Western Washington University
PAE-8: Support Programs for Underrepresented Groups

Student Outreach Services offers a number of programs to assist students make the most of their time at Western and help to assure their success as they continue their college careers. Adhering to the SOS mission statement, SOS programs are aimed at helping a wide spectrum of students while addressing the specific needs of each individual. Experienced in assisting students of multicultural backgrounds, SOS understands the specific needs of multicultural, first-generation, underrepresented, and non-traditional students. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, we offer student-specific programs and customized academic tools and support to help students transition to Western, meet their goals, overcome personal hardship, and achieve academic success. Our team cultivates an open and respectful atmosphere, yielding authentic interaction with a diverse body of students. -All Nations Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (AMP): Goals: The goal of this program is to increase number and success of Native Americans and Native Hawaiians enrolled in STEM programs. Target Population: Native American and Native Hawaiian students majoring in STEM Number: 10-20 students Partners: College of Sciences and Technology, National Science Foundation -Passport to College Promise Program HB 1131 The goal of the Passport to College Promise Program is to assist the student on their journey towards postsecondary education and to provide scholarships and college support services to meet the student’s academic goals. This program supports current and former foster care youth enrolled at Western as part of the state Passport to College Promise Program by providing academic, social and personal support. Funding to support the academic and personal needs of foster youth are dispersed through Western’s academic financial manager through the academic guardian. A six year pilot program began in 2007 to identify foster care youth wanting to attend college. Criteria for obtaining scholarship is to be a youth who has been in the foster care system for one year after their 16th birthday and before reaching 18 years of age and who has been emancipated by Washington State courts. Target Population: Emancipated foster care youth heading for college; current and former foster care youth Number: 1-20 students (8 awarded 2010-2011) Partners: HECB, Financial Aid, DSHS -Women of Color Empowerment Dinner The goal of this program is to provide support and encouragement for female students of color on campus. The Women of Color Empowerment Dinner serves to unify and create dialogue amongst students, staff, faculty, and community members willing to learn from the collective pressures of race and ethnic relations that women of color face with each experience. Contributing to diversity on campus, the dinner provides an opportunity for the WWU community to share their voices in a supportive atmosphere. Furthermore, students will be encouraged and empowered to persist in their higher education pursuits at Western. This powerful event focuses on the struggles, triumphs, and experiences of women of color and their allies. Target Population: Women (students) of Color on campus Number: 300 students and community members Partners: Diversity Fund, Sodexho Food Services, ASVP Diversity, Ethnic Student Center, Alumni House, Foundation, CEED, Women’s Studies

-The mission of Western Washington University’s (WWU) University LGBT Advocacy Council is to foster a safe, supportive, and inclusive educational environment by promoting awareness and understanding of LGBT issues and by advocating for the distinctive needs and concerns of LGBT students, faculty, and staff. http://www.wwu.edu/lgbtac/ -MEC (Minority Employee Counsel) was formed by employees seeing a gap in the support system for faculty and staff of color. The support program at WWU has been built informally by people in a variety of roles – not through structure. . http://www.wwu.edu/eoo/docs/Diversity%20Initiative/SCOT%20Analysis%20-%20PRO%20Staff.pdf -Disabilities for Students Faculty and Staff… Western Washington University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and Washington State Anti-Discrimination Law, Western Washington University requires that no qualified person will be denied access to, participation in, or the benefits of any program or activity operated by the University because of disability http://www.acadweb.wwu.edu/hr/disability/index.shtml and http://www.wwu.edu/eoo/disability.shtml

All programs above cater to staff as well as faculty.