On May 22, 2023, Iowa’s community colleges convened at Iowa Valley Business & Community Solutions in Marshalltown, IA, for the 2nd Guided Pathways Data and Equity Convening. The first data convening was held in May of 2022, and colleges evaluated disaggregated enrollment data of non-credit and credit students to address discrepancies.
Dr. Lorenzo DuBois Baber, a researcher with the Office of Community College Research and Leadership (OCCRL) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, led in facilitating this year’s data convening. Dr. Baber’s research interests include educational equity and justice, with a specific focus on community colleges, postsecondary education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and the advancement of critical frameworks in higher education research. With over 60 colleges leaders attending, the data convening afforded college teams a dedicated day to define the four steps for equity work including key terms and frames, to disaggregate classroom data specifically evaluating challenges and opportunities, to understand underrepresented populations, and to be strategic in understanding student-athletes to better serve all our students.