Why is diversity important at the College of Lake County?
One important answer is: the college must embrace diversity if it is to prepare students for a world that increasingly requires people from very different backgrounds and places to work and do business with each other.
Another, perhaps even more fundamental answer, is that diversity is an integral part of who we are. You need only visit one of our campuses to realize that our students are diverse. A diverse world is not just “out there” awaiting our students; it is here at the college and an essential part of the CLC experience.
That is why we are committed to creating and maintaining an environment that helps each member of the college community feel welcomed and valued. That environment is about encouraging mutual respect and understanding. And it's about creating opportunity and eliminating bias. But as fundamental as these ideas may sound, they are not easy to achieve. Success requires a range of approaches, everything from being inclusive in our hiring practices to infusing multicultural content in our curriculum.
Diversity is a Value
CLC believes so much in the importance of diversity that it is featured prominently in the college's strategic plan as both a core institutional value and as one of our six strategic goals. We believe that diversity is a value we hold, but it is also something that we must actively work to achieve.
Diversity Council and Governance
To support us in living up to our diversity value and achieving our diversity goal, we have established a Diversity Council as part of our governance structure. It provides direction and recommendation of diversity-related activities and a forum for generating ideas and new initiatives. But to really make progress on diversity, we will need the support and involvement of the entire college community. We invite you to be part of this important effort to build a culture that truly realizes the opportunity-enhancing promise of diversity.
As part of our Diversity initiatives, the College provides the opportunity for employees to form Employee Resource Groups. For more information on these groups, visit the Employee Resource Groups page.
College Policies
CLC is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and ensuring equal and fair treatment for employees and students.
Demographics
Enroll at the College of Lake County, and you’re likely to find people who are similar to you and others who are very different (PDF). CLC welcomes all, believing that our differences make us a richer, more vibrant learning community.
Equity Statement
The College of Lake County (CLC) is committed to
being equity-minded in how it supports its students
and employees. Also, CLC is dedicated to instill the
value of equity in each member of our community.
At CLC, equity means providing a high-quality
education and employment in a safe, welcoming,
and inclusive environment while meeting the
particular needs of each community and individual.
This value is imparted by providing professional and
educational opportunities to instill the value of
equity within each CLC community member.
To achieve this goal, CLC is committed to ensure that
all policies, procedures, and processes are free of
barriers and provide a seamless experience to all
who come to CLC.
This includes ensuring each student is provided the
tools and support to empower them to achieve their
academic, career, and personal goals, and that each
employee has the tools and opportunities to provide
excellent service, excel in their job, contribute to the
CLC community,
and progress in their professional development.
CLC recognizes that equity is not resolved by using a
one-size-fits-all approach. CLC is devoted to
intentionally designing opportunities for students,
faculty, staff, and community members to succeed
while supporting each person’s unique needs.
Diversity Statement
The College of Lake County (CLC) is committed to
strengthening the diverse communities we serve. We stand to
create an environment that names, embraces, and learns from
differences through all policies, practices, and values. We
encourage expression of one’s own identity and foster an
atmosphere where we learn from others. CLC is dedicated to
meeting the needs of everyone in our community, especially
those who have been historically underserved. We are
committed to being intentional about having crucial
conversations to continually develop cultural competence and
humility. At CLC, we celebrate and promote diversity because
we believe that everyone benefits from being a part of a global
society.
Inclusion Statement
The College of Lake County (CLC) is inclusive of all members
of our diverse college community. We are committed to
providing an inclusive environment where students, faculty,
and staff can do their best in all of their endeavors. This is
reflected through our policies, practices, beliefs, and actions.
Inclusiveness at CLC means that each person’s input is heard
and valued. The College is intentional when creating its entire
organizational structure to ensure that there is
representation of the diverse community it serves. By seeking
input from the community as a whole, especially from people
who have been traditionally silenced or ignored, CLC creates
meaningful inclusion, leading to college-wide decisions,
outcomes, and actions.