Mission Statement and Functions

Mission of the Women's Resource Center

The mission of the Women's Resource Center (WRC) is to advance social justice by promoting a campus culture that ensures a safe, supportive, equitable and empowering environment for women of all cultures, races, sexual orientations and ages. The Center provides all students with information, services and programs that address matters of particular concern to women, while exploring the connections among gender, race, economic status, sexual orientation, culture, ability, religion, political views and other significant characteristics of women's individual and collective identities.

Functions of a Women's Resource Center

The services and programs of the WRC will focus on four major areas: Advocacy, Empowerment, Education and Support.

Advocacy

• Collaborate with other university departments to promote policies and practices that create a welcoming and supportive campus environment for women. Raise awareness of how perceptions of gender affect both men and women and advocate for the diverse needs of women students

Empowerment

• Empower students to create a campus culture that values all women and their differences in race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, ability, age and socioeconomic class
• Encourage students and campus community members to actively create an environment of respect and equality for all in a world where gender categories continue to have discriminatory power and influence
• Provide skill development in areas such as leadership, community organizing, financial independence and political involvement

Education

• Raise the campus community's awareness about policies and practices of particular concern to women
• Create awareness about the wide range of women's issues through information collection and dissemination programming and training
• Celebrate the contributions of women to society and culture through programs and activities that inform students about women's lives, achievements, and contributions
• Maintain a website and resource library on issues of particular concern to women

Support

• Provide information and referrals to address issues that disproportionately affect women, such as sexual harassment, relationship violence, rape, women's sexuality, eating disorders, etc.