The Office of Diversity and Intercultural Life

Six-Fold Framework

Origin: 

The Six-Fold Test of the Evangelical Covenant Church’s (ECC) Mosaic Commission was developed as a rubric for measuring growth in interculturalism1 and assessing areas needing improvement, specifically regarding racial equity, diversity, and inclusion. The presidents of the Mosaic Commission asked partner institutions to consider how it might be creatively used and applied.

The Academic Dean of the North Park Seminary, Dr. Michelle Clifton-Soderstrom, and the North Park‘s University Dean, Dr. Liza Ann Acosta, converged their conversations about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) goals into the adaptation of the questions from the original template to fit higher ed.

Upon Director Sharee Myricks’s arrival at NPU in January 2020, she joined the efforts to adapt the process and bring its implementation to the whole campus.  Vice President for Student Engagement Andrea Nevels served as the Senior Leadership Team Liaison for the group. Nevels provided collaborative efforts to adapt the process, bring dialogue, and further implementation within our campus community.

Adaptation:

In February 2021, North Park University adopted and introduced the Six-Fold Framework, a higher education adaptation of the Six-Fold Test, to develop measurable goals, skills, and competencies for the institution.

In February 2022, the North Park University Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Institutional Council were charged to continue implementing the Six-Fold Framework and build upon the work of Dean Clifton-Soderstrom, Dean Acosta, and Director Myricks.

Six-Fold Framework:

The Six-Fold Framework at North Park University is informed by DEI research and best practices in higher education. It is adapted from the Six-Fold Test of the ECC Mosaic Commission for our university setting. The framework centers on NPU’s intercultural distinctive, serving students equitably, and advances NPU’s “Christian, city-centered, intercultural university of uncommon character and enduring excellence, where faith, learning, and service meet.”

Six-Fold Framework Core Metrics (6 Ps):

The Six-Fold Framework uses six core metrics (the Six Ps) to assess and improve diversity, equity, inclusion, and student success.

  1. Population: Is the University increasing and supporting students, faculty, and staff from diverse populations?
  2. Participation: Are we finding ways to engage life together through education, worship, events, service, and fellowship?
  3. Power: Do the positions and structures of influence include the perspectives and gifts of diverse populations?
  4. Pacesetting: With the range of perspectives, needs, and gifts in our midst, what opportunities can the University strengthen and initiate?
  5. Purposeful Narrative: How do the stories of all backgrounds become incorporated into our overarching history? How do these streams flow into our blended story moving forward? 3
  6. Practicing Solidarity: How are we purposefully and measurably advancing the access and success of our intercultural student community?

Brief Timeline (2021-2025, Ongoing):

Six-Fold Framework and Intercultural Metrics is a “living document” with actionable short- and long-term goals targeting cognitive, affective, and structural outcomes. The process will comply with continuous improvement over time. As a living document, we will develop objectives and strategies that we might consider under the six areas outlined below (The Six Ps): Population, Participation, Power, Pace-Setting, Purposeful Narrative, and Practicing Solidarity.

Spring 2021
  • Finalize framework and objectives
  • Developing assessment metric
  • Conduct Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) online education and training modules
  • Conduct DEI campus programming and professional development
2021-2022
  • Implement and assess – Population and Participation objectives
  • Conduct Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) online education and training modules
  • Conduct DEI campus programming and professional development
2022-2023
  • Implement and assess – Power and Pace-Setting objectives
  • Conduct Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) online education and training modules
  • Conduct DEI campus programming and professional development
2023-2024
  • Implement and assess – Purposeful Narrative and Practicing Solidarity objectives
  • Conduct Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) online education and training modules
  • Conduct DEI campus programming and professional development
2024-2025
  • Report entire implementation and assessment efforts
  • Conduct Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) online education and training modules
  • Conduct DEI campus programming and professional development
Spring 2025
  • Establish and finalize 2026-2030 objectives

 

Six-Fold Framework Auxiliary Committee:

Dr. Liza Ann Acosta, lacosta@uc1112.com

Sharee Myricks, slmyricks@uc1112.com