Mission Statement and Indigenous Commitment

Mission Statement

The Graduate Program in Creative Writing at Western Colorado University seeks to create transformative learning experiences for our students, built from a strong foundation that honors our students’ unique voices and is supported within inclusive environments established both virtually and at yearly residency gatherings. At Western, we hail from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences and believe that community and diversity are our greatest strengths. We not only inspire our students to grapple with challenging questions about themselves and the world, but we also foster the inquiry, equity, and agency necessary for them to practice ethical citizenship at home and far beyond our virtual classrooms and Gunnison, Colorado campus.

Indigenous Commitment

The Western Colorado University campus is built on the traditional homelands of the Ute people. It is also the site of trade, travel, gathering and healing for more than a dozen other Native tribes and is still home over 50,000 Native people in the state of Colorado.
It is Western’s responsibility as an academic institution to share knowledge about Native people and the institution’s history with them. Consistent with the University’s commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity, and racial justice, the Graduate Program in Creative Writing will continue building relationships with Native American communities and individuals through academic pursuits, partnerships, historical recognitions, community service, enrollment efforts, and by studying Native art and lifting Native voices.