Feather River College Earns Dr. John W. Rice Award for equity
Building upon its successes over the past years, Feather River College (FRC) has now been recognized for its success in advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility by earning the Dr. John W. Rice Award. This is a huge accomplishment for such a small and rural institution, with FRC making tremendous strides in advancing its efforts to foster a more diverse and inclusive environment.
Established in 2001, the Dr. John W. Rice Award annually recognizes colleges and college districts for setting the standard in advancing diversity, equity and accessibility to improve student outcomes. Finalists for the Equity Award were chosen based on the reduction of equity gaps for students of color in their respected institutions.
Interim Chancellor, Daisy Gonzales, commented, “Just 10 years ago, the vast majority of students entering community colleges were forced into a flawed remedial education system and students’ work didn’t count toward a degree or transfer. Now, we are unlocking students’ true potential and dismantling structures that do not work for our students.” FRC is proud to lead these efforts, with staff and faculty taking a collaborative approach to student success in an equitable manner.
Feather River College had multiple representatives on hand at the prestigious ceremony in Sacramento, along with a former student, to receive the honor. When speaking to Dr. Kevin Trutna, Superintendent/President, he had this to say about FRC’s efforts, “We use our college’s small size to our advantage; meeting students individually and working to ensure that they are supported, receive resources, and continue to progress toward their degree goals.”
As many people in the Quincy community will agree, FRC introduces a variety of students from different backgrounds to the rural, small-town experience we find here in Plumas County. Many of the students comment that the embracing atmosphere, along with supportive College staff, are the reasons they find so much success here at Feather River College. This award is a testament to the inclusive environment not only fostered by FRC, but by our community as a whole.
