Strategic Equity Plan
Read the Q&A with RTC President Yoshiko Harden.
I believe that educational access and success lead to a more equitable and just society, so that’s the starting point. Often, colleges have a strategic plan and an equity plan. If we’re serious about identifying and dismantling barriers to education and focusing on underserved and marginalized student populations, our equity goals and objectives must be aligned with our strategic plan and planning process.
We are serious and committed, so I want to explicitly center equity in our next strategic plan. We will align all college goals and objectives with equity and inclusion. That sets the tone for how we navigate opportunities and challenges and how we choose to prioritize resources.
In my first year, I have learned so much about the many things we do at RTC to support students and their success and some things we need to change to improve the student experience. I’ve learned that belonging and community are essential to all of us, and we want to ensure that every student feels welcomed, supported, and seen at RTC. I’ve learned that we want RTC faculty and staff to feel the same way.
The Board of Trustees extended the college’s current Strategic Plan and adopted a bridge plan, so the new president had time to learn about the college and surrounding communities. I’m thankful they did this because it gave me time to get to know RTC.
Diversity and inclusion, community, collaboration, relationships, partnerships, purpose,
and mission are a few themes that come to my mind. However, reimagining the future
of RTC is a community endeavor. I can lead and set the context, but it will take all
of us to shape and create the RTC of the future.
I have been working with the consulting firm Be Culture to support the planning and
engagement process. Executive Director for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Doris
Martinez serves as co-chair of the Strategic Equity Plan Steering Committee. Executive
Assistant to the President and board secretary, erin lewis, will serve on the project
planning team with Doris, myself, and Be Culture. A steering committee of representatives
from faculty, staff, students, and the community will be announced soon. We have sought
input from all areas to create an inclusive and strategic group to do this work. My
executive cabinet will be involved in driving policy changes.
The theme of community and community engagement is a sentiment I hear from faculty, staff, and students. It is important to the Board of Trustees that our strategic equity planning process includes community voice and feedback—all communities—those we currently serve and those that are missing or underrepresented.
Engagement with all stakeholders—the board, faculty and staff, students, donors, and friends- is critical to creating a clear understanding of the entire college and people’s ideas for the strategic equity plan.
Internal and external communities will have myriad opportunities to engage in the strategic equity planning process through the college’s shared governance structure, surveys, listening sessions, and meetings.
Our tagline is “Find your place” at RTC. To help every student and employee do that, we will be the place where people experience belonging. We will run toward equitable solutions and equitable outcomes for students.
We will be the first choice for excellent career training in partnership with government, business, industry, and K-12. We strive to create and sustain partnerships grounded in and aligned with the college's values to create a sustainable and equitable future for the college.
Refining the college’s vision will be the work of the planning committee and our community members. I look forward to this work throughout the year.