Diversity

PCC Diversity and Justice Statement

Pima Community College welcomes, celebrates, and fosters the diversity and contributions of students, faculty, staff and administrators and strives to be a leader in promoting opportunity through social justice commitments and actions.

We cherish the diversity of our community and, in addition to equal opportunity and educational access for all, we respect and are inclusive of all beliefs, values, abilities, personal experiences and preferences, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, and worldviews. We believe our differences are our strength and a source of innovation, excellence, and competitiveness.

We understand that the “community” in the community college of the 21st Century extends beyond local political boundaries, thus we aspire to build a community of responsible global citizens.
We believe that the ultimate objective of diversity is the achievement of equality and social justice. Furthermore, social justice has no borders and is an essential right of the human race.

Therefore we represent, recruit, retain, develop, and support the potential of students and employees from historically marginalized groups in the US and from any origin in the world regardless of ethnicity, religion, disability, political views, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, social status and other characteristics.

PCC Equity and Access Statement

Pima Community College strives to empower every learner, every day, for every goal. Embedded within that mission statement is a commitment to equity, equitable practice, and access.

Equity is different from equality. Equality is understood as the proportional distribution or parity of desirable outcomes across groups; while, equity refers to fairness and justice in the outcomes and processes. 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. The process is ongoing, requiring us to identify and overcome intentional and unintentional barriers arising from bias or systemic structures.

Access to education is done by committing resources to services, programs, and behaviors that support the opportunity for all students. Allocation to groups is not taking away or creating special status to some areas but is driven by equitable practice to ensure that what is needed to remove the barriers to access is achieved. The College is committed to monitoring, using data, and ensuring that resource allocation is adjusted to meet the ongoing access changes in the community using the principles of equity.

Pima Community College is committed through its inclusive transformation to emphasize equity in all aspects of its work with students, employees, and the community. The AACU, American Association of Colleges and Universities, (2015) highlights specific actions to work toward equity-minded outcomes for students.

See: http://www.aacu.org/sites/default/files/StepUpLeadEquity.pdf (pages 25-26). The College’s efforts are aligned with all 10 of these recommended AACU strategies.

PCC Inclusion and Belonging Statement

As it has throughout its history, Pima Community College strives to create a climate and culture in which positive attitudes toward diverse, intersectional, and interconnected groups are the norm and where increased involvement and academic growth is fostered. PCC values the enrichment that the unique perspectives and experiences individuals bring to the College and seeks to create an environment where these unique perspectives can coexist and flourish. The differences between people that can engender these unique perspectives can include, but are not limited to, age, disability, ethnicity, gender, nationality, race, color, indigeneity, socioeconomic status, language, educational history, educational goals, geography, and LGBTQ status. The College is mindful that inclusion is a journey, and that we may incur institutional resistance . However, we remain resolute to reach our overarching goal: ensuring the dignity and authenticity of the individual, and harmony among individuals.

Inclusion and belonging are comprehensive efforts to link diversity, equity, and quality. They are about transitioning diversity, equity, and inclusion from isolated initiatives to catalysts for educational and societal excellence. Pima Community College is committed to modeling an inclusive experience for all members of the college and larger community as well as creating a sense of belonging and connection through:

• A focus on student intellectual and social development.
• A purposeful development and utilization of organizational resources to enhance student learning.
• Attention to the cultural differences learners bring to the educational experience and that enhance the enterprise.
• A welcoming community that engages all of its diversity in the service of student and organizational learning.
• Modeling and expecting civility, respect, and professional behaviors from all employees, students, and representatives of the College.

Hispanic and Minority Serving Institution

Pima Community College is proud to be designated as an Hispanic-Serving Institution.

We are an active member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), an association of more than 400 colleges and universities committed to Hispanic higher education success.

Pronouns and Identifiers

Pronouns are important because they allow us to communicate professionally and accurately, they allow us to recognize cultural and individual identifiers, and are an important part of gender identity and how we show respect for those identities. People may refer to traditional American English approaches to pronouns, but not all of our students, staff, nor community members solely identify with that approach. In order to promote respect for both individual and cultural identity, it is important for us to use an individual's correct corresponding pronouns. We cannot rely solely on names, how we may perceive their gender, nor the assumptions of others. The only way to know is to ask others, and for us to inform others, of our pronouns.

As noted on Pronouns.Org, traditionally American English male pronouns are he/him/his, traditionally American English female pronouns are she/her/hers. Traditional American English also uses But there are other options for pronouns that people may prefer when the traditional pronouns don’t feel right. These are known as gender neutral or gender inclusive pronouns. Gender inclusive pronouns can seem awkward or unfamiliar and it can be challenging at times to recall a preferred pronoun. That is why it is important to include pronoun identifiers in various types of communication. The more it is used, the more comfortable it becomes.

Pronoun usage matters, it confirms that you respect the individual, their culture, and their identity. It promotes inclusion, supports a sense of belonging, and creates more equitable spaces for students and employees to work and learn.

Tips for Employees and Students

• Share your pronouns. It breaks down the barriers and acknowledges that you respect the pronouns of others. Add your own pronouns to your email signature, your Zoom nametag, introductions, and include them in your syllabus/webpages.
• Ask others their pronouns or how they would like to be addressed. Some people even prefer things such as doctor, professor, or similar identifiers. Asking is the first key to opening the door to understanding.
• Avoid using binary gender pronouns in writing, try using non-binary terms. For example, use terms like “class”, “students”, or “everyone” will be more inclusive than “ladies and gentlemen”, “guys”, etc.

Resources on Pronouns:

• http://www.pronouns.org/
• United Nations Guide to Gender Inclusive Language in English 
• Example of a writing center guide for using gender neutral language in writing from University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 

Accessibility and Neurodiversity Statement

Pima Community College seeks to provide an inclusive learning and working environment to benefit all in our community. We celebrate neurodiversity among employees and students, recognizing the unique value each individual brings to our institution. Being exposed to diverse ways of thinking or processing the world beyond personal lived experience helps every person grow and understand our community in a more real and impactful way.

Pima Community College strives to intentionally create a welcoming, accessible, and inclusive learning space for employees and students alike. Each person has a right to feel comfortable and encouraged to be themselves without fear of judgment where they can flourish by feeling and experiencing value in their unique contribution to our community.

Pima Community College is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer and educational institution committed to excellence through diversity. Upon request, reasonable accommodations will be made for individuals with disabilities. Every effort will be made to provide reasonable accommodations in a timely manner. Community members and employees, please call 520.206.4539 or email eeo-all@kaifa0055.com. PCC students should contact ADR at 520.206.6688 or email ADRHelp@kaifa0055.com.

Additional Information and Resources

Pima Community College is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer and educational institution committed to excellence through diversity. Upon request, reasonable accommodations will be made for individuals with disabilities. Every effort will be made to provide reasonable accommodations in a timely manner. Employees, please call 520.206.4539 or email eeo-all@kaifa0055.com. PCC Students and Community Members should contact ADR at 520.206.6688 or email ADRHelp@kaifa0055.com.