March 15, 2024
Dear Colleagues,
As part of my commitment to center IDEAA principles and provide frequent updates on the work we are undertaking, I want to share information on four important initiatives that are underway in the District:
- Cultivating an Ecosystem of Belonging
SRJC is a recipient of the Equal Employment Opportunity Innovative Best Practices Grant offered by the State Chancellor’s Office to fund a new initiative called Cultivating an Ecosystem of Belonging (CEB) Program to address faculty of color retention challenges. SRJC is partnering with Rooted in Love, a leading Race, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (REIJ) consulting firm for this initiative. For more information on Rooted in Love, please watch this introductory video. Through this grant, SRJC will engage with new faculty of color and key stakeholders at SRJC to create a strong sense of belonging, support network, and a climate that fosters their engagement. Further invitations to engage in this work will follow.
- Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) Transformation Team Project
A multi-constituent, HSI Transformation Team was formed this fall and began an action research project with leading HSI scholar, Dr. Gina Ann Garcia, of UC Berkeley’s School of Education. The project is funded by the Student Experience Research Network (SERN) and explores the organizational framework presented in the book, Transforming Hispanic Serving Institutions for Equity and Justice (Garcia, 2023). The team has reviewed policies, procedures, and practices to create more intentionality around SRJC’s capacity as a Hispanic- Serving Institution. Members of the team will be presenting some of their findings at an HSI summit hosted at UC Davis in April.
- College Forum – Showcasing IDEAA Initiatives on Friday, April 12 from 9-10:30 am
Please save the date for this interactive College forum on the Santa Rosa campus. We will be highlighting the current IDEAA initiatives across the District and discussing how we can each engage in this work. More information about this event will follow.
- Campus Climate Assessment
After consultation with key stakeholders, including union and senate leaders, the District has contracted with USC’s Race & Equity Center to administer the National Assessment of Collegiate Campus Climates (NACCC) to students, faculty, classified professionals, and administrators. With high California community college engagement rates, this assessment will provide the District with an opportunity to establish a snapshot baseline in the content areas of: Mattering & Affirmation; Cross-Racial Engagement; Racial Learning & Literacy; Encounters with Racial Stress; Appraisals of Institutional Commitment, and Impact of External Environments. The assessment includes addressing intersectional identities, including but not limited to sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex. Information about the 4-week collection period will be sent after spring break.
I will continue to provide updates on these initiatives, as well as the outcomes from the Cafecito with the College session, throughout the semester.
In community,
Dr. Garcia
Angélica Garcia, Ed.D.
Superintendent/President
707-527-4431, angelicagarcia@santarosa.edu
