Culture & Belonging

South Puget Sound Community College is a learning community that embodies social justice, equity and inclusion. SPSCC seeks to empower students, faculty and staff to fully participate in a society of increasingly diverse identities and experiences. SPSCC actively works to eliminate all forms of discrimination and provide an education that reflects the diversity of our community and a deeper understanding of the dynamics of power and privilege that perpetuate inequity and inequality (SPSCC Commitment to Diversity).

In order to support our learning community dedicated to social justice, equity, and inclusion, SPSCC has developed a multi-faceted Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion professional development approach that allows staff and faculty at various knowledge levels, to grow in their understanding of equity, inclusion, and belonging. We continue to evaluate our programming and make data driven amendments to this work in order to best serve our campus and the surrounding community.

The DEI Professional Development Plan plays an integral part in advancing SPSCC’s Strategic Plan. Additionally, DEI professional development at the college supports SPSCC’s Core Themes of:

1. Student Achievement
2. Equity
3. Learning and Engagement

At the institution we believe that it is the work of all members of the SPSCC community to advance equity and to create a culture of inclusivity and belonging. Therefore, DEI professional development is provided through multiple departments and through multiple modalities with oversight from the college's Executive Leadership Team.

As DEI learning is dynamic and staff and faculty are on different levels of understanding and expertise in this work, so are our professional development opportunities. This supports the college’s Equity Principle of "meeting people where they are". DEI professional development is offered throughout a staff, faculty, and student’s time at the institution and is scaled for individual agency in their own learning. Learning opportunities start at hire and continue throughout an individual’s time here.

In order to support a culture of equity and inclusivity that supports belonging at SPSCC, the following categories are pillars of SPSCC’s DEI Professional Development Framework:

1. Foundational diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging knowledge
2. Understanding and addressing bias
3. Cultural competency
4. Inclusive pedagogy and student engagement practices
5. Creating and supporting an inclusive workplace

Modalities include an annual mandatory full-day college Campus Equity Symposium, annual HR trainings, optional workshops, Communities of Practice for faculty, conference attendance opportunities, participation in community offered trainings, and guided discussions.