ABOUT THE WOMEN'S RESOURCE CENTER
history
The Women's Resource Center was established in 1992, with the restructuring of The Department of Human Relations, in accordance with Initiative 13 of the MSU IDEA (Institutional Diversity: Excellence In Action) platform. The Women's Resource Center was developed to bring together and coordinate resources, advocacy for women's issues, and women's programs for faculty, staff, and students. The Women's Resource Center consolidated several existing activities, and replaced the Division of Women's Programs.
mission
The Women's Resource Center at Michigan State University is committed to creating and implementing strategies that promote the status of women. The mission is to provide a supportive climate that enables women to become full and active participants in the development of policy, decision making, and the achievement of equity. The Women's Resource Center acts in a coordinating role for contacts relating to concerns of women and functions in an advocate role for women's issues while developing and implementing programs targeted for women faculty, staff, and students. Central to the success of the center is its ability to engage all university women in programs and activities that stimulate and empower participation within the university and the community by fully utilizing skills and abilities and fulfilling aspirations. One goal of the Michigan State University Women's Resource Center is to assist the university in achieving diversity by valuing contributions of all who engage in the institutional land-grant mission of teaching, research, and outreach. The center regards itself as an important advocate for the advancement of affirmative action, equal opportunity, and nondiscrimination. Reporting jointly to the Provost, the Vice President for Finance and Operations and Treasurer, and the Vice President for Student Affairs and Services, the Women's Resource Center is active in community, state, and national coalitions dealing with women's issues.
objectives
The WRC's programmatic objectives are:
- To provide information, resources, and assistance to individual women students, staff, and faculty on matters of equal opportunity and gender equity, and to provide a programmatic response to the needs of the same population
- To review, assess, and recommend changes in university policies that would encourage equal treatment of women
- To promote coordination and communication between diverse women's groups
- To provide assistance to both academic and support units in increasing the number of women in the work force through activities related to recruitment and retention
- To maintain a visible and accessible location and a supportive environment where women can be encouraged to engage in dialogue, exchange viewpoints, and find assistance
- To assist women in identifying problems and resolution strategies and aid in accessing university channels available to redress grievances
- To advance and publicize interesting and important programs and services for women, on campus, in the community, in Michigan, and nationally
- To develop and disseminate resource materials which help educate the community about ideas and issues that impact and involve women
- To provide information and referrals to on- and off-campus units that assist women with issues such as economic hardship, domestic assault, housing, childcare, and additional/continuing education
- To promote interaction among staff, faculty, and students in order to facilitate learning and strengthen understanding of issues confronting women within and beyond the university.
WRC staff & student employees
Patricia M. Lowrie
Director
Jayne Schuiteman
Personal Safety Coordinator
Jodi Roberto Hancock
Educational Program Coordinator
Evette Chavez
Administrative Assistant
Audrey C. Smith
Office Manager
Pamela Butler
Special Projects Coordinator
Rosalind McDonald
Professional Aide
WRC Department Aides: Megan Sanderson, Ashley Symons, Jennifer Tindle, Lydia Weiss
