COMMITMENT TO THE EQUITY AGENDA

TThe new NSCC strategic plan is closely aligned with the Equity Agenda, New Undergraduate Experience, and the Strategic Plan for Racial Equity. These BHE/DHE initiatives frame what is at stake for the majority of students of color in the Commonwealth served by our community colleges, “data shows that for generations the system has failed Students of Color” (DHE 4). “Community Colleges, State Universities, and UMass retain Black and Hispanic students at lower rates than the overall student population”(DHE 50).

Massachusetts Community College Retention Rate After Year One

The framework for Support Services for Student Success outlines an approach that looks at students holistically in order to address this failure. NSCC’s plan aligns strategic planning priorities with these key state-level initiatives to diversify and support Massachusetts college students. A crosswalk of how the NSCC Strategic Plan priorities align with state equity and student support initiatives is broken down below.

Race: All Races Black Latinx