Communications

Year End Message to the Western Community: The Change Imperative

Message to Campus Wed, 06/19/2019 - 10:19

As we close the academic year, it is a time to celebrate our graduates, the most important contribution Western makes to our communities and our world.  It is also a time to be grateful – for the engaged students, faculty and staff that make Western such a special place.  And, it is a time to pause for reflection and learning from the year just passed.

Over the academic year, the campus community has engaged in important and difficult conversations, as students rightly questioned Western’s commitment to living up to our stated values of inclusive success, diversity and Read more

2019-2021 Legislative Budget Makes Significant Investments in Access for Students and Brighter Futures in Washington

Blog Post Fri, 05/03/2019 - 09:49

Legislators in Olympia finished their work earlier this week, and I wanted to share a few outcomes of the 2019 legislative session as they relate to Western and higher education in general.

Operating budget:

Despite the limited availability of discretionary funding, the legislature made significant and historic investments in our state’s higher education system this session.  One critical investment is full funding of the State Need Grant (renamed the Washington College Grant) and a guarantee that all eligible students will receive the award by academic year Read more

United in solidarity against the attacks in Sri Lanka

Blog Post Mon, 04/22/2019 - 11:10

The vicious bombing attacks on Christian worshippers in Sri Lanka over the Easter holiday have sent another shockwave of horror and heartache through the world, only a month after the brutal terrorist assault on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand.  Our deepest condolences go out to victims and survivors, their family and friends, and the Sri Lankan community around the world. 

Once again, individuals who have been grotesquely twisted by the moral cancer of hate and ideological extremism have targeted the innocent.  Once again, people of conscience are united in Read more

On the Tragic Racist Violence in New Zealand

Blog Post Fri, 03/15/2019 - 11:36

Dear Campus Community:

I am certain that I speak for all of us in condemning the horrific and heartbreaking terrorist violence perpetrated against Muslim worshippers in two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand.  This beautiful and peaceful country now joins scores of other countries, including our own, where terror attacks have targeted Muslims in their place of worship.  There can be no place in our societies for vile ideologies that incite hatred and fear. 

This should remind all of us of the work that we must continue to do on campus and in our communities Read more

A Timeline for Change

Blog Post Fri, 02/08/2019 - 10:03

As I promised a few weeks ago in my last blog post on recent conversations with student groups, we have posted an updated Diversity, Equity and Inclusion website  (www.wwu.edu/diversity).  On this page, you’ll see a timeline that captures a list of the major projects completed, currently underway, and to be addressed in response to urgent needs put forth by various student groups. 

This is not an exhaustive list, but represents the most pressing Read more