Area Report for Board of Trustees

The Equity, Diversity, and Transformation (EDT) Division is charged with embedding equity in everything we do at Highline College. Below are updates of the ongoing work.

Core Theme 1: ACCESS, Reduce Barriers and close equity gaps to access for all community members

• March 5, kicked off our very first C.P.R. (Clinic for Persistence and Retention) for Black student Success. Led by Dr. Erich Elwin, this initiative brought together faculty and staff volunteers to support students who had not yet registered for the spring quarter. Students had the opportunity to engage with faculty and staff, receive registration assistance, and connect with the Benefits Hub for additional resources. This effort reflects Highline’s ongoing commitment to improving retention and success outcomes for Black students.

Core Theme 4: CULTURE & CAPACITY: Promote a campus culture which fosters equity and inclusivity supporting employee growth and development, and institutional capacity for transformation

• Following overwhelmingly positive feedback from EDI 2024 participants and insights from the recent EDI 2025 planning survey—where nearly half of respondents emphasized the need to strengthen focus on campus community, culture, and relationships—, in collaboration with the Equity Task Force, launched the first Cultural/Identity/Affinity Community Conversations Hour on March 6. This dedicated space for identity-based connection brought together approximately 40-50 faculty and staff members to engage in meaningful dialogue, foster connections, and build community.
• Ten Highline College staff members attended the 17th Annual Alliance of Hispanic Serving Institution Educators (AHSIE) Best Practices Conference. EDT Leadership represented with two workshop presentations:
• “Creando Espacios Culturales Afirmativos: Highline College’s Juntos as a Model of Success” – Presented by Associate Dean Mariela Barriga and Director Krystal Welch, this session highlighted the impact of culturally affirming spaces in supporting Latiné student success.
• “Balancing Synergistic Commitments to Latine/x/@ and Black Student Success While Becoming an HSI” – Presented by Directors Krystal Welch and Rickitia Reid, this workshop explored strategies for advancing equity initiatives for both Latiné and Black students as Highline moves toward becoming a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI).

Attendance at the conference provided valuable insights and best practices to inform Highline’s ongoing efforts to become an HSI.

Report submitted by Vice President of Equity, Diversity and Transformation, Dra. Maribel Jimenéz