We Are Lakeshore

Diversity & Inclusion Committee

The Lakeshore Technical College Diversity & Inclusion Committee advises and advocates for the advancement of college diversity values and goals. The committee is an active partner with students and staff in working toward a college community where all can work and learn in an equitable and inclusive environment.

Membership consists of representatives from a range of departments across the college. These staff and students have a personal or professional interest in diversity and enhance the strategic capabilities of the committee. The Diversity Committee holds monthly meetings to fulfill the mission and purpose of the group.

Co-Chairs
Julie Konik, Psychology Instructor; julie.konik@gotoltc.edu
Nicole Yang, Manager of Access, Equity, & Inclusion; nicole.yang@gotoltc.edu

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Definitions

What Is Diversity?: Diversity encompasses an array of experience including, but not limited to, age, race, ethnicity, gender, religion, ability, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and national origin. An appreciative awareness of diversity provides the foundation for the understanding that individuals are shaped by this array of experience. Diversity services focus on addressing the specific needs of students that identify as members of historically under-represented and/or underserved populations as defined by federal, state, and local law.
What Is Equity?: Equity refers to the intentional practice of identifying the unique needs within our diverse campus community, and in turn providing the support necessary for individuals to succeed in their academic, professional, and career goals.
What Is Inclusion?: Inclusion is the degree to which a community welcomes, values, respects, hears, and assures participation of all individuals. Creating an inclusive college community requires intentional action to address historical under-representation and exclusion at all levels in the organization and the district.

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Programming

Diversity & Dessert
This introductory level series advances awareness of diversity, equity, and inclusion among participants in a thought-provoking, casual environment.

Courageous Conversations
This series engages participants in intermediate level content. This forum invites external content experts to facilitate conversations on issues that directly impact members of marginalized communities at the college.

Safe Space Training & Ally Program
This series explores the LGBTQIA+ experience, develops skills for inclusivity, and provides the foundation for the college’s Voluntary Safe Space Ally Program. We also provide advanced training for Safe Space Allies.

College-Wide Common Read
This series engages the college community in a shared reading and special events that tackle topics from the reading with the help of subject matter experts.

Lakeshore Diversity Summit
This biennial event features content experts that bring an array of topics to the college to provide a forum for students, educators, and community members to engage in dialogue on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

And More
Examples of other offerings include Living and Working in a Diverse Environment sessions for new employees, Bias Training for interviewers, FQAS Educational Diversity training for faculty.

Hmong-Pride Celebration
As the Hmong communities throughout Wisconsin prepared for the Hmong New Year, students and staff were invited to celebrate by wearing traditional Hmong clothes, jewelry, and hats on November 22, 2021.