Student Demands

In this section

All members of the community have a right and a responsibility to make their voices heard in shaping an environment that meets the needs of all who learn, live and work at Puget Sound.

Over time, Puget Sound students have generated demands and held protests to amplify their concerns and accelerate action to advance an institutional commitment to becoming a fully welcoming and inclusive community.

Our collective efforts are a work in progress, and reflect the contributions of many across the university. Below are links to three sets of demands, followed by themes that have emerged and examples of actions that have been taken to date. This webpage is a work in progress.

Sets of Demands

MULTI-IDENTITY BASED UNION (2021)

ADVOCATES FOR INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE (2015)

COALITION AGAINST INJUSTICE AND RACISM (2008)

Themes Emerging From Demands Over Time

Curriculum

Facilities

Creating a physical campus that supports the goal of being a fully inclusive, welcoming and accessible community.

Periodic accessibility studies are conducted to help inform prioritization of enhancements to Puget Sound’s 97-acre campus and 1.5 million square feet of building space.
The university consulted with students and invested $500,000 in renovations to the Student Diversity Center and Social Justice Center, connected by an accessible outdoor pavilion and located across the street from the Center for Intercultural and Civic Engagement (now the Center for Student Support), which opened in fall 2016.
32 all-gender restrooms have been added in public spaces in 19 campus buildings since 2007, in addition to options within residential spaces. Existing restrooms were upgraded for accessibility in six buildings (ongoing).
Elevators have been installed or upgraded over the past decade in Kittredge Hall, Collins Memorial Library, Wheelock Student Center, Thomas Hall, Weyerhaeuser Hall, Memorial Fieldhouse, and the Welcome Center, in addition to previously installed elevators in Harned Hall, Howarth Hall, Jones Hall, Kilworth Chapel, McIntyre Hall, the Music Building, Phibbs Hall, Thompson Hall, Trimble Hall, and Wyatt Hall. Accessibility lifts have been installed in Harned Hall, the Norton Clapp Theatre stage in Jones Hall, and the Kilworth Chapel stage.
Accessibility ramps have been added or improved for the Social Justice Center, Student Diversity Center, Student Activities office, Residence Life office, Communications office, and Human Resources office (ongoing).
President Crawford appointed the Committee to Recommend Principles on the Renaming of University Buildings and Spaces (2020).
The Principles on the Renaming of University Buildings and Spaces Committee submitted their recommendations to president Crawford and the Cabinet on October 2021 and the recommendations are currently being reviewed.

Student Recruitment

Broadening outreach to underrepresented students, improving affordability, and removing barriers to access.

The Tacoma Public Schools Commitment was created to meet the full demonstrated financial need of up to 30 eligible first-year students per year who are graduates from Tacoma Public Schools (2014).
The Access Scholars Program and Access Scholars Cohort (2015) were developed to prepare middle and high school students for college and create a supportive cohort for entering first-year students who are alumni of the program.
The Posse Scholars partnership was announced to bring to campus and provide full tuition, room and board scholarships to "posses" of 10 outstanding young leaders from diverse backgrounds in the San Francisco Bay area each year (2015).
Puget Sound became test-optional effective with classes entering in fall 2016 to remove barriers associated with standardized testing and strengthen a holistic admission process (2015).
The Strategic Enrollment Planning Task Force was formed to create comprehensive and integrated undergraduate and graduate enrollment plans (2020-21).
Virtual tours are available in English, Spanish and Mandarin.
From fall 2011 to fall 2021, the percentage of students who identified as undergraduate minoritized students increased from 20.4% to 31.9%, and the percentage of underrepresented students increased from 11.2% to 19.5%.
The one-year retention rate for students entering in fall 2011 was 87% (86% for students identifying as white; 88% for students identifying as minoritized; and 83% for students identifying as underrepresented). For students entering in fall 2020, the one-year retention rate was 88% (89% white, 87% minoritized and 84% underrepresented).
The four-year graduation rate for undergraduates entering in fall 2008 was 68% (70% for students identifying as white; 57% for students identifying as minoritized; and 45% for students identifying as underrepresented). For undergraduates entering in fall 2017, preliminary data show that 59% graduated in spring 2021 (62% white, 54% minoritized and 45% underrepresented).

Student Support

Supporting students of all backgrounds and abilities in finding success at Puget Sound.

The Black Alumni Union was formed to mentor and support students (June 2015) and held a Homecoming and Family Weekend celebration of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Black Student Union (2017).
An additional full-time Ph.D. counselor and multicultural support specialist was appointed in Counseling, Health, and Wellness Services (2017).
As part of a cycle of academic support unit reviews, an assessment of Student Accessibility and Accommodation (SAA) was conducted in 2015-16. New initiatives of the office include an Emotional Support Animal policy and inclusion of SAA information in the campus visit program and campus tour presentations (2017).
The Office of the Registrar implemented a process for students to specify in their academic records the gender by which they wish to be identified; gender identity is included in class rosters (2017).
The One More Scholarship developed by the Black Student Union became fully funded (Oct. 2018).
The Sexual Misconduct Resource Center launched in 2012 and was most recently updated in 2020 with new policies and procedures.
The Student Success Task Force was formed to promote student success, including retention and completion to graduation (2020-21). The Student Success Task Force submitted its first report in May 2021 describing the work of the Task force to 1) Define Student Success, 2) Identify Barriers to Student Success, 3) Recommend ways to foster greater Student Success, and 4) Identify Measures of Student Success. The Task Force will continue its work through the 2021-2022 Academic year providing periodic reports on their work.
The university's first diversity strategic plan was created in 2006; the current plan (Threshold 2022: Cultivating a Culture of Inclusive Excellence) will be revised under the leadership of the incoming Vice President for Institutional Equity and Diversity, who joins Puget Sound in July 2021. The Diversity Advisory Council under the leadership of the Vice President for Institutional Equity and Diversity is currently engaging in the assessment and revision of the diversity strategic plan Threshold 2022: Cultivating a Culture of Inclusive Excellence, with the goal of continuing the work of this plan as we develop the next steps to take beyond 2022.
The office for Institutional Equity & Diversity (OIED) has created new programs to support different identity groups, and is providing events and opportunities for students to gather in spaces that encourage them to flourish.

Staffing and Leadership

Ensuring that Puget Sound recruits, retains and supports diverse leaders who are culturally competent and who reflect a broad range of identities.

As part of the hiring process, all faculty applicants must submit a diversity statement that addresses their competency and ability to contribute meaningfully to issues of diversity, equity and individual differences. Statements may include lived experiences and identities; infusion of diversity-related issues into research, pedagogy and service; activities involving mentoring underrepresented student populations; and insights on how cultural competency increases one’s effectiveness as an educator and department/university colleague.
In the most recent five-year period (2016-17 to 2020-21), the percent of newly hired tenure-line faculty who identify as American Indian or Alaska Native; Asian; Black or African American; Hispanic/Latino; or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander was 58%. In the previous five-year period (2011-12 to 2015-16), it was 37%. Retention of these faculty was 80% in the most recent five-year period compared to 71% in the previous five-year period. Retention of other faculty was 100% (2016-17 to 2020-21) and 83% (2011-12 to 2015-16).
Increased representation of diversity on the President’s Cabinet and board of trustees (ongoing).
Elevated the Chief Diversity Officer position to a Vice President for Institutional Equity and Diversity (approved 2019; hired 2021), overseeing Intercultural Engagement and Access Programs.
Title IX coordination and reporting was eliminated from the portfolio of the Chief Diversity Officer to create more time for other priorities. A Title IX Coordinator position was added to Student Affairs (2020).
Puget Sound’s diversity statement and definition were added to all staff and faculty position descriptions. Cultural competency and experience requirements were added to all newly posted and updated position descriptions (July 2017).
During fall 2021 Faculty search committees have received enhanced training on best practices for faculty search committees as well as more extensive support and resources to broaden pools of applicants and diversify the hiring process. The Chairs of some of this year search committees also receive a three-hour training on diversifying faculty hiring through the Liberal Arts Colleges Racial Equity leadership Alliance (LACRELA)

Training and Education

Making regular anti-racism, inclusion and equity training available to all members of the campus community to improve teaching and learning at Puget Sound.

The Race and Pedagogy Initiative became the Race and Pedagogy Institute to more fully deliver on its mission (2016), and classes were cancelled and offices were closed to allow for attendance at the RPI National Conference campus day of learning (2018). Conferences were held on campus in 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, with planning underway for 2022.
A Training Specialist position was created in Human Resources to coordinate and increase training available to faculty and staff members (2020 - ongoing).
The Bias-Hate Education Response Team was established 2007 and is co-chaired by the Chief Diversity Officer and Director of Intercultural Engagement; the group's role will be reviewed by the incoming Vice President for Institutional Equity and Diversity (2021-22). The Vice President for Institutional Equity and Diversity (VPIED), has been working with members or BHERT as well as other groups and including student input to review the role of BHERT in addressing Bias Incidents. Part of this works involves clearly identifying and communicating the process to report and address Bias Incidents on campus. The final report describing this work will be presented to the campus community before the end of the fall 2021 semester.
Puget Sound became a member of the Liberal Arts Colleges Racial Equity Leadership Alliance to increase training opportunities and obtain comparative data on campus climate at participating institutions (2020 - ongoing).
Board of Trustees and President's Cabinet members completed three new training modules in February 2021 (diversity in the work place, microaggressions, and anti-bias), which were made available to all faculty and staff members in March 2021.
The VPIED in collaboration with the Office of Human Resources has offered three DEI Professional Development training sessions for faculty and staff his fall semester and will offer three more in the Spring 2022 semester.
The VPIED is working with the Director of Faculty Development Center to design and implement other equity and diversity and anti-racism professional development opportunities for faculty during this academic year.
The OIED collaborated with the Provost’s Office, the Collins Memorial Library and the Tacoma Library System to participate in the Tacoma Reads Program providing opportunities for faculty and staff to engage in book groups to participate in facilitated discussions of the book Caste: the origins of our discontents by Isabel Wilkerson. There were also two other events connected to the community read of this book, a faculty panel discussion and a lecture performance by Dr. Ameera Nimjee professor in the Music Department.

Reporting and Accountability

Publicly naming histories and systems of oppression at work on Puget Sound's campus and reporting on efforts to affect change

The Diversity Advisory Council (DAC) is charged with examining diversity, inclusion, and equity issues on campus with respect to policy and practice from multiple perspectives (including access, recruitment and retention, community connections and outreach to diverse constituents, and campus climate and culture). The comprehensive Campus Climate Survey is administered by DAC on a three-year cycle (2012, 2015, 2018, 2021), followed by campus discussion of results and next steps. The findings from the Diversity Campus Climate Survey that was administered in the spring are being shared with different constituencies across campus, including the Committee on Diversity, ASUPS, Faculty and Staff Senate. There are meetings currently being schedule to share the results of the survey and engage in conversation as to action steps to address these findings.
Commitment to Support Students, Faculty and Staff Regardless of Immigration Status or Religious Affiliation was created (2016), and Puget Sound became a founding member of the Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration to advocate for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and related issues (2017).
The Statement on Academic Freedom and the Exercise of Free Speech was endorsed by the Faculty Senate, Staff Senate and ASUPS leadership, with an intention of clarifying the university’s support of free speech and the understanding that the statement should be revisited and revised as needed over time (March 2019). The Director of Student Rights and Responsibilities convened three meetings in 2020 to learn more about the statement. A Q&A was added to the Security Services website addressing support of student protests (2020). Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Student will convene a group in November 2021 to develop a framework to address the larger questions of demonstrations. This group includes staff, faulty, and students. The goal is to complete this work by the end of Spring semester.
Security Services joins the Student Affairs team and reports to the Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students (May 2021).
The President’s Cabinet Actions to Support Diversity and Anti-Racism were publicly documented on the Statement Against Racism and Discrimination webpage shared with campus; each division is expected to create its own commitments; the provost and vice presidents report progress monthly in Cabinet meetings (2020-ongoing). Several university divisions (i.e., University Relations, Student Affairs, and the office of Admission) are collaborating with the Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity to implement systematic Diversity, equity, Inclusion and anti-racism trainings for staff members. Some of the training is taking place this fall, and some sessions will take place in the spring semester.
President’s Advisory Panel on Racism convened to advance key objectives in the Leadership for a Changing World strategic plan, including development of a Legacies Project (2020-21).
President Isiaah Crawford, who joined Puget Sound in 2016-17, convened a meeting with the President’s Cabinet and student representatives of Advocates for Institutional Change to discuss progress made since spring 2016, and to work collaboratively on next steps in meeting the group’s goals, September 2016, and convened three campus forums on issues of diversity and inclusion.

This website was published on April 15, 2021.