Age Diversity

A Board's Commitment to DEIA²

By Milca Elvira Chacon

Achieving diversity, equity and inclusion is something Butte College strives for everyday. In recent years, Butte College has taken significant steps toward the growth of inclusivity within the campus community. 

A key component of this has been done through the work of the Board of Trustees. Despite remaining predominantly white and male, members of the board such as John Blacklock and Rick Krepelka have one goal in mind: To foster a welcoming and accessible campus to students and staff.

After retiring 21 years ago, Blacklock wanted to continue learning and was appointed to the board in 2016. Today, he reflects on the work he and his peers have done and said the board has been cohesive and dedicated to DEIA².

Krepelka said he had been associated with Butte college for 15 years. After witnessing how helpful the board was, he jumped at the opportunity when a position opened up and was appointed in 2012.

Being a first-generation student and coming from a low-income, blue collar family, Krepelka said this position has helped him better understand other challenges students face.

While the reality of the board’s demographic may pose a challenge, they emphasized their further commitment to representation. Blacklock said he wants faculty to look like the people that are instructing.

To achieve this, he said training those who are on interview committees and bringing other voices throughout that process is crucial. Blacklock also said incorporating student perspectives and giving their voices a platform is just as important.

Today, the board counts with seven trustees and a student trustee who is present at every board meeting.

“Welding in the student voice is a big deal,” Krepelka said.

Krepelka added that different departments at Butte College give them reports before board meetings, giving them the opportunity to hear from a variety of individuals on campus. 

Krepelka also added that hiring IDEA Officer Tray Robinson has been one of the best things they’ve done. Robinson, a former Chico State EDI Officer, was praised by Krepelka because of his expertise and his different perspectives of issues revolving around DEI.

According to the 2024-2025 Butte-Glenn College District Board of Trustees Strategic Focus and Board Goals:

• Prioritize Strategic Plan objectives 
• Manage the Strategic Enrollment Management Plan
• Develop a plan for operational improvement and institutional efficiency 
• Strengthen institutional data collection, interpretation, reporting, availability and analysis to improve organizational understanding and processes
• Facilitate collaboration with the Foundation in the achievement of its Strategic Plan
• Advance innovation 
• Increase understanding of, appreciate for, emphasis on and action DEIA2

More specifically, the board members said one of their biggest involvements is working to ensure the college’s usage of inclusive language and incorporating gender neutral language. They said  adding a non-discrimination language policy and dealing with gender neutral references would promote a more welcoming environment for all students. 

“So it’s sort of ever present on our board that we’re putting DEI on the face of almost everything we do,” Blacklock said. 

Engaging in open dialogue and encouraging others to do so has been a tool used to transform and enrich the board’s perspective. 

Blacklock recounted an important conversation from a board training held around two years ago. During the session, one of our Black staff members, a Black woman, shared a powerful account of her experience while out on a run.”

This conversation was an eye-opener for him, realizing he doesn’t have to worry about his surroundings because of his gender or potential dangers due to the color of his skin. 

 

Besides learning from others, he said conversations create an opportunity to find similarities with others.

“When you start simply talking to people that maybe look different from you, or have a different sexual orientation, or whatever it might be, you realize how much you have in common,” Blacklock said. 

For Krepelka, immersing yourself in different cultural perspectives is also crucial. By doing this, he said students and staff will better understand each other.

One of the ways they did this was when the board had to read “How to Be an Antiracist” by Ibram X. Kendi.

While reading the book, Krepelka said it pointed out many of his deficiencies. While he didn’t agree on everything the author touched on, he said he learned a lot.

“We all felt differently about the book, but still felt similarly about DEI and about the path that we were going was the right way,” Krepelka said.

With a Hispanic population of over 30% of students at Butte, Blacklock said something as simple as making Butte’s website accessible in Spanish shouldn’t be a challenge and could make an impact on a potential student.

“First appearances are important. I think that was sort of the subject that made me think of it, what’s the first impact that a prospective student has at Butte College?” said Blacklock.

As Butte College looks forward, continuing to improve and avoid stagnancy remains essential. The dedication to understanding and integrating diverse voices will demonstrate the board’s further commitment to representation for the college community, fostering a campus where everyone is valued. 

“We might think we’re doing great stuff with DEI, but there’s much more and better than we can do, and that’s what we search for,” Blacklock said.

Photos by Milca Elvira Chacon and Rick Krepelka