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Contact Director of IDEAACommitment to Equity & Inclusion
Guided by the College’s Educational Master Plan and Student Equity Plan, the IDEAA Office fosters a welcoming environment that promotes belonging through workshops, information, and events. Equity at MPC means meeting students where they are and providing the individualized support and resources they need to succeed. While equality ensures the same opportunities for everyone, equity addresses each student's unique challenges and circumstances. By focusing on equity, MPC affirms its commitment to creating a campus where diversity is celebrated, inclusion is practiced, and all students can thrive and achieve their goals.
What is IDEAA?
Inclusivity
Authentically bringing traditionally excluded individuals and/or groups into processes, activities, and decision/policy making in a way that shares power.
Diversity
The myriad of ways in which people differ, including the psychological, physical, cognitive, and social differences that occur among all individuals, such as race, ethnicity, nationality, socioeconomic status, religion, economic class, education, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, mental and physical ability, and learning styles. Diversity is all inclusive and supportive of the proposition that everyone and every group should be valued. It is about understanding these differences and moving beyond simple tolerance to embracing and celebrating the rich dimensions of our differences.15
Equity
The condition under which individuals are provided the resources they need to have access to the same opportunities as the general population. Equity accounts for systematic inequalities, meaning the distribution of resources provides more for those who need it most. Conversely, equality indicates uniformity ,where everything is evenly distributed among people.
Anti-Racism
A powerful collection of anti-racist policies that lead to racial equity and are substantiated by anti-racist ideas. Practicing anti-racism requires constantly identifying, challenging, and upending existing racist policies to replace them with anti-racist policies that foster equity between racial groups.
Accessibility
Giving equitable access to everyone along the continuum of human ability and experience. Accessibility encompasses the broader meanings of compliance and refers to how organizations make space for the characteristics that each person brings. (1)
In the case of a facility, readily usable by a particular individual; in the case of a program or activity, presented or provided in such a way that a particular individual can participate, with or without auxiliary aid(s); in the case of electronic resources, accessible with or without assistive computer technology.(2)
IDEAA History
Hispanic-Serving Institution
At MPC, we are working to move beyond a Hispanic “Enrolling” institution to a Hispanic “Serving Institution”. We are committed to helping students see this designation as more than just a title, that it represents a vibrant campus community where everyone in our campus community - students, faculty, staff, and administrators genuinely share, understand, and uplift each other’s experiences.
To learn more about HSIs, visit the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities website. These grants play a critical role in supporting the success and well-being of all our students.
HSI Grants & Initiatives
| Title V Grant | Award | Year Received | Description |
| Ready Set Transfer RST | $3.75 million | 2018 - 2023 | Partnership with CSUMB to expand institutional capacity to significantly increase transfer and degree completion among Hispanic and underrepresented students. |
| Engage, Promote, Connect (EPC) |
$3 million |
2020 - 2025 |
Increase career and work development activities throughout the college, support at the Marina Education Center by expanding pathways among disadvantaged students and graduation and transfer rates. |
| E=MC² HSI STEM | $4 million | 2021 - 2026 |
Enhancing diversity in STEM through magnified resources in completion support with an emphasis in career preparation while establishing positive STEM experiences for Hispanic and low-income students at MPC and community. |
Inclusive Campus Resources
Our college supports LGBTQIA+ individuals by providing resources and information. We offer a welcoming space for those who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, and beyond, including non-binary, omnigender, and non-gender identities, as well as diverse sexual orientations and expressions.
MPC provides opportunities for all students, regardless of citizenship status. If you are a student who is undocumented or from a mixed-status household, MPC provides many free and confidential support services for you.
Gender-neutral restrooms are inclusive facilities that anyone, regardless of gender identity, can use. They are important because they provide a safe and accessible option for transgender, non-binary, and gender-nonconforming individuals, helping to promote dignity, privacy, and equity in public spaces.
Monterey Campus: Fitness Training Center Room 114 — Open Access (no reservations necessary)
Marina Campus: Room MT-5 — Make reservation at room MA-101