In May of 2008 President Wayne Burton on behalf of North Shore Community College became one of the first 100 signers of the Commonwealth Compact. The Commonwealth Compact has the following mission:

To establish Massachusetts as a uniquely inclusive, honest and supportive community of -- and for -- diverse people. To acknowledge our mixed history in this effort, and to face squarely the challenges that still need to be overcome, understanding that the rich promise of the region's growing diversity must be tapped fully if Boston and Massachusetts are to achieve their economic, civic and social potential.

With the members of the Commonwealth Compact, North Shore Community College is collectively committed to recruitment, hiring, management and governance practices that:

• Increase the representation of people of color and women throughout our organizations, especially in management, senior management and board governance positions.
• Retain and promote people of color and women.
• Encourage our organizations to reflect, and connect with, the diversity of the communities and customers we serve.

Our organizations profit when we attract and retain people from a multitude of backgrounds. By harnessing their skills, aptitudes, experience and approaches to problem-solving, our workplaces, communities and Commonwealth will be richer, our marketplaces will be broader, and our ability to attract employees, clients and businesses - locally, nationally and globally - will be more effective.

We therefore embrace the goals of Commonwealth Compact and pledge to measure our progress toward them over time, using the Commonwealth Compact benchmarks.

For more information on the Commonwealth Compact, please visit their website.