Equity
Institutionalize Programming for LGBTQ+ Students
Equity Plan Re-Imagined: Invest in college and division programming that reaches racial and LGBTQ+ groups.
Action Plan: Secure commitment from institution for permanent positions and funding for SIP positions. Put personnel requests into RAPP for positions: Associate Dean of Learning Communities, Learning Community Counselor.
Lead: Michelle Hernandez
Plan Timeline
Winter 2024
Spring 2024
Begin engagement with RAPP in spring 2024.
Fall 2024
Winter 2025
Advocacy for the De Anza Pride Association (DAPA).
Presented DAPA as a newly formed affinity group: Our mission is to advocate for the needs, rights, and interests of our diverse 2SLGBTQIA+ community, including all employees and students, through increasing visibility, support, and resources in order to create a safer and more inclusive campus environment. https://www.deanza.edu/dapa/
Spring 2025
DAPA was approved as an affinity group by the governance groups, including the College Council.
Queer & Now Conference
Lavendar Graduation
Fall 2025
- Engaged with the Associate Dean of Learning Communities to ensure that all RAPP forms and requests were up to date
- Collected student testimonials to showcase the impact/need for a dedicated counselor for LGBTQ+ students (49 responses)
- Created an internal and external data sheet to share with College stakeholders to communicate the impact of this position since its inception
- Attended RAPP and College Council Meetings to advocate for the position
- Holiday Break 2025 - found out the position wasn't included in the President's recommendations
Winter 2026
(January) Created a petition to circulate to the LGBTQ+ community and allies to show support and advocacy for a dedicated counselor for LGBTQ+ students
(January) Met with President Torres to discuss options for the Pride/Learning Community Counselor for the 2026-27 academic year and beyond
(March) Proposal went to RAPP and College Council to request that we move forward with the permanent full-time tenure-track position for the Pride/Learning Community Counselor
- Was approved by both shared governance groups to allocate funds from next year's allotment to fund this position starting the 2026-27 academic year
Spring 2026
The hiring committee was formed and started work
Interviewed and hired a Pride/Learning Community Counselor
Collaborated to bring forth an All Affinity Group discussion for a collective summit/gathering in the Spring quarter. The goals of this All-Affinity Group gathering would be:
- Community Building
- Sharing of experiences on campus
- Ideas/Strategizing for collective next steps
- Maintaining our individual shared governance positions (1 vote per Affinity Group, not 1 collective vote for all Affinity Groups)
- Any other ideas that folks want to bring in
Queer & Now Conference
Lavendar Graduation
Fall 2026
A permanent full-time Counselor began with the Pride Center and the LGBTQ+ community.
The Compendium was released, and the allocation for the Pride Center and the LGBTQ+ budget was increased 3-fold.
Winter 2027
Planning for Queer & Now Conference
Spring 2027
Queer & Now Conference