Valuing, Promoting and Supporting Diversity
Recognizing the inherent value and dignity of each person, MCC is committed to valuing, promoting and supporting diversity within the college and the community it serves. These essential principles deepen the experience the students, faculty and staff obtain inside the classroom and out.
MCC is dedicated to upholding diversity, equity and inclusivity by establishing policies that promote inclusion across campus, creating a welcoming environment representative of our diverse community and allowing the classroom to be a trusted space for a variety of perspectives. This is not the work that can be done by a select few, but a whole campus that works together.
MCC DEI Committee
The purpose of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee is to work collaboratively to promote the goals of accepting, respecting and valuing differences. Another goal of the committee is to foster an environment in which every student has access to the education, support, and resources they need to be self-empowered and to succeed at MCC and beyond.
The Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity Committee actively supports and accomplishes things like:
- Creating gender-inclusive bathroom signage.
- Establishing a preferred name policy and procedure for academic technology.
- Creating a referral process from Workforce Development into programs, especially related to ESL students.
- Community events like the “Taste of Ukraine” and more!
- Climate data surveys about diversity, equity and inclusion (2017 and 2021).
- Providing the MCC student body, faculty and staff with DEI training and best practices in support of diversity, equity and inclusion at MCC.
MCC DEI Resources
Other clubs for special interests – like the Single Parents Group – can be found on the Clubs & Activities page of the Nighthawk Lookout, our online resource for active students.
Inclusivity Statement
At Manchester Community College, we honor people with all of their intersecting identities and experiences. Our diversity is a strength that enriches us, and we commit to ongoing efforts to ensure everyone feels welcomed and valued.
We commit to addressing issues of equity through an educational process that aligns with our belief in continued growth. We work to ensure our learning and working environment is a trusted space by honoring a variety of perspectives for students, faculty, staff and the wider MCC community.
We value and hold responsibility for continued education around diversity, equity and inclusion by establishing policies that promote inclusion across campus that support identities. Identities include, but are not limited to, race, creed, color, religion, ancestry or national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, physical or mental disability, genetic information, neurodiversity, socioeconomic status, marital status, or law enforcement, military, veteran service, etc.
DEI Definitions
The following definitions are from the nonprofit Independent Sector.
Diversity includes all the ways in which people differ, encompassing the different characteristics that make one individual or group different from another. While diversity is often used in reference to race, ethnicity, and gender, we embrace a broader definition of diversity that also includes age, national origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, education, marital status, language, and physical appearance. Our definition also includes diversity of thought: ideas, perspectives, and values. We also recognize that individuals affiliate with multiple identities.
Equity is the fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all people, while at the same time striving to identify and eliminate barriers that have prevented the full participation of some groups. Improving equity involves increasing justice and fairness within the procedures and processes of institutions or systems, as well as in their distribution of resources. Tackling equity issues requires an understanding of the root causes of outcome disparities within our society.
Inclusion is the act of creating environments in which any individual or group can be and feel welcomed, respected, supported, and valued to fully participate. An inclusive and welcoming climate embraces differences and offers respect in words and actions for all people. It’s important to note that while an inclusive group is by definition diverse, a diverse group isn’t always inclusive. Increasingly, recognition of unconscious or ‘implicit bias’ helps organizations to be deliberate about addressing issues of inclusivity.
Contact Information
If you have any questions, ideas, or would like more information about MCC DEI, please contact:
Academic Affairs
Colleen Jennings
Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs
(603) 206-8009
Suite 263
Student Affairs
Megan Conn
Vice President of Students and Community Development
(603) 206-8005
Suite 248
