MHCC Equity Lens Tool
The MHCC Board of Directors has approved an Equity Lens Tool that will be used in college decision-making as a tool for examining the impact of race in problem identification, solution development, and success of outcomes. The goal is to be intentionally
inclusive in our decision-making process and reflect on how our institutional policies and processes might be inherently biased or racist.
Equity Lens Tool
Race and Intersectionality
- Who are the racial/ethnic and underserved groups affected?
- What is the potential impact of the decision, resource allocation, and/or strategic investment to these groups?
- What is the racial makeup of the decision makers?
Challenge the Dominant Culture/Status Quo
- How does the proposed policy, decision, program, and/or practice challenge the way we have addressed the issue in the past?
- What barriers (institutional, structural, intrapersonal, interpersonal) may exist that could hinder implementation?
- Is the college committed to prioritize, publicize, and sustain these efforts?
Commitment to Social Justice
- What is the potential impact on eliminating any existing opportunity or outcome gaps?
- Might the decision being made ignore or worsen existing disparities or produce other unintended consequences? How could these impacts be mitigated?
- How does the policy, decision, program, practice build community capacity and power in communities most affected by inequities?
Including the voices of those most impacted
- Have we solicited and received input from students and others closest to the issue?
- How are we meaningfully including or excluding people who are affected?
- Is there stakeholder support or opposition to the proposal, and if so, why?
- What process will we use to check back in with the stakeholders as part of a feedback loop?
Using Data to Inform
- What baseline data do you have, and how will you utilize quantitative and qualitative data to measure impact on non-dominant groups?
- How will you use data to modify or enhance your strategies to achieve the intended outcomes?
Why do we need an equity lens?
- To ensure we keep race and intersectionality at the center of considerations for our organizational decision-making, policies, practices, and procedures
- To ensure we are effectively and persistently challenging the dominant ideology and status quo of White supremacy
- To establish an institutional commitment to social justice, and do no further harm to historically and contemporaneously marginalized humans and groups
- To center the experiences of students and our communities in service to becoming a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization
- To use data and diverse perspectives as part of the organizational transformation