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 2: STUDENT LEARNING, Increase educational success, collaborate to improve

• A Benefits Hub student was selected for a United Way King County blog feature, Helping Students Graduate, located here: Why [I Turned to] United Way of King County 

Core Theme 3: COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, Create a more inclusive working environment and a more valued, visible relationship with communities we serve

• Sound Transit is tabling at the Highline Community Pantry connecting with students and employees about their experience riding, using our new station stop, and encouraging those who have not yet tried out the new service to do so. 
• Highline College hosted a Financial Literacy Day for approximately 45 seniors from Evergreen, Highline, and Tyee high schools as part of the King County Promise partnership. Students were highly engaged throughout the event, with guest speaker Devin Stubblefield delivering an accessible and dynamic session on core financial concepts, including taxes, credit, interest, saving, and investing, using real‑world examples and clear visuals to support understanding. Students also participated in a mixed panel with Highline College students, staff, and faculty, followed by a presentation from the Financial Aid team on FAFSA/WASFA processes and timelines. The event strongly aligned with the Promise mission by equipping students with the knowledge and confidence needed to navigate both college entry and their financial futures.

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

• For the first time, a student was selected as the Community Pantry’s Cooking Demo guest chef. Zulikha said it was an honor to share her culture’s food with her peers. Student attendees received take home kits to recreate the recipe at home as well.
• Institutional Research Data Analyst Kelsey Anderson joined 9 other Highline colleagues in attending the Achieving the Dream conference in Portland to learn about cutting edge data informed student success practices.

Report submitted by Vice President of Equity, Diversity and Transformation, Dra. Maríbel Jimenez