In recent years, LCCC has affirmed a campus commitment to student equity and equitable teaching practices. For instance, LCCC’s President, Dr. Marcia Ballinger, prioritizes equity in her blog posts. You can access the President’s Blog here or you can check out individual blog posts, available using the links below.

Celebrating the “Unity” in Community College

In her April 1, 2021 post, “Celebrating the ‘Unity’ in Community College,” Dr. Ballinger discusses the equitable impact of the many community colleges in the United States. Like other community colleges, LCCC employs a policy known as open access to enroll students of all backgrounds. LCCC also maintains a student-centered philosophy, which as Dr. Ballinger explains, means that “instead of expecting students to be ‘college ready’ we focus on being ‘student ready’ and meeting students where they are.” Since opening in 1963, LCCC has offered “access to higher education for every person in Lorain County, regardless of their educational attainment or socioeconomic status.” By providing equable access and equitable learning opportunities, LCCC sets the stage for classroom conversations about equity.

Making Progress toward Achieving the Dream of Equity

Dr. Ballinger discusses equity even more directly in her February 16, 2021 blog post, “Making Progress toward Achieving the Dream of Equity.” Therein, she writes about how “Achieving the Dream (ATD), the nation’s most comprehensive organization in advancing student success and equity” guides LCCC in our pursuit of equity. According to Dr. Ballinger, “LCCC joined ATD in 2011 and is one of only 11 colleges to earn ATD’s Leader College of Distinction status. In 2020, LCCC was named the Leah Meyer Austin winner, ATD’s top prize, reserved for network colleges that show greatest, sustained improvements in student outcomes and student success. Through working with ATD, LCCC has made great strides in narrowing equity gaps for students in underserved populations.” You can read the full post to learn more about individual student stories and how ATD’s support is shaping our campus.

Equity by Design

In order to implement equity-based initiatives, LCCC created an Equity by Design Team several years ago. The team address meets monthly to address issues of equity on a campus wide level, with five main areas of focus: inclusion, diversity, equity, access, and social justice.  On the Equity by Design website, you can read LCCC’s equity statement, learn about upcoming Equity by Design events, and access other sources related to student equity.

Voices of Equity

One of the sources you might want to visit is the Voices of Equity Podcast. For instance, you might listen to this interview with Luis Hernandez, President of Student Senate (2021-2022).

Continue Reading: 3.3 Identity, Diversity, and Community