A five-year plan with numerical goals is critical. The policy calls for a comprehensive, statewide review of higher education access and opportunities for Colorado's communities of color in the year 2003. To be best effective, the campus plan should align its timeline and goals with the statewide policy and considered data. Historically underrepresented communities cannot afford to wait any longer for Colorado's public colleges and universities to plan our strategies and implement programs. The time is now for aggressive action.
Numerical assessments are vital for the success of any diversity plan.
Numerical assessment allows for concrete measurements of campus progress and ensures that substantive improvements are made. Nothing in the CCHE plan restricts a campus from adopting an aggressive affirmative action plan with challenging goals. Furthermore, nothing in the policy prohibits the campus from instituting a strong accountability mechanism. In fact, the spirit of the CCHE policy demands a potent, committed effort. The CCHE policy addresses specifically communities of color.