Maria Griffin

The convocation celebrated the institution's 75th anniversary with the theme Then and Now, highlighting its evolution from the Salt Lake Area Vocational School to a comprehensive community college. Key discussion topics included land acknowledgement, student achievements and leadership introductions, faculty and staff recognitions, the selection of a new poet laureate, and a state of the college address that emphasized the institution's commitment to community service, student success, and navigating future challenges.

This vision statement for the Salt Lake Community College Student Association (SLCCSA) outlines a strategic direction for 2022-2023, focused on supporting students and reducing common barriers. The plan is structured around three key pillars: 'Represent,' which aims to enhance diversity and support for Students of Color and undocumented students; 'Retain,' addressing the student retention crisis to help students achieve academic goals; and 'Reorganize,' which seeks to shift SLCCSA's focus towards stronger student advocacy, increased visibility of student leadership, and prioritizing Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI).

This document contains the transcript of a plenary session focused on the strategic plan of Salt Lake Community College (SLCC). The session discusses the college's progress toward becoming a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) by addressing student completion rates, closing opportunity gaps, and fostering inclusivity for all student populations. It emphasizes operationalizing the college's vision, mission, and values through strategic goals and collaborative initiatives, aiming to create a model for transformative education.

This document, a transcript of a breakout session, provides an overview of the 'Pathways as an HSI Initiative' at the institution. It details progress made in areas such as organizing academic programs into eight areas of study, implementing redesigned advising and career coaching, and curricular reforms including enhanced program review and transfer processes. The session outlines current focus areas like developing program maps, establishing area study councils, and refining general transfer degrees and developmental education. Challenges encountered, such as initiative fatigue and the need for greater flexibility and faculty buy-in, are discussed. The document emphasizes integrating HSI goals more explicitly with the Pathways initiative to ensure a coordinated, high-impact educational experience for students.

The hybrid workshop focused on organizational strategies for Hispanic Serving Institutions to better serve students. Key topics included the typology of organizational identities, defining servingness beyond enrollment numbers, the importance of fostering sense of belonging through student-centered spaces, and the role of academic outcomes in equity initiatives. Additionally, the discussion addressed the challenge of scaling successful programs to an institutional level and the necessity of confronting racism and microaggressions within the campus culture to achieve equitable outcomes.