- Mailing Address
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526 5th St
Cheney, Washington 99004 - Phone
- (509) 359-6200
- Email address
- admissions@ewu.edu
- Website
- https://www.ewu.edu/
- School Information
- "Surrounded by golden, rolling hills and basalt outcroppings, the EWU campus is an ideal place for learning. Our immersive student-faculty community is designed to keep you focused and supported." The university enrolls over 12,600 students and offers 60 fields of study. (Source: https://www.ewu.edu/academics/)
- General Information
- The university has already offered an "Activist in Residence" program offered through the Gender, Women's, and Sexuality Studies program. This year, the program will focus on anti-racism and the Black Lives Matter movement. No mandatory Critical Race Training sessions are yet required of students. However, see developments below:
Actions Taken
- Admissions Policies
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Donations helped the university “implement a comprehensive admissions process to build a more diverse student body” by establishing “an evidence-based holistic admission process, which looks beyond traditional metrics like standardized test scores” and providing more support to diverse students to maximize retention.
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On June 29, 2023, EWU's President issued a statement in response to the Supreme Court's ruling on affirmative action which reads: "This decision should not impact the admissions process at EWU; I-200, passed 25 years ago, already prohibits the use of race as a factor in admissions in Washington state. EWU remains committed to being an institution focused on expanding access and providing a transformative education for all students."
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- Anti-Racism, Bias, and Diversity Training
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The university offers several workshops on diversity, equity and inclusion with topics including Implicit Bias: Detoxing your Bias with a Focus on Cultural Humility, Creating and Inclusive Culture, How to Talk about Race, and Microaggressions.
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On March 9, 2023, the university held a workshop titled "How to be an Effective Anti-Racism Ally" which "seeks to address the reality that white women often occupy much of the committees that lead on race equity on campus." In this workshop, "participants will learn how white women’s experience with patriarchy can be turned into a window for them to understand how they can be more effective as an anti-racism ally."
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On May 9, 2023, the Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion held a workshop titled "How to Fight Against Racism with Strategy," and was open to all students, faculty and staff.
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- Curriculum Changes and Requirements
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The Interdisciplinary Studies/Africana Studies Major at EWU "serves to equip students via a comprehensive interdisciplinary curriculum to investigate, comprehend and appreciate the various aspirations, achievements, struggles and contributions of those individuals and groups within the African and African American communities based on a deeper understanding and application of Afrocentricity, black nationalism, liberation ideology and Critical Race Theory—all within a rich historical context domestically and abroad."
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The General Education degree includes a "Diversity & Global Studies" requirement.
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- Program and Research Funding
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The Office for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion funds "Board of Trustees Diversity Initiative Grants" which "provide funding for promising and high-quality faculty, staff, and student projects, including research, that promotes diversity and inclusion at EWU."
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In April of 2024, the school hosted a month’s worth of diversity events, including the annual Diversity & Inclusion Week.
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- Resources
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The Gender, Women’s & Sexuality Studies Program and the Women’s and Gender Education Center hosted the 2021 "Activist in Residence" program which focused on anti-racism and the Black Lives Matter movement.
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Starting Fall of 2022, the Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion will be offering the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Certificate program which consists of seven weeks of weekly two-hour virtual courses in topics including “Counteracting Unconscious Bias,” “Microaggressions,” “Systemic Racism,” and “Power and Privilege.”
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The university’s Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion provides an “ongoing list of anti-racism and social justice resources” including an “Antii-Racist Reading List” as well as “Videos for Black Lives Matter and Systemic Racism.”
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In April 2022, the university will be hosting a weeklong festival of Diversity and Inclusion with numerous activities including lectures and discussions as well as diversity and inclusion t-shirt giveaways to participants.
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The university offers an undergraduate certificate program in Diversity and Inclusion which consiststs of 18 total credits both elective and required courses in topics including “privilege and oppression, sources and impact of prejudice and discrimination, micro-aggressions, and unconsious/implicit bias.”
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On May 12, 2023, the Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion presented a Zoom workshop titled "What is Critical about Critical Race Theory? presented by Angélica Cházaro," which discussed "the origins of Critical race Theory (CRT) and some of CRT’s unifying ideas."
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The Africana Studies Department (2023-2024 catalog edition) offers a course titled "The 1000 Mile Deep South Civil Rights Tour" which "provides an exploration into the 1950s and 1960s civil rights movement..." and where "Critical Race Theory and Jim Crow are central themes reviewed and developed."
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EWU Libraries provide research guides and videos on the subject of Black Lives Matter, systemic racism, and white privilege.
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The Office for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion provides a list of anti-racism and social justice resources through external links.
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EWU published its 2018-2023 "Diversity Strategic Plan" which outlines its many goals and initiatives.
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According to the Office for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, "In March 2022, Gov. Jay Inslee signed Executive Order 22-04, requiring all Washington State agencies to implement a pro-equity anti-racism strategy called the PEAR Plan & Playbook under the guidance of the Office of Equity."
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The school hosts Campus Cultural Conversations in the Office of DEI.
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The school hosts Cultural Connections Memos a few times a year.
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The school has several affinity groups for DEI.
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The school has a Student DEI Advisory Council for 2024-2025.
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The school offers Inclusive Language resources.
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- Symbolic Actions
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On April 21, 2023, UWU's President issued a message on "D&I [Diversity & Inclusion] and Anti-Racism Actions" and stated the following: "In response to the incident of anti-Black and Brown racist graffiti, as well as our on-going commitment to improving the campus culture, EWU leadership is examining our current reporting policies, communication processes, and accountability measures. In conjunction with the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, we are also meeting with students of the BSU to determine additional areas that may need to be addressed."
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