Equity Scorecard

Executive Summary

The Equity Scorecard is based on the principles of action research. Action research departs from traditional research methodology by breaking boundaries between the researcher and the researched, thus creating a relationship of co-researchers. Based on a culture of evidence model, diverse data concerning the performance of students of color are collected at each institution by a team of administrators, faculty members, counselors and others who work with Equity Scorecard researchers to establish areas of study and devise an individualized framework to evaluate the information.

Team Work
Working in teams appointed by each college's president, each institution selects its own measures (e.g., GPA, dean's list, remediation enrollment) to assess its performance in providing equity of outcomes to its students of color.

Making Visible the Invisible
As goal-oriented researchers, the teams uncover the hidden stories within their own institutions and thus are motivated to effect change. By engaging in a systematic and continuous process of self-appraisal, the teams are able to motivate their institutions and campus leaders.

Looking at Data in a New Way
Central to the Equity Scorecard is disaggregation of routinely collected institutional data on student matriculation, enrollment, pass/fail, and graduation rates. By extracting information based on race, ethnicity, gender or other discrete factors, the Equity Scorecard project provides concrete information on basic indicators of achievement among students. More importantly, disaggregation illuminates critical gaps in academic performance, and thereby permits institutions to respond with purposeful actions. When the review of data is complete, teams share their findings with their institutions. Because the reports offer detailed information about their own institutions, the teams regard the Equity Scorecard as a campus initiative, taking ownership and developing proposals unique and specific to their own institution.