There will be an Open Forum Aug. 29, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Los Medanos College Library L109 to discuss the Student Equity Plan. A presentation on the plan will be shown to students, faculty and staff senates. Attendees will be given the opportunity to give input regarding the Student Equity Plan.

The Student Equity Plan is now required at all California community colleges. Los Medanos College will begin the planning process to implement this plan that is designed to increase equitable outcomes for all students.

According to the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, the Student Equity Planning is administered through the Student Success and Support unit, which they will be overseeing and assisting.

The plan will focus on the disproportionate impact of targeted groups that need more assistance, for an example, to their success at college.

The disproportionate impact is defined as “a condition where some students’ access to key resources and supports and ultimately their academic success may be hampered by inequitable practices, policies and approaches to student support,” as stated in the “Ensuring Equitable Access and Success: A Guide to Assessing and Mitigating Disproportionate Impact in Student Success and Support Programs” by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office.

The targeted groups included gender, age, ethnicity, disability status and the economically disadvantaged. The groups may change, however, according the measure of year studied.

“We see that African-American and Asian students are disproportionately impacted with regard to completing degrees and certificates,” said Los Medanos College’s Dean of Student Success Dave Belman.

The plan will help to identify activities focused on increasing equity. Certain areas to aid success include admissions, assessment and orientation, counseling and pre-requisites. However, the planning committee will look at programmatic and policy approaches. It is intended to be a five-year plan and will be regularly updated.

“College wide participation is highly encouraged in the planning process,” said Dean Belman.