Changes may be coming to MyDelta that would allow students to use their chosen pronouns and gender identities, according to a presentation done for the Delta College Pride Center in mid-February.
Tina Akers, formally the Dean of Institutional Effectiveness and Achievement but currently on special assignment, presented changes in a test environment to gauge feedback of the changes. Instructors would be able to see the changes on their end.
Akers said the hope is to roll the new options out this semester, but did not have specifics.
“Currently the only place students are asked to identify their sexual identity, gender identity and expression is on CCCApply Application and we’ll collect that once and never again. That data may or may not make it into our system,” Akers told the group in the public presentation. “So then when someone says how many LGBTQIA+ students do we have on campus we only have the data from the application. As we know statuses may change throughout the student’s journey at the college, different experiences, even disclosure might change. So we wanted to provide a place for students to update their sexual identity and gender identity and expression.”
The system change allows better data collection.
“For data collection, that’s important for things like funding,” Akers said. “So if you choose to enter your sexual identity and gender identity and expression and we report them to the state this is how many students we’re serving that identify in this way we will be more likely to have opportunities for more funding for services and events and ride enter events.”
When asked what identity options were available, Akers said the list was the same as the one used on the Campus Climate Survey, which had an array of options.
“There’s also the option to choose ‘not listed,’” Akers said. “Although unfortunately we don’t have the option to type in if it’s not listed and I’m open to adding others at this point but this is kinda the base that we’ve been using for the past couple of years. So you can select ‘not listed’ you can also select ‘choose not to disclose.’”
The conversation turned to some attendees suggesting the system be expanded to allow for more options or for students to add their own. The limited list is currently due to system limitations, Akers said.
“This only allows for multiple choice listing,” Akers said. “It’s customizable but it doesn’t allow for open entry.”
She explained that the process would include a questionnaire that asks a series of questions about a students’ gender identity and expression, with the ability to answer “yes,” “no,” “Choose not to disclose,” or “unknown.” These results would only be available to students. If specific pronouns are chosen, however, those would be visible to faculty.
“On the staff view of the student portal, so where they go in and see your information if they’re working with you in Admission and Records, it would show your pronouns and with counselors as well they would see your pronouns so they can accurately state them,” Akers said.
One student asked whether the system was outdated.
“The system is the system,” Akers responded. “So what we’re trying to do is navigate through the confines of MyDelta. We know it’s not perfect, these didn’t exist before so we’re trying to at least get it where we can have the option to select them. So the more comprehensive we can make it where you can select one and it can make sense the better. Because right now we can only select one option.”
One suggestion was to add an “ask me” option for students to select. Akers agreed.