The first Equity Day of Dialogue convened education partners across Colorado to highlight the recently published Report on Educational Equity, and included data and action plan. The event included guest speaker Dr. Wil Del Pilar from the Education Trust, a student and IHE president panel, and concluded with a signing ceremony of institutional and state leaders.
Watch the full event recording
Objectives/Key Deliverables:
- State of Equity address communicating the significance of educational equity work and associated data - not only now, but where we want to go
- Communication of this action plan developed as part of the ECC Report and plan for continued engagement of partners
- Initial pledge and signing with campus presidents and student organizations committing to the work outlined in this report
On March 15, 2021 Governor Jared Polis signed the below proclamation that March 15, 2021 is Educational Equity Day. Read the proclamation.
Read the The Pledge
The Signing Ceremony
Gov. Polis along with Rep. Leslie Herod, from House District 8, Vanecia Kerr, chair of the Colorado Commission on Higher Education, Dr. Ryan Ross, associate vice chancellor for student affairs and equity and inclusion at the Colorado Community College System and David Olguin, student advisor to the Colorado Commission on Higher Education, led legislators, college and university presidents, students, and partners through the signing ceremony. Nearly 60 organizations across Colorado have signed on to the .
12:30pm Welcome & Keynote
Dr. Angie Paccione,Colorado Department of Higher Education
Dr. Wil Del Pilar, Education Trust
1:05pm Report on Educational Equity
Richard Mizerak, Colorado Department of Higher Education
Maria de la Cruz, Pueblo Community College and
Dr. Melanie Hulbert, Western Colorado University
1:35pm Break
1:40pm Panel Discussion
~ Hear from institutional leaders and students
Moderator - Dr. Lee Bitsóí, Fort Lewis College
Panelists - President Andrew Feinstein, Dyllon Mills, Eduardo Mendoza-vega
Enrique Benavidez, President Lance Bolton, Nikki Larzo,
Presdient Paul Johnson, Presdient Tom Stritikus
2:45pm
Signing Presentation
~ Proclamation for Educational Equity Day
~ Recognition of partners in our work
~ Formal signing from institutional leaders, legislative caucus leaders, student organizations
Governor Jared Polis
Representative Leslie Herod
Commissioner Vanecia Kerr, Colorado Commission on Higher Education
Dr. Ryan Ross, Colorado Community College System
David Olguin, Colorado Commission on Higher Education
Shelley Banker, Colorado Department of Higher Education
3:05pm Closing and Q&A
3:30pm Program Concludes
Dr. Angie Paccione, Colorado Department of Higher Education
In addition to the public signing of a commitment to the vision set out in the Report on Educational Equity, the following organizations have committed to endorsing and partnering in the work:
Westminster Public Schools Foundation
Inclusive Economy
Bright Futures
Denver Prosperity Fund
Rocky Mountain Association For College Admissions Counseling
Denver Scholarship Foundation
Colorado Black Chamber of Commerce
Denver Educational Attainment Network
Young Invincibles
Latino Commission Denver Human Rights and Community Partnerships
Coordination of this event would not have been possible without the support from the Equity Champions Coalition and the hard work of several employees at the Colorado Department of Higher Education.
Equity Champions Coalition Co-Chairs:
David Olguin, CCHE Student Advisor, Public Affairs & Ethnic Studies Scholar, Co-Chair & Student Liaison to CDHE Equity Champion Coalition
Dr. Ryan Ross, Associate Vice Chancellor - Student Affairs & Inclusion for CCCS and Co-Chair to CDHE Equity Champions Coalition
For questions, please contact Shelley Banker, Senior Advisor to the Office of Educational Equity, CDHE at shelley.banker@dhe.state.co.us.