Committees

Diversity Blueprint Action Team

The Blueprint Diversity Team serves as the steering committee for the college charter to attract and retain a diverse student body and employee group.

Charter for critical Success Factor #3: We must attract and retain a diverse student body and employee group.

Business Case
The community college is the primary point of access to postsecondary education for minority students and students with disabilities. In FY 04, ICC had an annual unduplicated minority enrollment of 3114.

During the fall 04 semester, Illinois Central College had 1,742 minority students with 4,413 course enrollments. During the semester, 1,912 enrollments were withdrawn or the student failed the class for a success rate of 56.67%.

In fall 2004, 256 students self-identified as having disabilities. There were 737 course enrollments for students with disabilities. During the semester, there were 249 course withdrawals or failures for a course success rate of 66.21%.

Goal Statement

• Increase course success rate among minority students to 70%*
• Maintain course success rate among students with disabilities at 66% or higher
• Increase annual unduplicated enrollment for minority students to 3000** by FY 06
• Increase % of minority professional staff to 15%
• Increase % of minority FT faculty to 10%

* Determine timeframe for goal attainment
** This number should be based on the demographics of primary feeder population (requires additional research information)

Timeline
Team will report three times a year to the Blueprint Implementation Team and once per year to Trustees until the project is completed.

Opportunity
As a college, we have an opportunity to recruit and improve the retention of minority students. We also have an opportunity to increase the success rate of students with disabilities. We need to identify strategies to recruit and retain these students.

Scope

• In collaboration with Dist. 150 and other organizations target a more aggressive approach to recruit minorities (determine capture rate for minority students)
• Conduct extensive research to determine primary issues impacting minority student course success rates (determine reasons for failure and withdrawal)
• Conduct extensive monitoring and tracking of minority student progress – early warning system
• Provide programmatic support services for at-risk students
• Implement retention pilot project
• Obtain administrative charge and strategy to increase minority hiring

Increase participation at minority faculty and professional staff in recruiting fairs.

Members