Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Message from the President
Western is committed to providing a welcoming, equitable and inclusive campus community for all students, faculty, and staff, regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, age, veteran status, and financial background. These dimensions of diversity deeply enrich our educational environments and strengthen our ability to reflect and serve increasingly diverse local and global communities. At the same time, Western is committed to providing an intellectual atmosphere in which diverse perspectives and viewpoints are welcome, critically examined, and engaged with civility and respect.
While Western has made meaningful progress in equity and inclusion, we continue striving to deliver on those commitments for everyone who is a part of Western today and in the future. Advancing and embracing diversity is not only an integral part of Western’s mission, it is critical to preparing our graduates to succeed in an increasingly diverse and interconnected world.
Sabah Randhawa
Campus Resources
For Parents, Students, and Families
Timeline of Projects to Address Student Urgent Needs
The chart below captures a list of the major projects completed, currently underway, and to be addressed in response to the needs put forth by various student groups beginning in December, 2018. We understand that some of the issues have been discussed over the past several years. We want to make sure these needs—some operational, others systemic—are addressed in an effective manner going forward and that we are fully transparent about the work. This is not an exhaustive list, but represents the most pressing and actionable items that have been identified. We invite you to check back often as projects are completed and new items added. As always, please share your thoughts for improvement with Enrollment & Student Services Vice President, Melynda Huskey at Melynda.Huskey@wwu.edu, or with Paul Dunn in the President's office at Paul.Dunn@wwu.edu.
2017-18 Academic Year
Established Provost Faculty Diversity and Inclusion Hiring Initiative (ongoing) Item complete
Conducted HERI (Higher Education Research Institute) survey on campus climate Item complete
Created Commission on Gender Equity and Council on Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice Item complete
Fall 2018
Hired LGBTQ+ Director Item complete
Hired full time Director in Disability Access Center Item complete
Added additional Accommodation Advisor position in the DAC (searching for candidate) Item in progress
Revamped Disability Access Center website Item complete
Revised Discrimination Complaint Procedure Item complete
Winter 2019
Established Tribal Liaison Office/Hired Exec Director of AI/AN and First Nations Relations Item complete
Review gender-inclusive housing policies and procedures Item in progress
Assess threat and safety communications protocols and apps Item in progress
Charge Council on Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice to develop an institution-wide bias education and response program
Gain USDA eligibility to accept SNAP benefits at one of our campus convenience stores to better serve students with food insecurity (Process begun in Winter 2017) Item in progress
Hold first MLK Day breakfast; Conduct future planning for MLK Day and Black History Month (ongoing) Item in progress
Complete web page on policies, resources, etc. for undocumented studentsItem in progress
Open first meditation room in Wilson Library room WL 564Item in progress
Open second meditation room in the Viking Union (room TBD) Item in progress
Create visual impairment accessibility specialist position Item in progress
Expand number of gender neutral bathrooms (ongoing)Item in progress
Finalize Immigration Information and Protocol Policy (complete Spring 2019)Item in progress
Initiate discussion on Ethnic Studies curriculum and administrative stucture Item in progress
Spring 2019
Complete Disability Access Center and Veteran's Center construction in Wilson Hall Item in progress
Hire Title IX Officer Item in progress
Hire Director of Multicultural Student Services
Revise gender inclusive housing policies and procedures Item in progress
Assess equity and inclusion training needs for University community
Operationalize recommendations from antisemitism task force Item in progress
Complete tribal enrollment descendancy protocol Item in progress
2019-20 Academic Year
Completion of new Multicultural Center Item in progress
Assess outcomes, adapt, and expand Provost Faculty Diversity and Inclusion Hiring Initiative
Assess outcomes for student access and success metrics; revise and re-prioritize action plan Item in progress
Campus Climate Survey Item in progress
Create a one-stop student support and referral services navigator position
Enrollment Statistics
All Students, Fall 2018
Headcount
All Students: 16,121
Men: 6,908 (42.9%)
Women: 9,203 (57.1%)
Not Reported: 10 (<1%)
Average Age (All students): 21.6
Undergraduate Headcount
Total: 15,367
Full-time: 14,054 (91.5%)
Part-time: 1,284 (8.4%)
Average Age (undergraduates): 21.1
Graduate Headcount
Total: 754 (4.9%)
Full-time: 565
Part-time: 189
Fall 2018 Enrollment by Race/Ethnicity
| All Students | Fall 2018 | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Hispanic | 1,495 | 9.3% |
| Hispanic Ethnicity | 570 | |
| Hispanic & White | 724 | |
| Hispanic & non-White | 201 | |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 317 | 2.0% |
| American Indian or Alaska Native Single Race | 55 | |
| American Indian & White | 262 | |
| Asian | 1,697 | 10.5% |
| Asian Single Race | 996 | |
| Asian & White | 701 | |
| Black or African American | 418 | 2.6% |
| Black or African American Single Race | 260 | |
| Black & White | 158 | |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 70 | 0.4% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Island Single Race | 32 | |
| Native Hawaiian & White | 38 | |
| International | 183 | 1.1% |
| Race and ethnicity unknown | 314 | 1.9% |
| Two or more races: Other | 198 | 1.2% |
| White | 11,429 | 70.9% |
| Total | 16,121 | 100.0% |
| Students of Color | 4,195 | 26.0% |
Inclusive Success
First-to-second Year Retention
Overall: 81%
Students of color, underrepresented: 78%
Pell Grant eligible: 74%
Six-year Graduation Rate
Overall: 69%
Students of color, underrepresented: 64%
Pell Grant eligible: 65%
Transfer Four-year Graduation Rate
Overall: 75%
Students of color, underrepresented: 77%
Pell grant eligible: 72%
Retention of Faculty of Color
| Fall 2016 Headcount | Fall 2018 Headcount (Retained) | Retention Rate | Retirements | Non-Retirement Retention Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Faculty | 937 | 733 | 78.2% | 33 | 81.1% |
| Faculty of Color (FOC) | 124 | 100 | 80.6% | 3 | 82.6% |
| Non Faculty of Color | 813 | 633 | 77.9% | 30 | 80.8% |
| Tenured/Tenure Track | 514 | 466 | 90.7% | 25 | 95.3 |
| Non Tenure Track | 423 | 267 | 63.1% | 8 | 64.3% |
Summary of Faculty & Staff Demographics
| Total WWU Employees | Women | Racial/Ethnic Minority | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faculty | 965 | 487 | 50.47% | 170 | 17.62% |
| Staff | 1437 | 817 | 56.85% | 241 | 16.77% |
| Total | 2402 | 1304 | 54.29% | 411 | 17.11% |
Source of Data: Banner HR; WWU 2018 AAP for Women and Minorities. Data includes persons employed at any FTE.
Minority women are included in numbers for both women and minorities. Racial/ethnic minority includes individuals who self-identified as: Hispanic or Latino; American Indian or Alaskan Native; Asian; Black or African American; Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander; or Two or more races. Providing demographic information is voluntary. The totals and percentages in the above table do not include individuals whose demographic information is not available.
Faculty numbers include tenure track and non-tenure track faculty.