Executive Director for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility

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About The College

Whatcom Community College (WCC) is a public associate and applied baccalaureate degree granting institution with an accomplished faculty and staff who serve 7,604 students annually on its beautiful 72-acre campus in Bellingham, Washington.

Whatcom offers transfer degrees, applied baccalaureate degrees, professional and technical training programs, basic education, job skills, and community and continuing education classes.

Programs and courses are offered through in-person, hybrid, and online modalities to promote access for a diverse student population.

The College is committed to equal opportunity and believes diversity of experiences and cultures enrich our campus community.

The College is accredited by The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. For more information about WCC, please visit www.whatcom.edu

General Description of Work

Whatcom Community College invites applications for an Executive Director for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA).

The Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) Executive Director is a leader, catalyst for change, and institutional resource focused on infusing IDEA into the fabric of Whatcom Community College.

The Executive Director will do this work through the review and implementation of policies, practices, procedures, programs and activities at the college, tracking progress toward IDEA goals, and communicating progress to an engaged community.

The IDEA Executive Director provides leadership to cultivate a campus environment characterized by agency, belonging, success, and educational justice.

This position will report directly to the College President.

The candidate will demonstrate successful experience in :

• Collaborating with the college community to identify and develop strategies to close opportunity gaps, provide programming and create opportunities for inclusive engagement.
• Cultivating an organizational culture that embraces diversity as an added value to the community college experience.
• Identifying changes in procedures, policies, practices, and resource allocation that impact an institution’s ability to equitably fulfill its mission.
• Ensuring that all students can access course content, resources, and other educational experiences.
• Communicating the work with clear communication, interpersonal skills, and transparent decision-making.
• Utilizing data-informed planning and decision making to improve student enrollment, retention, and outcomes for historically underrepresented populations.
• Creating and maintaining a supportive work environment that empowers the lives of all students, faculty, and staff.

Responsibilities

May include, but are not limited to :

Administrative Leadership

• Provide strategic leadership that supports educational equity and achievement for all students with IDEA principles.
• Provide leadership oversight on governance committees such as the Campus Diversity Committee and the Accessibility Committee.
• Evaluate the institutional IDEA Strategic Plan regularly and update as needed.
• Communicate college IDEA opportunities, efforts progress, and achievements on a regular basis to the campus community.
• Provide leadership in the review and development of college policy, procedures, and practices that advance the college's institutional goals and outcomes.
• Engage the campus community by informing campus about legislation and regulations related to IDEA (e.g., Washington Senate Bill 5194).
• Work in collaboration with multiple groups, including employee unions.

Catalyst for Change

• Promote an inclusive campus culture that develops relationships that foster trust, respect, and collegiality.
• Provide support to Human Resources to implement practices that recruit and retain a diverse workforce.
• Develop metrics to track and monitor accountability of IDEA efforts in closing student achievement gaps.
• Promote the College's commitment to a climate of IDEA through interaction with individuals and organizations across the campus community.
• Seek community partnerships that promote College commitments to IDEA initiatives.
• Serve as the College representative to the Diversity and Equity Officers Commission (DEOC) and other appropriate outside organizations.

Institutional Resource

• In collaboration with all campus partners, including the Professional Development Committee, plan and develop professional development opportunities for all employees to increase college understanding and awareness of discrimination, power, and privilege dynamics.
• Provide support for equitable teaching and learning strategies.
• Act as a resource for the campus community regarding communication strategies promoting IDEA principles.
• Work closely with local and national equity experts to advance institutional learning of IDEA strategies and practices.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements :

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university AND five years' experience as a diversity officer, or similar role with a focus on implementing successful IDEA strategies and programs.
• Demonstrated experience as a collaborator and relationship builder.
• Demonstrated strong interpersonal and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications :

• Master's degree from an accredited institution with an inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility focus.
• Demonstrated experience in teaching, training and / or instructional design.
• Demonstrated management / supervisory experience within an organization.
• Experience in the development, implementation, and evaluation of programs.
• Demonstrated ability to influence college, community, and state constituents on key IDEA issues.

Salary

Salary :

This is a 12-month, full-time Administrative / Exempt position. Exempt from Washington State civil service law with an annual salary based on a range of $117,000.00 - $130,000.00.

Benefit Package :

• The position comes with a full benefit package, including health, dental, life, long-term disability insurance and a retirement plan.
• Accrues 8 hours per month of sick leave and 14.67 hours per month vacation leave.
• Additionally, as a Washington State, public higher education institution, WCC offers the following :
• Whatcom Community College is a qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (PSLF). If you work for the College full time, have had Direct Loans and are on an eligible repayment plan, you are eligible to apply.
• Full-time employees are eligible to apply and participate in the Whatcom Community College Employee Tuition Program, which provides a tuition waiver for available and eligible WCC courses.
• Full-time employees may qualify for Washington State Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML) benefit.

Start Date :

As soon as can be arranged with successful candidate.

Application Due Date :

For guaranteed consideration, application packets should be received by Monday, September 23rd, 2024 at 5 : 00 pm. Position open until filled.

How To Apply

A completed application consists of an online application and :

• Letter of application detailing relevant experience and how the applicant is prepared to meet the duties of the position.
• Current resume.
• Whatcom Community College has a strategic plan core theme to advance equity. Please provide a diversity statement providing examples of (1) how you have integrated equity and inclusion in your work and (2) how you will promote equitable practices in education through this position.
• Unofficial Transcripts for all earned degrees; official transcripts required prior to official start date.
• List of five recent professional references with contact information.

Mission and Vision Statement

Mission : Whatcom Community College contributes to the vitality of its communities by providing quality education in academic transfer, professional-technical, and lifelong learning, preparing students for active citizenship in a global society.

Vision : Whatcom is a supportive community, empowering lives through education.

EEO Statement

Whatcom Community College values diversity and is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Educator. WCC provides equal opportunity in education and employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, perceived or actual physical or mental disability, pregnancy, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, creed, religion, or honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the use of trained guide dog or service animal in its programs and activities.

Prohibited sex discrimination includes sexual harassment (unwelcome sexual conduct of various types). As of October 1st, 2020 as per RCW 28B.

112.080 WCC will be requiring all finalists for positions to complete a Declaration Regarding Sexual Misconduct. WCC provides reasonable accommodations for qualified students, employees, and applicants with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Federal Rehabilitation Act.

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