East Tennessee State University is a participant in the Moon Shot for Equity – a public-private partnership dedicated to ensuring that more students complete college degrees, especially those most often left behind – low-income, first-generation, and students of color.

As a Moon Shot partner, ETSU is committed to working together with the community to help more students of color and other historically underserved populations graduate from college.

What does this mean for ETSU?

This commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is not new to ETSU. Engrained in the university’s mission and values statement is the understanding that people come first, are treated with dignity and respect, and are encouraged to achieve their full potential.

Moon Shot for Equity is another way to help us fulfill mission.

Through the Moon Shot initiative, ETSU will focus on removing systemic barriers for students through 15 best practices that increase access to higher education and ensure long-term student success. We will take a comprehensive look at our campus culture, systems, structures, and processes to integrate equity-minded practices into everything we do.

More information about ETSU’s Moon Shot goals and initiatives is coming soon ...

This portal is for employees of colleges and universities that are members of the USC Race and Equity Center’s alliances, equity institutes, leadership academies, and other partnerships. It includes video recordings and assets from eCovenings, as well as other downloadable racial equity resources. This portal also allows persons with authenticated profiles to form and actively participate in virtual communities of practice. Posing questions of practice, offering advice to colleagues, sharing effective practices, and fostering new collaborations are all possible in the virtual communities.

Registration Steps

  1. Click on “Sign-Up Here.”
  2. Select your “East Tennessee HERA” under Category and select your institution.
  3. Enter information requested and create a password for your account. Please use your institution’s email address when registering (this will provide you access). You will receive an email confirmation upon registration (please check your spam folder). Please click “validate email” after receiving this email.
  4. After validation, use your credentials to log-in at Equity Connect.

Equity Connect Registration


This professional learning series is for full-time and part-time employees at Alliance member institutions. Each month, nationally renowned equity experts will offer a highly-engaging live session via Zoom on a different racial equity topic. Useful tools and practical strategies will be provided in every synchronous three-hour experience. Every campus can send up to 400 employees to each session—it could be the same 400 people, or a different set each month. While there is no cost, advance registration is required for each individual session.

 

Strategically Recruiting Employees of Color
Monday, May 22 | 1-3 p.m. EST
Register at www.uscrec.info/ETHERA_5

Supporting and Retaining Employees of Color
Thursday, June 29 | 1-3 p.n. EST
Register at www.uscrec.info/ETHERA_6

Accountability and Incentives for Advancing Racial Equity
Wednesday, July 26 | 1-3 p.m. EST
Register at www.uscrec.info/ETHERA_7

Fostering and Sustaining Inclusive Classrooms for Students of Color
Thursday, August 24 | 1-3 p.m. EST
Register at www.uscrec.info/ETHERA_8

Meaningfully Integrating Racial Topics Across the Curriculum
Friday, September 29 | 1-3 p.m.
Register at www.uscrec.info/ETHERA_9

Engaging Students of Color in High-Impact Educational Practices and Experiences
Tuesday, October 24 | 1-3 p.m. EST
Register at www.uscrec.info/ETHERA_10

Using Disaggregated Data to Identify and Address Racial Inequities
Thursday, November 9 | 1-3 p.m. EST
Register at www.uscrec.info/ETHERA_11

Strategic Planning and Action for Racial Equity
Tuesday, December 5, 1-3 p.m. EST
Register at www.uscrec.info/ETHERA_12

 

Current Best Practice Teams:

  • Coordinated Care

    Team Leader: Ethan Hutchinson, Assistant Director, Advisement Training

    Team Members:

    • Dan Bishop, Director of Military & Veterans Services
    • Britney Deaver, Assistant Dean of Students
    • Ronnie Gross, Executive Director, TRIO Programs
    • Jenny Lockmiller, Director of University Career Services
    • Deidre Johnson, Director of Center for Academic Achievement
    • Mary Little, Director of Disability Services
    • Catherine Morgan, Financial Aid
    • Ali Williams, Director, Student Success, CRHS
  • Hold Reforms

    Team Leader: Tom Donohoe, Registrar

    Team Members:

    • Hannah Benfield, Associate Registrar
    • Britney Deaver, Assistant Dean of Students
    • Chasity Drew, Associate Director, International Student and Scholar Services
    • Coty Dykes, Financial Aid
    • Brianne Hayes, Bursar
    • LaDonna Hutchins, Associate Registrar
    • Timothy Lewis, Director, New Student & Family Programs
    • Megan Roberts, Executive Director, Academic Advisement
    • Jessimine Strauss, Program Specialist, Graduate School
    • Michele Williams, Associate Director of Admissions
  • Retention Grants Students

    Team Leader: Michelle Byrd, Assistant Vice President, SLE, and Dean of Students

    Team Members:

    • Michel Beaver, Associate Vice President, Business & Finance Catherine Morgan, Director, Financial Aid
    • Ashley Dickson, Co-director, CASE Advisement Center, CAS
    • Dessi Ford, University Advancement
    • Catherine Morgan, Financial Aid
  • Transfer Student Experience

    Team Leader: Sharon McGee, Dean, Graduate & Continuing Studies

    Team Members:

    • Bill Flora, Associate Vice Provost for Curriculum
    • Nellie Frye, Advisor, Clemmer College
    • Heather Levesque, Director, Undergraduate Admissions
    • April Rainbolt, Director, Transfer & Adult Student Outreach
    • Megan Roberts, Executive Director, Academic Advisement
    • Debbie Roach, Assistant Dean for Student Support, CBAT
    • Jennifer Webb, Assistant Director, New Student & Family Programs
    • Jason Wilder, Assistant Director, Military & Veterans Services

 

Dr Keith Johnson

 

For more information, contact:

Dr. Keith Johnson
Vice President for Equity and Inclusion
johnsonk@etsu.edu
423-439-4445


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