WORCESTER, MA – May 31, 2024 – Quinsigamond Community College was recently awarded $51,968 from the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF). The state awarded more than $1.3 million in HEIF grants to higher education institutions for projects that advance racial equity. QCC is using their HEIF grant to create a new non-credit Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) certificate program for faculty and staff. QCC partnered with Anna Maria College, Middlesex Community College, Worcester State University and Worcester Polytechnic Institute to implement the program.
“By working together as a collective community, we are fostering an inclusive environment to meet the needs of diverse student populations in our region. This collaborative approach to educate faculty and staff will increase student recruitment and retention, improve classroom dialogue and advance student success,” said QCC President Dr. Luis Pedraja.
The objective of the DEI certificate program is to further higher education faculty and staff appreciation of the diverse backgrounds, histories, and lived experiences students bring with them to better support their needs. The certificate program will engage participants in advanced DEI thematic work led by trained instructors and will start in the fall of 2024.
“With the ongoing efforts to dismantle DEI programs, it's imperative to continue advancing this work and maintain institutional commitment to it. A key strategy involves educating our community,” said Executive Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Kevin Lovaincy. “When educators and staff prioritize intersectionality, they can provide stronger support to our students, fostering a sense of belonging that will directly correlate with academic and professional success.”