The Equity First Strategic Planning Team is hosting a town hall zoom meeting on May 2, seeking input from the Highline community.

Equity has become one of the college’s focal points. Where equality would be giving every student an equal opportunity, equity is giving students fair opportunities as not all people have the same starting points, college officials say. 

“A great example of this definition was given earlier this week by Dr. Derek Greenfield during his Unity Week Presentation. He said equality is giving everyone the shoes, but equity is making sure everyone has shoes that fit correctly,” said Dr. Darryl Brice, professor of Sociology and Diversity and Globalism Studies at Highline.

The Equity First Strategic Planning Team represents the different communities Highline has and seeks to address the challenges they face. 

“So far our core team and other committee members have developed a new policy rubric and a new mission, vision, values statement draft that reflects Highline as an culturally responsive, equity-first driven institution,” said Dr. John R. Mosby, president of Highline. 

“Highline’s existing strategic plan, which was written by a leadership team of which many are no longer affiliated with HC, expired in 2020-21,” he said.

“Rather than rewrite history by renewing a plan written by the Executive Cabinet’s predecessors, we are taking the opportunity to reimagine what Highline can do for both its current and future community members by embedding equity throughout the college’s systems and practices,” Dr. Mosby said.

There hasn’t been any changes like this in Highline’s history, he said.  

“This is something new and exciting for Highline,” said Dr. Mosby.

One of the biggest goals of this effort is “to hear the voices of our students, staff, and faculty regarding strategic planning for Highline,” he said

“Having honest conversations can be difficult for folks, but it’s needed for change to happen, especially if students truly are the center of what we do,” he said.  .

The Town Hall meetings are being held to allow the Highline community to come together and have their voices be heard, the Equity First Strategic Planning team said in an e-mail. 

The Faculty and Staff Town Hall will be May 2 from 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m, while the Student Town Hall will be May 2 from noon-1 p.m.

College officials expect to provide Zoom links for both meetings soon. 

“It’s imperative that we have all the voices heard on campus to make sure change can occur,” said Dr. Mosby.

On May 12, the Board of Trustees will be shown the rough draft of the new Mission, Vision, and Value Statements so they can give their input, and on June 9 the final draft will be presented to the board and may be approved and then implemented.