Our Values

Land Grant Mission and Commitment to Access and Opportunity

As a land-grant institution, Washington State University is rooted in a mission to expand access to higher education and to create opportunities that enrich lives and communities across the state and beyond. Our work is grounded in the principles of inclusion, access, and public service, and we recognize that honoring the histories and experiences of Indigenous peoples is an essential part of that mission.

Land Acknowledgment

We welcome you to Washington State University’s Department of Art located on the ceded lands of the Nimíipuu (Nez Perce) Tribe and the traditional homelands of the Palus Band of Indians. WSU Vancouver is located in the homelands of Chinookan and Taidnapam peoples and the Cowlitz Indian Tribe. WSU Tri-Cities is located on the ancestral homelands of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, who have lived on these lands from time immemorial.

We acknowledge their presence here since time immemorial and recognize their continuing connection to the land, to the water and to their ancestors.

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Commitment to an Inclusive and Respectful Academic Community

The Department of Art at Washington State University values the rich contributions that individuals of all backgrounds bring to our academic and creative environment. We are committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive, and equitable community in which all students, faculty, and staff can thrive, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, age, ability, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, socioeconomic background, or other protected characteristics.

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Academic and Institutional Commitments

• Supportive Learning Environment
  We are committed to providing a welcoming and respectful space where students and faculty can explore and challenge ideas through art. We encourage dialogue, critical thinking, and creative expression, recognizing that artists and scholars can help shape a more inclusive society.
• Equal Opportunity and Access
  In alignment with university policies and applicable civil rights laws, we strive to ensure equal opportunity for all individuals in admissions, employment, mentoring, access to resources, and academic engagement. We support the success of students from all backgrounds and are committed to removing barriers to participation where they exist.
• Ongoing Evaluation and Growth
  We recognize that building an inclusive department is an ongoing process. We welcome feedback from our community and are committed to regularly reviewing our programs, policies, and practices to ensure they reflect our values and support academic and creative excellence.
• Community Engagement
  The Department of Art is engaged in reciprocal partnerships with communities on campus, in the region, and beyond. Through programming, visiting artist and scholar lectures, and exhibitions, we seek to highlight diverse forms of artistic expression and invite broad participation in the creative life of the university.

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Departmental Initiatives

Faculty, staff, and students, meet regularly to discuss departmental culture and practices. Faculty facilitate communication, listen to community concerns, and helps develop initiatives that contribute to a fair and inclusive academic environment. We work to ensure that departmental policies, practices, and climate support a respectful and welcoming environment for all students, faculty, and staff. Faculty review concerns related to academic access, opportunity, and departmental culture, and collaborates across roles to identify and support actionable improvements. We are committed to:

• Inclusive Curriculum and Programming
  We are dedicated to integrating a wide range of cultural traditions, experiences, and artistic voices into our curriculum and programming. This includes thoughtful representation in our course materials, public events, and exhibitions.
• Recruitment and Mentorship
  We strive to recruit students, staff, and faculty from a broad pool of applicants and to support all members of our community who want to enter the field of art with mentoring opportunities, enter the field of art professionally.
• Professional Development and Awareness
  We encourage ongoing professional development for faculty, staff, and students to build awareness around inclusive practices, and we offer resources that support respectful and constructive engagement within our academic and creative spaces.

A Living Commitment

This statement reflects our current commitments and aspirations. As we continue to learn and grow as a department, we will revisit and refine our goals to better serve the needs of our community while upholding the values of Washington State University and adhering to applicable laws and policies.