NWTC Equity Guide A guide to diversity, equity and inclusion at NWTC | Page 4

COMMON LANGUAGE
Throughout this document, you’ll see references
to “diversity,” “inclusion,” and other related terms:
Majority
• Group that holds social power,
prestige, privilege, status.
• Group that controls sectors of social life,
including access to education, jobs, and so on.
• Does not imply numerical value.
Minority
• Group(s) not equal in social power,
prestige, privilege, status.
• Societal opportunities are not equal to
those from the majority group.
• Does not imply numerical value.
Equity is defined as meeting all individuals
within the College community where they
are and removing barriers to success.
Diversity is defined at NWTC as individual values,
personal interests, personalities, learning styles,
neuro-functioning, and life experiences; group and
social differences such as race, ethnicity, social
and economic class, gender identity, immigration
status, sexual orientation, country/region of
origin, and ability; and political, religious, spiritual,
age, or other cultural values and affiliations.
Inclusion is a practice of ensuring that students,
faculty, and staff belong and are incorporated
as valued members of the College community.
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Underrepresented refers to a group or groups
whose limited representation places them at a
disadvantage and affects their ability to achieve at
the same rate and level as the mainstream population
at NWTC. Underrepresented groups are defined
in the context of the College’s overall population,
or in the context of a specific area of campus,
such as an academic program or a department.
Multiculturalism is the existence, acceptance,
or promotion within the College community of
diverse cultures, identities, and experiences that
are included in the College’s definition of diversity.
International education (global education) is an
opportunity to celebrate the benefits of learning
and exchange worldwide and challenge people
to critically examine what it means to assume a
role of informed citizenship and leadership in a
global community. International education is the
experience of NWTC students, faculty, and staff
researching, teaching and/or traveling abroad;
the recruitment of international students; and the
delivery of modern instruction that focuses on the
political, social, cultural, ecological, and economic
systems that define the global community.
Cultural intelligence is the capability to assess the
varied attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, and emotions of
one’s self and others and to effectively communicate
in situations characterized by diversity at NWTC.
Achievement gap is the difference between
the rate of achievement for underrepresented
populations at NWTC and a stated goal.