Mission Statement
"The Economic Equity Initiative (EEI) seeks to inspire, educate, and empower our community to address socio-economic class and status difference as an important element of diversity in our lives and institution."
Basic Goals
- Increase awareness and knowledge through providing professional development opportunities, information, and access to campus, regional, & national resources.
- Heighten communication, facilitate connections, and assist in aligning campus work related to socio-economic class and status.
- Facilitate campus partnerships in order to assess unmet needs and to develop strategies that will improve campus climate regarding socio-economic class and status.
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EEI Structure
Housed in the Office of Institutional Diversity & Equity, the Economic Equity Initiative (EEI) is an ongoing campus-wide project convened by individuals from the Provost Office, the Office of Pluralism and Leadership (OPAL), and the Tucker Foundation.
EEI committee members work in a variety of campus offices, including Financial Aid, Career Services, Residential Life, the Hopkins Center, Graduate Student Services, Dining Services, Human Resources, and Facilities Operation & Management. Each committee member actively participates on one of three "action groups" focusing on students, employees, or local communities. In addition, EEI has one paid part-time student intern who assists with special projects.
EEI enjoys close collaborative ties with the Hopkins Center's multi-year project, the first substantial cross-campus/community project in the country to examine the issue of class through the arts.
We are funded by a multi-year grant from the Bildner Endowment for Inter-Group Relations.
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EEI Accomplishments
Improved communication about existing programs and campus, local, & national resources
- Established the Economic Equity Initiative (EEI) website.
- Promoted campus programs focusing on socio-economic class through the Economic Equity Initiative blitz bulletin (available only to Dartmouth community).
- Highlighted relevant resources through the Economic Equity Initiative Monthly E-Newsletter (available only to Dartmouth community).
- Working in partnership with the Student Assembly Diversity Committee, one of the EEI action groups, compiled a comprehensive inventory of campus funding resources.
Increased campus opportunities for faculty, staff, students, and local community members to participate in professional development workshops related to socio-economic class
- Delivered on-campus workshops by Class Action. Designed for departments with frequent interaction with Dartmouth's student body as well as for departments interested in increasing their general knowledge and sensitivity in the area of socio-economic diversity Class Action offered several foundational workshops for college employees and one advanced level workshop for those that have already been through the foundational workshop.
- Provided a three day on-campus residency program with Felice Yeskel, Director of Class Action. Impacting about 150 individuals, the residency program involved training workshops with eight different offices and groups. This included the Tucker Foundation, Office of Pluralism and Leadership, First Year Dean's Office, Upper Class Dean's Office, Admissions Office, Career Services, a DCAL sponsored faculty workshop, and selected undergraduate students.
- Over 75 faculty, staff, graduate and undergraduate students, as well as Upper Valley residents and professionals attended the "Bridges Over Poverty" full day workshop.
- Sponsored the lecture by Kathleen Cushman titled, "What Kids Know That Tests Don't Show: Cultural Literacy in School and Community" to an audience of about 75 students and employees. During this presentation, audience members were asked to take a fun and provocative test called "S.A.T. Bronx". The result was a rich conversation on the topic of privilege, equity and diversity.
- In partnership with the Pan Asian Council and the Sociology department, the EEI assisted in bringing Meizhu Lui, author of the book Color of Wealth to campus. In addition to delivering a powerful keynote address to about 200 students, staff, and faculty at the Pan Asian Community Dinner, she spoke with 75 students in the Sociology 2: "Social Problems" course and conducted a workshop with the Office of Pluralism and Leadership. EEI was also able to further impact campus by selling over 70 copies of her books to Dartmouth staff, faculty and students. In addition, two sociology and one history professor indicated that they would begin using her book for their courses.
Increased the number of student focused socio-economic class campus events.
- Working with seven different student organizations (including Greek letter, student government, cultural, and residentially based groups), compiled reflections from about 200 undergraduate students regarding their perspectives on how socio-economic class impacts their social and academic lives at Dartmouth.
- Utilizing the student reflections and national statistics, created a visual installment project which was displayed in the Tabard Gender-Neutral Fraternity's meeting room for a month and the Collis Student Center.
- Collaborated with the Hopkins Center Class Divide intern to promote a video series on socio-economic status in America and supported their art exhibit and performance projects.
- Facilitated three workshops focusing on the intersection of socio-economic class and gender with the Women in Leadership organization.
- Supported a student initiated project where local low income children where given disposable cameras to take pictures of their environment and to share what is important to them. With the permission of the children and their parents, the pictures where displayed in Collis Student Center.
- Assisted in establishing the new COSO student group "Alliance of Socio-Economic Awareness" (ASA).
Increased support for faculty, staff, and students who are among the first generation to attend or graduate from a four year college.
- As part of the three day EEI residency project, coordinated a supportive dinner workshop titled, "Examining the First Generation College Student Experience". The workshop was facilitated by Felice Yeskel and attended by 10 staff, a faculty member, and 25 undergraduate students, all of whom were among the first generation to attend college. During the workshop, students, faculty, and staff were able to identify strengths they gained as well as challenges they faced based on this common experience.
- Based on the feedback gathered from the original workshop and a follow up meeting, the First Generation College Student Network has been established at Dartmouth. This network program made up of first generation college students, faculty, and staff assists in normalizing common challenges, providing advice about navigating the Dartmouth academic and social culture, and better linking students to vital campus resources.
- Assisted in bringing author and educator Kathleen Cushman to campus for several presentations related to the first generation college student experience. This included speaking with 30 students in the Education 9: "Class in the Classroom: An Exploration of the Intersections of Socio-Economic Status and Educational Inequities" course and meeting with 75 members of the First Generation Network. In addition, EEI provided funding so each person in the Network could receive a free copy of her book "First in the Family: the College Years".
Encourage an increase in resources for local community members.
- The Tucker Foundation assisted in the development of a new student project called Upper Valley Financial Education Group. This program enables undergraduate students to provide information about managing money, budgeting, financial protection, savings, and credit card traps to the elderly community and local schools.
- The Tucker Foundation established and awarded an Upper Valley Social Entrepreneur Fellowship to an undergraduate student. This student will work with local lower-income women at the Family Place.
Continued to build and strengthen campus partnerships and support.
- Supported the success of the 2008 Martin Luther King, Jr Celebration focusing on the topic of class.
- Encouraged the 2007-08 Diversity Reading and Film group theme related to socio-economic class.
- Continued to support Professor Annelise Orleck's efforts to promote class related curriculum development and enhancement at Dartmouth.
- Provided staff feedback to the Vice President of Finance regarding proposed retirement benefits policy changes.
- Met with Union supervisors to discuss strategies for better communicating campus opportunities and to assess staff needs.
- Met with Upper Valley organization leaders to discuss how EEI can support their community efforts.
- Worked with Dean of the College leadership to improve meeting the needs of low to middle income students and First Generation College Students.
In partnership with The Hopkins Center's Class Divide project, supported:
- the Dartmouth Centers Forum selection of class as their theme for 2007-2008;
- the Dartmouth Film Society's selection of class as their theme for the DFS winter '08 film series;
- the selection of poverty as the theme for the 2007-2008 DHMC Great Issues in Medicine Symposium
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Book & Film Resources
Background
Welcome to the Economic Equity Initiative and Class Divide resources web page. These two campus-wide projects aim to address issues of socio-economic class at Dartmouth College and in the Upper Valley community in a variety of ways.
Films & Books
We have compiled listings of recommended films and recommended books that address class issues from a variety of perspectives.
You can also find an extensive list of national resources through Class Action.
Links
A selection of links to off-campus organizations and resources devoted to understanding and acting to address socio-economic class issues.
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Student Funding Inventory at Dartmouth College
Compiled by the Economic Equity Initiative (EEI) in partnership with Student Assembly Diversity Affairs Committee, this list is designed to assist students in locating available college funding and local community resources.
Student Funding Inventory (PDF link updated 9/08)
If you would like to suggest that a resource be added to this inventory, please contact Nora Yasumura.
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How to Get Involved
If you're interested in getting involved in EEI or would like to consult one of its members, please contact Jan Tarjan, Mary-Ella Zietz, Nora Yasumura.
Members of the Dartmouth community may also monitor the "Economic Equity Initiative" blitz bulletin to find out about upcoming campus events, news, and resources.
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