Equity

EVOLVE 2025: Equity Goals and Action Steps

The role of equity in accreditation and quality assurance is critical;the COVID-19 pandemic laid bare the inequities existing in and endemic to higher education. To that end, an equity framework should permeate not only all levels of institutions (e.g., students, staff, faculty and governing boards) but also their accreditors (e.g., the Peer Corps and review process). These goals focus on HLC’s commitment to modeling fairness, quality and access for all learners and institutions; they also emphasize the importance of all students having equitable access to higher education.

Chart showing timeline of Equity goals and action steps

Goal 1: Demonstrate Equity in HLC’s Mission

HLC will ensure that concepts of equity, diversity, access and inclusion are demonstrated in its mission and other foundational statements.

Timeline

2021–2025, and then ongoing

Action Steps

  • Work to assure that the open access agenda in higher education is not compromised.
  • Develop HLC definitions of equity, diversity, access and inclusion.
  • Test the definitions against HLC’s mission, vision and values. Assure consistency of interpretation by all staff and peer reviewers.
  • Review HLC’s Principles of Operation to assure they address equity, diversity, access and inclusion.

Goal 2: Promote Equity Principles

HLC will actively promote an understanding of and sensitivity to equity principles in its interactions with institutions and other stakeholders.

Timeline

2021–2025, and then ongoing

Activities

  • HLC’s 2021 Annual Conference hosted presentations on the findings of the Equity Survey.
  • HLC’s quality awareness project on Equity has teamed up with the Peer Corps Diversity Committee to take the equity survey results and develop thought papers on how equity is being addressed at member institutions.

Goal 3: Assess Policies and Procedures

HLC will assess and address equity in relation to its operational policies and related procedures.

Timeline

2021–2022

Activities

  • With funds from the Lumina Foundation, HLC has begun looking at opportunities for staff development on equity.
  • To actively promote an understanding of and sensitivity to equity principles, HLC has begun evaluating its internal Principles of Operation, which inform staff interaction, to ensure they are written to embrace principles of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The preliminary work will better inform HLC’s definitions of the aforementioned terms.

Goal 4: Inform the Public

HLC will provide information to the public regarding issues that are impacted by equity considerations, for example educational attainment and high-quality credentials.

Timeline

2021–2024

Action Steps

  • Determine specific external events or organizations with which to partner in order to provide information on quality credentials to fit student needs and expectations.
  • Work as a convener to develop resources for the public, thereby expanding HLC’s Student Resources.
  • Host events for state and local officials, education administrators, and advocates to discuss the landscape in which education intersects with governmental policies and social/economic dynamics related to equity.

Questions?

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