MCC recognized for work in equality and belonging

Middlesex Community College President Phil Sisson and Provost & Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs Arlene Rodríguez accepted the college’s first-ever award for advancing institutional equity and belonging at the 2024 American Association of Community Colleges Awards of Excellence in Louisville, Kentucky, on April 8. (Courtesy of MCC)

Middlesex Community College won first place in Advancing Institutional Equity and Belonging at the 2024 American Association of Community Colleges Awards of Excellence. MCC President Phil Sisson and Provost & Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs Arlene Rodríguez accepted the award during a ceremony in Louisville, Kentucky on April 8.

“This achievement is a collective effort of many individuals and departments across the college, and it is an honor for our efforts to be recognized in this way by the AACC,” Sisson said. “It is a point of pride that MCC has become a strong leader in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) work, both at the college and within the larger communities we serve. As an open access institution, we have a responsibility to lead these initiatives, engage in difficult conversations, and do the work necessary to create real change in an otherwise divided world.”

Sisson praised the dedication and hard work of the entire university for receiving the award. The president called DEIB’s work an “ongoing process” and looks forward to MCC continuing to learn, grow and adapt as it takes the steps necessary to fulfill the university’s mission of equity and change students’ lives for the better.

In February, Middlesex was nominated for the award, along with five other colleges across the country. The national recognition was one of 11 awards presented at the gala event.

“Receiving the AACC Award for Advancing Institutional Equity and Belonging is a great honor for Middlesex,” Rodríguez said. “More importantly, it is also a recognition of all the work done by our faculty and staff to ensure that all MCC students have what they need to succeed. Becoming an equity-focused, student-prepared campus doesn’t stop at one project or program. It’s an ongoing process of reflection and change. It’s understanding that as the needs of our students change, we must change and respond. It’s how we demonstrate our commitment to preparing students for the future.”

The college was recognized for initiatives that advance institutional equity and belonging, said MCC Executive Director of Diversity, Equity & Belonging Maria Gariepy. This includes the work of the Center for Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation (TRHT) and MCC’s 2022-2027 strategic plan With Equity at Its Core.

“Many innovative and progressive practices that support institutional equity were included, such as Achieving the Dream, the Pedagogy of Real Talk, and the Leading for Change Racial Equity & Justice Institute, among others,” Gariepy said. “To support and measure our progress and success, outcomes data were also included for a number of programs and initiatives on campus, including the SUCCESS Scholars Program, the Program for Asian American Student Advancement (PAASA), the First Year Experience, surveys, demographics and diversity of our student body, and changes in the diversity of our workforce.”

Middlesex is one of 71 colleges in the country that host a campus-based Center for TRHT. The Center has become a hub for the extended community, offering racial healing circles, professional development training, and access to resources that help build deeper collective capacity for racial equity and justice.

Throughout the 2023-2024 academic year, Middlesex established TRHT as a permanent fixture in the communities of Greater Lowell, hosting events to celebrate the diversity and lived experiences of the college’s students and employees. MCC’s Center also hosted its second Day of Love, Acceptance and Belonging on April 17, featuring a variety of workshops facilitated by MCC students and employees.

For more information about the MCC Center for Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation, visit middlesex.mass.edu/trht.