Messages from the President

Message to Campus
Friday, November 17, 2017 - 2:18 pm

Dear Campus Community,

There has been much discussion recently about the University’s partnership with Study Group to increase international student enrollment at Western, especially as several working groups have recently convened in anticipation of our first international students from this partnership arriving next fall.  Questions have been asked about the operations of the partnership, the terms of the agreement, and its impact on our educational environment. However, the…

Continue reading Follow up on Study Group International Partnership
Message to Campus
Wednesday, September 27, 2017 - 2:15 pm

Dear Western Students,

Welcome to the 2017-18 school year!  Whether you are setting foot on campus for the first time or returning home to familiar places and faces, I hope the year ahead is full of engaging learning experiences, self-discovery, and a sense of connection to the community here at Western. 

For those of us who work at Western—more than 2000 faculty and staff serving in a huge variety of roles inside and outside of the classroom—this exciting time of…

Continue reading Welcome to the 2017-18 School Year at Western
Message to Campus
Tuesday, September 5, 2017 - 1:38 pm

Dear Western Community,

As you have likely heard, the Trump administration this morning announced its plans to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) immigration program and phase it out over the next six months, calling on Congress to replace the policy with legislation.  Since the program began in 2012 with the Obama administration, nearly 800,000 undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as minors have been granted protection under…

Continue reading President Randhawa's Statement Regarding the Decision to End DACA
Message to Campus
Thursday, August 31, 2017 - 3:50 pm

Dear Western Community,

As you are probably aware, there is talk about ending or changing the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Western Washington University has been, and continues to be, strongly opposed to ending a program that provides hope and opportunity for more than 800,000 young people across the country, including many Western students, their families and friends. We are working with other universities in Washington State, and around the…

Continue reading Western Supports Our Undocumented Students
Message to Campus
Thursday, August 31, 2017 - 10:34 am

Dear Western Colleagues:

Like you, I have been deeply saddened by the images of devastation in the Houston area from Hurricane Harvey.  The loss of life and injury, the homes destroyed and families displaced is beyond imagining, and continues.  Also tragic is the knowledge that the receding floodwaters will leave behind a new host of serious public health issues, not to mention the tremendous challenges of restoring basic services and utilities before the rebuilding process…

Continue reading Our Chance to Help the Victims of Hurricane Harvey
Message to Campus
Monday, August 14, 2017 - 2:45 pm

Dear Western Community,

I was horrified and deeply saddened by the tragic events in Charlottesville this past weekend. Acts of racism, Nazism, white nationalism and similar ilk have no place in society.

The vile hatred on display this weekend from white nationalists is revolting and antithetical to Western`s core values of inclusion, diversity and collaboration. At Western and all universities, the power of education must show the way to genuine acceptance and understanding,…

Continue reading President Randhawa's Statement on Charlottesville
Message to Campus
Tuesday, May 2, 2017 - 12:13 pm

Dear Western Community,

Once again, we want to express to you our deep appreciation for all you do to make Western a caring community. Thank you for the care and respect you show one another; this makes Western a very meaningful place to learn and work.

In an earlier email, we shared with you that in recent months the number of antisemitic incidents have increased across the nation, including here at Western. Antisemitism and other acts of discrimination, bias and hate have…

Continue reading Final Report and Recommendations from Task Force on Preventing and Responding to Antisemitism
Message to Campus
Monday, April 3, 2017 - 2:29 pm

Dear Western Community:

Welcome back to campus and to the beginning of spring quarter.  I hope that you had a good spring break,whether travelling to a desirable destination or just enjoying some quiet time at home between quarters.

As we look ahead to spring quarter and the remainder of the regular academic year, I wanted to provide some updates on what remain my top priorities.

Increasing access and student success: As we…

Continue reading Campus Update from the President - Spring Quarter 2017
Message to Campus
Wednesday, March 29, 2017 - 9:25 am

Dear Western Community:

As we begin spring quarter, I`d like to express my deep appreciation for Western`s caring community and for all that you do to make it so.  This type of community largely depends on our simple, but crucial recognition of every person`s fundamental value and worth.  Our care for one another – as classmates, colleagues, and members of a shared community – defines what makes Western such a meaningful place to learn and work.

You may know that in…

Continue reading Anti-Semitism not Tolerated at Western
Message to Campus
Monday, January 30, 2017 - 10:31 am

As a person who came to the United States as a graduate student from Pakistan in 1978 and who has spent my entire 34-year professional career in service to this great nation, I am disappointed and concerned about the recent federal executive order to ban individuals from seven countries, which are majority Muslim, from entering the United States.

The United States has always been a melting pot of people from around the world and our nation has benefited greatly from the contributions…

Continue reading Statement from President Randhawa on Immigration Executive Order