Strategic Planning

WMU strategic plan goals

  1. Ensure a distinctive learning experience and foster the success of students.
  2. Promote innovative learning, discovery and service.
  3. Advance Western Michigan University as a major research university.
  4. Ensure a diverse, inclusive and healthy community.
  5. Advance social, economic and environmental sustainability practices and policies.

Diversity and Multiculturalism Action Plan goals

  1. To develop and maintain a shared and inclusive understanding of diversity, multiculturalism, institutional bias and affirmative action through training and education at every level of the institution.
  2. To recommend an institutional infrastructure that dismantles institutional bias and recognizes, supports, and sustains the efforts of this diversity and multiculturalism initiative at all levels of the institution.
  3. To create a welcoming and inclusive university environment (climate) that includes ongoing training, curriculum reform and research incentives.
  4. To recruit, retain and graduate a diverse student body and promote a diverse workforce at all levels.
  5. To enhance curricular and co-curricular, research, service, artistic and study abroad activities as a means to fully engage the University community in an affirming diverse and multicultural learning environment.
  6. To develop and maintain consistent accountability measures in order to accurately assess progress toward institutionalizing diversity and multiculturalism at all levels.

Mission

To ensure equitable access for all, the WMU Office of Diversity and Inclusion provides leadership by working collaboratively with the University community to identify and overcome institutional barriers and affirm the dignity, value and uniqueness of each member of our community.

Vision

Western Michigan University will be a leader in the area of diversity and multiculturalism by fostering an environment where diversity in all of its forms is investigated, explained, practiced, celebrated, affirmed and vigorously pursued.

Values

Collaborative community

WMU's Office of Diversity and Inclusion values collaboration, cooperation and community. Inclusion is a community-wide initiative that requires the effort and contributions of each member of the Western Michigan University community. We all celebrate in the successes and triumphs of our institution. Therefore, we are all responsible for the community we build at our institution that yields such successes and triumphs. We are intricate parts of a whole system. We each have our roles and duties but we are one University and we’re better together.

Human flourishing

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion values human flourishing. When community members flourish in their field of study, academic disciple and work, our entire University flourishes. Therefore, we work to remove the barriers that impede human flourishing so that all member s of our community can maximize their potential.

Accountability and loyalty

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion values accountability and loyalty. Each member of this community is accountable and loyal to all other members of this community. This means committing to ensure that adequate resources and accommodations are available to aid in the success of fellow Broncos. This also means giving and receiving the feedback necessary to ensure that needs are being met.

Respecting difference

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion values and fosters respect among members of the Western Michigan University community. Community members must seek to understand and respect the diversity of belief systems, worldviews, ideologies and thoughts of others.

Collaborative problem solving

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion values collaborative problem solving as we seek to identify and dismantle institutional barriers that impede human flourishing. We seek not to justify barriers but to ensure equitable access for each member of our communities.

Equipping for inclusive excellence

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion seeks to equip community members with the skills and tools necessary to carry out their work with inclusive excellence. Community members should be not only excellent in what they do, but also inclusive in how they do their work. Therefore, we value providing educational programs and professional development that helps foster the success of our community.

Institutional diversity—key performance indicators

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion commits to providing leadership in diversity, equity, and inclusion. With that, we recognize that institutional diversity is the work of the entire Western Michigan University community. All members of the University community must engage if we are to continue our success in research, teaching and service. Demographics are shifting dramatically throughout our nation and our state. Now more than ever, we will be held accountable for our ability to recruit, retain and ensure the success of diverse populations. Now more than ever, the success of our faculty, staff, and students, is intrinsically linked with our overall success as a leader in higher education. Our collective success in institutional diversity efforts is measured by the degree to which our university community excels with regard to the following:

  1. Enrollment numbers for underrepresented students.
  2. Retention rates for underrepresented students.
  3. Graduation rates for underrepresented students.
  4. Number of faculty hires from underrepresented groups.
  5. Number of underrepresented faculty promoted at the University.
  6. Number of staff hires from underrepresented groups.
  7. Number of executive hires from underrepresented groups.
  8. Number of Senior Leadership Team members from underrepresented groups.

campus climate survey

In October of 2020, employees and students at Western Michigan University were invited to participate in a campus climate study to evaluate their experiences of diversity and inclusion on our campus. In total, 1,236 out of 2,065 full-time (60%) employees responded to the survey and 1,886 (12%) fulltime students responded to the survey.

2020 Campus Climate Report

Comprehensive strategic plan

Download the comprehensive

2013 to 2016 Office of Diversity and Inclusion strategic plan, complete with tasks, measurement, and potential impact.

Strategic planning report on 2014-15 vice-presidential area priority initiatives