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Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

TCC is committed to diversity and inclusion

Tidewater Community College holds diversity, equity, and inclusion as a core value. We aim to create an environment in which policies, practices, and beliefs are grounded in the principle of fairness and that acknowledges structural racism, gender disparities, and systemic poverty while honoring the diversity of humanity. Tidewater Community College is dedicated to cultivating and sustaining a diverse and inclusive environment that embraces all identities, perspectives, expression of ideas, and backgrounds. The entire college community benefits from experiences that foster mutual respect, celebrate differences, and value commonalities. 

Shared Language Definitions:

Diversity: All of the characteristics that make individuals unique. It describes the various combinations of group/social differences including race, ethnicity, class, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, country of origin, ability, age, as well as cultural, political, and religious affiliations. various races and ethnicities…different economic, geographic, and religious backgrounds…age, disabilities, and sexual orientation.”

Inclusion: An inclusive institution is one where the diversity, work and talents of all employees are valued, where everyone feels welcomed and comfortable, and where everyone has an equitable opportunity to advance and succeed.

Equity: Equity is the existence of an environment in which policies, practices, and beliefs are grounded in the principle of fairness and that acknowledges structural racism, gender disparities, and systemic poverty, while honoring the diversity of humanity. This environment explicitly prioritizes the success of all students to ensure that they have the necessary resources to fulfill their college and career goals.

Resources: TCC and VCCS definitions, ONE Virginia, VCCS Opportunity 2027 Strategic PlanReport of the Chancellor’s Task Force on DiversityVCCS definitions

DEI Goals From TCC’s Five-Year Strategic Plan

5.1 Close student access and achievement gaps. *
5.2 Engage in DEI and cultural awareness training and professional development. 
5.3 Conduct a policy and curriculum review focused on DEI.
5.4Develop annual employee DEI recruitment and retention targets.

Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion Council

Utilize data to create opportunities that bring Strategic Direction 5 of the College’s Strategic Plan into fruition to:

  • 5.1 Close student access and achievement gaps through Assessing the current state of DE&I through qualitative and quantitative data to ascertain how TCC defines and integrates diversity, equity and inclusion through teaching, learning, student and community engagement: thus, establishing a baseline for our strategic direction.
  • 5.2 Engage in DE&I and cultural awareness training and professional development by reviewing current initiatives and research best practices to facilitate and support departments college wide in strategic programming which includes professional development and student learning.  Implement a strategic assessment process which informs continuous quality and improvement and ensures accountability.
  • Review VCCS goals, and other initiatives across the Commonwealth to ensure that TCC is in alignment and that college practices are relevant.

All full council meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday of the month via Zoom.
Subcommittee meetings are at various times throughout the month. Contact ckizart@unawatuna-guesthouse.com for details.

 
  • Chair: Kyndra Brown, Chesapeake Campus
  • Babi Brock, Virginia Beach Campus
  • Michael Bryan, District Office
  • Beth Callahan, Virginia Beach Campus
  • Floyd Davis, Virginia Beach Campus
  • Tatianna Duero, Virginia Beach Campus
  • Davine (Daye) Faulks-Brayboy, District Office
  • Betsy Foushee, District Office
  • Rhonda Goudy, Chesapeake Campus
  • Sara Hair, Chesapeake Campus
  • Jaedda Hall, Virginia Beach Campus
  • Ruth Hu, Chesapeake Campus
  • Latesha Johnson, District Office
  • Brittney Lapoint, Workforce Solutions
  • Donald Liburd, Norfolk Office
  • Amanda Llloyd, Workforce Solutions
  • Gloria McKinney, Information Technology
  • Alicia Phillips, Portsmouth Campus
  • Naomi Riddick, District Office
  • Kriste Salamon, District Office
  • Marquita Snow, District Office
  • Jennifer Valentine, Virginia Beach Campus

HOW DOES TCC DEVELOP A CULTURE OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION?

  • TCC Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Council is comprised of students, faculty, and staff from all four campuses.
  • The Student Resource and Empowerment Center is a Single Stop site that connects students with a variety of free and comprehensive social services and financial resources to help them stay focused on their academic goals.
  • Global and Intercultural Learning Committee’s purpose is to create and coordinate opportunities in global learning for faculty, staff, and students. To create and coordinate opportunities for the faculty that includes professional development, curriculum development, foreign language and study abroad with the goal of internationalizing the education of as many students as possible.
  • TCC Libraries provides resources related to DEI information for research and instruction needs. The Cultural Studies Research Guide links to databases and other information resources to assist with research about a variety of cultural groups.
  • The Office of Educational Accessibility at TCC has as its mission to provide access to programs and facilities for students in a supportive atmosphere, and in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amended.
  • Workforce Recruitment Program connects public and private employers with highly motivated students and recent graduates with disabilities who are eager to prove their abilities in the workplace through summer or permanent jobs. The WRP provides individuals opportunities to market their abilities to a wide variety of potential employers across the United States, sharpen their interviewing skills, gain valuable work experience and establish job contacts. The WRP is co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) and the U.S. Department of Defense’s Office of Diversity Management & Equal Opportunity (ODMEO) with support from other federal agencies.
  • Tidewater Community College’s Center for Teaching Excellence is a community for faculty to connect, engage, and collaborate.
  • Workforce Solutions From health care to IT and beyond, Tidewater Community College’s Center for Workforce Solutions provides quality short-term workforce training that advances your business goals while improving the community we serve. Job Skills Training Program and Fast Forward are also available through Workforce Solutions.
  • TCC promotes inclusion through its partnership with Hampton Roads Transit, the regional transit provider in its service area, to provide students with discounted public transportation, reducing a significant barrier to student success. Discounted services also include transport for disabled students.
  • CMVE Recognizing that one-third of TCC’s students have a relationship with the U.S. military (i.e., active duty, veteran, or family), the Center for Military and Veterans Education (CMVE) developed a Canvas-hosted site, the Military Cultural Awareness Resource Center, which serves as a one-stop professional development resource for faculty and staff. The structure brings awareness of military-related culture and issues and is accessible to all faculty and staff through Canvas.
  • The college established the TCC Chapter of the American Association for Women in Community Colleges (TCC-AAWCC) in 2014-15. The organization boosts mentorship, development, networking, and leadership. It is currently soliciting candidates for the 2015 AAWCC Region 3 National Board Student Scholarship and the AAWCC Doctoral Program Scholarship.
  • The Open Door Project provides mentoring services to students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds and are often first-generation college students.
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  • New Faculty Academy is offered to all new full-time teaching faculty members at the start of their first semester of full-time employment at the college.
  • TCC Diversity Officer works collaboratively with Human Resources to develop a standardized employment search committee/interview panel checklist delineating diversity expectations (gender, race/ethnicity, etc.) that must be considered and met while developing search committees.
  • Search advocates

Contact:

Dr. ClauDean Kizart,
Director of Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

ckizart@unawatuna-guesthouse.com

Jordan Barnes,
Academic Advisor Advising and Student Success 

jibarnes@unawatuna-guesthouse.com

Beth Callahan,
College-Wide Coordinator of Educational Accessibility 

bcallahan@unawatuna-guesthouse.com