Equity Impact Assessment Toolkit

The Equity Impact Assessment Tool is an intentional analysis that can be applied to any standard policy, program, procedural or budget decision with the goal of identifying areas, communities and populations likely to be affected, mitigating any unintended consequences and taking steps to close existing gaps.

The Equity Impact Assessment Tool is an intentional analysis that can be applied to any standard policy, program, procedural or budget decision with the goal of identifying areas, communities and populations likely to be affected, mitigating any unintended consequences and taking steps to close existing gaps.

The Equity Impact Assessment Tool is a formalized strategy in Goal 4 of WSU Vancouver's strategic plan to:

  • Integrate an equity lens process into decision making.
  • Apply an equity lens to governing processes and practices throughout the campus fabric, including departments, units, cabinets, committees, councils, etc.

The Equity Impact Assessment Tool facilitates the process, product and practice of equity.

  • As a process, enacting equity illuminates ways in which individuals are privileged within a system of institutional and structural oppression.
  • As a product, equity results from a dissolution of oppressive institutional structures within any system, leading to a balance of opportunity and outcomes for all.
  • Equity is practiced when individuals and institutions regularly call attention to systemic oppression and racial inequities, take institutional responsibility to dismantle these inequities, and commit to change agency to advance equity across institutional policies.

The Equity Impact Assessment Tool helps us:

  • Recognize choice points and address how the institution may advance or impede efforts to become more equitable.
  • Become more action-oriented to eradicate disparities resulting from forms of systemic oppression, including racism.
  • Realize equity efforts by first identifying and addressing barriers that disproportionately impact historically underrepresented and excluded groups.
  • Engage in crucial conversation and intergroup dialogue about equity, justice, inclusion and belonging.
  • Empower every campus community member, cabinet, council, unit and department at WSU Vancouver and across all WSU campuses to use the Equity Impact Assessment Tool to infuse equity and dismantle systemic inequities throughout campus, the WSU system and institutional fabric.
  • Share language, authentic exchange and formalized protocol for evaluating decisions, policies, processes, programs and practices for equity.
  • Make more equitable decisions, policies, processes and practices.

Step 1: Identify a Choice Point. Identify at least one opportunity to make or influence a decision, policy, practice, program and/or process that may affect equitable outcomes.

Step 2: Use the Equity Impact Assessment Tool. What are the impacts of current decisions and actions that may be unintentionally reinforcing bias, barriers or inequities? What are some action options that could produce different outcomes?

  1. Have/Were community members from communities that have experienced systemic and institutional oppression been intentionally involved in the process of drafting this policy, practice or decision? If not, who else should be involved in the development process?
  2. What are the intended outcomes of the policy, practice or decision?
  3. What are the potential impacts of this policy, practice or decision on those who have experienced systemic oppression?
    • How might this policy negatively or positively impact people who have experienced systemic oppression?
    • How does this policy, practice or decision perpetuate or help to dismantle historical or other barriers to equity?
  4. If this policy, practice or decision has the potential to ignore or worsen disparities or produce unintended consequences, should it be enacted? If so, what mitigation should be planned?
  5. What accountability, infrastructure and resources are required to implement the policy?
  6. What is the plan to evaluate and monitor the policy, practice or decision to ensure equity in the short- and long-term?

If a policy has a potential impact on Native American Tribes, members, or land, also refer to EP41 - Policy on Tribal Engagement, Consultation, and Consent for Joint WSU-Tribal Research Activities and Projects.

Step 3: Consult with at least one designated consulting team for the Equity Impact Assessment Tool (Vancouver campus). For urgent decisions, skip to Step 4.

Step 4: Make Decision. Incorporate feedback of consultants (if applicable) and complete draft of new or edited decision, policy, practice, process or program.

Step 5: Submit updated draft and original copy. Send new or edited draft and a copy of the original decision, policy, practice, process or program that received the equity impact assessment (if applicable) to the Office of Equity and Diversity.

  • The Office of Equity and Diversity will review and assist in routing updated draft to campus officials and units involved for final review and approval as applicable. You will be notified of any additional edits.

Step 6: Publish. After final approval, publish your decision, policy, practice, program or procedure as applicable.

  • If you have completed the Equity Impact Assessment process and developed new or updated decisions, policies and/or practices:
  • Submit your new or edited draft and a copy of the original decision, policy, practice, process or program that received the equity impact assessment (if applicable) to the Office of Equity and Diversity.

  • Everyone, including staff, faculty and students.
  • The Equity Impact Assessment Tool can be used by units, departments, councils, cabinets, committees, organizations, etc.
  • All stakeholders throughout the campus fabric can integrate the Equity Impact Assessment Tool into development, improvement and implementation of decisions, policies, programs and practices.
  • All campus community members and advocates can promote the use of the Equity Impact Assessment Tool and hold campus officials, units, departments and committees accountable for its implementation.

  • You may use the Equity Impact Assessment Tool now!
  • Use the Equity Impact Assessment Tool whenever you and/or your team, unit, department, council or committee has an opportunity to make or influence a decision, policy, practice, program and/or process that may affect equitable outcomes.
  • Commit to integrating the Equity Impact Assessment Tool into everyday practice when making decisions, policies, practices, programs and procedures.