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Message
from the President
Diversity is central to
Western's
Mission and Strategic
Planning Goals, and is considered
to be an integral component of a quality
education. Our goals recognize the changing
composition of society as a whole, and
its impact on the world for which students
are educated.
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| Ethnic
Profile of the Student Body
In 1980, 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.
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. 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. For detailed enrollment trend information see 1979-1998 (pdf) or 1998-present (pdf).
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| Student
Organizations
Programming for a diverse student body
is the heart and soul of the Ethnic
Student Center (ESC). These student-led
offices provide individual, social, and
cultural enriching activities to the campus
and the community. The ESC officially opened
in 1991, and is a department within the
structure of the Associated Students of
WWU. Its web site provides links to affiliated
clubs.
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| Diversity
and Scholarships
Nearly 200 Multicultural
Achievement Program (MAP) scholarships
are awarded each year to students who provide
leadership in campus programs, student clubs,
community activism, and other activities
that celebrate diversity and promote understanding.
The Office of Admissions coordinates new
student scholarship selection and Student
Financial Resources coordinates the selection
process for current Western students. Applicants
must demonstrate solid academic abilities,
strong leadership qualities and a commitment
to multicultural issues and activities.
Financial need may be considered. Funding
for the MAP scholarship has more than doubled
in the past two years.
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Multicultural
Support Programs
Student Outreach Service's (SOS) commitment to underrepresented and multicultural students is to promote academic success, retention, and graduation. Students receive personalized academic advising, assistance in the development of their educational plan, positive intervention for those in academic risk, and helpful referral services to academic departments and support resources.
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News and Research
WWU Professor
Studies Korean Populations in US
WWU professor emeritus Robert Hyung-chan
Kim recently studied the many Korean people
living and working in the Pacific Northwest.
His resulting article, “Koreans
in the Seattle-Tacoma Area,” focuses
on the approximately 53,000 Koreans along
the Interstate-5 corridor between Vancouver,
Wash., and Blaine.
The article
appears in the book “In Search
of American Dream: 100 Year History
of Korean Immigration to America,”
which marks the 100th anniversary
of the first group of Korean immigrants
to come to the United States.
Dr. Kim has been at Western since
1971 and has taught in the Woodring
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of Education and American cultural studies
department. Although he retired in 2001,
he still teaches several classes at Western
each year and conducts research with the
Seoul National University and Koryo University
in Jochiwon, Korea.
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Academic Program Highlights
Since the study of diverse cultures and perspectives
is implicit in Western’s strategic goals,
examination of multicultural perspectives, values
and literatures is interwoven into many classes
throughout the university’s curriculum.
All Western students take courses in the area
of comparative, gender and multicultural studies
as part of the General University Requirements.
Shannon
Point Marine Center Minorities in Undergraduate
Marine Science Program
The Minorities in Marine Science Undergraduate
Program at Western’s Shannon Point Marine
Center in Anacortes, Washington, recently garnered
national honors.
In a March 2002 White House ceremony, Shannon
Point director and program founder Stephen Sulkin
accepted the 2002 Presidential Award for Excellence
in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring.
Shannon Point was one of six institutions in
the nation President Bush honored for achieving “remarkable”
increases in “participation of minorities,
women and disabled students” in scientific
fields. The National Science Foundation administers
the award, which carries a $10,000 grant. The
following day, also in Washington, D.C., program
director Brian Bingham was one of six
nationwide to receive a Management Excellence
Award from
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA) for “promoting diversity.” Dr.
Bingham won WWU's Diversity Achievement Award
in June 2003.
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“Shannon Point is
an example of what Western stands for,”
says Western President Karen W. Morse,
“an excellent undergraduate learning
experience, including the opportunity
for research undertaken with strong faculty
mentoring. Under the leadership of Dr.
Sulkin and Dr. Bingham,” she adds,
“the Minorities in Marine Science
Undergraduate Program also demonstrates
the importance of multicultural education
at Western, our commitment to diversity
in both programs and people, and our
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faculty’s ability to create innovative programs
to fulfill that commitment.”
more>>
Law, Diversity, and Justice
In 1991 Fairhaven College developed the Law and Diversity Program (LDP) for students who were interested in law, diversity, and access to the legal system for under-served communities. The Program welcomed students who desired to effect change and who had the potential to act as leaders and role models in their communities using legal knowledge and processes. Graduates from the Law and Diversity Program have obtained positions as attorneys for private and public firms, in city government and legal services, and at the U.S. Department of Education and the Environmental Protection Agency. Graduates have also pursued careers in the justice system as Juvenile Probation Officers, Human Service Caseworkers, Prisoner Rights Activists, law enforcement personnel, and as Union negotiators. Some have gone on to faculty positions at other Universities where they teach on a variety of law, diversity and justice issues.
To better keep pace with Fairhaven's core mission of social justice, the Program has expanded into a regular plan of study at Fairhaven under the Law, Diversity and Justice (LDJ) Concentration.The concentration is open to ALL students enrolled at Fairhaven College, and endeavors to increase the number of people from underrepresented groups or who want to help underrepresented groups, and who are seeking careers in law and social justice. Fairhaven College has also created the Center for Law, Diversity and Justice (CLDJ) to support the work of students, faculty and community members around these issues.
more about CLDJ >>
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