Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

We must acknowledge that TCC was built on the ancestral territory of Coast Salish peoples, specifically the Puyallup, who have called this area home since time immemorial.  The 1854 Medicine Creek Treaty forcibly removed them to the Puyallup reservation to make way for settlers, and we recognize that the privilege of our campus being located on this land has come at great cost to indigenous people.  We honor the resilience of the Puyallup Tribe and its people, who still live here, defend their rights, and contribute greatly to the well-being of all the people of this region. We must recognize that the privilege of our campus being located on the land on which we will learn together comes at profound cost to the Coast Salish peoples. The ethos of this course calls upon us to acknowledge these injustices are true here and for indigenous communities around the globe. Please use the knowledge and skills you will gain at TCC and in this class to work towards reconciliation for indigenous communities.

Student Well-Being & Basic Needs

      These are exceptionally trying times, so if you find yourself falling behind because of issues related to mental health (i.e., depression, anxiety, stress etc.), please reach out. Additionally, please let us know if you need help securing basic needs (such as food, a safe place to stay, or a computing device for completing coursework) at any point during the quarter.  Any student who has difficulty affording groceries, or accessing sufficient food to eat every day, or who lacks a safe and stable place to live – and believes this may affect their performance in this course, is urged to contact the TCC Dean of Retention and Student Success – Jason Parker (jparker@tacomacc.edu, 253.566.5159).  TCC has many campus and community service resources that can support student needs and faculty can assist you in exploring them.

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion

Diversity: TCC welcomes people all across the wide scope of races, colors, nationalities, ethnicities, sexual identities and orientations, genders, religions, political affiliations, physical abilities, economic backgrounds, professional histories, marital and parental statuses, and generations. Like our school, the TCC Sociology Department values the diversity in our classroom because it enriches our learning environment and deepens our understanding of others. Additionally, we hold an expectation my students will eventually cultivate a similar appreciation for such diversity.

Equity:  TCC empowers our community through equitable access to opportunities, knowledge, and resources. We promote intercultural engagement, institutional responsibility and awareness of historical inequities and direct action toward overcoming systemic barriers to create a community where all people can be welcomed, heard, known, represented, and successful.

Inclusion: We will work together to create an environment in which everyone is treated with dignity and is offered a platform to contribute to our space. To this end, every student: 1) has the right to be called by the name they wish and to have their name pronounced correctly; 2) has the right to be referred to by the pronouns that they share; 3) has the right to express their opinion without fear they are speaking for an entire identity group; and 4) has the right to respectfully identify any barriers to their inclusion in the course without fear of being punished by the professor.

Anti-racist

The Social Sciences Program at TCC unequivocally rejects white supremacy, racism and other forms of hate and bias. No matter the name or label, white supremacist, anti-Semitic and racist thought and action are antithetical to our values. We will work to dismantle racism and discrimination on campus, in our communities and in society as part of our shared efforts to elevate humanity. (Adapted from University of Nevada, Reno)