Success for all students in higher education cannot simply be achieved with a “one-size-fits-all approach,” according to a new equity toolkit from Achieving the Dream (ATD).
Francesca Carpenter
“To be clear, ensuring equity requires that we disavow the one-size-fits-all approach and that we intentionally consider institutional context and capacity for engaging in equity-minded work,” the report stated.
Instead, decision-makers and those seeking to improve equity at their two-year institutions must engage in thorough reflection of their own schools and involve collaboration from multiple departments and levels.
"Equity is everyone's job at an institution,” said Francesca Carpenter, director of equity initiatives at ATD and contributor to the toolkit. “So, it's important for a team or committee of people to look at the policies together in community and in conversation, so that they can then make the changes that are necessary."
In pursuit of this goal, ATD’s open-access toolkit is organized along eight core principles – each with its own assessment criteria, guiding questions, and additional resources and information – which can be used either together or individually.
"It's a comprehensive toolkit that goes beyond just looking at data and moves the understanding of data into action and insights. And it gives the tools to move into action," said Dr. Karen Stout, president and CEO of ATD.
Before tackling systematic issues, leaders must develop an equity mindset and set the tone for the school’s work, the report stated. This mindset involves people being race-conscious, aware of exclusionary practices, and willing to take responsibility for the success of students.
