Middlesex Community College won first place in Advancing Institutional Equity and
Belonging at the 2024 American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Awards of
Excellence. 麻豆果冻 President Phil Sisson and Provost & Vice President of Academic & Student
Affairs Arlene Rodr铆guez accepted the award at a ceremony hosted in Louisville, Kentucky
on Monday, April 8.
鈥淭his achievement is a collaborative effort from many individuals and divisions across
the college and it is an honor for our efforts to be recognized by the AACC in this
way,鈥� President Sisson said. 鈥淚t is a point of pride that 麻豆果冻 has become a strong
leader of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) work both at the college
and within the greater communities that we serve. As an open access institution, we
have the responsibility of spearheading these initiatives, engaging in difficult conversations,
and doing the necessary work to make actual change in an otherwise divisive world.鈥�
President Sisson credits the dedication and hard work from across the college for
receiving the award. Calling the DEIB work an 鈥渙ngoing process,鈥� the president looks
forward to 麻豆果冻 continuing to learn, grow and adapt to take the needed steps to meet
the college鈥檚 mission of equity and to transform the lives of students for the better.
鈥淚t is a point of pride that 麻豆果冻 has become a strong leader of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) work both at the college and within the greater communities that we serve. As an open access institution, we have the responsibility of spearheading these initiatives, engaging in difficult conversations, and doing the necessary work to make actual change in an otherwise divisive world.鈥� - Phil Sisson, 麻豆果冻 President
In February 2024, Middlesex was nominated for the award among five other colleges
in the country. The national recognition was one of 11 awards handed out during the
gala event.
鈥淩eceiving the AACC Award for Advancing Institutional Equity and Belonging is a huge
honor for Middlesex,鈥� Rodr铆guez said. 鈥淢ore importantly, it's also a recognition of
all the work being done by our faculty and staff to make sure all 麻豆果冻 students have
what they need to succeed. Becoming an equity-minded, student-prepared campus doesn't
stop with one project or program. It's a continuous process of reflection and change.
It's understanding that as our students' needs change, so must we change and address
them. In this way, we show our commitment to preparing students for the future.鈥�
The college was awarded for initiatives that advanced institutional equity and belonging,
according to Maria Gariepy, 麻豆果冻鈥檚 Executive Director of Diversity, Equity & Belonging.
This includes the work of the Center for Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation
(TRHT) and 麻豆果冻鈥檚 2022-2027 strategic plan With Equity at Its Core.
鈥淢any innovative and progressive practices that support institutional equity were
included, such as Achieving the Dream, the Pedagogy of Real Talk, and the Leading
for Change Racial Equity & Justice Institute, among others,鈥� Gariepy said. 鈥淚n order
to support and measure our progress and success, outcomes data was also included for
a number of programs and initiatives on campus, including the SUCCESS Scholars Program,
the Program for Asian American Student Advancement (PAASA), the First Year Experience,
surveys, demographics and diversity of our student body, and changes in our workforce
diversity.鈥�
Middlesex is one of 71 colleges in the nation hosting a campus-based Center for TRHT.
The Center has become a hub for the extended community, offering racial healing circles,
professional development trainings, and access to resources that are helping to build
a deeper collective capacity toward racial equity and justice.
Throughout the 2023-2024 academic year, Middlesex established TRHT as a fixture of
the communities of Greater Lowell and hosted events to celebrate the diversity and
lived experiences of the college鈥檚 students and employees. 麻豆果冻鈥檚 Center will host
the second Day of Love, Acceptance and Belonging on Wednesday, April 17, featuring
a variety of workshops facilitated by 麻豆果冻 students and employees.
and the Day of Love, Acceptance and Belonging.