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Board of Trustees Statement on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Diversity, Equity, Inclusivity & Justice

Board of Trustees Statement on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

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Western Colorado University (Western) Board of Trustees Statement on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Drafted by: BoT, commented and revised by DEI Committee and Student Leaders

On behalf of the Board of Trustees of Western Colorado University (Western), in partnership with Western’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity (DEI) Committee and Campus Student Leaders

Western recognizes that systemic, structural, institutional, and interpersonal forms of racism throughout the history of the United States of America have targeted and discriminated against People of Color, and continue to do so.

Western condemns racially motivated violence.

Western affirms that Black lives matter.

Western actively rejects racism and discrimination in all forms; and affirms higher education leadership that prioritizes the elimination of racist and discriminatory practices across campus.

Western recognizes that the current national events and violence targeted towards the Black Community have continued to emphasize the historic inequities and injustices suffered by People of Color in the United States of America.

Western will actively work to condemn racism, improve the reporting transparency of hate crimes on campus, and build a culture that reinforces these stated values by holding student, faculty, and all staff accountable on every institutional level.

Western will annually commit, allocate, and invest funds and resources to ensure DEI-related efforts, evolving practices, and successful outcomes that support the entire campus.

Western, currently a Predominantly White Institution, commits to increasing the representation of nonwhite/minority individuals among faculty, staff, administrators, students, and guest speakers.

Western recognizes that those privileged to work or study at Western bear special responsibilities to be consistently upheld as we move towards our goal of becoming a campus of Inclusive Excellence, as defined by the Association of American Colleges & Universities (AAC&U).

Western affirms the principle of learning and educating, through listening.

Western pledges to actively engage our campus and the Gunnison community in dialogue, training, and programs which will enhance: our individual and collective understanding of how racism targets People of Color, as well as other marginalized communities; our understanding of our role in systems that enable discriminatory practices; and the ways in which we can actively work to correct systemic injustices committed against People of Color.

Contact and background information on Western’s DEI may be found here.

Western’s Faculty Senate authored and adopted a statement on diversity and inclusivity, endorsed by the President and Board of Trustees, that may be found here.

Information pertaining to AAC&U’s Inclusive Excellence may be found here, as well as here.

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