"I’m Andre Jimenez, your ASUWT President for the 2021-2022 school year. I am a Senior studying Law & Policy, and have yet to attend an in-person class. That’s right, your student body president has never attended an in-person class. I mention this to help you understand that I, and ASUWT collectively, are feeling the same way you are. Excited and a little anxious as we begin this new year.
I am a first-generation student, who transferred to UWT 6 years after completing my Associates degree. I am also a full-time working parent, who still struggles to find balance between work, school and family life. But I say all of this to help you realize what I wish I had been told many years ago when I started my journey in higher education; you belong here.
Whether you are a first-generation student, or come from a legacy of Huskies; you belong here.
Whether you are a transfer student from a community college or you just recently graduated from high school or are returning after an extended gap in schooling; you belong here.
Whether you take care of children or an elder loved one, or children are the furthest thing from your mind; you belong here.
Whether you identify as White, Black, Brown or any shade in between; you belong here.
Whether you come from privilege or poverty, have experienced houselessness or food insecurity; you belong here.
And we here at ASUWT are here to encourage and foster that sense of belonging for every student on our campus.
Earlier this summer ASUWT created our “WHY” statement. So often leaders focus on what we should do, or how we can solve a problem, without focusing on the purpose behind our actions. Realizing the incredible opportunities we have this year, welcoming a new Chancellor while welcoming students back to campus, many for the first time we wanted to be intentional in our mission.
Our “Why” Statement reads as follows:
Everything we do will create a meaningful, attainable and welcoming experience for our students. In this time of intense transition, we will thoughtfully design a sense of safety and belonging on our campus.
And this is what is going to drive our work this year.
So as this year progresses please remember you belong here, and you have an entire team behind you ready to support your unique path toward success."
-Andre Jimenez, ASUWT President