The Embedding of DEIA in Faculty Evaluations and Tenure Review in California Community Colleges

• In Event: AERA Poster Session Sunday 11:45 am
  In Poster Session: The Embedding of DEIA in Faculty Evaluations and Tenure Review in California Community Colleges

Abstract

This study examines how the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office leveraged regulatory authority, legal structures, and stakeholder coordination to institutionalize Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) in faculty evaluation policies. In 2022, the Board of Governors approved a Title 5 regulation requiring DEIA competencies in faculty evaluations—an uncommon policy win amid national rollbacks of DEI. Using critical policy analysis and document analysis of over 50 public records (2017–2025), the study identifies three key strategies: changing system structures, invoking state authority, and aligning with faculty and student groups. This case illustrates how educational systems can codify equity through governance and coalition-building, offering insights for policy researchers and leaders advancing justice-oriented reforms in contested political landscapes.

Author

• Kristin Lui-Martinez, Loyola Marymount University