throughout the agency and the day-to-day practice of leading with equity as we do the important, brave, and intersectional work of dismantling policies that systemically and systematically keep those furthest from justice from accessing the benefits that come with higher education: higher incomes, better health, and greater social and economic mobility that passes from generation to generation.

Activist, educator, and scholar Dr. Bettina Love wrote: “Too often we think the work of fighting oppression is just intellectual. The real work is personal, emotional, spiritual, and communal.” Our Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and our partners throughout the agency and system will continue to offer and sponsor educational opportunities, professional development, employee resource groups, and other meaningful avenues to do this good work together.

forward together,

Sophia, Melissa, and Courtnay

SBCTC Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

[Compass]
  Sophia Kristina R. Agtarap (she/siya)

  Director, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

  Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges

[cid:1fde4308-288e-4bb1-bbdf-533e6dc74331]<https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/428a9a0a3cb14afe82036360d2d894a8@sbctc.edu?anonymous&ep=signature>
Book time to meet with me<https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/428a9a0a3cb14afe82036360d2d894a8@sbctc.edu?anonymous&ep=signature>
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