The month of April has been designated as Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility (DEIA) Awareness Month by the California Community College Chancellor’s Office and embraced by Irvine Valley College through our commitment to building an inclusive campus culture that reflects the lived experiences of our diverse community.
Our college mission opens with a powerful statement: Student equity, inclusion, access, and success are central to IVC’s identity. As a result of this commitment, we have embraced the framework to Become a Student Ready College. As a reminder, the tenets of this framework are simple:
- All members of our campus community contribute uniquely as educators.
- We embrace our journey of intentional, systemic, holistic, and transformative approach to ensure every student receives what is needed to be successful.
- We have redefined student success in a way that represents a paradigm shift-reframing the student success conversation from one of pre-college characteristics and student deficits to one of student assets and institutional opportunity, leadership, and accountability.
- We cultivate a caring campus culture where organizational learning and improvement are central values and where we understand our roles in affirming, validating, and providing a sense of belonging to our students, particularly those who are the first in their families to navigate our complex educational system.
- We are committed not only to student achievement but also to identifying and removing systemic barriers and engaging every student in learning experiences and high-impact practices rather than reserving these opportunities for a select few.
DEIA month is significant because it raises awareness about the importance of these principles in creating a more just and equitable society. It provides an opportunity to recognize the contributions of individuals from diverse backgrounds, promotes understanding and acceptance, and fosters a culture of inclusivity and accessibility in various aspects of our lives. DEIA month encourages dialogue, action, and advocacy towards building a more equitable and inclusive world for all members of our campus community.
IVC is dedicated to advancing these principles by aligning our campus culture with action-oriented strategies. Individually and collectively, we continue to grow, learn, and incorporate change as part of our equity journey. I invite you to join me in these efforts. It can’t be done by a select few nor is it the responsibility of a particular department, school, or council. We all have a role to play to achieve transformational change. Let us do so boldly and unapologetically!
Best,
John