Action Project
Institution: Moraine Valley Community College
Submitted: 2005-04-29 Contact: Sharon Katterman
Email: Katterman@morainevalley.edu Telephone: 708-974-5205
Timeline:

Planned project kickoff date: --
Target completion date: --
Actual completion date: --

A. Give this Action Project a short title in 10 words or fewer:

Embracing Diversity: Implementing a Collegewide Diversity Plan
 
B. Describe this Action Project's goal in 100 words or fewer:
Moraine Valley’s Diversity Plan was reviewed by the college community to ensure input from all stakeholders. Our Board of Trustees approved the plan in March 2005. Plan implementation will include, but not be limited to, the following activities: • Integrate intercultural perspectives into the curriculum • Influence attitudes and behaviors of the college community through formal/informal learning and education, and leadership role modeling • Implement a comprehensive college-wide recruiting strategy to attract, hire, and retain diverse employees • Institute a culture change process that supports creating and sustaining an environment that is aware of, open to, and respectful of differences.
C. Identify the single AQIP Category which the Action Project will most affect or impact:
Primary Category: Understanding Students' and Other Stakeholders' Needs
D. Describe briefly your institution's reasons for taking on this Action Project now -- why the project and its goals are high among your current priorities:
The college’s district population and student demographics are becoming more diverse. In order to meet the needs of our students and stakeholders, Moraine Valley created a strategic priority of Embracing Diversity. The college recognizes the need to foster an environment where diverse people are not only present, but also where their talents are honored, engaged, and applied to every aspect of how the college fulfills its mission and purpose.
E. List the organizational areas - -institutional departments, programs, divisions, or units -- most affected by or involved in this Action Project:
• Academic Affairs • Human Resources • Student Development
F. Name and describe briefly the key organizational process(es) that you expect this Action Project to change or improve:
• Curriculum design & teaching strategies: Integrate global and intercultural perspectives into these areas • Training & Development: Provide current employees with professional development programs and activities in behavioral objectives related to diversity • Recruitment & Hiring: Implement a comprehensive college-wide recruitment strategy to attract, hire, and retain diverse employees • Planning: Each department will be responsible for identifying a diversity objective as part of its annual plan • Performance Evaluation: Within the professional performance evaluation, employees will set goals related to their involvement in diversity initiatives for the upcoming year
G. Explain the rationale for the length of time planned for this Action Project (from kickoff to target completion):     
Reports on action team progress will be provided at least once each semester to the following campus groups: Board of Trustees, Executive Leadership Team (president, vice presidents and CFO), Administrative Council, President’s Advisory Council. In addition, collegewide updates will be disseminated via Valley View staff newsletter and MV enews electronic newsletter.
H. Describe how you plan to monitor how successfully your efforts on this Action Project are progressing:     
• Identify steps to implement new hiring practices • Define and select new teams to be charged with specific tasks related to key processes to be improved • Form academic teams to consider curriculum design and teaching strategies to integrate global and diversity perspectives into courses. • Develop and implement individual and departmental goals and objectives to support the college’s diversity initiative for fiscal year 2006
I. Describe the overall "outcome" measures or indicators that will tell you whether this Action Project has been a success or failure in achieving its goals:   
• Identify steps to implement new hiring practices • Define and select new teams to be charged with specific tasks related to key processes to be improved • Form academic teams to consider curriculum design and teaching strategies to integrate global and diversity perspectives into courses. • Develop and implement individual and departmental goals and objectives to support the college’s diversity initiative for fiscal year 2006
J. Other information (e.g., publicity, sponsor or champion, etc.):   
Implement campus wide training effort. Launch the team focused on new recruitment & hiring practices focused on diversity. Evaluate the results of department and individual objectives to identify successful activities that can be replicated in other departments on campus. Complete campus wide training effort, and initiate new hiring practices. Begin to effect change in actual hiring outcomes and results. Through student evaluations, document effects of changes in curriculum.
K. Project Leader and contact person:   
Contact Name: Andy Duren, Vice President, Administrative Services
Email: duren@morainevalley.edu
Phone: 708-974-5203   Ext.

Annual Update: 2009-09-14

A. Describe the past year's accomplishments and the current status of this Action Project.
This action project has been divided into three components: Employee Recruitment and Retention, Curriculum and Classroom, and College Processes. During this fourth year, the “College Processes” component has no additional information to report beyond that provided in the 2008 report. Updates on the other two components are included in this report. Employee Recruitment/Retention: Represented college at job fairs; Redesigned and conducted faculty search team training; Held Train-the-Facilitator training teaching 10 faculty and staff members to facilitate new-employee diversity training; Began offering diversity training to new employees; Collaborated with college’s TRIO Upward Bound program to offer a series of diversity training sessions to high school students; Partnered with the college’s ad agency to redesign online and print advertising for minority recruiting boards to attract more diverse applicants; Served on planning committee for annual statewide diversity conference; Began new staff mentoring program focused on retaining minority staff. Curriculum and Classroom - The position description for Coordinator for Global and Diversity Education was revised to strengthen the connections between this Action Project’s goals and position expectations. A new coordinator, a veteran full-time faculty member with strong knowledge of the college and its history and culture was appointed to this part-time position. This individual’s training, experiences, and strengths make him an ideal leader for the research, development, and presentation of special events including important topics, speakers, and exhibits.
Review ():
B. Describe how the institution involved people in work on this Action Project.
Employee Recruitment and Retention - Hired full-time Diversity & Employment Manager; Established a team of faculty and staff across campus to complete diversity facilitator training; Distributed diversity calendars to all faculty and staff; Included an overview of diversity efforts at new staff orientation. Classroom and Curriculum - The events in this Action Project involve people and departments across the college: faculty and students, Student Development and Academic Affairs, Multi-Cultural Student Affairs, College 101, Foreign Language, History, Fine Arts and Humanities, and Social Sciences.
Review ():
C. Describe your planned next steps for this Action Project.
Employee Recruitment and Retention - Continue initiatives begun in first three years of Action Project: Create a database of employees with community contacts related to diversity for recruitment purposes; Offer diversity related workshops through the college’s Center for Teaching and Learning; Explore how to more effectively and efficiently report diversity initiatives; Investigate whether additional train-the-facilitator sessions are needed. Classroom and Curriculum - The Coordinator will continue to plan and host campus-wide events targeted at faculty and students. These events will provide speakers, exhibits and resources for faculty use in enriching curriculum and classroom teaching.
Review ():
D. Describe any "effective practice(s)" that resulted from your work on this Action Project.
Employee Recruitment and Retention - Diversity training for all new faculty and staff; Faculty search team training; Mentoring program for new staff. Classroom and Curriculum – Due to turnover in leadership, no report at this time.
Review ():
E. What challenges, if any, are you still facing in regards to this Action Project?
Employee Recruitment and Retention – While the college’s Manager of Diversity & Employment does a very good job of keeping the college focused on diversity, the challenge is keeping employees focused on the importance of and business case for diversity in the light of so many other initiatives the college is currently under taking. Classroom and Curriculum – None to report.
Review ():
F. If you would like to discuss the possibility of AQIP providing you help to stimulate progress on this action project, explain your need(s) here and tell us who to contact and when?
Review ():