At Oakton, we know that diversity matters.
What is diversity? For us, it's a recognition of the different identities and cultures reflected in schools, workplaces, communities, and nations in which we live. While diversity is often used in reference to race, ethnicity, and gender, we embrace a broader definition. Age, national origin, religion, disability, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, education, marital status, language, and physical appearance: we believe diversity encompasses all the characteristics that make one individual or group different from another. We also include the diversity of thought: ideas, perspectives, and values, recognizing that individuals can affiliate with multiple identities.
Cultural diversity is also essential. It focuses on the existence of a variety of cultural or ethnic groups within a society, including the shared language, beliefs, values, norms, and behaviors passed from one generation to the next. Cultural diversity is important to us because workplaces and schools like Oakton increasingly consist of various cultural, racial, and ethnic groups.
We can - and must - learn from one another. We have come to understand that through diversity and equity and other demonstrable abilities, we truly achieve academic excellence. We must, however, have a level of understanding about each other first in order to facilitate collaboration and cooperation towards that goal of excellence.
That's why diversity and equity are part of our core mission and inform our every decision as an institution. We strive to create a learning environment that reflects our larger community, filled with people from all backgrounds and all walks of life. We aim to create an environment where every student can feel welcome, safe, and supported, and we are continually working to employ a diverse faculty who represent the myriad life experiences of our students.
We also try to ensure equitable opportunities for all of our students. We understand that the different economic and ethnic backgrounds of every one of our students create different experiences and perspectives, and we aim to help students like you have the access and opportunity you need to achieve your goals.
That's because we also know that you matter.
Our work and future as an institution are based on how we can give you the full support you need as you travel down your educational path. That's why these issues of diversity and equity are key components of our current "Vision 2030: Building Just and Thriving Communities" strategic plan. Delivering a safe and supportive learning environment for you is the most important element of what we do and who we are.
Creating a Truly Diverse and Equitable Campus
Achieving equity and effectively providing education for our diverse student body is an ongoing effort. We've come a long way in our 50 years, and the truth is, we still have a long way to go. But our promise to you is that we will not stop striving to be the most equitable and diverse institution we can be. To help reach our goals, we've created an equity plan and have in place a variety of programs, services, and resources to better create an environment that helps fulfills our equity commitment to you.
