VCCCD Board of Trustees Endorses DEI Resolution
The Californer/10130824

CAMARILLO, Calif. - Californer -- Ventura County Community College District board of trustees fully supports and is dedicated to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) for its approximately 31,000 students, nearly 1,900 employees and the community. In support of the diverse population of students at Moorpark, Oxnard and Ventura colleges, and the community, the board adopted a resolution Affirming the District's Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at its April meeting.

The resolution is in tandem with the District's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Week and the California Community Colleges' Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Awareness Month.

"VCCCD is a welcoming and inclusive equity-minded, anti-racist learning environment where diverse students are supported to pursue and attain student success," said Trustee Gabriela Torres. "Our mission is to foster social justice and an inclusive, equity-minded learning environment where all students receive support to achieve academic success and attain the necessary skills to find meaningful work that offers them a living wage."

More on The Californer

• California: TODAY: Governor Newsom to sign historic bills to create more housing and infrastructure – faster than ever before
• Can This Simple Test Predict How Long You'll Live?
• AI Performs Virtual Tissue Staining at Super-Resolution
• Online Distribution of the Summer 2025 Diamond Certified Directory Update Begins
• California: Governor Newsom proclaims Immigrant Heritage Month 2025

The District has a diverse student population that mirrors California's residents. It counts nearly 54% as Latinx, 30.23% as White, 6.5% as Asian, 1.63% as Black, 0.23% as Pacific Islander, 0.21% as Native American, 4.20% as two or more Races and 3.46% as Unreported. In the state, the community college system provides many students a means for upward mobility and a better life, particularly those who are the first in their families to pursue higher education.

"The board takes pride in approving this resolution, which meets the myriad needs of our diverse faculty, staff and student body," said Chancellor Greg Gillespie.

The resolution covers various forms of diversity, including race, ethnicity, language, culture, nationality, social-economic class, age, physical ability, religious beliefs, gender and sexual orientation.

The District will take numerous steps to advance diversity, equity and inclusion at its colleges related to board policies, employment, professional development, campus culture and curriculum. These actions include:

More on The Californer

• California: Department of Defense agrees: it's time for Trump's militarization of Los Angeles to end
• Long Beach: City Launches Internet Service Enrollment Line
• Von Rock Law Founder Deidre Von Rock Named Super Lawyer for 2025
• California: Governor Newsom extends emergency short-term housing protections in Los Angeles
• Von Rock Law Named SFGate's Best Probate and Estate Attorney in 2025

Students: Prioritize efforts to include the student voice to inform board policies and actions related to faculty and staff diversity.
Board Policies: Develop statements by the board in support of diversity, equity and inclusion.
Human Resources: Identify actions to address underrepresentation in current staffing.
Equal Employment Opportunity Plan: Develop actions related to faculty and staff diversity supported by national, state and local data.
Equity Plans: Review and update the Equity Plans with the goal of infusing actions to uplift the most vulnerable and socially disadvantaged students in the VCCCD system.
Professional Development: Develop efforts to support increased cultural competencies among staff and faculty, and understand implicit bias.
Campus Climate and Curriculum: Encourage campus dialogue, and develop an audit of classroom climate and action plans to create inclusive classrooms and anti-racist curriculum.

For more information, please visit https://www.vcccd.edu/.