FRCC is making strides in building a stronger community through its Equity and Inclusion Council. Within that is a team of students who are spearheading what a culture of inclusion looks like on a day-to-day basis for themselves and their classmates; Student Equity Liaisons.
You might have heard the buzz word “equity” and assumed it meant the same as equality, but there’s a slight difference in definition. Whereas equality means providing the same to all, equity means recognizing that we do not all start from the same place and must acknowledge and make adjustments to imbalances. And a liaison is someone who maintains communication between groups.
Here at FRCC, the Student Equity Liaison team is tasked with building relationships with other student leaders, organizations, and classmates to create a connection on a peer-to-peer level on each campus, ensuring communication between the student body and those on the Council.
For the Council, access to students’ feedback and ideas enables them to assess the outcome of their work. All the Student Equity Liaisons are reporting to the Council about the needs and opinions of students, acting as voices to represent their fellow students and themselves. They share their personal experiences and unique viewpoints to bring attention to the issues that Council exists to address.
In addition to their tasks to build relationships and serve on the E&I Council, some have been working on long-term projects, such as conducting research for their committees, developing training based on their interest areas, and creating new pathways for communication with students.
One of these projects is to find ways that student clubs could be in better communication with one another and with the student body. Getting students involved with what’s going on on campus not only makes for a better student experience, but also boosts retention. Possibilities include using social media to get the word out about student organizations and activities.
Another of these projects is compiling a list of resources for students to find connection and aid in the greater community outside FRCC. This includes harm prevention, cultural and identity groups, and sexual assault victim support. This might be especially helpful for students not originally from Colorado, and unfamiliar with their new communities. These are just a couple examples of what the Student Equity Liaisons are up to.
On the horizon, the Equity and Inclusion Council are working on many things, such as efforts to apply for a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) federal designation, and planning the third annual Equity and Inclusion Summit, which is set to be held March 29th, 2024 in Fort Collins.
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Meet your Student Equity Liaisons! These two students graciously shared their perspectives for this article, and among others, are here to represent and advocate for our student body!
Aubrey Barchas, Westminster campus: Aubrey.Barchas@frontrange.edu
Tabitha Cruz, Larimer campus: Tabitha.Cruz@frontrange.edu
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Have a concern or something to report? Check out these forms to submit anything from an academic integrity report to discrimination complaints. https://www.frontrange.edu/student-experience/campus-security/report-a-concern-incident.html
For other inquiries, ideas, and feedback, you can email the Equity and Inclusion Council directly through OEI@frontrange.edu
