Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

University Dining Services Partners with WWU on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

As your dining provider, we are proud to offer our support to WWU, the campus community, and the student body to support initiatives that are meaningful to your diversity, equity, and inclusion objectives. University Dining Services is committed to working with WWU’s Black Student Organizations, along with student groups representing other oppressed and marginalized identities. We will collaborate and align with the campus short- and long-term goals in terms of policy, program, learning, and other initiatives to guide our efforts to ensure all community members feel safe, included, and valued.

The Five Actions with implementation details below outline the priorities we will work to achieve within the academic year and on-going.

1 - Workforce Representative of Community

Ensure our student workforce is representative of the broader WWU community by reaching out to clubs regarding student employment opportunities available: Part-time, internships, our student manager program, Accelerate to Leadership and enterprise internships. Last academic year these amounted to 57% of working hours. This work will be on-going, especially as the campus re-opens post COVID-19.

2 - Organizational Alignment

Align with Multicultural center and student led organizations by inviting student members to participate in events directly such as the quarterly student roundtable, dining committee, students talk – housing and dining listens and the food systems working group. We are targeting April 2021 for the spring student roundtable.

3 - Social Media Inclusion

Ensure social media communication is inclusive by engaging and supporting student groups with their social media posts. Ensure social media posts are diverse and inclusive.

4 - Institution-wide Recognition

Annual institution-wide recognition and celebration of Black History Month, MLK Jr. Day, and Juneteenth. Continue to support activities that align with WWU’s multicultural educational and student services activities including traditional events: heritage meal/alternate heritage meal format across the dining halls:

MLK Jr. Breakfast & Black History Month
Pow Wow
World Kindness Day
International Cultural Night
Indigenous Peoples Day
Social Justice, Equity, and Diversity Awards
Diversity Achievement Award

5 - Sustainability Action Plan

Support the WWU Sustainability Action Plan by enhancing local purchasing to economically benefit the local farmers and business partners within 250 miles while aligning to our Be Well. Do Well. campaign. To learn more, see our Impact report.