Western’s Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services Melynda Huskey sent a public statement via email addressing the university’s most recent efforts for advancing campus inclusionsivity.
According to the statement, Huskey and Western’s President Sabah Randhawa, met with student groups, employees and leaders, who voiced the needs for many underrepresented communities at Western.
“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,” the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion website stated.
The email sent on Tuesday, April 9 included a progress report outlining immediate and long term projects regarding student concerns.
According to Western’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion website, nine projects have been completed to address student needs from the 2017-2018 academic year to winter quarter of 2019.
“There is a great deal of work going on in academic departments, in administrative offices and colleges and in ESS as well, and this timeline does not begin to address all of that work,” Huskey said.
According to the Fall 2018 Enrollment Statistics, only 26% of admitted students at Western are students of color.
Huskey broke down some key opportunities for change that were brought up in meetings and provided an updated timeline of their efforts. According to Western’s updated Diversity, Equity and Inclusion website, the statement and timeline is a transparency effort from administrators to show the list of initiatives of student needs that have been completed, in progress and addressed.
Students came forward with equity needs to create a better environment for their education as a benefit to all students.
“I am appreciative and grateful to the students and employees who have met with me, Sabah, and other university leaders, taking risks to share — again — their needs, their concerns, and their hopes,” Huskey said.
According to the timeline, a list of projects in progress and the quarter of which projects were initiated are listed to the right.
The timeline will be updated accordingly as more projects and needs are completed or addressed. More updates and details can be found on Western's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion website.
