Moon Shot for Equity
At Community College of Denver (CCD), we believe that by working together, we become stronger; through college-wide collaboration and strategic partnerships, we can achieve our collective vision and goals. We work to maintain an environment where all feel respected, valued, and supported. CCD is committed to the community college mission to be accessible for all learners and to foster the joy of lifelong learning for the public.
CCD is partnering with EAB as a Moon Shot for Equity Vanguard institution. Through Moon Shot for Equity, we are able to deliver a cohesive equity plan that provides research-backed best practices, policies, and technology proven to reduce and eliminate equity gaps. For our students, that means reaching their attainment goals in less time, for less money, and achieving better career outcomes.
A Diverse Student Population
CCD is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education. Currently, more than a quarter of our student population is Latinx, more than 50 percent self-identify as underrepresented, and our international students represent more than 40 nations.
Additionally, more than 60 percent are first-generation students. CCD’s broad array of students consists of:
- High school students taking CCD classes through the concurrent enrollment and ASCENT programs who earn both high school and college credit for the CCD classes they take,
- Recent high school graduates or GED recipients,
- Adults who are or have been in the workforce but have come to CCD for retraining or a career change,
- First-generation, low-income, minority students of all ages who never saw college as a possibility,
- Adults with a degree who are in search of a new career
Equity-Minded Strategies
The Moon Shot for Equity initiative focuses on removing systemic barriers for students through 15 best practices. These best practices are grouped under four categories: Leadership and Campus Climate, Access and Enrollment, Academic Policy and Procedures, and Student Support and Belongingness. CCD currently addresses these best practices through multiple initiatives and activities.
| Leadership and Campus Climate | Access and Enrollment | Academic Policy and Procedures | Student Support and Belongingness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer Social for New Students or Student Hopefuls and their Families | Increased ETPL Listings | Co-Requisite Math and English Programming | Pathways 2.0 |
| SOAR Student Onboarding | Momentum Credit | Pathway Aligned Math Requirements | Moon Shot for Equity |
| Commencement Celebration | Focus on Adult Learning through Grants | Ombudsperson Office for Student Concerns | Auraria Learning & Employment Ecosystem |
| CCD Employee Benefits | Use of Inclusive Enrollment Campaigns | 2+2 Articulation Agreements | First Year Experience |
| Equitable Compensation | Community ESL | Industry Partnerships to Improve Employee Retention | Increasing Class Size |
| New Employee Orientation | Revamping of Selective Admission Program Applications | Improving Program Maps by Pathway with Elective Alignment | Improving Student Complaints & Tracking Resolution |
| Fall "Welcome Back" Event for Employees | Focus on DPS to CCD Path | Equity Toolkit | CUE and ACUE Cohorts for Effective Teaching & Equity Practices | Alternate Course Delivery Methods and Accelerated Options |
| Employee Town Halls | Boulder Creek Center for Excellence in Health Sciences | Advisory Boards, Internships, Apprenticeships for Industry Engagement in Course Work | Non-Credit to Credit Programming Support |
| Internal CCD News Website | Care Forward Colorado for No-Cost to the Student Access to Short-Term Healthcare Programming | Open Education Resources (OER) to Provide Education at a Low Cost for Students | Amazon Career Choice Enrollment & Support |
| Goal Calls | TRIO Educational Opportunity Center | Accelerated First-Year Courses | More than $1 million Available in Scholarships |
| Conversation Day | Bi-Lingual YouVisit Tour | Colorado Online @ | Additional Locations, including High Schools and Industry Partners |
| Strategic Planning | C2 Career Hub with MSU | ||
| FAST Teams for Process Improvements | TRIO Student Support Services | ||
| Provost Day | |||
| Renewed Shared Governance with a Braintrust |
Our Goals
CCD is participating in EAB's Moon Shot for Equity initiative to deploy research-based practices to graduate Black, Latinx, first-generation, and other historically underserved populations and eliminate equity gaps in our student outcomes. We are currently undergoing numerous diagnostics to determine what resources are needed, what practices should be prioritized, and where other Moon Shot for Equity participating institutions may be able to support each other.
Timeline
- July 2022 | CCD Leadership Symposium
- August 2022 | Program Kick-off
- September 2022 | Steering Committee Kick-off, Building the Communication Plan, Website Launch, Diagnostics Launch
- October 2022 | Faculty and Staff Engagement, Diagnostic Findings Compiled/Shared by EAB, Facilitate Focus Groups
- November 2022 | Select Tier 1 Practices and Teams, Connected Conference
- December 2022 | Send invitations for January Best Practice Leadership Institute for Tier 1 Teams, Send Save the Date for Conversation Day, Report on First 100 Days
- January 2023 | Best Practices Teams Kick-off
- March 2023 | Conversation Day
*schedule is subject to change
Inclusive Excellence
Diversity challenges stereotyped preconceptions; it encourages critical thinking and helps students learn to communicate effectively with people of varied backgrounds. CCD has a long-standing history of being one of the most diverse colleges in Colorado.
The Inclusive Excellence Leadership Team (IELT) advocates for inclusion, equity, and academic excellence to create an environment where all voices are welcomed and heard and to empower and celebrate all students, faculty, staff, and affiliates.
By challenging systemic barriers, building more robust support systems and resources, implementing ongoing training and professional development opportunities, and embracing open-mindedness at Community College of Denver, we commit to cultivating and enriching our community through increased accountability and civic engagement.
IELT's goal is to lead the College through the adoption of the Inclusive Excellence Framework to transform CCD in a manner that improves quality and creates a sense of belonging for students, faculty, and staff.
