Subcommittee: Community Engagement Members: Jason Berthon-Koch, Jill Hernandez, David Pena-Alfaro
Overview of Current Programs and Efforts CWU has taken numerous steps to improve diversity and inclusivity on campus and within its culture. Most of these steps have included an element of outreach and engagement with the communities served by the institution. Through grant-funded programs such as College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP), TRiO, 2 and the Yakima Educational Opportunity Center (EOC), CWU has been able to develop programs that focus on the recruitment, retention, mentorship, and graduation of first generation, low-income, and migrant students. These programs offer a wide range of student support services, including academic advising; career workshops and exploration; tutoring; cultural, social and leadership activities; assistance with financial aid; adult basic education (GED); and campus visits. The Center for Leadership & Community Engagement (CLCE) connects students and other community stakeholders for educational service and leadership development programs, including the International Community Program and the Cesar E. Chavez Remembering and Celebrating Event. The Center for Latino & Latin American Studies (CLLAS), though academically based, incorporates a community partnership initiative and annual series of sponsored cultural events to enhance relationships between CWU and surrounding communities. CWU’s Office of the Vice President for Inclusivity and Diversity, as well as the Diversity and Equity Center housed within Academic and Student Life provide a platform for engaging with surrounding communities, parents, students and the greater CWU campus through programs and events that range from cultural celebrations, to issue-based lectures and forums, to advocacy trainings and personal development. 3 Strengths CWU’s location within Washington State continues to be a strength and selling point for potential students. Kittitas and the adjacent counties rely heavily on agricultural operations to drive their economies and are often populated by larger numbers of Hispanic residents. In addition to the university’s Ellensburg location, CWU’s affordable tuition rates allow more accessibility to residents of neighboring counties and communities who are not presented with as many higher education choices as potential students living on the west side of the Cascade Range. The combination of the Ellensburg residential campus and eight university centers and instructional sites, seven of which are co-located on community college campuses throughout the state, lends itself to increased accessibility for all students looking for a quality education at a reasonable cost. CWU continues to make education accessible through numerous delivery methods including fully online courses, in-classroom attendance, and/or hybrid methods of learning. The strong dual-credit programming also provides a potential pipeline for matriculation through its opportunities for students to demonstrate college level success. CWU’s commitment to diversity and inclusivity as well as community outreach can be seen through the programming of the Diversity and Equity
2 TRiO was given its name after the first three programs (Upward Bound, Talent Search, and Student Support Services) were implemented. It is not an acronym. There are currently eight programs targeted to serve and assist low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities to progress through the academic pipeline from middle school to post-baccalaureate programs. https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/trio/index.html?exp=5
3 CWU Diversity & Equity Center website: http://www.cwu.edu/diversity/center-for-diversity-social-justice
CWU HSI Initiative 7.12.18
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