CWU T0 Establish President's External Advisory Council On Diversity

March 1, 2004

Contact: Robert Lowery (509-963-1487/fax 509-963-2301/e-mail: loweryr@cwu.edu)

ELLENSBURG, Wash.-- At the direction of President Jerilyn S. McIntyre, Central Washington University has intentionally worked to achieve diversity and inclusiveness on campus during the past three years.

This year, the university's minority participation rate is nearly 15 percent, the largest percentage of any regional university in Washington.

"We are breaking down barriers and creating an environment that is much more intentionally welcoming than in the past," McIntyre says, "and, we are particularly pleased by evidence we see that all of us are becoming more tolerant despite often widely varying world views."

McIntyre further lauds the increase in Hispanic students and women faculty members, particularly in CWU science departments.

Part of the success is due to the university's diversity council, established by McIntyre in 2001. The ad hoc committee broadly represents diverse groups from within campus to advise the president on steps to strengthen the university's commitment to inclusiveness.

"The value of the council's work is reflected in a decision this winter to make it a standing committee of the university," McIntyre says.

Today, McIntyre announced the establishment of the President's External Advisory Council on Diversity, to allow for a "perspective from the outside into our conversations," she says.

"Our plan is to create a 12-member council with members representing Native American, African-American, Hispanic, Asian-American, Pacific Islander, and Caucasian-American segments of our state's population." McIntyre adds. "We also hope to receive a pool of names that is diverse with respect to age, gender, and sexual orientation, thus mirroring the composition of our own internal diversity council."

The university and Ellensburg communities are invited to nominate individuals from within the state to consider for membership on the council. Nominations should be forwarded to:

President's External Advisory Council on Diversity
Office of the President
Central Washington University
400 East University Way
Ellensburg, WA 98926-7501

Nominations, due by April 30, must include the racial/ethnic group of each nominee.

For more information, call (509) 963-2111, or (for the hearing impaired) TDD (509) 963-2143.