A Day In The Life Of An Assistant Provost Of Institutional Equity At Willamette University
Emilio's role as Assistant Provost, Institutional Equity at Willamette University involves many meetings focused on retention, particularly of men of color and trans students, as well as policy review for equitable application; this allows time for strategic work, thinking "through what systems we need to build out" to create a more equitable campus for all.
Higher Education, Policy Analysis, Data Analysis, Equity and Inclusion, Strategic Planning
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
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Emilio Solano
Assistant Provost, Institutional Equity
Willamette University
Willamette University, 2009
Loyola Marymount University, Master of Arts, Urban Education: Policy & Administration and Lewis & Clark College, Doctorate of Education, Education Leadership
History, Art History
Education
Education
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Greek Life Member, Student Athlete
Video Highlights
1. Many meetings with various stakeholders to discuss issues such as student retention, experiences of marginalized groups, and policy analysis from an equity perspective.
2. Collaboration with colleagues on policy creation and review, focusing on equitable practices and access for all students.
3. Strategic thinking and system building to address systemic inequities and improve campus climate for students, staff, and faculty. This involves analyzing data to understand root causes of inequities and develop solutions.
Transcript
What does the day in the life of your role look like?
I have many meetings, and some are easily identifiable and relevant to my work. These include discussions about retention, the experiences of men of color, and how transgender students are navigating campus. Meetings about campus climate survey data also feel very connected.
However, sometimes meetings are about policy, such as exit, withdrawal, or leave of absence policies. I may not have much to contribute in those instances, but there are opportunities to ensure the policy is equitable for all students.
If we're concerned about retention, we can implement a stopgap measure where students must meet with us for an exit interview before taking their next step. This allows us to collect data and understand not just which demographics are leaving at a higher rate, but also why.
Some of these meetings feel like stretches, and I am often quiet. However, there are opportunities to offer my perspective on equity or DEI issues.
I do meet with students, but usually those with whom I have strong relationships. Much of my work is on the academic affairs side, not student affairs. Incredible student affairs professionals handle immediate student issues, allowing me to focus on the strategic, ten-thousand-foot view.
This means I can think about the systems we need to build to create a more equitable campus experience for our students, staff, and faculty, based on the data we have.