Messages from the President

Message to Campus
Wednesday, October 7, 2020 - 12:21 pm

Dear Western Community,

On Monday, October 12 we celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day, a moment that celebrates and honors Native American peoples and commemorates their histories and cultures.  I am honored to have a growing community of Indigenous people at Western, including 954 students at all Western campuses who identify in some way as Indigenous: American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and…

Continue reading Indigenous Peoples’ Day: Finding Commonality While Celebrating Our Differences
Message to Campus
Thursday, July 30, 2020 - 3:16 pm

Dear WWU Students and Families,

We hope you are all well and safe. I am writing to provide an update as you prepare for fall quarter.

You will recall that in May, Western’s Fall Academic Planning Group recommended a hybrid model of instruction with most classes offered remotely and approximately 20% of classes offered in person.  Unfortunately, since that time infection rates have…

Continue reading WWU Fall 2020 Update from the President
Message to Campus
Thursday, June 18, 2020 - 12:52 pm

Dear Western Washington University Community,

Today, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a decision that blocks the Trump administration’s decision to terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).  We applaud this decision, especially at a time when so many DACA recipients are performing essential work on the front lines of our nation’s fight against COVID-19.

Continue reading Regarding the Supreme Court Decision to Uphold DACA
Message to Campus, Video
Friday, June 5, 2020 - 6:34 am
Message to Campus
Friday, May 29, 2020 - 10:55 am

Dear Western Community,

In the midst of this pandemic, as we all struggle with loss and fear, we have seen the disproportionate impact of the virus on communities of color and been confronted with the painful evidence of inequity which persists all around us. In the last weeks we have also seen racist violence end the lives of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, and Breonna Taylor, and threaten the life of Christian Cooper. The multiplication of threats…

Continue reading Racial Violence has No Place in Our Communities
Message to Campus
Tuesday, May 19, 2020 - 9:30 am

Dear Western Community,

I want to start by acknowledging the complexities in communication during this unprecedented time.   Since none of us has definitive solutions or timelines as we navigate this unfolding crisis, I know that my messages can trigger more questions than answers.  At the same time, I expect that most of you are looking for as much information as possible and an understanding of the decision-making process…

Continue reading FY 21 Budget Planning
Message to Campus
Tuesday, May 19, 2020 - 9:28 am

This message was sent to the Western Community as a WWU Campus Advisory on May 12, 2020

 

Dear WWU Community, 

I know that one of the biggest questions on the minds of student and their families, and faculty and staff alike, is will we return to face-to-face operations in fall quarter?  Needless to say, this involves a highly complex set of decisions that require planning for…

Continue reading Plans for Fall Quarter
Message to Campus
Wednesday, May 13, 2020 - 8:27 am

Dear Western Community,

Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Education released its long-awaited final regulations governing campus sexual assault under Title IX, the law prohibiting sex discrimination at federally funded institutions.

The regulations will be the first Title IX guidance published by the Office of Civil Rights to go through a formal notice-and-comment process since…

Continue reading Regarding New U.S. Department of Ed Title IX Regulations 
Message to Campus, Speech
Wednesday, May 13, 2020 - 8:25 am

(Watch a video of the 2018 Opening Convocation CeremonyPresident Randhawa's remarks begin at 24:30.)

Good morning and welcome to the start of Western’s 125th academic year.

I would like to begin by acknowledging that we are gathered on the ancestral homelands of Indigenous Peoples who have lived in the Salish Sea basin and the North Cascades watershed from time immemorial,…

Continue reading Opening Convocation Address to Faculty & Staff Fall 2018
Message to Campus
Thursday, March 19, 2020 - 5:00 pm

Dear Western Community:

Today we are announcing that all classes and instruction will be offered remotely throughout spring quarter on our main campus, and…

Continue reading Coronavirus Update for March 19: WWU Spring Quarter Entirely Online