March 2, 2009 Diversity Update
Colleagues:
You have been hearing a lot from me about budgets, sharing information on serious challenges. Not today. Instead, I thought I would take a moment of your time to share some positive developments.
In recognition of a very active Black History Month, I want to commend the campus community for the strides Western has made to diversify our student body. While we still have miles to go, I believe it is important to recognize milestones about our current enrollment.
- The fall 2008 student body was comprised of 2,482 students from ethnic minority groups, in a total student body that numbered 13,777 (18%), due both to new enrollment and improved retention. The 2,482 students self-reported their racial or ethnic identity as Black/African American, Hispanic, Asian American or Native American. This compares with 16.92% in Fall 2007 and 13.2% in Fall 2000.
- Twenty-two percent of new freshman and 19.6% of new transfers self-reported their racial or ethnic identity as Black/African American, Hispanic, Asian American or Native American.
- Slightly more than 25% of Fall 2009 freshman applications are from students in these racial and ethnic groups.
Back in 1980, just 388 students of color were included in Western`s student body of 10,616 (3.7%). In each of the last 28 years, many more students of color have discovered that Western is an excellent place to experience higher education, enriching the Western experience for all students. (For detailed enrollment trends and related information see the Diversity web page.)
While these record numbers are one measure of success, more important to the overall vitality of our campus community is the fact that our students are empowered to make their voices heard in shaping a campus culture and community that we all can take pride in. I want to thank the members of the WWU Black Student Union and African Caribbean Club who recently took the initiative to encourage African and African American high school seniors from across the state to apply to Western, and I also congratulate them on their very successful events during Black History Month. The Latino Student Union and MeCHA have also assisted Admissions with recruitment.
We have further to go. Today, almost one third of the students in Washington`s public high schools are students of color. Western`s student body must be the same. Our state"s wealth (economic, political, cultural) is best measured by the developed talent of its people. Here lies huge potential -- for our state, for our university -- if we have the vision to seize it. You do, I know, from having listened to so many of you. Further developing and integrating our "pipeline" efforts is a step we must be taking today as we build paths to those brighter futures.
We have made progress, albeit slower, toward enhancing the proportion of faculty and staff of color at Western -- currently at 13% institution-wide. Here, we need to do much better, and you will be invited to participate as the campus develops a faculty/staff diversity initiative.
In times of tight budgets and the numerous other stresses we all are facing these days, it is so important to remember to celebrate our achievements. Congratulations and "thanks" to the entire campus for these successes! Watch for more news about diversity initiatives in FAST and on the Diversity web page.
Bruce