Equity and Inclusion

The Graduate School at Western Washington University cultivates a welcoming and affirming environment in which all Graduate students experience equitable opportunities for learning, personal and professional growth as members of a diverse community of advanced scholars.

We advocate for an inclusive Graduate student community enriched by diverse individuals, traditions and viewpoints, by promoting expanded awareness, knowledge, and empathetic understanding. We affirm the dignity of all students and celebrate varied perspectives, differences, and experiences. We aim to foster an environment where all students are respectfully heard, where every one of our students feels a sense of belonging in a University that strives to be free from constraint on the basis of culture, race, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, age, religion, family structure or relationships, national origin or economic status. Through a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusivity we confront racism, prejudice, incivility, intolerance, and discrimination.

Our dedication to supporting Western’s Graduate scholars, teachers, and researchers stems from a commitment to provide an ethical and socially just environment for learning and growth. Diversity in graduate education benefits the entirety of the University. These principles are grounded in Western’s strategic plan goals of Advancing Inclusive Success, Increasing Washington Impact, and Enhancing Academic Excellence