2009 Performance Accountability Report Vol. 2 - Maryland Higher ...

Since inception, Carroll Community College has endeavored to maintain practices designed to
foster awareness and increase competence related to issues of equity, diversity and
multicultural/global awareness for students and staff. While past activities have been effective in
raising awareness and competence, in 2008 the college recognized the need to create a more
comprehensive plan to develop, assess and improve upon our desired goals. A Diversity
Committee was charged to (1) define values and principles upon which the college can build and
maintain a program of understanding and shared values concerning the dignity and worth of all
races, cultures, religions and ways of life; (2) assist in developing learning and staff development
activities aimed at promoting diversity and global awareness, values and competencies; and (3)
develop, maintain, and assess a Diversity and Global View Action Plan. The plan will be the
guide for carrying out college-wide diversity activities in learning, classroom practice and
student competencies, and employee development and competencies. The goal is to assure that
the college’s student body and staffing represent the racial and cultural diversity of the
community in which we live, and that students are equipped to work and succeed in an
increasingly global economy.
Fundamental to the Diversity and Global View Action Plan is the following value statement
developed by the Diversity Committee: “We embrace an increasingly diverse and changing
world, encouraging students, faculty and staff to value diversity, cultivate global awareness,
promote social justice, and welcome new ways of working with and learning from the unique
contributions of all people.”
The new Action Plan will expand upon efforts to boost minority enrollment already in place.
College recruiters visit each high school in the County multiple times each year. The college
hosts three Open Houses each year, with invitations direct-mailed to county households.
Marketing materials such as Career Focus magazine feature minorities on the cover and in inside
features and ads. To assist those for whom cost might be a barrier, the college hosts two
Financial Aid Workshops each year. To aid those for whom transportation might be a barrier to
attendance, the college worked with the Carroll Area Transit System (CATS) to incorporate the
campus as a routine stop on several routes. Co-curricular and student life events feature diversity
in programming. Human Resources has implemented a number of strategies to increase minority
employment applications with the goal of expanding the number of minority employees on
campus.
The second indicator the college was asked to respond to was indicator 30a. Annual unduplicated
headcount in noncredit basic skills and literacy courses was 231 in FY2007, down from 324 in
FY2006 and below the college’s benchmark of 400. Headcount in these courses increased to 587
in FY2008, considerably above the benchmark. The college assumed administrative oversight of
the Adult Education Program in Carroll County in FY2008, and the college received this
Consolidated Adult Education and Literacy Services Grant from the Maryland State Department
of Education again for FY2009. The grant allows the college to provide educational services to
adults who want to increase their basic skills, obtain a high school diploma, improve their
English language skills, or engage in family literacy activities. Carroll County provides matching
funds to support this program. With this grant-funded program in place, the college anticipates
meeting the benchmarks for Indicator 30 for the foreseeable future.
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