ICCTA Equity Award

2012 Recipient


Waubonsee Community College

Waubonsee Community College has long demonstrated a strong commitment to equity at all levels of the institution. A diversity initiative is one of the major planks of its strategic planning framework.

Minorities comprise more than 46 percent of Waubonsee's student body, reflecting the highly diverse population of this suburban Chicago college district.

Waubonsee Community College president Dr. Christine Sobek accepts ICCTA's 2012 Equity Award from ICCTA vice president Reggie Coleman.

Waubonsee Community College president Dr. Christine Sobek accepts ICCTA's 2012 Equity Award from ICCTA vice president Reggie Coleman.

Nearly 17,600 students have enrolled in English as a Second Language programs over the last five years – almost three times the average community college ESL enrollment. To better assist these students in assessing and achieving their goals, Waubonsee received a five-year $3.2 million federal grant to improve Hispanic postsecondary transition and success.

In 2008, Waubonsee created the post of Director of Governmental and Multicultural Affairs. That same year, its Diversity Leadership Council was formed. In addition to coordinating diversity activities during new student and faculty orientations, the Council cosponsored an "Intergroup Dialogue" in partnership with the Anti-Defamation League. More than 550 members of the college community completed the training, which continues as part of Waubonsee's new employee orientation and through a monthly Intergroup Dialogue series.

In recognition of its efforts, Waubonsee received the Association of Community College Trustees' Central Region Equity Award in October 2012.