Creating a Culture of Equity
and Inclusion at the College
As outlined in Future 2018 Strategic Directions, the College has an institutional commitment to reducing the
achievement gap of Native Americans, African-Americans, Latinos, Southeast Asians and Whites by one-half
as measured by course completion, achievement of a credential, and acquisition of employment. We are also
committed to diversifying our benefited exempt employee base to reflect the student body.
NWTC’s Achievement Gap
The National Assessment of Educational Progress states that an achievement gap takes place when there
is a significant disparity in the educational measures between one group of students, based on various
demographic characteristics, than another. NWTC’s 2018 goal is to reduce the achievement gap among
Native Americans, African Americans, Latinos, Southeast Asians, and Whites by one-half (as measured by
course completion, achievement of a credential, and acquisition of employment).
Impact of DREAM
DREAM = Data. Reform. Equity. Achievement. Movement. *
In spring 2010, NWTC joined Achieving the Dream, a national nonprofit dedicated to helping community
college students succeed.
Achieving the Dream is focused on creating a “culture of evidence” on community college campuses in which
data collection and analysis drive efforts to identify problems that prevent students from succeeding and
develop programs to help them stay in school and receive a certificate or diploma.
As a member of Achieving the Dream, NWTC is identifying strategies to:
Improve student success
Close achievement gaps
Increase retention, persistence, and completion rates
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