2019-2021 Legislative Budget Makes Significant Investments in Access for Students and Brighter Futures in Washington
Blog Post Fri, 05/03/2019 - 09:49Legislators 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 - 11:10The 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 - 11:36Dear 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 - 10:03As 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
Recent Conversations with Student Groups
Blog Post Thu, 01/17/2019 - 09:25As I wrote in my blog about Western’s top priorities for winter quarter, one of our top priorities for Winter 2019 is to understand and address the concerns and needs of students from marginalized identities.
Over the past couple of weeks, members of my administrative team and I have had conversations with several groups, including students representing some of Western’s LGBTQ+ clubs, and leaders from the Black Student Union, the Afro-Caribbean Club, the LatinX Student Club, the Native American Student Union, Undocumented Read more