Access & Success

Initiatives

Initiatives Underway

Below is a selection of access and success initiatives actively underway in the 2022-2023 academic year. For an expanded view, explore the university's complete Inclusive Excellence Plan.

Undergraduate Student Enrollment

Achieve increased undergraduate student enrollment from historically underrepresented and underserved populations

• Implement new gateway initiatives to make W&M a preferred destination for underserved populations (ongoing)
• Increase scholarship support for undergraduate students to promote affordability
• Increase yield for admitted first-generation, low-income, veterans and transfer students
• Enable new points of entry to a W&M education to achieve 'smart growth' for all cohorts

Undergraduate Students

Increase retention and academic success of historically underrepresented and underserved undergraduate students.

• Provide a funded internship or other applied learning experience for every student
• Expand career pathway initiatives, engaging alums at all career stages

Graduate & Professional Students

To increase the access and success of diverse graduate and professional students

• Grow new online, continuing and executive education programs to reach professional and lifelong learners
• Design new postdoctoral programs to encourage underrepresented and underserved undergraduates to attend graduate/professional programs
• Connect graduate and professional students with programs that provide faculty and alumni mentors

Faculty & Staff

Recruit and retain a diverse faculty and staff

• Complete and assess a 3-year Faculty Hiring Plan to recruit and retain excellent faculty with a 100% commitment to inclusive teaching with ongoing adjustments based on feedback from faculty closest to the process (ongoing)
• Use exit interviews and climate surveys to improve the workplace experience
• Develop a robust New Employee Orientation program to include the DIB Training module for all new employees to ensure a seamless onboarding process for new hires
• Ensure that accommodations for students, employees and the public are accessible and signage is visible

Definitions

*People of Color includes the following six race/ethnicity categories of U.S. Citizens and Residents: Asian, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders, and Two or more races.