Anne Dresen

The "Our Promise Plan" is a strategic framework guiding Saint Paul College's efforts through 2030, built upon three core pillars: Purpose, Place, and People. The plan aims to deliver transformative education empowering students for societal contribution, foster an inclusive environment where students and employees thrive, and establish the college as an engaged community partner strengthening Saint Paul. Key objectives include redesigning the student experience by 2030 to ensure skill visibility and career navigation, cultivating an innovative and inclusive college culture focused on student success, and demonstrating the college's role in advancing equity and upward mobility within the community.

This strategic plan, titled "Our Promise Plan," is a strategic guide built around the pillars of Purpose, People, and Place. It aims to foster growth, adaptability, and student success by redesigning education, cultivating an inclusive culture, and acting as an anchor institution to eliminate socioeconomic barriers. The plan positions the college as a responsive, inclusive, and future-focused institution, meeting the needs of modern learners and empowering students and the community to thrive in a rapidly evolving world.

This Equity and Inclusion Plan formalizes and institutionalizes Saint Paul College's commitment to inclusion and equity. It outlines objectives and goals across two core themes: Student Success, which addresses accessible advising, counseling, personal health services, and financial literacy; and Equitable Campus, focusing on intercultural competence, professional development, administrative commitment to diversity, and fostering an inclusive campus climate. The plan aims to create a culture and atmosphere of belonging, collaboration, and mutual respect among its diverse students, faculty, and staff.

The meeting included a welcome address by Jennifer Rogers, the president of MCDA, and a warm welcome to Tim O'Neal from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). The attendees introduced themselves, highlighting the variety of work settings they represent, including government, higher education, non-profit agencies, and private practice. The new MCDA website was showcased, featuring organizational membership categories and resources for career professionals. Tim O'Neal discussed the impact of AI on the labor market, mentioning an article on AI's exposure to different industries and occupations.

The Saint Paul Community and Technical College's Anti-Racist, Trauma-Informed Institution Plan (ARTI) outlines a five-year (2020-2025) commitment to fostering an inclusive and equitable campus culture. The plan addresses systemic racism and trauma through seven key priorities: institutional structure, college policies, human resources, employee development, finance and resources, academics, and institutional research. Each priority includes specific goals and action steps focused on reviewing and revising policies, increasing representation of BIPOC faculty and staff, providing anti-racist and trauma-informed training, expanding partnerships with the community, and improving data collection and analysis to support evidence-based decision-making. The plan aims to create a campus climate that is safe, trustworthy, empowering, and collaborative, ultimately eliminating racial bias and discrimination while supporting the success of all members of the college community. The ARTI plan aligns with the Minnesota State System's Equity 2030 plan to eliminate educational equity gaps.